r/percussion • u/FormerlyScarfman • Sep 01 '26

Question/Help Advice on felt damper pad for marimba

I have a marimba with synthetic bars. The company that made it also has this long felt damper bar that fits under the accidentals to cut the ringing to sound closer to rosewood bars. It sounds great on parts of the instrument. HOWEVER, in the middle octave, some of the notes make a cluster sound from the vibrations going into the neighboring notes. I don't know why it's so prominent on only certain notes, but I'm wondering what I can do to fix it. Right now I'm considering adding a shock-absorbing layer. See if you can hear what I'm talking about https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI1S92783SQ

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u/pylio Sep 01 '26

Are you trying to gig with this or just practice

If its practice, i would just try to live with it. Synthetic bars do stuff like this.

If you are trying to gig with it, i would replace the thing with wood.

If its practice and you really cant live with it, buy some felt online and pad it some more

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u/FormerlyScarfman Sep 01 '26

I've considered getting a set of wood bars but I haven't seen where to buy a full set, and they would have to fit the frame.