New from Bourne Labs

Just finished this bass, with inclined bars. It's designed so the bars do not fly off when playing, and it doesn't require the top restraining cord that is standard on most my marimbas. PLUS, the bars are easily removed for inserting F#/Bb bars. Come visit my booth at the NW MENC convention in Portland to see how our in-house engineer (that's me) achieved this.

Advantages: bars are easier to strike, and the player does not have to be as elevated, in fact a tall person needs no stool at all.  Also, since the long bars are slanted, the instrument is several inches narrower, and can fit through passageways that the regular bass wouldn't without removing bars.

Disadvantages: I suspect kids actually PREFER lording over the group, perched higher up on a stool.

Either way, it is fun to have this new design and this is available as an alternative to the traditional Big Bass.