Just a quick question for everyone here, as I continue my research into extended-range instruments.

Has anyone here played a recent-vintage Bergerault marimba? The few Bergerault instruments I've seen are from fifteen or twenty years ago. I can see from their online catalog that their frame and resonator designs have changed, but obviously that doesn't automatically mean that their tuning and basic sound have changed (altho the new resonator designs are probably a step up from their old resonators).

I've been in touch with the company, and they tell me that there are very few recent-vintage instruments in the U.S., so I don't really have much of an opportunity to try one out firsthand, and I probably won't until and unless I get to try one at PASIC (assuming they have a booth).

Any thoughts on their recent products?

TIA,

Jim

sorry James..never played on a Bergerault..period..

Scott

Jim,
I haven't played a Bergerault in years, although I do get them to tune. Too be terribly honest, the ones I played on were some of the worst marimbas I ever heard, beaten only by Saito..Even on the ones I still get to tune, the wood is not properly dried, there is less resonance than other instruments, the tuning is really weird.. I mean the octaves and occasional 3rds are there but they don't seem to care about all those other harmonics one has to watch out for, torsional harmonics,transverse harmonics,-- especially in the C2-B2 range and F4-A4 range--etc. Maybe the new ones are better. I couldn't say...
But Gordon used to endorse them and play them so maybe he has a different idea...so maybe ask him also. Bill