Vater Front Ensemble V-FEM30M Marimba Mallets — Medium, Oval Yarn Head
The V-FEM30M is a pair of medium marimba mallets with an oval yarn-wrapped head and a thick birch handle, made for keyboards played on the ground in front of an ensemble. Vater specifies a larger rubber core for this family than for its concert mallets, and that extra volume is what makes the difference on a field.
What sets it apart
- Larger rubber core than the concert mallets
- Medium hardness, the middle of the manufacturer's scale
- Oval yarn-wrapped head, the shape specified by the manufacturer
- 0.343 in birch handle, specified for weight and durability
- 16 3/4 in, light grey for identification
A bigger core, not just a harder head
To make a marimba carry in the open air, you could simply harden the head. Vater took another route: enlarging the rubber core. The manufacturer states that this extra volume, combined with the 11/32 in handle, draws a richer sound from both marimba and cymbals.
The distinction matters. A harder head would have made the attack drier and thinned out the body of the note. A bigger core puts more energy into the bar while keeping the same softness of contact: more sound, not more click.
A sound that has to travel thirty metres
Outdoors, there are no walls to send the sound back. What the audience hears is only what reaches it directly, and the low end fades first. A marimba played with indoor mallets sounds thin on a field, even at full strength.
That is why an outdoor line exists, and why this medium pair sits at its centre: it covers the whole keyboard with enough mass that distance does not swallow everything.
Specifications
| Hardness | Medium |
|---|---|
| Core | Rubber, larger than in the concert line |
| Head | Oval, yarn-wrapped |
| Handle | Birch, 0.343 in (0.87 cm) |
| Length | 16 3/4 in (42.55 cm) |
| Colour | Light grey |
What it is for
- The main pair of a front ensemble keyboard player, all season
- Outdoor marimba, across the full range of the instrument
- Daily rehearsals of a competitive ensemble
- Indoor concerts, where the line remains usable
Compare with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers' everyday pairs for the front ensemble:
| Manufacturer | Their equivalent | What changes for the player |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative Percussion | Front ensemble marimba mallets | Several head sizes for the same hardness |
| Vic Firth | Outdoor marimba mallets | Shorter line, fewer in-between steps |
| Adams | All-purpose keyboard mallets | Range matched to the manufacturer's own instruments |
Frequently asked questions
- How is it different from the medium mallet in the concert line?
- The rubber core is larger and the handle goes from 5/16 to 11/32 in. Vater states that this weight draws a richer sound from marimba and cymbals.
- If I only buy one pair for the front ensemble, which one?
- This one. The middle hardness covers the whole keyboard, and it is the reference point from which you later decide what is missing.
- Is an 11/32 in birch handle tiring on the wrist?
- It is heavier than a 5/16 in handle, which you feel over long rehearsals. In return, it stands up to cymbal playing and puts more energy into the marimba.
Avis clients
Only one pair to buy for the whole season?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.