How to Buy a Mallet Instrument
By
Ed Hartman
(c) 2001 By Ed Hartman. All rights reserved.
Hey, what's the difference between a marimba, xylophone, vibraphone and glockenspiel? This is the question mallet players are asked every day. The first step in exploring mallet percussion (AKA "keyboard percussion") is understanding the types of mallet instruments available for the beginner through the professional musician. Depending on who you talk to, choosing a mallet instrument can be a bit overwhelming due to the many types of instruments and price ranges.
Mallet instruments are percussion instruments that you play with yarn, rubber, wood, plastic or metal mallets. The different types of mallets create different timbres, or qualities of sound, in combination with the different types of bars. Classical, jazz, rock, and world music can be performed on mallet percussion, and the instruments go back thousands of years to Africa and Asia. The very first mallet percussion instruments were rocks, bones, and pieces of wood arranged to create melodic scales.
There are four major types of mallet percussion instruments used today. They include MARIMBA, XYLOPHONE, VIBRAPHONE (VIBES), & GLOCKENSPEIL (BELLS).
(Note: Models on pics have changed, please contact The Drum Exchange for latest models, prices and availability)
1) The marimba (above) is the largest instrument, and is made of wood or new synthetic materials. A marimba can have a range of 3-5 octaves, and can be used for solo and ensemble music. The most popular wood for building marimbas is rosewood, but Padauk and other woods can occasionally be substituted. YAMAHA's "Acoustalon" is a very high quality synthetic material that is extremely and acoustically close to the sound of rosewood.-------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) The xylophone (above) is the higher range of wood instruments, and is especially used in orchestral and symphonic band literature. In the vaudeville era, the xylophone was very popular in the U.S., and still can be heard in novelty and early jazz music. The range is a bit high for contemporary jazz and pop, though.
3) The vibraphone(above) has metal alloy bars with a very long duration of tone. A pedal controls the length of the sound, like a piano. Vibes are especially used in jazz and popular music. They are also smaller, lighter and more portable that marimbas.
4) The glockenspiel, or symphonic bells (above), are the high range metal instruments that are primarily used in orchestras and symphonic bands. The bells are very high in range, long in duration, and bright in sound. Bells have been mostly used to highlight melodies and harmonies.
And now, I'll take some questions from the audience...
Which instrument is best for me?
Any mallet instrument can be used to learn, so price range may determine your choice. All types of instruments are used in schools, and professionally, so owning any mallet instrument will be helpful to the career percussionist. Smaller instruments like the bells or xylophone are portable, while the marimba and vibraphone can be large and heavier. Synthetic bar instruments ("Acoustalon") are generally less expensive and more durable, while rosewood instruments can be very pricey. Portability, storage space, and practice area should also be considered when deciding on an instrument. Also, the age of a student is important. The size of some mallet instruments can be better for a taller or shorter player. YAMAHA makes height adjustable instruments.
Which instrument is best for which music?
There are traditions, like jazz for vibes, and classical for marimbas, but styles can change, and you can potentially play any kind of music on any kind of instrument. (Imagine telling Benny Goodman that you can't play jazz on a clarinet!) Be daring and creative. You can play BOTH Bach and Blues!
How about RANGE?
The range of a mallet instrument can determine its musical options. The lower the instrument (like a low F or C marimba), the more true "bass" parts you can play. Melodies and chords can be played on vibes and marimbas, but to accompany yourself as a soloist, you might want a lower range instrument. Think like a pianist. Contemporary composers are writing for lower marimbas every year, as instruments become more available. College students are exposed to very low marimbas, nowadays. Marimbas have a much shorter duration of tone, so you have to "roll" notes to create a "sustain". A vibraphone, on the other hand, can sing a chord for 4 or 5 seconds. Playing a vibe is similar to playing a guitar, or electric piano.
What type of wood is best?
Consider rosewood for the best, and richest sound. If you are seriously playing solo literature, it is still the standard of quality. Padauk is becoming a reasonable substitute for rosewood, especially considering price. For students, Padauk is a great alternative. YAMAHA's Acoustalon is a great idea, especially for marimba applications in jazz and popular music. Touring musicians should look at synthetic materials for durability and climate changes.
