Blue Man Fans

Woohoo! This is my first post on the new Blue Man Fan site. Thanks Joe for making this happen again!

Kicking things off in this section with a roll-call! Who’s built their own musical pipe instrument?? Tell us all about it! Does it have a unique name? Crazy note-range? Fun color / visual design? I’m always fascinated to meet fellow builders of their own instruments, so please introduce yourself and share!

To briefly share my story - I’m Snubby J (aka Kent) and I was inspired by Blue Man Group to build my first PVC Instrument (technically with ABS pipes) back in 2007 with my Dad. He and I have since built a total of 5 instruments:

1.) Our original silver / black set (now expanded to 4.5 octaves!)
2.) The red/blue “RimbaTubes” (built with wheels and designed for my college LMU)
3.) The MiniTubes (made with 1.5” pipe as a donation for my local summer arts camp)
4.) The PortaTubes / KaleidoTubes / MetalliTubes (a deconstructable set that can fit in suitcases and travel all around the world)
5.) AstralPipes (a custom design for trade shows in India)

With that, I’m excited to hear all about yours! If you have pics or videos, it’d be great to see them too!

Hi! Im making a replica of the high range of the ny pvcs right now, and i actually bought your paddles for it! ill send updates and photos in this!

Coltini wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:34 pm Hi! Im making a replica of the high range of the ny pvcs right now, and i actually bought your paddles for it! ill send updates and photos in this!

Be sure to show us your setup! How cool! Authentic SnubbyJ paddles!

Hi! I’ve built a handful of instruments with my dad as well! Drumbone, tubulum, and high-range and mid-ranges PVCs! I used to run a site years ago called BMG Construction 101. It appears to live on in the Wayback Machine!

https://web.archive.org/web/20090330004 ... struct.php

ekevin wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 10:38 am Hi! I’ve built a handful of instruments with my dad as well! Drumbone, tubulum, and high-range and mid-ranges PVCs! I used to run a site years ago called BMG Construction 101. It appears to live on in the Wayback Machine!

https://web.archive.org/web/20090330004 ... struct.php

Wow! I remember that site Kevin! Sheesh, it seems so long ago! Like a dream almost of an era of my life. Crazy!

Well, you al know what I build. But unfortunately I have no idea what the state is and even where it is nowadays.
Don't know if I showed you this, but this was our very last performance with it.
https://youtu.be/e0PU9yFeUKY

BlueMarco wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 12:59 pm Well, you al know what I build. But unfortunately I have no idea what the state is and even where it is nowadays.
Don't know if I showed you this, but this was our very last performance with it.
https://youtu.be/e0PU9yFeUKY

OH man, what a beauty! So "accurate" too! *wink wink*

rotcav wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2025 12:37 am

BlueMarco wrote: Sat Feb 01, 2025 12:59 pm Well, you al know what I build. But unfortunately I have no idea what the state is and even where it is nowadays.
Don't know if I showed you this, but this was our very last performance with it.
https://youtu.be/e0PU9yFeUKY

OH man, what a beauty! So "accurate" too! *wink wink*

this isnt technically "pvc" but its an instrument. im attempting to make the airpole, but havent found a good fiberglass rod to use, anyone know something close or what they use?

I did find this: https://www.ridertack.com/racing-rod-wh ... yEfkQ5CCb6
its a horse whip, but it looks very similar to the airpole in snubby j's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcYYsREeZQE&t=252s