The ideal mallets I have been searching for have finally been created.
The yarn-wound mallets, designed around the core of "five," produce an exceptionally clear tone from the core itself and can create three distinctly different tonal qualities.
They also produce a very bright sound on the marimba; for example, the M-3003 model is perfect for playing Bach fugues and basic scale exercises.
As for the cord-wound mallets, whether with maple or rattan handles, they maintain excellent balance when using four mallets, providing a comfortable feel and effortless sound production. With the popularity of five-octave marimbas, contemporary music often covers the full range from low to high notes, making mallet selection a crucial factor.
For instance, the M-3011 and 3021 produce bright, clear high notes, making them ideal for works such as Toshi Ichiyanagi's "Forest Portraits" and Akira Miyoshi's "Conversation."
The M-3012 and 3022 are suitable for pieces like Joseph Schwantner's "Velocities," which require the use of both low and high notes. The M-3013 and 3023 are perfect for works like Bach's Cello Suites (unaccompanied), while the M3014 and 3024 are specifically designed for the low register, making them essential for ensemble playing. The M-3031 further pursues low-end transient response, combining appropriate weight and elasticity.
This is a set of mallets that seek the very essence of sound.
Jun Sugawara, Former Principal Timpanist of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Visiting Professor at Tokyo College of Music