More About Deagon

My Atlantic City gig is over. For about 2 months I played on THAT beautiful Deagon Vibraphone.

I remember being on a message board. I was arguing with some other players as to what the best sounding instrument was. My pick was Musser. One guy chimed in a couple of times about Deagon. I kept thinking who’s this loser talking about some instrument they don’t even make any more. Well, that loser was Terry Gibbs!! Definitely not a loser!!

Well I knew I was defeated. Sure taste is taste, but this ‘cat’ played all over the world he had played on many different vibraphones and he knew more than me.

Move forward several years to my Atlantic City gig. Resorts Casino has a set of Deagons (Don’t know the model) from their Merv Griffin Days. That instrument played behind all the great crooners. Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy, Tony Bennet.

I would show up a little early each night before the gig just to play on them and listen. While the bars were a little smaller I fell in love with the sound. What a beautiful instrument. I loved that fact that it was a warm sound but had a lot of ‘cutting’ highs.

I felt like I could see what inspired Milt, Terry and Cal back in the day. I could see how that sound would cut through a big band, how it would work in a small band with amplification like it was then.

I would love to own a Deagon, just to play on it and get that sound. I mention in another post, I wish Musser or Yamaha would make those bars again.

Any Deagon players out there? Are you loyal? I can see why!