Finally, before choosing an instrument, consider lessons as a first step. Finding other mallet players in your area will give you invaluable information about instrument options and price ranges. Professional musicians may also know where to try out instruments. Mallet instruments can be a bit hard to find, and good information is scarce. Many private teachers will meet with a prospective student and little or no cost. This is the best way to determine which instrument is best for you. A good teacher is also the best guarantee that you will own and appreciate an musical instrument for a long time. Instruments can be both an artistic and financial investment, so choose carefully. If you get satisfaction from your music, the amount of money you spend will be the least important fact of all. An artistic experience is priceless and timeless.
A little story:
After playing drumset for a few years, I got my first vibraphone (vibes). I had been taking drum lessons for a few years and was ready to play. My folks took me to a music store in downtown Chicago . My dad was a good friend of the owner. The vibes were made by Deagan, a company from Chicago that had been around since the 1900's. The vibes were brand new, with rather small bars, and cost about $500.00. When I finally sold the instrument 20 years later, it was still worth $500.00. At the time, I was the only kid in High School who owned a mallet instrument, and a drumset. I didn't make the drumset chair in Jazz Band, but was able to play vibes in that group. That experience taught me harmony, melody, reading, ensemble playing, improvization, and style. From High School I went to college music school and was far ahead of the other students on mallets. Piano was not as difficult, because I already knew how to read melodic notation.During and after college, I started to perform quite a bit on vibes, playing with folk singers, jazz groups, and classical performers. I recorded in the studio, ran my own band, increasingly as a leader (rather than sideman), and produced recitals featuring mallet instruments. Eventually, I was able to get the last Deagan Marimba ever built. It had the best rosewood the company ever had, and was handmade as a prototype, by the top engineer of the company . The company soon folded, although Yamaha picked up the Deagan name. I now have a Yamaha vibraphone and marimba. They are very expensive (as of 1999 $5,000-15,000 depending on size), and well made. I sold the Deagan marimba to someone in Texas at a breakeven price ($3500). I still miss the Deagan, because it was one of a kind. But, alas, the Yamaha marimba goes way down to a low F. One day soon, I will sell the Yamaha and get an even lower instrument. You just can't get enough of mallet instruments once your addicted. You've been warned!
Should I buy used or new equipment? This is a tough question to answer. Used can be a great value, but older equipment can fail and be more difficult to find parts. New is tempting because of the clean look of the equipment, along with parts and service options, although musical instruments are not always sold with warrantees. There really isn't a lot that can go wrong with mallet instruments, but things happen, especially on the road!
What size instrument should I buy? Mallet instruments come in many sizes from one to five octaves. Most western instruments are chromatically tuned just like a piano, except the sharps and flats (the black notes on the piano) are the same color. Look at the arrangement, and you'll notice spaces between the front rank of bars. Sometimes there are dummy tubes, or "resonators" underneath those spaces, but they are just there for looks. One octave is equal to 12 notes. African and smaller instruments can come in a "diatonic" or "major" scale (do re mi...), containing 7 notes to the octave (no "black notes"). Sometimes there are mutations of many different types of scales. How much should I spend? That is the question. You can spend anywhere from $100 to $13,000 for a mallet instrument. Like any product, you get what you pay for. Cheap materials fall apart. Expensive materials may be more than you need. The use of your instrument is the key to answering how much to spend. Questions to ask yourself, and help answer your needs include: What kind of music are you going to play? Do you need heavy duty construction, or lightweight design? Is your instrument going to stay in your basement, travel locally, nationally or internationally? Do you need cases? Do you know about tuning and construction? Do you have friends that can help fix or repair your equipment?
