Resonator Module Supports

Resonator Module Supports

For the module support piece, we decided to use a 2x2 instead of a 1x2. Also, we didn't mount the crosspiece until after the resonator modules were fully assembled.

This allowed us to taylor the position the crosspiece depending on how the resonator modules were going to fit into the frame. (It was a good thing, too - we had already put in the nails and screw eyes for holding the bars in place - we should have done this later - and the resonators were not centered under each bar. So we had to do a little fudging.) We also mounted the crosspiece on the inside of the frame instead of underneath the frame.

My husband used a coping saw to cut away some of the cross support so the big end resonator module would fit into the frame. He also used the coping saw and small wood chisel to cut some "notches" in the cross piece that the module support pieces would sit into; this made sure that the modules wouldn't move around once they were set into the frame.

At each end of the frame there needs to be something to support the resonator modules. Again, we did not put the supports in until after we had built this resonator modules. This gave us an opportunity to try various styles of mounts. We finally settled on two different mounting systems (one system on each end). On the narrow end of the frame we used two pieces of 1x2s that were cut to allow the module to sit on and between the supports. With this sort of system, the resonator module touches the frame in four places -- at two points on the cross support and at two points on the end support.

On the wide end of the frame, we couldn't use the same approach, because there wouldn't be enough clearance to get the module in and out of the frame. So we used a piece of plexiglass cut in the shape of a U. As described on our resonators page, we attached a bolt to the largest resonator. The bolt would then sit in the plexiglass U. With this sort of system, the resonator module touches the frame in three places -- at two points on the cross support and at one point on the plexiglass end support.

(diagram modified from Make Your Own Marimbas, p. 25)