What is the main purpose of the TreeWorks Chime Damper?

The main purpose is to allow a percussionist to instantly silence bar chimes when they are no longer needed in a performance. It prevents the long natural sustain of the bars from bleeding into subsequent quiet musical passages.

What material is used to construct the Chime Damper?

It is manufactured from rigid, laser-cut steel. This construction is finished with a black powder coating to provide exceptional durability and resistance to wear.

Can the damper be used for anything other than total silencing?

Yes, it can be adjusted to barely touch the bars. This creates a light dampening effect that reduces sustain without completely muting the instrument.

Which specific TreeWorks models is this damper compatible with?

It is compatible with the TRE35, TRE23, TRE417, TRE44, TRE28, and TRE35XO models. It was originally designed specifically for the TRE35.

How durable is the finish on the Chime Damper?

The damper features a black powder coating over the steel. This finish is designed to be extremely durable and reliable for frequent live performance use.

Is the Chime Damper difficult to install?

No, it is designed to attach directly to the chime frame. The installation process is straightforward and intended to integrate seamlessly with the supported TreeWorks models.

Does the damper affect the tone of the chimes when not engaged?

When fully disengaged, the damper does not touch the bars, allowing the chimes to ring with their natural tone and sustain. It only affects the sound when moved into contact with the bars.

Is this a plastic or metal accessory?

This is a metal accessory. Unlike cheaper plastic alternatives, it is made from rigid laser-cut steel for professional longevity.

What is the typical price for this accessory?

The TreeWorks Chime Damper typically retails for approximately £100. This reflects its professional-grade materials and specialized function.

Why would a percussionist choose this over manual hand damping?

A mechanical damper provides a more consistent result and allows the percussionist to free up their hands for other instruments immediately after playing the chimes. It is particularly useful for complex percussion setups.

Is this product suitable for the TRE35XO?

Yes, the TRE35XO is listed as one of the compatible models for this specific damper. It will fit the frame and function as intended.

Does this product include the chimes themselves?

No, this is an accessory only. It is intended to be added to an existing TreeWorks chime set to enhance its functionality.

Gear article

TreeWorks Chime Damper

The TreeWorks Chime Damper is a specialized percussion accessory designed to provide immediate control over the sustain and volume of bar chimes. Constructed from laser-cut steel, it allows percussionists to either instantly silence the instrument or apply a subtle dampening effect for controlled performances.

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Overview and Construction

The TreeWorks Chime Damper is a professional-grade attachment specifically engineered for use with bar chimes. Designed to solve the issue of unwanted sustain in orchestral or live settings, the device is manufactured from rigid, laser-cut steel. To ensure longevity and a discreet appearance on stage, the steel is finished with a durable black powder coating.

The build quality emphasizes reliability, ensuring that the mechanism remains stable through repeated use. Its primary design goal is to provide a mechanical solution for stopping the motion and sound of chime bars, which typically have a long natural decay time.

Functionality and Control

The damper operates by making contact with the chime bars. It offers two distinct modes of operation:

Total Silence: By fully engaging the damper, the user can instantly stop all vibration, preventing the chimes from ringing after a performance section has ended.
Light Dampening: The damper can be adjusted to barely touch the bars. This allows for a shorter sustain and a more controlled, 'tighter' sound, which is useful in recording environments or smaller acoustic venues.

This versatility makes it a critical tool for percussionists who require precise rhythmic timing and clean transitions between musical sections.

Compatibility

While the TreeWorks Chime Damper was originally developed for the flagship TRE35 model, its mounting design is compatible with a wide range of TreeWorks instruments. Supported models include:

TRE23 and TRE28
TRE35 and TRE35XO
TRE44
TRE417

This broad compatibility ensures that percussionists can standardise their setups across different sizes and configurations of chimes.

Market Position and Alternatives

Within the percussion market, the TreeWorks Chime Damper occupies a specialized niche. While many percussionists use manual hand-damping techniques, this hardware solution provides a consistent and hands-free method of maintaining instrument silence. Compared to other percussion accessories like the Meinl Planetary Tuned Crystal Singing Bowls or various egg maracas, the Chime Damper is a utility tool rather than a primary sound generator. It is priced as a premium professional accessory, reflecting its heavy-duty steel construction and specific mechanical purpose.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the main purpose of the TreeWorks Chime Damper?: The main purpose is to allow a percussionist to instantly silence bar chimes when they are no longer needed in a performance. It prevents the long natural sustain of the bars from bleeding into subsequent quiet musical passages.
What material is used to construct the Chime Damper?: It is manufactured from rigid, laser-cut steel. This construction is finished with a black powder coating to provide exceptional durability and resistance to wear.
Can the damper be used for anything other than total silencing?: Yes, it can be adjusted to barely touch the bars. This creates a light dampening effect that reduces sustain without completely muting the instrument.
Which specific TreeWorks models is this damper compatible with?: It is compatible with the TRE35, TRE23, TRE417, TRE44, TRE28, and TRE35XO models. It was originally designed specifically for the TRE35.
How durable is the finish on the Chime Damper?: The damper features a black powder coating over the steel. This finish is designed to be extremely durable and reliable for frequent live performance use.
Is the Chime Damper difficult to install?: No, it is designed to attach directly to the chime frame. The installation process is straightforward and intended to integrate seamlessly with the supported TreeWorks models.
Does the damper affect the tone of the chimes when not engaged?: When fully disengaged, the damper does not touch the bars, allowing the chimes to ring with their natural tone and sustain. It only affects the sound when moved into contact with the bars.
Is this a plastic or metal accessory?: This is a metal accessory. Unlike cheaper plastic alternatives, it is made from rigid laser-cut steel for professional longevity.
What is the typical price for this accessory?: The TreeWorks Chime Damper typically retails for approximately £100. This reflects its professional-grade materials and specialized function.
Why would a percussionist choose this over manual hand damping?: A mechanical damper provides a more consistent result and allows the percussionist to free up their hands for other instruments immediately after playing the chimes. It is particularly useful for complex percussion setups.
Is this product suitable for the TRE35XO?: Yes, the TRE35XO is listed as one of the compatible models for this specific damper. It will fit the frame and function as intended.
Does this product include the chimes themselves?: No, this is an accessory only. It is intended to be added to an existing TreeWorks chime set to enhance its functionality.