The most important question to ask yourself is: Do you know how to play the instrument? If not, are you willing to learn? In fact, everyone can use help throughout their career. Even the most impressive professional players attend clinics, take lessons from masters, or constantly go through new books, tapes and videos. The biggest mistake you will ever make, is to assume that playing any instrument is easy and simple. Yes, simple melodies are not that hard, especially if you've been listening to the radio for years. But, there is a big difference between professional experienced and versatile players that make a living playing music and enthusiasts. The best skill of all is versatility, which is knowing how to play many kinds of styles, and be in many kinds of situations. (Baseball batters that switch hit, have an advantage to other right or lefthanders.) Versatile players are usually open minded to other styles and forms of music, such as classical, jazz, and world musics. The more you learn about the huge variety of music out there, the easier it is to buy equipment to fit your needs. A lot of melodic musical playing is based on imitation other instruments, such as flute, sax, piano, bass or even percussion. It is important, therefore to know what you're trying to imitate. If you know how a flute player plays, you might be able to imitate a flute on the vibes better. Buying a mallet instrument can be both a challenge and a fun experience. There are many things to know when buying a instrument, and what follows are some tips that can be applied to any kind of mallet instrument including used and new equipment.
What kind of instrument should I get? There are two basic kinds of mallet instruments, they are:
1.) Marimba & Xylophones. Wood bar instruments made of rosewood, paduk, blackwood, or bloodwood). The xylophone is the high range like the violin, and the marimba is the low range, like the cello or bass. There are differences in ranges of these instruments, depending on manufacturer, and cost. There are newer marimbas and xylophones made of synthetic materials with trade names such as Kelon and Acoustalon. These are great instruments for wear and tear (especially in schools or outdoor marching use), but do have a different type of sound than rosewood. Most marimbas and xylophones have raised sharps and flats ("black keys").
2.) Vibraphones & Bells (or Glockenspiel).* Metal Bar instruments made of steel and other alloys. The bells are the smaller bar and higher pitched instruments like the piccollo, and the vibes are the lower range like the flute. Some vibraphone motors are more speed adjustable than others. New models have high-tech belts to stop in the "open position", along with touch sensitivity of the on/off switch, for silent stop/start-great for studio or concert performance. *There are also other variations on metal instruments including crotales (small disc shaped tuned cymbals, very expensive and high in pitch range), and chimes (tubular bells-suspended like clock chimes). Note: some mallet instruments are height adjustable. Also, there is a new generation of electronic mallet percussion-see below.
What is the history of mallet percussion? In Africa and the Asia, for many thousands of years, people have banged on pieces of wood and metal to create rhythmic sounds. As they started to organize the groups of wood pieces, early marimbas or balafons were created. These types of instruments were and are made of wood bars suspended over gourds. The gourds act as "resonators" or amplifiers of each note. If you put your hands around your mouth in a cup shape, you will change the sound of your voice. Each gourd (or now tube), could be tuned to the bar above, just like a pop bottle has a pitch when you blow over the opening.
In Asia, metal instruments such as the Gamelan (tuned cymbals) were and are played in Gamelan orchestras. As the music became more complex, so did the instruments. Marimbas came over to South, Central and North America with slaves in the 18th & 19th centuries. Mexico has a great tradition of marimbas, with three people playing on seven foot long marimbas. The wood from South and Central America, especially Honduras and Brazil can be very resonant rosewood, and very expensive. In the United States, the xylophone was the first mallet instrument to be commercially manufactured (by the Deagan Company).
Xylophones (the high pitched instruments), were used for novelty music during the turn of the century vaudvillian era. Solo xylophonists performed high speed classical music in great theatres with piano or orchestral accompaniment. The marimba evolved from the xylophone as the tuning of the bars especially in the lower range, became better. Marimbas have gone lower and lower in range, and now can go as low as a low C, one octave below midde C. Because of the acoustics of wood, and large resonator tubes, the instrument actually sounds much lower than the same note on a piano.
In the 1940's as jazz took off, and metal technology evolved, the vibraphone (or vibes) were manufactured, along with better frames. The vibes, have a longer sustain, thus a pedal, like on the piano is used to control the length of the tone. Popular music is very melodic in nature, and the vibes express this style well. The vibes have a mellow sound, and were used in the 1950's to augment a lot of jazz and pop songs.
In the 1960's, William Omar Musser started the Musser Company, which is now owned by the Ludwig Drum Company. Marimbas began appearing in colleges, and serious solo concert performers appeared. Repertoire for mallet percussion blossomed, and is now considered a main instrument category for any serious percussion student. The vibraphone has pretty much stabilized as a regular jazz instrument, especially in fusion forms of jazz.
