Vater Concert Ensemble V-CEV30M Medium Vibraphone Mallets, Rounded Oval Head
The V-CEV30M is a pair of vibraphone mallets with a rounded oval head wrapped in multi-ply cord, on a rattan shaft. Vater calls it medium heavy: the head holds more material than its hardness would suggest, and it is that weight — not firmness — that brings the note out.
What sets it apart
- Called medium heavy by the manufacturer, a description specific to this model
- Rounded oval head in tight multi-ply cord
- 11/32 in rattan shaft, hand-matched for flexibility and balance
- 15 3/4 in, the length shared by the vibraphone mallets in the range
- Hard rubber core under the cord
Head weight, the variable people forget
People almost always choose a mallet by its hardness. Yet two equally firm mallets do not produce the same volume if one weighs more than the other: mass determines the energy delivered to the bar for the same arm motion.
That is what the medium heavy label refers to. At the same playing dynamic, this pair projects more, without hardening the attack or forcing the wrist. On an instrument as resonant as the vibraphone, gaining volume without gaining hardness is precisely the goal.
Where this model earns its place
In a large ensemble, the vibraphone easily gets buried. A player who compensates by hitting harder hardens their tone and sticks out of the texture. A heavier head fixes the problem at the source: same motion, more sound.
The downside is a slightly less nimble mallet. On very fast lines, the mass you gain in volume is paid for in inertia, and a lighter model takes the advantage back.
Specifications
| Listed hardness | Medium heavy |
|---|---|
| Head shape | Rounded oval |
| Shaft | Rattan, 0.343 in (0.87 cm) |
| Overall length | 15 3/4 in (40.01 cm) |
| Wrap | Multi-ply cord |
| Identification | Black |
What it is for
- Vibraphone in a large ensemble, when it has to be heard without hardening
- Sustained chords that need to carry to the back of the hall
- Four-mallet playing at medium to loud dynamics
- Big band jazz repertoire
Compare with other manufacturers
Heavy-head vibraphone models from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative Percussion | Large-head vibraphone mallets | Weight indicated by head size rather than by hardness |
| Mike Balter | Cord vibraphone mallets | Shaft chosen when ordering, several lengths |
| Malletech | Concert vibraphone mallets | Ranges tied to performers rather than to hardness steps |
Frequently asked questions
- What does medium heavy mean?
- It is the label Vater gives this model: a medium hardness, but a head with more mass than the other mediums in the family.
- Is it more tiring to play?
- At fast tempos, yes: the mass adds inertia. On sustained chords and strong dynamics, it works for you.
- Do I need to hit harder to cut through the mix?
- That is exactly what this model avoids. You keep the same motion and the head's mass supplies the missing volume.
Avis clients
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