Vater Concert Ensemble V-CEXB50H Xylophone and Bell Mallets — Hard Plastic Ball
The V-CEXB50H is a pair of xylophone and bell mallets with a hard, cream white plastic ball, mounted on a rattan shaft. It exists for the passages where the xylophone has to cut through a full orchestra: one material, one hardness, and a note that gets through.
What sets it apart
- 1 1/8 in plastic ball, cream white
- Hard grade — the 5 at the start of the model number
- 11/32 in rattan shaft, matched for flexibility and balance
- 14 1/2 in, the short length of hard keyboard mallets
- Also recommended for front ensemble keyboards outdoors
Cutting through a tutti is a matter of spectrum
A full orchestra mostly fills the low and middle registers. The upper range is less crowded, and that is where an instrument can still be heard. A hard ball produces exactly that high-frequency content: the contact is brief, the spectrum rises, the note cuts through.
That is why a xylophone run written into a tutti can still be heard, provided you have the right mallet. With a soft head, the same run disappears entirely.
Plastic rather than a denser material
The range also offers a denser phenolic ball. Plastic, one step below, keeps a little elasticity: it cuts through without reaching the extreme edge of the hardest materials.
That restraint is an advantage in repertoire where the xylophone plays for a long time. Over entire pages, the hardest material ends up tiring the ears of the audience as much as those of the player.
Specifications
| Hardness | Hard |
|---|---|
| Head | Plastic ball, 1 1/8 in |
| Colour | Cream white |
| Length | 14 1/2 in (36.83 cm) |
| Shaft | Rattan, 0.343 in (0.87 cm) |
| Instruments | Xylophone, orchestra bells |
What it is for
- Xylophone runs in an orchestral tutti
- Concert band repertoire at loud dynamics
- Orchestra bells that have to crown a chord
- Long passages where a harder material would tire the ear
Compare with other manufacturers
Hard balls from other keyboard mallet manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable series | How it differs from this model |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative Percussion | Hard ball xylophone mallets | Ball materials identified by the brand's own codes |
| Mike Balter | Ball keyboard mallets | Ball density chosen independently of the shaft |
| Malletech | Orchestral xylophone mallets | Range geared to symphonic repertoire, with its own naming |
Frequently asked questions
- Can a hard ball damage xylophone bars?
- Xylophone bars are thick and made to take hard heads. The risk applies more to low-pitched keyboards, where balls are not used.
- What is the difference from the phenolic ball in the range?
- Density. Plastic keeps a little elasticity; phenolic is denser and produces an even more cutting sound.
- Can I use them outdoors?
- Yes. Vater explicitly recommends this family for front ensemble keyboards, indoors and outdoors.
Avis clients
Does your xylophone run disappear in the tutti?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.