Vater Front Ensemble V-FEV51H Vibraphone Mallets — Hard, Mushroom Head
The V-FEV51H is a pair of hard vibraphone mallets with a mushroom-shaped head wrapped in multi-ply cord, on a rattan handle. The width of that mushroom keeps the firmness from turning harsh: this is the tutti pair, the one you reach for when the whole ensemble plays loud and the keyboards still have to be heard.
What sets it apart
- Hard, the firmest in the outdoor vibraphone family
- Mushroom head, which widens the contact surface
- Multi-ply cord, hard rubber core
- 0.343 in rattan handle, 15 3/4 in
- Dark grey, shared across the family
The tutti, the hardest situation for a front ensemble
When brass, woodwinds and drums all play at full power, the front ensemble has very little sonic space left. Playing harder is not enough: past a certain point, you add noise rather than sound.
A firm head on metal produces frequencies few other instruments occupy: a clean, short top end that slips through the ensemble. That is this model's strategy, and it is the only one that really works in that situation.
Why the mushroom saves this model
A hard, narrow head on aluminium bars produces a pinched sound that quickly becomes unpleasant over a whole phrase. The mushroom widens the contact and brings some fundamental back under the brightness.
The model stays cutting — that is its job — but it keeps some body. That is the difference between keyboards that cut through and keyboards that assault the ear, and you notice it most when the loud dynamic lasts several pages.
Specifications
| Hardness | Hard |
|---|---|
| Head shape | Mushroom |
| Material | Multi-ply cord |
| Handle | Rattan, 0.343 in (0.87 cm) |
| Overall length | 15 3/4 in (40.01 cm) |
| Line | Front Ensemble, vibraphone |
What it is for
- Vibraphone in a full-power tutti
- Accents and punctuation that have to cut through the ensemble
- Doubling a brass section at loud dynamics
- Show finales, where every section plays together
Compare with other manufacturers
Hard front ensemble models from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative Percussion | Hard front ensemble vibraphone mallets | Separate ranges depending on the intended playing intensity |
| Vic Firth | Outdoor vibraphone mallets | Fewer hard steps offered |
| Mike Balter | Hard cord vibraphone mallets | Shape and handle combined freely |
Frequently asked questions
- Will this hardness damage the bars?
- Aluminium handles it well. The real risk is to the sound: a head that is too hard over a long page becomes tiring for the ear.
- Why a mushroom head on such a firm model?
- To avoid the pinched sound a hard, narrow head would produce on metal. The shape brings some fundamental back under the brightness.
- Do we need a pair if our front ensemble is small?
- The fewer players in the section, the harder the tutti are to cut through. A firm pair is often the first useful reinforcement there.
Avis clients
Does your front ensemble disappear as soon as everyone plays?
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