I received this instrument as a present in 1970. I have played it in a variety of bands. From big swing bands and to trios. I am not a professional musician, so my ear is not as discerning as others. Having said that, it has the most easily recognizable voice for a vibraphone. I have practiced on other brands and always found the sound lacking when compared to the century 75. Versatile, but very unforgiving, it is still a joy to play. I have packed it and moved it over 500 times. (I have 5 hard cases to pack it in) I have replaced the felt twice,and replaced the drive belt many times.I have tightened the fastenings on some of the resonance tubes. The high speed reverb button was recently replaced. That is all I have done to my instrument in the 35 years I have owned it. My vibes are a focal point in any gig I do. The visual presence adds to the atmosphere as no other vibraphone can.The carriage of my instrument is still in very good condition. it does not have any rattles or resonance problems that I can detect. The black lacquer and vinyl are in very good condition, as is the gold paint.

I got my first set of vibes in Dec. 1977 for Chirstmas. My dad build them for me. He worked for Ludwig and that was the best and last Chirstmas I spent with my dad. And to see him put together that Century vibe was amazing and unforgettable. I will never play on anything else. The quality is by far the best. The sound is mesmerizing.

I have had the pleasure of performing on Musser Vibes and Marimbas for several years. The quality of workmanships on these instruments are by far the best when setting the standards. The over all responsiveness is unique on this instrument. It's tone is rich and full, but bright in its upper register. The dynamics are one of the key components too, from pianos to fortes, the range of volume is a key factor in my preference for Musser mallet keyboards. I've had many opportunities to play other mallet keyboards, but always find Musser to be the quality of choice for me.

This instrument is stunningly beautiful. It plays like a dream. Definitely a high quality instrument.