At , this kalimba is an excellent value and I plan to buy a couple more for various tunings. However, the MidEast Music kalimba is not an instrument for beginning musicians. As noted in the negative reviews below, it is very difficult to tune due to the thicker tines. However, once tuned the added mass provides a much warmer tone than the Hugh Tracy kalimba. That added thickness also makes the instrument a bit more difficult to play, but more difficult like a guitar set up for jazz or the heavier action of a concert piano.

Also, the MidEast Music kalimba comes with no manual or tuning instructions and finding that information on the web was not an easy Google search. To tune this instrument, I had to buy a small punch and a tack hammer; pliers didn’t cut it and I doubt anyone could tune this instrument without these tools. That said, once this kalimba IS tuned, it stays in tune!

Finally, the tines arrived rough and unpolished, and they would tear up someone’s nails within minutes. However, a file and some metal polish took care of the rough edges.

Beginning musicians or anyone afraid of handtools should consider paying double or triple the price for the hand-holding service of Hugh Tracy kalimba models. The HTK’s are quieter, brighter sounding and require constant tuning due to the thinner tines, but more suited to beginning musicians who have not yet built up the strength in their hands.

When I was in college, a friend of mine owned a kalimba and allowed me to borrow it for a few days. I found that picking out tunes on it was fun and relaxing, and that I enjoyed the sound. When I saw this item on line, I decided to see if that would still be true. It is! The instrument was delivered promptly, and was well packaged. It is sturdy, and the wood grain is pleasing to the eye. The only reason I didn’t give this five stars was that it was shipped badly out of tune, but that was corrected after a brief search on the Internet. It sounds wonderful now! Another thing to watch for is that tiny amounts of the chrome plating on the keys might flake off a bit at first, so you might want to give them a good wiping down to avoid getting any metal splinters. Overall, I’m glad I have it.

I’ve been playing the Hugh Tracey Kalimba for many years.

I bought a Mid East Kalimba from eBay.

It was advertised as a Hugh Tracey Kalimba and came

in an old Hugh Tracey box. I thought I had gotten a good deal.

In the picture it looks exactly the same.

The first thing I noticed different was the paint on the tines.

It was a more of a translucent color. I thought it had been

repainted (and kind of a sloppy job at that).

The next thing I noticed, as soon as I took it out the box

was that it was a much heavier wood. It did not have the light

feel of the Hugh Tracey models which are made from an exotic,

resonant Kiaat wood. This thing was thick.

It looked very pretty though.

The big disappointment came when I started to play the instrument.

First off, it was out of tune. I had a rough time trying to tune

this beast. With the Hugh Tracey models, I just wiggle the tines

side to side or use a coin to push the tines.

The tines don’t move easily on this Mid East Beast… Damn!

Unless you know what you are doing, you won’t be

able to get this thing in tune. It’s very difficult.

After fighting with it for almost an hour, I finally got it tuned.

The sound is OK but kind of tinny (if that’s a word).

It doesn’t have the full, deeper sound of the Hugh Tracey.

It’s probably because the tines are thicker.

It doesn’t have the mellow tamber nor maintain the sustain.

I also notice the edges of the tines are not smooth.

It’s a little rough on your thumbnails.

You probably should sand them down some to smooth it out.

All in all, it looks pretty but not much fun to play.

I would never buy another one

(and wish I could get my money back).

You’d be much better off with a Hugh Tracey Model.

They come tuned, don’t scratch your thumbnails

and give you a much fuller, more mellow sound.