A small gallup

[G.Axiom]

On the first track, "underground", in Tom Waits's "Swordfishtrombones":
In your opinion, what is the instrument in the background? Is it that (bass?) marimba mentioned in the recording information or something compeletely else?

..asking this for a good reason. All answers welcome!

[G.Axiom]

..were asking this because I've found that it depends of the playback equipment.

First, with monitor gear:

Yamaha NS10: "Marimba alone, with no doubt"
Genelec No. 1: "Marimba alone, with no doubt"
Genelec No. 2: "Marimba, probably doubled during the choruses with plucking piano strings with finger."


High-end setup No. 1, 20k€ :"plucked piano, doubled with marimba during the choruses. With no doubt".
high-end setup No. 2, 15k€ :"marimba, probably doubled with plucked piano or some similar instrument during the choruses"

My own gear: (at the moment) "Piano, played like cimbalom with soft sticks. during the choruses, whether played with hard sticks or possibly doubled with marimba."

The funnies responses I received:
"what is a marimba?" -hi-fi retailer.
"i dont have time to spot such nuances". -mixer/mastering engineer.
I am not surprised to find that a hi-fi salesman does not knows what is a marimba. But, I found that pretty sad that that engineer were not ready to take in to the account the possibility that his highly acclaimed monitor speakers lies.
I kinda understand his reluctance to questionable that.

I've really have not had overly positive opinions of those "pro monitor speakers",a la mentioned above, but:
is it really possible that they suck so badly that they changes an instrument to another?

BTW, I dont know what there is happening, in that track. I dont even much care, I just listen. Mostly this shows beautifully some common misbeliefs, and facts of perception.

So, all of you having that record (i guess that's plenty) Go listen, and let's vote. ATC's, anyone?

[NickG]

Might be fun for someone to bring a copy to the next eggfest.

I don't have one :-(

[G.Axiom]

Let's shake some more: This answer my gear at the moment gives is with Fireface 400 from HD to XO, with twin TA-10 amps. Hav'nt yet had time to check what Rega CD/ own SE-amps vote.
Or, how's with DL103+Ortofon+TD124? Might be next weekend...waiting it's answer with great interest.
This combo gave that hard time to that Rosetta I had here recently in the detail level, timbre and nuances that I could trust perhaps to it before of them all...

I think it is pretty pointless what there actually is in the record.

The point is that there I found beautifully so many factors neatly in one package, not alone the questions with gear, but more importantly, how much the answer depends of what do you except you hear.
"What is a marimba?" J. Christ!!!
There is hardly no chance to perceive something you dont know to exists. And, this guy were a hi-fi salesman.

"I dont have time to spot such nuances".
Might be, he was the most reasonable guy of us all.
Altough, I found there were also a lot of that reluctance to questionable own beliefs. The guy knew the "whole story", and yet he claimed he had no time to check how his tools (used to make recordings!) work! Someone might not call that to "a nuance", that wheter one instrument is possibly altered to some other somewhere during the playback process or not.

[Shian7]

Eh?...

[alnewall]

I'm afraid i am with the HIFI salesman.
I wouldn't recognise a marimba if i fell over one.

[Shane]

http://www.pricegrabber.co.uk/search...g_uk_e_s/skd=1

Like a vibraphone, but wood instead of metal.

[alnewall]

Thankyou Shane.

At least i've learned something today.
I'm off now to see if i can find any marimba users amongst my music collection.

[Shane]

Try Dire Straits' "Private Investigation" from Love Over Gold, or the intro to Steely Dan's "Ricky Don't Lose That Number". Listen out for a deepish "boongety boong" sound.

That looks weird written down, but it's as close as I can get...

[alnewall]

boongety boong

Ah yes, of course.
I know exactly what you mean now!