Mallet experts - What do you recommend for playing on the drum set

striker

striker

Silver Member
I always thought of mallets as something that creates that smooth dreamy sound effect on the cymbals and then you set them aside, pick up the sticks, and play the rest of the song.

The other day I saw this cool clip from TAMA. This fellow is playing the drum set with mallets. Also it sounds like you can get a mellower and lower volume from the drum set by playing mallets. What mallets do you recommend for playing on the drum set?


 
I'm no expert, but I've used the Vic Firth T4 Ultra Staccato mallets on the kit. I like them because you can still get cymbal swells while getting some articulation and a pretty full tone out of drums. The fuzzier mallets require some babying and might not last too many shows.
 
You need to try the Dragonfly Percussion Toppers and Lowtops. They are the best on the market. Look down this page.

dragonflypercussion.com

Drum Set

Dragonfly Percussion has been designing and manufacturing mallets used in the world’s top orchestras for 20 years. Now they’ve brought that attention to timbre and their innovative designs to the drum set world with a new line of kick drum beaters. Adapted from a Viennese-style of timpani...
dragonflypercussion.com dragonflypercussion.com
 
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Tamboreter said:
I use the Meinl Drumset mallets in soft, medium and hard on a regular basis. Each mallet hardness or softness expands the tonal palette and possible sound colors. I use different designated cymbal mallets for swells and swooshes.
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bongoman said:
I’ve been using these Meinls lately and I like them a lot.
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am undecided between the medium and the hard tip mallets. I have two quick questions:
1) Does the hard mallet tip feels more like playing a real drum stick?
2) Does the medium tip mallet breaks apart after some usage?
 
I’ve always kept a pair of Vic Firth Swizzle Sticks in my bag. One end is a tympani mallet-like head, and the other is a drumstick bead. So in a pinch I can do the cymbal swells and if I need a drumstick right away I just flip them. Real handy.
 
Because I use Vater Fusion sticks as my regular stick, I have a couple pairs of Vater Sizzle Fusion Drumstick Mallets.
 
striker said:
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am undecided between the medium and the hard tip mallets. I have two quick questions:
1) Does the hard mallet tip feels more like playing a real drum stick?
2) Does the medium tip mallet breaks apart after some usage?
Click to expand...
All felt will either compress, wear down, or break apart with usage.
 
For the Dragonfly toppers the hard are not as hard as sticks but are great for a medium articulate sound on cowbells and cymbals and drums. I use the medium toppers for general mallet playing like cymbal rolls and Tom work. The low tops are soft and great when you have to flip the stick around.
 
striker said:
1) Does the hard mallet tip feels more like playing a real drum stick?
Click to expand...
Not really, it feels more like an old style felt marching tenor mallet of bygone era. The felt definitely softens the attack.

Correction: the small tips on the Meinl drumsticks are more like drumsticks, they articulate well, but definitely don't have the crisp attack of regular drumsticks. They definitely are more muted than regular sticks. The larger hard felt mallets are more like the old style tenor mallets, which has more surface area striking the drum head. Hope this helps!
 
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Tamboreter said:
BTW, the mallets the guy uses in the video appear to be hard mallets... they articulate well even on the hats. Sorry I didn't catch that sooner. 🙃
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Thanks again. I already ordered the hard mallet. Unfortunately none of the local shops had what I wanted, so I had to order from the Guitar Center. The reason that I ordered from GC is that shipping to their store is free and the closest one is only 1.5 miles away from my house. I will update with description and pictures when it arrives.
 
Once again, thanks everyone for your valuable feedbacks. I learned a lot from this experience about mallets.
I have everything now. Here is a picture of the entire rhythm section from left to right.

Promark B600 Retractable Nylon Brushes
Meinl Stick & Brush Super Soft Mallets
Vater Sizzle Fusion Hard Mallets
Vater Whip
Vater Classics Drumsticks - Big Band - Nylon Tip
Vater American Hickory Drumsticks - Fusion - Nylon Tip


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striker said:
Once again, thanks everyone for your valuable feedbacks. I learned a lot from this experience about mallets.
I have everything now. Here is a picture of the entire rhythm section from left to right.
Click to expand...
You will have lots of fun exploring and nuancing different sounds and textures with that arsenal. Looks like you've got your bases covered and will be ready for whatever the music calls for. :cool:
 
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