Designed by world-renowned marimba artist Kai Stensgaard, this series features natural/unfinished birch shafts, rubber cores and a wool yarn wrap. The five models are graduated in hardness and weight. Kai is an accomplished 6-mallet player and has designed his mallets to be very manageable using either 4 or 6 mallet grip. The sound throughout the series is clear and warm. The white yarn provides excellent visual awareness for the performer and each model is color coded for quick and easy identification.
Although designed for the professional player, many teachers and students prefer these mallets for their traditional weight and sound.
KS10 Soft:
The KS10 is the softest mallet in the set and works well in lower octaves and as a mallet in the middle octaves when a very soft articulation is needed. It can be combined with other mallets in the series for a graduated set of 4 or 6
KS20 Medium Soft:
The KS20 works well when less articulation is needed or for rolled passages. It is also a great bass mallet when using a graduated set for 4 mallet playing.
KS30 Medium:
The KS30 is great as a general purpose mallet. It covers a wide range of the instrument and can be used in solo or ensemble playing
KS40 Medium Hard:
The KS40 Medium Hard mallet is a great "go to" mallet. The rubber core and medium weight makes it the most popular mallet in the series. This mallet covers a wide range of the marimba.
KS50 Hard:
The KS50 is the hardest mallet in the series. It is great for upper octave playing and whenever a lead line needs to cut through.