Hi, I'm Jim McCarthy
I'm a freelance musician, composer, educator and instrument builder — and I've spent most of my career deeply immersed in the world of percussion. I hold a Masters degree in Music Performance from the University of Adelaide, and my work has taken me from concert stages and recording studios to building my own unique Contra-Bass marimbas and running web-based businesses for fellow instrument builders. Percussion instruments are my passion — designing, building and pushing them further is what I do.
The Ultimate Vibes Motor System
My obsession with the vibraphone motor goes back decades. Frustrated by a system that offered little more than a single modulation effect with almost no real control, I set out to build something better. In 2017 I built the Masterclass Vibraphone I perform on today and began developing the motor system it deserved — working through improved fans, stepper motors, Arduino programming, driver electronics, transmission systems and mounting solutions. By the end of 2018 I had a fully functioning, whisper quiet, and perfectly synchronized prototype — a genuine breakthrough!... though I still knew it could be much better!
Seven years later, and the system has been truly perfected. Every flaw addressed, every limitation overcome, and a whole new world of control and programmable effects added on top. The result is something that has never existed before for the vibraphone — and this package puts it in your hands.
When you buy these plans, you're getting direct access to me — not a support ticket system. I want your build to succeed.
