Re:Re:Re:Re:I'm new to marimba, and I need some basic advice

[2988]Re:Re:Re:Re:I'm new to marimba, and I need some basic advice (269 reads)	2003-06-19 00:12:15

James Walker

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Lon Stetz wrote:

I can't recommend Mike Balter yarn mallets for four mallet playing. I agree with you that there customer support team is very good, but for me Mike Balter yarn mallets are very one dimensional and can become very dull and tedicious to both the performer and the listener. A good example of this is in Japanese marimba pieces. Try playing Miki Time, Seuyoshi Mirage or Torse III with a set of MB yarn head mallets and you'll see what i'm getting at. The mallets are dominantly single tone and are unable to change sound or "cut through" at louder dynamic levels. With a Malletech multi tone or two tone mallet from the Stevens line, the mallets really cut through at louder dynamic levels and make the piece more enjoyable to listen to and perform.

Lon,

If you're talking about the Balter marimba mallets that have been around for years, I'd tend to agree with you - but FWIW Balter has raised the bar in terms of their concert marimba mallet offerings with the "Performing Artist" and "Shadow Series" lines. I've found that both of these lines are far superior to the older "Contemporary Series," which didn't ever do that much for me. If you've tried the newer Balters and they still didn't "do it" for you, then so be it, that's personal preference, and I'm certainly not going to argue that with another player.

...and in the interest of full disclosure, yes, I'm a Balter endorser, but no, I don't receive any sort of stipend or commission for mentioning the mallets on the 'net, here or elsewhere. In fact, when I hooked up with Balter, it was on the strength of their vibraphone mallets; it wasn't until I tried the new marimba mallets mentioned above that I really felt comfortable endorsing the company.

Regarding Malletech mallets, I used the Samuels and Friedman vibe mallets, and the "Concerto" and Stout marimba mallets, for years, dating back to my undergraduate days. The Friedman mallets I bought in 1987 have been fantastic - they've lasted forever, the rattan was great, and the sound remained consistent from day one 'til today. I bought a second set about three years later, using the spec's of my first set as a guide, and got back a product (direct from Malletech) which was nothing like the original set in terms of feel or sound (or quality of rattan), even tho the "spec's" were the same. When Malletech mallets are good, they're very, very good - but like Scott, I've had some quality control issues in the past that would make me leery of buying more from them.

And for our original poster, I also second the recommendations of Encore and Innovative Percussion mallets.

As always, YMMV...

JW

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