How have the Hugh Tracey kalimbas changed over the years?

How have the Hugh Tracey kalimbas changed over the years?

Left: 1968 Hugh Tracey Treble Kalimba and Right: 2011 Hugh Tracey Kalimba

Click on the image to read about the history of AMI, including a short article on the remarkably minor changes in design the Hugh Tracey kalimba has undergone over 45 years.Read more

Kalimbas made in the 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s have a much thinner top. A perrenial problem with them is that one or two notes would go dead and the tops would crack. (If you have a dead note,
read about how to fix the dead note with a bit of wood). Recently, AMI has addressed these issues by making kalimbas with a thicker piece of wood on the top. The thicker wood does seem to prevent the notes from going dead, but cracking is still a problem. To prevent cracking, treat your kalimba wood with oil or shea butter, and keep it out of the hot car.