Maintaining Your MelodyChime® Instruments

MelodyChime® Instruments: Your Guide To Care And Ringing
Maintaining Your MelodyChime® Instruments
Thank you for selecting Schulmerich MelodyChime® Instruments. We have adjusted
their settings at the factory before shipping, but due to handling during shipping or after
extended use you may find that some adjustments are necessary. The instructions here
will help you adjust your MelodyChime® Instruments for optimum sound.
Attention: Please Read!
MelodyChime® Instruments are designed and crafted to provide you and your
audiences with many delightful years of playing and listening pleasure. The
martellato technique, commonly used for certain handbells, should not be used on
MelodyChime® Instruments and is a misuse of the instrument, as the force of the
strike even on padded tables, could damage the handchime. Furthermore,
attempting to ring a MelodyChime® Instrument with force, in an attempt to generate
a loud sound, may damage the tines and destroy the quality of the sound. Damage
as a result of either of these techniques is not covered under the warranty.
Schulmerich’s guidelines for proper ringing of the MelodyChime® Instruments are
described on pages 4 and 5 of this brochure.
The Schulmerich Warranty For Your MelodyChime® Instruments
Schulmerich MelodyChime® Instruments are warranted to be free from defects in material and
workmanship for a period of five (5) years from date shipped. Defective parts will be repaired or
replaced, at Schulmerich’s option, without charge for materials, provided such parts are returned
shipping prepaid to Schulmerich Bells, Carillon Hill, P. O. Box 903, Sellersville, PA 18960-0903.
Proof of purchase (Schulmerich’s invoice) may be required.
This warranty is extended solely to the original purchaser, and is non-transferable.
This warranty is VOID in the event of abuse, accident, modification to parts, or improper handling,
or repairs or alterations made by the owner or third parties without Schulmerich factory written
authorization.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state
to state.
With the exception of warranty of title, ALL OTHER WARRANTIES ARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED,
THUS THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. No one is authorized to change these terms.
This manual is designed to give you all necessary information on your new MelodyChime®
Instruments. For information on any updates, please visit us at www.SchulmerichBells.com.
A. To make the tone softer or harder, adjust the Clapper Head as follows:
j Using the Nut Driver, loosen the lock nut three full turns.
j It is not necessary to remove the Clapper Head completely. Simply move the Clapper Head
toward the end of the MelodyChime® Hex Shaft, turn it to the desired position, and slide it
back down on the Hex Shaft.
j Using the Nut Driver, retighten the lock nut. Caution: Do not over tighten.
B. If the clapper head buzzes or doesn’t strike the chime tube with enough force:
j The Gap between the chime and the Clapper Head is too small or too large.
j Rotate the Height Adjustment Bumper to set the desired playing action.
j The Gap between the Clapper Head and chime should be 1/8" to 3/16".
C. If the clapper movement becomes too loose:
j Clapper movement should have appropriate resistance. After extensive use, clapper
movement may become too loose — reducing player control of the instrument and possibly
generating noise. In such a case, use the supplied 0.50 Hex Wrench and evenly tighten
2
7
both Tension Adjustment Set Screws as required. For lower large yoke assemblies, adjust
the tension adjustment set screw with the 9/64" hex wrench
Clapper Head Factory Positioning (C#5 – C8)
Return your clapper heads to their original positions by matching these diagrams.
Note that only rubber heads have selectable positions. Yarn wound heads are the same on all
sides, although we do encourage you to rotate them regularly.
Note
C#5
D5
D#5
E5
F5
F#5
G5
G#5
A5
A#5
B5
C6
C#6
D6
D#6
E6
F6
F#6
G6
G#6
A6
A#6
B6
C7
C#7
D7
D#7
E7
F7
F#7
G7
G#7
A7
A#7
B7
C8
6
Position
Type
5
Black
4
Black
3
Black
2
Black
2
Black
3
Black
1
Black
2
Black
1
Black
5
Dark Gray
3
Dark Gray
3
Dark Gray
3
Dark Gray
3
Dark Gray
4
Dark Gray
3
Dark Gray
4
Dark Gray
2
Dark Gray
2
Dark Gray
2
Dark Gray
2
Dark Gray
1
Dark Gray
3 Medium Gray
3 Medium Gray
2 Medium Gray
2 Medium Gray
2 Medium Gray
1 Medium Gray
4
Light Gray
3
Light Gray
3
Light Gray
3
Light Gray
2
Light Gray
2
Light Gray
5
Light Silver
5
Light Silver
j When clapper assembly gently drops under its own weight when the chime tube is held
upside down, the Tension Adjustment Set Screws are properly adjusted.
D. If the clapper makes a clicking sound on its return stroke:
j The Felt Damping Pad may be worn or have become loose. Replace the Damping
Pad with one provided in the Spare Parts Kit.
