ive been using the burton grip for a while, and i was wondering, if i start playing Abe pieces should i use a different grip like the musser or stevens grip?

YES!!! If you're playing marimba, you should use Stevens grip!!! Burton works great on vibes, but will not work at all on Abe pieces as well as most other advanced literature.

Scott

yeah man! when you start playing that hard stuff, like snoop dogg, it would be best if you just kicked it back doggy style ya know. You should try out that new marimba solo by dr DRE. it's bad ass.

This may sound a little odd, so bear with me. Is your ability with the Burton functional to the intervals and independant movements of the piece you are looking at?
In my opinion if something is functional then why change it. Would it really matter is I came and played "Wind in Bamboo" with my FEET...... if I played it technically and musically correct? That is a bit of an exageration, but what I am geting at is that there isn't really a correct answer to your question. I definately think you should learn more than one grip, I just don't think you have to do it because of this piece. Sometimes I choose Burton over Stevens because it can put the weight of your hand behind the movement. However, some people have a very STRONG Stevens grip. I don't mean technical strength so much as the ability to produce a tone as efficiently with Stevens independant as with Burton. So.....after all this rambling my point is this....Learn them both WELL. Then when you know what your personal strengths are with both grips you will be able to decide which grip is going to be most appropriate for YOU, in a particular situation. I don't buy into the idea that any piece has to be played with a certain grip. Function before protocol....
Jennifer