This engaging"wall" of instruments includes several of mine. The "wall" was designed by Vicky Flessner of PLAYceMAKER; and installed by Brian Somerville.
OUTDOOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR PLAYGROUNDS
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It's always a joy to sell musical instruments for playgrounds. I love the fact that the instruments are explored and played to their full potential. With thirty years + experience creating instruments for outside, playground use, I've learned how to make them both quite sturdy, and quite beautiful sounding.
Below are some of my "line" of musical instruments I've made for playgrounds. Most of them I tune pentatonicaly to concert pitch, but any tuning is possible. I regularly make the instruments shown, but I also delight in custom instruments and new designs, so please share your ideas and wishes.
I'm happy to say that most of my steel musical instruments are made using old, repurposed metals.
Please check out my new, dedicated Whale Drum and Fungipnone page.
Thanks! Jim Doble
Amadinda
Made from spruce "2x4s". The Amadinda has a bright clear resonant sound. It's most fun to play and sounds fullest with 2-4 players. There are no sour notes as the tuning is pentatonic. This can easily hang from trees, posts, whatever... (stands sold separately)
Finished spruce Amadinda 12 notes (6'x3', ).....$340
Extra heavy duty Stand(shown)......$210
Extra mallets (comes with 6)..... $15 / pr.
Please Specify if it's for indoor or outdoor use for finishing purposes.
For outside unsupervised use, it's recommended you install posts to hang the Amadinda, or hang from trees, etc.
For installation suggestions click here.
For Background info on the Amadinda click here.
Heavy Duty African Mahogany Amadinda
Made from sustainably harvested African Mahogany, this will last a long time in just about any outdoor environment. It has a bright, resonant tone similar to the regular Amadinda, but slightly more uniform resonance. The one pictured has attached mallets.It has a frame of Eastern White Cedar (I've discontinued the pictured pressure treated frame).
The legs come with brackets to attach to a footing or deck.
One like this goes for $1,450
Without attached mallets, $1250
Without legs or att. mallets, $1050
For dimensions click here.
Heavy Duty and SHD Whale Drums, and Fungiphones!
Very popular heavy duty versions of my Whale Drum made from old repurposed propane tanks.
The sound is deep and very resonant and "gongy".
These have become so popular, and have evolved so many options, that they now have their own Whale Drum page
Shown hear are 24" whale drums and a 30" Fungiphone.
For pricing and options, please go to my dedicated Whale Drums and Fungiphones page.
Mama Stonaphone
The keys are made from black granite, recycled from 1 1/8" thick counter top leftovers. The sound is very surprisingly resonant, bright and clear.
The one pictured at left has attached mallets (played on the ends of the keys). Indoor options and loose, round headed mallets are also available. Frames are now made from Eastern White Cedar.
Pictured at left is the most popular version, with attached mallets, which goes for $1,600
With mallets not attached (at right), $1,450
With no legs and unattached mallets, $1,150
Extra unattached mallets- $15/ pair
Approximately 36" wide by 30" long.
for full dimensions click here.
Other Stone instruments
This one made for the National children's Museum of Jordan
I can also make stone instruments out of rough and semi rough stone, big and small, with varying amounts of resonance.
Chimasaur & Chimasaur Jr.
The Chimasaurs hold a wealth of sound experience; each one is a unique piece with a unique sound!
These are made of repurposed propane tanks of 30" and 24" diameter respectively.The pipes and bars along the side are tuned to specific pitches, while the welded on elements are more experimentally tuned. You customize the color combinations: the base coat is a very durable powder coat, the accent colors are enamel. For indoor or outdoor use.
Chimasaur - $2,600. (left photo)
Chjimasaur Jr.-$2150 (2 pictured on right)
Attached mallets (mid & right photo)- add $180
For base color options click here. For gallery of previous color combos. For dimension specs Fulls size: Jr:
Chime Wall
These are very lively sounding, pentatonically tuned, resonant chimes set in a White Cedar frame. These bolt to a footing or deck with included brackets or can be adapted toattach to a structure or wall.
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The basic Chime Wall (includes 2 mallets)goes for $900
With 4 attached mallets, $950
Extra unattached mallets- $15/ pair
Extra cabled mallets- $25/pair
For dimensions and specs:
(please note: I've discontinued the pictured PT frame)
Aluminum Gong
A fairly simple, but resonant gong. The "dimpled" center helps clarify the tone.
Made from 3/16" aluminum sheet. Can hang from a tee branch, playground structure, or stand.
36" Gong (pictured) - $490
30" Gong - $370
24" Gong - $220
attached mallet- add $25
With White Cedar frame- add $325
(I've discontinued the pictured PT frame)
Custom Musical Instruments:
I'm also happy to create something out of your ideas or special considerations. Heres a sampling of some past custom outdoor musical instruments.
Junkaphone:
Pretty much speaks for itself. A good lesson in the potential use of junk material.
Mega Junkaphone:
Built for the Science Museum of British Columbia. One side is tuned to a pentatonic scale, the others are more ad lib. See/hear a portion of it played during assembly in this mini documentary. (My SHD Whale Drums in the background)
UFOphone:
An experiment in expanding on the Whale Drum design. Now travels with a carnival.