My Bally Chime unit could sound better; looking for suggestions. It's super clean, complete, and just updated with the PBR update kit, but all bar sounds still a bit muffled; I know it can sound better. Just to clarify, my score relay switches that drive the unit are clean and non-pitted, and the coil plungers are the correct hollowed out nylon tip type.
Should the bars be placed on a small nylon/metal washer, small screw? What creates the best sound?
This is for a Mata Hari EM.
If u just updated with the PBR kit u should have gotten the rubber grommets etc. Did u buy new coil plungers? They don’t come with the kit. Or are u using the old ones? If using the old ones and they are loose at all between the metal and nylon, they won’t sound right. Glueing them usually doesn’t last. If u didn’t get new plungers, u should replace them too.
Interesting. I just did the same job on our Mata Hari. The chimes definitely sound better, but some are dull. I willl have to check the plastic tips on the plungers. I never considered that a loose one could be an issue. I also have to wonder if the bar lengths are cut for good tones. I suspect that is part of the reason the Williams long chime bar doesn’t sound great.
What I have found is that the holes in the chime bars are not all drilled in the correct locations. They bind on the mounting screws due to the holes being slightly off center. It puts a bind on the grommets and the brass inserts.
In some cases I've had to either ream the chime bar hole out a tad bit bigger or remove one of the brass inserts from a grommet.
Also, be sure you are not tightening the lock nut down too far. The chime bars need to move.
Quoted from KenLayton:What I have found is that the holes in the chime bars are not all drilled in the correct locations. They bind on the mounting screws due to the holes being slightly off center. It puts a bind on the grommets and the brass inserts.
In some cases I've had to either ream the chime bar hole out a tad bit bigger or remove one of the brass inserts from a grommet.
Also, be sure you are not tightening the lock nut down too far. The chime bars need to move.
Great points, So I have attached the grommets to each bar hole and inserted the metal pins and new coil sleeve; has anyone tried placing the chime bar on top of thin nylon washers or spacers to increase resonant sound?
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Glenelg, MD