In other circumstances I would have swapped it for a new one... But I'd probably end up not keeping it in C anyway. Not getting the label stickers is a bummer and I sent the seller a message about it. But other than that it's ok!It's very nice but I did not know that Gecko made kalimbas that were tuned in a key other than C. Personally, I would have sent it back but that's just me. I hope you enjoy it.
k.
The two highest notes (edge tines) don't ring very long, in fact the highest one is pretty dead. All the rest ring beautifully. I decided to tune the whole thing way down to G. Now it's much better. I'm surprised by how much I can feel the notes in my hands through the wood. Feels nice, especially when tuned down. The sound is dreamy. "Noodled" with it and then felt like I was coming out of a trance.
Agreed, I used flat (toothless) jewellery pliers to move the tines most of the way, and the hammer for fine tuning at the endCongratulations for your new toy.
In some China Kalimba forums, it's known that Gecko has bad sustain on high pitch notes.
Mine is another China brand, Walter, 21 keys, which is known that has better sustain than Gecko, though I didn't compare it because I didn't play Gecko before.
Good luck to your re-tuning adventure. I hate to use so much effort to hammer so many tines.
In the end I'm returning it! The seller rudely responded that the pictured kalimba in C was actually in B because the lowest note is B on it, and that if I'm not happy I should return it to Amazon. Evidently the seller didn't know anything about tuning/intervals. The one in the product picture has no sharps... SMH. Also still missing something, and the smell of the kalimba was too much in the end. But the experiment has taught me that I really do want a kalimba! How's your experience with the Seeds 34-key staying in tune?It's very nice but I did not know that Gecko made kalimbas that were tuned in a key other than C. Personally, I would have sent it back but that's just me. I hope you enjoy it.
k.
I tuned it when I bought it (last Spring) and haven't since. Yeah, I'm kind of embarrassed about that. So I just checked it and the lower row of tines are all off a few "cents"; the upper row are still pretty much right on.How's your experience with the Seeds 34-key staying in tune?
I also play kalimba. I have more species. It's a nice musical instrument.
Here is my playlist: