Tong Instruments

18/11/2025

https://youtu.be/RXZzrwrXsVY?si=JG3OHe2YVTHFQfxy
It's been a while since I last updated my kalimba FB page. And there have been such nice new instruments, like the bamboo bass, and the ultra high kalimba. And new experiments with the overtone tines. So: like this post and that might encourage me to put up more pics & vids.

A seasonal tune on one of the newly built chromatic kalimbas. Order now - perfect holiday gift etc etc... I don't know if this Sinterklaasliedje has an engli...

01/06/2023

Here a fresh acoustic recording of the 3 oct. chromatic kalimba - single take and no FX. 37 Tones, range G2 - G6. It has 2 pickup systems each with their own output jack, but I'll post another video of those. Available now from Tonginstruments

An all-acoustic single-take recording of the 3 oct. chromatic kalimba. No waiting list at this time, so buy one NOW from Tong Instruments. Check out my othe...

07/05/2023

Finally cleared the waiting list for the 3-octaves chromatic kalimbas. Available now

16/02/2023

This the acoustic sound of the instrument, recorded with my trusted AKG perception 170 mics.

16/02/2023

Een rustig stukje muziek...

This the acoustic sound of the instrument, recorded with my trusted AKG perception 170 mics.

14/11/2022

Finished some new chromatic kalimbas; a good reason for a new video. Here, a simple melody starts out in a 5/4 rhythm, and is repeated on the other channel one beat later. Not really able to keep up the 5/4 though... A tuned wooden tongue drum supports the rhythm.

To celebrate a new batch of instruments: A simple pattern is echoed one beat later on the left channel. With some rhythm support on the wood tongue drum.

25/06/2022

Metal Bass Kalimba with overtone tuning. First glance at the new prototype; recorded on a phone camera.
I use another way of bending the tines to get the overtone at 1 octave above the fundamental. This makes it possible to have the tines aligned in straight rows. I might call this one "Spider Legs"... 20 Tones chromatic, C2 to G3.

Another experiment in search of a good sounding bass instrument. The tines are bend to bring out an overtone at one octave over the fundamental. Recorded wit...

15/01/2022

Bamboo Bass kalimba update
A Marimbula with bamboo tongues. Fully working bass instrument with 1 1/2 octaves range. Overtone-tuned and with piezo pickups.

A bass kalimba with bamboo tongues. The range is 1 1/2 octaves, or 20 tones from C2 to G3. Each tongue has an inner tongue cut out that is tuned to the octav...

04/10/2021

The tuneable Wood Tongue Drum. Finally full freedom in tuning the wooden tongues so you are no longer stuck to one particular key or scale.

Here the 8-tone wooden tongue drum with a total range of more than 2 octaves. The tongues are each tuneable over a wide range and can be exchanged for a flex...

04/10/2021

Further development of the Octagong, my tuneable metal tongue drum. I always felt limited by tongue drums where you have to choose one particular tuning (like A major pentatonic or F minor) and you would be stuck with that tuning. So in this instrument, each tongue can be tuned over a wide range, and you can even swap tongues around and make your own layout.

This tongue drum has 8 tones - I also call it an Octagong. The aluminium tongues can be swapped and each is tuneable over a wide range. The total range is m...

14/08/2021

Another set of chromatic kalimbas done - Now on their way to some patient musicians on the waiting list

01/04/2021

Looking for new tone qualities with these instruments. The result of many hours experimenting.

Here we have 3 kalimba instruments with their overtones tuned to 2 octaves, 1 octave + a 5th, and 1 octave above the fundamental tone. It is shown how bendin...