There are two CB glockenspiel sets on Amazon.com right now. model 6854 comes in a hard plastic case. Model 6855 is a little less expesive because it comes in a nylon case. Sure wish those things were included in the descriptions of the items. Hope this helps others.

I had the devil’s own time trying to research this glockenspiel (which is, I am told, technically the correct name for this instrument). There are not many reviews of it out there and not much to go on. The CB Percussion is substantially cheaper than many of the alternatives, though, and so I decided to take a leap of faith. I am very pleased that I took the chance.

I’m using this fellow for recording with my indie rock group. I couldn’t say whether it would do for a school band, which seems to be the target audience for many bell kits. The sound is lovely, that sweet chiming noise that one would want a glockenspiel for. I like the double-sided mallets, one side seems to produce a more transient, sharp attack and the other side is softer, and better for playing when your housemates are asleep. I’ve recorded with it twice now, and it sits well in a mix and seems to be in tune with everything else.

I’m glad I sprung for the one with the hard shell case, I actually leave it in the case at all times and just open the lid to play. The case is very sturdy and well worth the ten or fifteen dollar price difference from the version with the gig bag.

This bell kit is actually a bit more attractive than it looks in the picture (or at least mine is)… the “white” bars are kind of a cream color and very pretty.

Again, I can’t speak for the needs of a band student or orchestral player but for an indie rock guy who doesn’t need a stand or anything too complex, this is a wonderful object.

Great beginner glockenspiel but with the rubber mallets the volume is not as great. Plastic mallets work better. I have the acclaimed Angel AX-25 glockenspiel which works as great and has plastic mallets. The CB has the size of a more adult instrument (but more for teens than adults) but for sound you can’t beat the Angel, but it is not better than the CB when plastic mallets are used. These 2 glockenspiels are conveniently small and light, and great for any age. The bars for the CB are white and black and aluminum, those for the Angel are steel and all silvery. This instrument is wrongly called bells or orchestra bells–it is a glockenspiel and the German name means “bells play” but not because they are bells, but because bells were used before the bars. It is also wrongly called a xylophone, xylophone bars are made of wood.