Stabilization for M55 vibraphones (Version B)

(As I didn't have a long enough rectangular tube available, I used a longer end piece for the photos.)

I have here two simple and inexpensive, but very effective and easy to realize solutions for frame stiffeners on old Musser M55 vibraphone frames. All you need are a few simple 3D printed parts, two pieces of aluminum square tubing and a few nuts and bolts.

Drill a 5.0 mm diameter hole 30 mm from the cut edge at both ends of the 25 mm x 25 mm x 1.5 mm aluminum square profiles (commercially available DIY store goods).

Version B does not require any intervention in the original vibraphone frame, as all components are simply clamped.

Tube length square tube: 450 mm

For version B, the two clamp half shells are placed on the pedal bar and lightly screwed together (ISO 4014 M5x35 and nut ISO 4032-M5) so that the clamp can still be moved on the pedal bar. The two end pieces are then inserted into the tube and screwed together with ISO 4014-M5x45 bolts and ISO 4032-M5 nuts. One side of the cross strut is screwed into the clamp using a screw ISO 4014-M5x45 and a nut with clamping part ISO 10511 so that it can be easily rotated but is free of play. On the other side of the cross strut, a screw ISO 4014-M5x50 is inserted through the first handwheel, then through the free end piece and further through the second handwheel. Another ISO 4032-M5 nut is then screwed on.

The lower and upper side clamps are placed on the crossbar of the vibraphone frame and screwed together with two M5x35 screws and an M5 nut so that the side clamp can still be moved.

By inserting the pre-assembled cross strut into the groove of the side clamp, the exact position of both clamps is determined and fixed by tightening the screws.