Vater MVB1S Puff Fleece Marching Bass Drum Mallets, 16 to 18 in Drums
The MVB1S is a marching bass drum mallet with a Puff Fleece head, sized for 16 and 18 in drums. That choice of material replaces the slap of extra-hard felt with a softer contact, which is what you want as soon as a line plays under a roof.
What sets it apart
- Sized for 16 and 18 in drums
- Puff Fleece head rather than extra-hard felt
- Double-tapered hickory shaft: 0.780, then 0.600, then 0.790 in
- The swell under the head adds weight to the stroke
- Softer attack, clearer low end
- Intended for indoor venues and nuanced repertoire
A shaft that narrows in the middle and thickens again up front
The standard marching shaft has not one taper but two. It starts at 0.780 in in the hand, narrows to 0.600 in in the middle, then swells back to 0.790 in just behind the head.
That hourglass shape has a clear mechanical effect: the thin section lightens the centre while the front swell adds weight where it counts. The mallet swings like a light object and lands like a heavy one. It is the same principle as a hammer, applied to a bass drum.
Fleece or felt: two sounds, two venues
Extra-hard felt produces a clean attack that cuts through a band outdoors. Puff Fleece offers a softer surface that cushions that first instant.
Under a roof, that difference decides everything. A hard attack excites the reverb of a gym and blurs the other sections' passages; fleece lets the low end through and keeps the line clear. On a small 16 or 18 in drum, which often plays the tight passages, the gain in clarity is immediate.
Small drum, soft mallet: a balance to watch
Know the limit: on the smallest drum in a line, a fleece head can lack authority if the repertoire calls for a big sound outdoors.
The practical rule fits in one sentence: fleece for indoors and dynamics, extra-hard felt for the field. Many sections own both and switch according to the performance, the way you change drumheads according to the season.
Specifications
| Compatible drums | 16 in and 18 in |
|---|---|
| Head covering | Puff Fleece |
| Shaft, at the grip | 0.780 in (19.8 mm) |
| Shaft, at the thinnest point | 0.600 in (15.2 mm) |
| Shaft, under the head | 0.790 in (20.1 mm) |
| Wood | Hickory |
What it is for
- Indoor bass drum line
- 16 or 18 in drum in a five-drum line
- Nuanced repertoire that needs little attack
- Recording or capturing a percussion line
- Schools owning two sets of mallets depending on the venue
Compare with other manufacturers
Small-drum mallets with soft heads from other makers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | Fleece-head Corpsmaster | Different covering density and shaft profile |
| Innovative Percussion | Soft-head marching line | Synthetic shaft offered as an option |
| Yamaha | Field-Master, soft version | Size matching defined differently |
| Promark | Marching mallets with attached heads | Head replaceable independently of the shaft |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between fleece and extra-hard felt?
- The attack. Extra-hard felt gives a clean contact that projects outdoors; fleece softens that first instant and brings out the low end, which suits indoor venues.
- Do you need two sets of mallets for a full season?
- Many sections do: a felt set for outdoors, a fleece set for indoors. It is not essential, but it is the most effective setup.
- Does fleece wear out faster?
- It compresses over time, especially if the mallets are stored head against head. Storing them flat, with no pressure, extends their life considerably.
- Can you replace just the head?
- On this model, head and shaft form a single unit. A crushed covering is replaced by changing the mallet.
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