Vater Front Ensemble V-FEXB40MH Bell and Xylophone Mallets — Medium Hard Plastic Ball
The V-FEXB40MH is a pair of mallets with a 1 1/8 in cream-white plastic ball, medium hard grade, on a birch handle, 14 1/2 in long overall. Vater intends this family for bells, xylophone, crotales and any instrument that calls for a hard head — without going to the extreme.
What sets it apart
- 1 1/8 in plastic ball, cream white
- Medium hard, one step below the hard models in the family
- 0.343 in birch handle, for weight and durability
- 14 1/2 in, the short length of the line's ball mallets
- Intended for bells, xylophone and crotales
Birch on a ball mallet, a deliberate choice
The concert family mounts its balls on rattan for flexibility; this one chooses birch. Vater explains why: the birch handles in this line add weight and durability, qualities that come first outdoors.
In practice, the stroke is firmer and less cushioned. You gain projection and lose a little comfort over long series of strokes — a trade-off that makes sense when the priority is being heard at fifty metres.
Why stop at medium hard
The family offers firmer steps. This one stops just before the point where a ball becomes truly aggressive, and that is what makes it the working model.
On bells, it gives brightness without turning every note into a shard of glass. On xylophone, it makes the bars speak without the contact click taking over. For a front ensemble that rehearses every day, that restraint matters as much to the player's ear as to the audience's.
Specifications
| Head | Plastic ball, 1 1/8 in |
|---|---|
| Colour | Cream white |
| Hardness | Medium hard |
| Handle | Birch, 0.343 in (0.87 cm) |
| Length | 14 1/2 in (36.83 cm) |
| Intended instruments | Bells, xylophone, crotales |
What it is for
- Bells in a front ensemble
- Outdoor xylophone, at medium to loud dynamics
- Crotales and small metals
- Long rehearsals where a harder ball would tire the ear
Compare with other manufacturers
In-between ball mallets offered by other manufacturers for the front ensemble:
| Manufacturer | Comparable range | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Innovative Percussion | Front ensemble bell mallets | Ball materials designated by their own codes |
| Mike Balter | Ball bell mallets | Rattan or birch handle, your choice |
| Encore Mallets | Front ensemble bell mallets | A brand dedicated to this single use |
Frequently asked questions
- Why a shorter handle than the rubber mallets in the same line?
- The ball models in this family measure 14 1/2 in, the rubber ones 16 3/4 in. A ball calls for precision more than reach.
- Can I use them on crotales?
- Vater lists crotales among the instruments this family is intended for. For maximum brightness, however, there is a brass ball model.
- Is it hard enough for bells outdoors?
- Yes, for most writing. The family's firmer steps exist for passages that demand more edge.
Avis clients
Do your bells sound too harsh in rehearsal?
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