Vater Concert Ensemble V-CEM20MS Medium Soft Marimba Mallets
The V-CEM20MS is a pair of medium soft marimba mallets, with an oval head wrapped in wool yarn and a birch shaft. It is the step soft enough to keep the low end round and firm enough for the middle register to be heard — the one that saves you from changing pairs in the middle of a piece.
What sets it apart
- Medium soft step — the 2 at the start of Vater's part number
- Fully wrapped in wool yarn over a hard rubber core
- 16 3/4 in, 5/16 in satin-finish birch shaft
- Oval head, the shape the manufacturer lists for this model
- Dark blue tape marking, under the head and at the end of the shaft
The step that solves the pair-switching problem
The difficulty of concert marimba rarely lies in a single register: it lies in the transitions. A phrase that drops an octave and a half in the middle of a bar leaves no time to set one pair down and pick up another.
Medium soft exists for those phrases. It will never be the best tool for the very low end, nor for the very top, but it crosses both without forcing you to choose. Many concert band sections never need anything else for their regular repertoire.
What it sounds like in a wind ensemble
In a wind band, the marimba is often doubled by clarinets or saxophones. A mallet that is too soft simply disappears there; a hard mallet adds a click that stands out from the texture.
Medium soft lets through just enough attack for the line to be followed, without the ear noticing the percussion as a separate element. That is exactly what a successful doubling requires.
Specifications
| Hardness level | Medium soft |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 16 3/4 in (42.55 cm) |
| Shaft and diameter | Satin-finish birch, 0.313 in (0.80 cm) |
| Head material | Wool yarn, hard rubber core |
| Head shape | Oval |
| Colour | Dark blue |
What it is for
- Wind ensemble and concert band repertoire
- Lines that cross several octaves without changing pairs
- Doubling woodwinds or brass
- Everyday work in the rehearsal room
Compare with other manufacturers
The same intermediate step elsewhere in the industry:
| Manufacturer | Their equivalent | What changes for the player |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | Medium yarn keyboard mallets | The hardness scale cannot be read from the model number |
| Yamaha | Educational keyboard mallets | A range designed first and foremost to equip schools |
| Innovative Percussion | Concert marimba mallets | Several neighbouring hardnesses, a finer choice that takes longer to make |
Frequently asked questions
- What hardness should I start with if I only have one pair?
- A middle hardness — medium soft or medium. It lets the upper register respond without forcing and the low end sing without the bars taking a sharp hit.
- Is the colour tape anything more than decoration?
- It lets you find the right pair at a glance in a bag, whether the mallets are stored head up or head down.
- Is this enough for a concerto?
- For a demanding solo, most players want at least two hardnesses. This one is the logical starting point for that pairing.
Avis clients
One pair for your concert band's whole repertoire?
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