1
2
3
E. Special tools and parts provided:
j Included with the 2 octave set is a Tool and Spare Parts Kit, including a Nut Driver, a Hex
Wrench, and spare Felt Damping Pads.
Note Designation Label
Felt Damping Pad
Height Adjustment Bumper
#8 Washer #8 lock nut
Axle
4
5
Gap
6
Clapper Head
Replacement (G3 – C5)
Here’s how to replace the original clapper heads in the low
range with our yarn-wound versions.
1. Using the 11/32" nut driver, remove lock nut.
2. Remove the old clapper head by gently pulling it off the
clapper shaft.
3. Install the yarn-wound clapper head by gently sliding it
onto the clapper shaft. You should not need to force it.
4. Replace the lock nut and tighten snugly. Do not overtighten.
Air Column Plug
Please Don’t Move This!
Tension Adjustment
Set Screws (4-40 x 1/8")
Tuning Slot
Hex Shaft
Clapper Head Tines
Schulmerich MelodyChime® Instrument
j Tuning slot configuration, yoke
Tension Adjustment
Set Screw (#8)
type, and clapper head may vary
with note. Lower octave yoke type
is shown at right. . . .➣
9/64" Hex Wrench
0.05" Hex Wrench
11/32" Nut Driver
Note: Your older MelodyChime® Instruments may use a 5/16" nut
driver and acorn nut instead of a 11/32" nut driver and lock nut.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to move the Air Column Plug. This plug has been carefully
positioned at the factory to produce the optimum sound. Moving the plug will result
in severe sound deadening.
AXLE LUBRICATION: You may lubricate each end of the axle with a single drop of
Super Lube® with Syncolon® (PTFE) in tube applicator 51010.
(Super Lube is available from Schulmerich. Super Lube and Syncolon are registered trademarks
of Synco Chemical Corp.)
3
We’ve Built Great Sound
Into Your MelodyChime®
Instruments.
should be positioned slightly below the identifying
pitch plate for optimum balance of the chime
instrument in your hand. 1 Adjust your hand
position according to the size of the instrument.
Here’s How To Get It Out.
Ringing Technique
Once the proper grip is secured, proceed by cocking
the open end of the chime back towards your chest,
so that the clapper falls back toward your shoulder.
With the closed end of the chime pointed downward
and away from you, lead the chime away from your
body with the closed end. 2 The chime should ring
when the wrist has rotated to a nearly vertical
position. 3 The clapper will strike the chime and
should immediately fall away from the chime. 4
It is most important that the clapper falls away from
the chime to insure optimum sound quality. A hard
downward ringing style will not produce a good
tonal sound. Should the clapper remain forward
either resting on the chime, or near it, the sound
will be damped, causing a muffled or short sound.
Once the chime is struck, you should proceed by
lifting the chime back towards your body in an
oval/backward wheel formation.
To help you learn how to get the very best sound
from your new MelodyChime® Instruments, we have
put together this short primer.
Initial Adjustments
Please check the action of your MelodyChime®
Instruments upon receipt. Adjust if necessary,
following the Care & Maintenance Instructions in
this booklet. If you have any questions, please feel
free to contact your local Schulmerich Representative, or the home office at 800/772-3557.
These settings should be checked periodically and
should be adjusted if necessary in order to maintain
the desired playing tension.
Basic Ringing Technique
As with any musical instrument, it is extremely
important that proper playing technique is taught
from the beginning. Good ringing techniques will
lead to good tonal sound production and precise
performance, which will bring about positive results
and satisfaction in your ringing experience.
1
4
4
To damp the sound of the chime, meaning to stop
the sound of the chime, bring the chime to your
chest, turning your arm inward so that both tines
touch the chest. 5 Hands must never cross over to
opposite shoulders. The second method of damping
chimes would be to damp them directly on the
table/foam being careful not to re-strike the chime
upon contact with the table/foam. The larger the
instrument, the greater the damping surface
required to be in contact with the chest or
table/foam, to properly damp the sound.
Hand Position
Schulmerich MelodyChime® Instruments are
octagonal in shape to facilitate comfortable holding
of the chime. The side of the chime should be placed
flat against the open extended hand, then position
the thumb and fingers around the tube. The
identifying pitch plate on the chime should be
placed facing you, in the upward position. The hand
Damping Position
3
2
5
5
Your Guide To
Care & Ringing
Instruments by Schulmerich
Schulmerich Bells
®
46-784 • Rev. G • 10s/07 • 2M
Electronic Carillons • Cast Bells • Handbells
MelodyChime® and MelodyWave® Instruments
Carillon Hill • PO Box 903 • Sellersville, PA • 18960-0903 • USA
215/257-2771 • 800/772-3557 • Fax: 215/257-1910
HomeOffice@SchulmerichBells.com
www.SchulmerichBells.com
www.MelodyWave.net
© 1999 - 2007 Schulmerich Carillons, Inc.
www.SchulmerichBells.com