How to Dismantle a Marimba
Background
This Reddit post is dedicated to all of the new percussionists who have no clue where to start when it comes to dismantling a marimba. I will do my best to explain the standard steps for dismantling a marimba and walk you through some of the best tips and tricks I've come across!
My Experience
Marimba is an extremely intimate and beautiful-sounding instrument. I learned from Hope Street Marimba that two of the main innovators of the marimba were Leigh Howard Stevens and the under-recognized Herman Winterhoff. I have played this beautiful instrument for 5 years. I always appreciated how intricate the marimba was and how versatile a player could sound on it with experience. I started in middle school and will continue this hobby/skill throughout the rest of my life. In middle school, the responsibility of marimba assembly fell onto the band directors. Middle school students are typically immature, and trusting them with a $20,000 instrument is not always the wisest choice. In high school, marimba maintenance became a responsibility of the front ensemble and upperclassmen. I was in the drumline, so I never had to break down and rebuild the marimba for every football game. This year, I decided to learn how to break down the marimba because the responsibility will now fall on me.
I learned how to dismantle the marimba online using multiple resources. These sources each had slightly different approaches to breaking down the marimba. I followed each source loosely, hoping to find the strategy that would work best for me and my marimba. I have now learned the best way to dismember the instrument and compiled the best information from each source. My goal is to compile all the best information in one place so it's easy for beginners to tackle this intense challenge.
Step 1: Taking off the keys
I found the first few steps to be pretty self-explanatory, but I thought it would still be good to go over them. The marimba keys should always come off before tackling any other problems because they are one of the most valuable parts of the keyboard. Typically, there is a metal portion at the end of the marimba that holds the string between the keys in place. Unclatch the string and make sure you carefully lift up the keys. A YouTube video from Marimba Music showed me that the string latches onto the frame using small hooks. These hooks are very delicate and need to be handled with care. You should always clean the marimba keys after removing them. I used a damp washcloth, but I almost left moisture on the keys of the marimba for an extended period of time. I learned from Yamaha that moisture is the nemesis of wooden keys! This means that they should be cleaned using a dry cloth and kept in a room temperature and ventilated space.
Step 2: Remove the Resonators
Removing the resonators was actually quite easy. The hardest part about removing them was the sheer force that had to be applied in order to pull them out of their slots. The slots are made to perfectly fit them, so it makes sense that I struggled with that part of the removal. Usually, you will find that the middle of each resonator piece has a latch that bends. You should bend the latch slightly and then pull the resonators vertically. Once competed you should place them together somewhere safe. I learned from Heartland Marimba that the frame holds the resonators and bars in place, so do not be afraid to push hard!
Step 3: Taking down the frame
Taking apart the frame was the most challenging part. It would be easier to take on this step with two people, but I made it work with one person to make sure this tutorial is as easy and accessible as possible. In the same manner you took off the resonators, you should be able to take apart the piece that holds the keys. They are connected to the main frame through tiny slots that fit them perfectly. Disconnect the piece that holds them together and pull vertically. On my keyboard, there is a middle bar that spreads horizontally, connecting the two end pieces of the frame. It is important to disconnect this piece from the end pieces and also gently set both pieces down. Marimba One demonstrated this step using multiple people. In order to complete this task independently, I found it easiest to keep one end of the frame positioned up against the wall for support. Some marimbas have the frame made from wood with very few metal pieces holding it together. When reading a blog post from Thor, he showed the frame dismantled in a very similar way, but when handling wooden parts, use a very delicate touch.
Step 4: Storage
The marimba pieces should be stored in a room that is at room temperature, well ventilated, and clean. Some marimbas have storage devices meant to hold the marimba for transport but most beginner instruments do not. The marimba can be separated into two different portions: metal and wood. The metal pieces can damage the wooden keys, so it is best not to keep them on top of each other. The string is also delicate. Make sure the string is not in a active high tension position. AMI Marimbas has brought to my attention that strings can easily break if not properly taken care of.
Good luck and Happy Practicing
Hopefully, this tutorial will treat you well! The goal was to help beginners feel comfortable managing an instrument of this caliber while also providing them with tips from experienced perspectives. Thank you for viewing!
Sources:
Thor Bremmer Marimba Refinishing
Hope Street Marimba - Making and repairing tuned percussion
How to Restring a Marimba
How to Disassemble a Marimba One
Care and Maintnence of a Marimba
Heartland Marimba
AMI Marimbas