The Kalimba Experiment

If you work with foley or are looking for an experimental noise box, this cigar box kalimba might be just the thing for you.

Not that there's much wrong with this build. It has seventeen keys, nice tone, and all the guts you need to plug it into a guitar amp - the inside of this build packs a piezo pickup stuck under the bridge and a reverb spring to give it more voice. You can feel the box reverberate when you pick it up! If you like to experiment with DYI noise boxes and spooky effects, there's a surprising range of sounds you can get from this box.

A few caveats - eagle-eyed viewers may have already noted that this has a 21-tine bridge. It's true. The end tines just weren't responsive and after much bodging I simple deleted the offending keys. It's tuned down two steps from the letters stamped on the tines just because it sounds better and is more responsive at at that lower tuning.

That said, I have NO plans on building more like this in the future. Kalimbas need a good, solid base and cigar boxes are thin and hollow and not ideal for purpose. It's a good experimental piece that's been sitting idle on my shelf and is ready for a new home.

Handcrafted in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

***Releasing June 20th***