Vater MVT3 Tenor Mallets — Extra-Hard Felt
The MVT3 is a tenor mallet with an extra-hard felt head, mounted on an aluminum shaft. Its hardness lets it strike metal as well as drumheads: the manufacturer specifies it for toms and cymbals alike, so for the player who moves between them within the same piece.
What sets it apart
- Extra-hard felt head
- Specified for toms and cymbals alike
- Heavy-gauge aluminum shaft
- Non-slip textured grip
- One tool for drumheads and metal
- Rounder sound than the plastic heads in the same family
Why felt is the only material that belongs on a cymbal
A plastic or polycarbonate head struck on a cymbal produces a metallic clank that masks the instrument's note, and marks the metal over time.
Felt compresses slightly on contact. It sets the cymbal vibrating over a slightly longer time, which lets the body of the sound develop. That is why suspended cymbals have always been struck with felt, in orchestras as in marching.
Extra-hard: hard for felt, soft for plastic
The label can be confusing. This felt is the firmest in its category, so it can make a tom speak with a clean attack. It still remains much softer than a polycarbonate head.
That in-between position explains its use: firm enough for the toms to stay clear, soft enough for metal to ring.
The setup where this mallet justifies itself on its own
Many lines mount a cymbal or a bell on the tenor set. The player then has to move from drumhead to metal within a single bar, with no time to change tools.
With a Lexan head, the metal sounds harsh and gets damaged. With a head that is too soft, the toms lose their definition. Extra-hard felt is the only operating point that makes the switch possible without a costly compromise.
Specifications
| Head covering | Extra-hard felt |
|---|---|
| Specified instruments | Multi-tenors and cymbals |
| Shaft | Heavy-gauge aluminum |
| Grip | Textured, non-slip |
| Character | Rounder than the series' plastic heads |
What it is for
- Tenor set with a cymbal or bell
- Lines alternating drumheads and metal in the same piece
- Repertoire looking for a rounder tom sound
- Indoor performances where the metal must stay musical
- A section with only one set of tenor mallets
Compare with other manufacturers
Felt-head tenor mallets from other makers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | Felt-head Corpsmaster | Different felt density and head size |
| Innovative Percussion | Hard felt tenor mallet | Several densities within the same family |
| Zildjian | Felt-head marching mallet | Designed first for its own cymbals |
| Promark | Felt tenor mallets | Attached head, replaceable without changing the shaft |
Frequently asked questions
- Can you really play a cymbal with them?
- Yes, that is one of the specified uses. Felt sets the metal vibrating without the sharp clank a plastic head would produce.
- Do the toms lose definition with a felt head?
- A little compared with Lexan, but this felt is the firmest in its category: fast passages stay clear.
- Does the felt wear out quickly over a season?
- It compresses at the point of impact. Turning the mallet a quarter turn from time to time spreads the wear.
- Do you need one set per type of passage?
- If the budget allows, that is ideal. Otherwise, this mallet covers the most situations without being wrong for any of them.
Avis clients
Does your tenor set carry a cymbal, and you have only one pair of mallets?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.