Majestic CONCERT CHIMES 1,5 OCTAVES QUANTUM C1618B

Historical Context and Positioning Within the Range

Founded in 1921 by Willem Klazes van der Glas, Majestic has established itself in the world of orchestral percussion by designing instruments aimed at professionals, teachers, and students. Since joining the K.H.S group in 2003, the brand has strengthened its innovation capacity while maintaining expertise focused on reliability and consistent manufacturing. The C1618B belongs to the Quantum series, a performance-oriented range designed to provide a strong sonic presence, effective playing control, and ergonomics suited to the demands of the stage, pit, or mobile setups.

Intended Users for This Tubular Chimes Set

The Majestic C1618B primarily targets orchestral percussionists, conservatories, music schools, and ensembles seeking an instrument capable of holding its place within a full percussion section. Its range and projection are particularly suitable for symphonic repertoire, film music, musical theatre, and any writing requiring the characteristic impact of tubular chimes. Thanks to its mobility and dampener, it also adapts well to performances with stage changes, outdoor concerts, and contexts demanding clear attacks and clean note stops.

Features and Innovations

The C1618B features a Quantum frame designed to combine stability and practicality. The 18 tubes cover a range from C5 to F6 over 1.5 octaves, with a tuning of A = 442 Hz, appreciated in many modern orchestral contexts. The instrument is equipped with a dampener featuring a damping system, essential for executing fast passages, clarifying phrase endings, and avoiding unwanted resonances in tutti sections. Finally, its large casters facilitate transport: a tangible advantage during setup, scene changes, or when precise positioning within a percussion setup is required.

Sound Characteristics

With its lacquered brass tubes, the Majestic C1618B delivers a sound that is both bright and full, typical of orchestral tubular chimes: a clear attack, a well-defined note core, and a sustain long enough to "carry" above strings and winds. The brass promotes natural projection and presence that remains audible even in generous acoustics, while maintaining a certain roundness useful for more lyrical passages.

The dampener provides a genuine musical benefit: it allows shaping note durations, cleaning chord endings, and achieving more precise articulations, particularly in rhythmic passages or sections where clarity is paramount. The result is an expressive instrument capable of shifting from broad resonance to clean stops without sacrificing the harmonic richness that defines tubular chimes.

Technical specifications