jamesshipp
21 October 2010
Hi All- Wondering if anyone can make a suggestion about makes and models of soft to med. soft marimba mallets worth buying. I've got a marimba now, and I have a student I'm working on with a rolling piece, and my always-sound-great-on-the-vibes Mike Balter Arthur Lipner mediums are not the right thing. I prefer rattan handles and don't like them too ridiculously long; beyond that, please suggest away, thanks. (And if what I really want IS long, birch-handled mallets, please tell me so, and why.)
Comments
Mallets
Bolun Thu, 10/21/2010 - 14:53
Nancy Zeltman models .The light green are available in rattan and birch handles I have the birch handles.
Mike Balter makes a red medium soft mallet model 14 R I like it allot and the Balter Aqua model 15R soft. Works well with the Nutcracker material. Hope this helps.
New mallets!
David Friedman Fri, 10/22/2010 - 09:53
In reply to Mallets by Bolun
I don't want to do a self-interest commercial, but since the question was posed....I have two brand new marimba models that just came out, manufactured by Innovative Percussion. One model is a multifunction mallet that sounds warm, full and still projects over the entire marimba. The other is a soft mallet with a somewhat larger head, with a fat, round sound, perfect for comping and playing lines, from the bottom up about 4 octaves.
self interest commercial
tonymiceli Fri, 10/22/2010 - 11:52
In reply to New mallets! by David Friedman
DO IT. your mallets are great, i saw them and played them!!
I want to put them in the store. can you get an ok from innovative?? then we'll carry them.
Innovative
David Friedman Sat, 10/23/2010 - 05:51
In reply to self interest commercial by tonymiceli
Tony, just sent an email to Innovative.
heh...
jimmiew Fri, 11/05/2010 - 10:47
In reply to self interest commercial by tonymiceli
I just finished interning at a drum shop, if you're ordering IP mallets, prepare to wait a while to receive them. There were things I ordered the first week I was there that didn't come in in the 9 weeks I was there.
On another note, the Innovative Percussion Robin Engelman IP702 are a great rolling mallet in the lower 3-4 octaves
my favorite things
JasonD Fri, 10/22/2010 - 17:27
In reply to Mallets by Bolun
I have to agree that the Zeltsman mallets are my favorite. During college I played marimba mostly, and found that the Encore Nancy Zeltsman mallets have outstanding tone quality and durability. There are about 8 different articulation models in the series (NZ1 - NZ8). I have a set of NZ4Rs and I love them. They sound great across the entire range of the instrument, except maybe the top half octave. They are pricier than other models out there, but it's worth it.
I can't wait to try those new Friedman mallets though. I'll check them out at PASIC in a few weeks.
Marimba Mallets
harvey price Thu, 10/21/2010 - 18:33
Try Tony Miceli's vibe mallet from Mike Balter. It sounds great on marimba. I am using it on the cut that I just posted called Pastor 1X. Anyway, it is rattan and has a beautiful full sound.