Prepared Vibraphone

Hi, everyone!

A few months ago, I was hanging out in the "green room" before a new music concert at my school (UD). I had finished setting up for a multi-percussion piece and was thinking about some ideas I might explore on vibes during the improv performance that would happen later in the evening. There were some treats sitting around back stage, in tupperware and on suran-wrap covered plates (for the post concert reception). There was also a whole box of aluminum foil sitting on a table across the room. I noticed the box and immediately had a flashback to my mother's voice, "WHAT AREYA DOING? You're wasting all my aluminum foil!"— as a kid, I liked to make shapes with mom's aluminum foil.
Naturally, I identified with the lone box as an opportunity to fulfill my once 'foiled' attempt at an aluminum hat, aluminum gloves, and aluminum shoe covers. I picked up the box, ready to play, half expecting to receive a similar scolding from the box's owner. But I digress...

As soon as I pulled a sheet of foil off the roll, it dawned on me that a more important experiment had to take place that evening; I brought the foil out to the vibes, placed it on top of the bars and struck some notes. I would describe the sound as, "acoustic static", it was delightful and inspiring! During the performance, I had ~3 pieces of foil resting on the bars at any given time; I mostly crumpled them into loose balls or laid them straight over the bars. I didn't cover the whole range, but experimented with the effect in different registers.

I'm posting this because I think/hope some of you may 'get a kick' out of this!
I'd also like to ask if you've experimented with "prepared vibraphone" in any way, shape or form. It may be a long shot but who knows? Have you got any stories/ non-standard timbrel ideas?

Would love to hear them!

Frank