Vater Front Ensemble V-FEXB12RS Soft Rubber Mallets — Long Birch Handle
The V-FEXB12RS is a pair of mallets with a 1 1/8 in round rubber head, soft grade, on a birch handle, 16 3/4 in long overall. That length is not a detail: it changes what a percussionist can reach without moving away from their instrument.
What sets it apart
- 1 1/8 in round rubber head, grey
- Soft grade, rare on a rubber head
- Long 16 3/4 in handle, compared with 14 1/2 in for the ball models
- 0.313 in birch, firm and straight
- Designed for the front ensemble, indoors and outdoors
Two more inches, and what they allow
A front ensemble is a field of instruments: marimbas, vibraphones, bells, one or two auxiliary instruments set at the end of the row. The player moves from one to the next without leaving their spot.
A 16 3/4 in handle gives you more reach than the 14 1/2 in of the ball models. What was out of reach becomes playable by leaning in, and a second saved on an instrument change is worth a lot in a tight show design.
Why soft rubber?
The combination is unusual: rubber is normally used to make a mallet harder. In a soft version, it gives a dull, short sound with no brightness — exactly what you want on a tom, a block, a plate, or bells you do not want to hear ring out.
This is the mallet for discreet effects, the ones the show design calls for without wanting them to catch the ear. Every front ensemble ends up with a pair on the cart, for uses that change from one piece to the next.
Specifications
| Head | Round rubber, 1 1/8 in |
|---|---|
| Colour | Grey |
| Hardness | Soft |
| Length | 16 3/4 in (42.55 cm) |
| Handle | Birch, 0.313 in (0.80 cm) |
| Line | Front Ensemble |
What it is for
- Front ensemble auxiliary instruments placed out of immediate reach
- Muted effects on toms, blocks and plates
- Bells with a deliberately dull sound
- Passages where a bright attack would spoil the written effect
Compare with other manufacturers
Soft rubber mallets offered elsewhere:
| Manufacturer | Their equivalent | What changes for the player |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | Soft rubber keyboard mallets | Handle lengths generally uniform across the range |
| Mike Balter | Rubber head mallets | Handle length chosen when ordering |
| Innovative Percussion | Auxiliary percussion mallets | An auxiliary range separate from the keyboard range |
Frequently asked questions
- Why is this model longer than the others in the family?
- The rubber models in this family measure 16 3/4 in, compared with 14 1/2 in for the ball models. That gives you more reach.
- Is a soft rubber mallet useful on a keyboard?
- On a wooden keyboard, the effect is very muted. This model is at its best on auxiliary instruments and on bells when you want a covered, muffled sound.
- Can I use them indoors?
- Yes. The line is designed for front ensembles indoors as well as outdoors.
Avis clients
Is one auxiliary instrument always too far away on your cart?
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