Kalimba

[ducktrapper]

So my lovely wife for some unknown reason bought me one of these. It doesn't even have strings. What the heck? Anyone have any experience with thumb pianos? 

[unclrob]

Way way back in my much younger youth.Taj Mahal used one at a concert and had a couple come thru I shop I worked at.

[ducktrapper]

Way way back in my much younger youth.Taj Mahal used one at a concert and had a couple come thru I shop I worked at.

I've been attempting to tune it. Kind of goofy. There's a little hammer to shorten or lengthen the tines. Not exactly fool proof. 

[unclrob]

Get the middle note tuned.The real hard part comes when tuning the other note.You can use a tuner for the rest but its best to listen to the intervals.A soft touch is the way to go.I had to tune one once.It was insane but not as bad as it was to tune a Fender roads tines,add solder file off solder,,,,,,,,,repeat until you need several shots of whiskey,walk or stubble away start all over in the morning.

[ducktrapper]

Get the middle note tuned.The real hard part comes when tuning the other note.You can use a tuner for the rest but its best to listen to the intervals.A soft touch is the way to go.I had to tune one once.It was insane but not as bad as it was to tune a Fender roads tines,add solder file off solder,,,,,,,,,repeat until you need several shots of whiskey,walk or stubble away start all over in the morning.

It's tricky indeed, if this thing is even capable of being tuned. I don't know what she was thinking, don't want to hurt her feelings, it's the thought that counts but I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it.   

[ducktrapper]

Took a while but it's (almost) in tune. The hammer is useless to tap the tines, you can use it to push them from either side but it doesn't appear to be the ideal tool for the task. Still don't really know what to do with it.  

[broKen]

You tube has a few tutorials and demos. Wonder if you can add a pickup to it.

[ducktrapper]

You tube has a few tutorials and demos. Wonder if you can add a pickup to it.

Yeah I suppose you could but I think miking it would suffice. I'm just not sure how interested in it I am. I have enough challenges with guitars and only so much time.