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That's where this kalimba comes in. For a little over $20, I figured I could mess around with it, see if I enjoyed the instrument before purchasing an expensive kalimba. I was extremely surprised by my initial impressions of this kalimba. The look of the instrument is absolutely stunning and the sound right out of the box is lovely. I believe I may need to tune the furthest keys as they are a little buzzy but, overall, you get a pretty solid piece for next to nothing cost-wise.
Pros
- Very inexpensive
- Beautiful appearance
- Classic, "music-box" sound
- Tune correctly out of the box (two keys are any exception)
- Lots of goodies (tuning hammer, manual and music tabs book, stickers for the keys, black bag for storage)
- Ergonomic shape with the side dents for your thumb to rest
- Like most kalimbas, learning the basic mechanics of how to play is very easy
- Engraved keys (the listing and many Q&As answered by the seller say the keys are not engraved but mine did come engraved and I think it is absolutely beautiful plus helpful)
Cons
- Multiple reviewers experienced the same damage from a crack starting at the soundhole and running to the base after a month+ of owning (I have not experienced this but will update if this happens)
- Tuning hammer feels it is made of cheap material (will see if this is a problem later on)
- No real paper trail on where this instrument was manufactured (may not be a con or even a care for many but knowing where your piece was made and exactly by who can be important for some)
- Does not include a pickup (this might be a moot point for many but, higher-end kalimbas, such as the alto kalimba from Kalimba Magic I first started playing on, have an electronic pickup for amps)
- No ability to request non-standard tuning (the vast majority of people want a kalimba tuned in Standard G. However, if you want a different tuning [aren't confident you could do that yourself], you won't be able to ask with any of the kalimbas found on Amazon for a different tuning like you can with other manufacturers like Kalimba Magic)
Pro/Con/Neutral
- Small (great for children and folks with small hands like me but might be annoying for someone with larger hands)
- Lightweight (again, great for children and small-handed folks but could be frustrating for someone who wants a hefty instrument)
- While gorgeous, I do question the quality of materials used. The craftsmanship is beautiful but, without knowing the specific source of all the material, it is difficult to provide feedback on the quality.
I've included a few pictures and a (poorly focused) video of the kalimba being played. You may be able to hear the "buzzy" or "fuzzy" end keys in the video but, overall, this was tuned wonderfully. Additionally, I have not tuned or done anything to the kalimba besides play it a few times. This is the sound out of the box.
I think this piece does the job for anyone test-running if they want a kalimba or not. It is very cheap which makes it easier to jump into; no pressure if you don't enjoy it and decide to give it away, donate, or just leave it on your shelf to mess about with once every few months. For a starter kalimba (barring any sudden and random damage as other reviewers have experienced with this specific piece) I rate this 5/5. It has everything a starter kalimba should have at a price point that is very difficult to beat. Compared to other, high-end and professional kalimbas, it absolutely lacks in multiple areas but, if you're just test-running this interesting and wonderful instrument, this little piece will help you explore. And, when you're ready to upgrade to a professional kalimba, you won't feel as though you wasted any money or time with this little cheapy buddy!