Who are some of the great mallet players? This is a hard list to come up with, but because the instruments are not that old, there are not that many players who have household names. George Hamilton Green was the best know vaudeville era xylophonist. Lionel Hampton, is the best known jazz player from the 1930's, performing with the great clarinetist, Benny Goodman. Red Norvo was a giant in jazz improvization from the 1930's to the 1970's. Milt Jackson is the father of blues and bebop vibes performing with The Modern Jazz Quartet. Cal Tjader, is best know for his work with latin jazz. Victor Feldman was a tremedously versatile player and jazz composer. Gary Burton is best know for his fusion and 4 mallet techniques. Dave Samuels Spyro-Gyra is a great player of fusion jazz/rock. Dave Friedman, Jay Hoggard and Bobby Hutcherson also pioneer modern jazz styles and techniques. Up and coming players include: Ted Piltzecher, Athur Lipner, Tom Collier, Harold Howland, Ed Saindon, Jerry Tachoir, Stephon Harris and many other. Great classical marimbists to listen to include: Leigh Howard Stevens, Keiko Abe, Vida Chenowith, Tasuo Sasaki, Karen Ervin, Rainer Kuisma, Gordon Stout, Nancy Zeltzman, and William Moersch. (If I haven't included YOUR name, let me know...)
What mallet companies are good? There are a relatively few companies that make mallet instruments as compared to drum companies. The Japanese companies include Yamaha (took over Deagan's name) and Saito. The European companies feature Sonor, Bergerault, Premier, and Adams. There are many American companies such as Musser (Ludwig), Kori, Malletech, Marimba One, Decatur and Ross. KAT makes electronic MIDI-trigger pads arranged in a mallet keyboard style, and K & K make separate trigger systems to attach to existing mallet instruments. Both systems allow a mallet player to sound like any other instrument using a sound module. Smaller individual marimba makers can come up with very interesting and competitive equipment (Peter Bush in Oregon).
Most important is the style of management to keep an eye on. The Japanese companies excel in engineering and high tech perfection of designs. The European companies put out consistently high quality products at premium prices. Sometimes, a companies innovations are a little to ahead of what's needed. The American companies make stuff that works. It doesn't always work that well, but it will keep going forever. You can make comparisons with car companies. A Japanese car can be extremely well built, but when it has a problem, it will completely stop. Japanese musical products are very consistent, but almost too well constructed, not allowing for actual performance use. Tolerances can be incredibly high. So high, that slight movement out of position can stop a part from working entirely (The equipment may work better on the computer screen, than in actual performance). As all of these companies get better at production, the equipment is also getting better. Of course, having a great tech fixing you're gear on the road eases this problem. Also, if you're an professional endorsee of the product, you may get repair parts cheaply and faster than the general public.
Are musical instruments like other products? An American car will run forever, even if its on one cylinder. Many of us, can attest to this. An American made mallet instrument probably has been throw against the wall in the factory. Engineers from other countries would probably say that a musician would never throw an instrument against a wall, so they'll never try it in testing. We know better. Anyone visiting a Junior High school or a rock concert in the U.S. can attest to true use of any equipment. Products from outside the U.S., are generally high quality. But, parts can be difficult to get a hold of, and some hardware can be out of sync with the U.S.
What sizes do mallet instruments come in? There are many sizes to marimbas. They can be anywhere from 2 1/2 to 5 octaves. A marimba could be defined as any mallet instrument made of wood that's lowest note is at least F below middle C. The higher the instrument goes, the more of a xylophone range it encompasses. Some instruments could be called Xylorimbas! Low C, A, F, E or even C instruments get very expensive. The lower the instrument the bigger the sound, and generally the more appealling to the buyer.
What are the parts of a mallet instrument?
1.) The bars. High quality bars are the most important part of a mallet instrument. High quality alloys for vibraphones, and well seasoned rosewood for marimbas are considered the best sounding. Cheaper metal bars have a thin bell-like sound, as opposed to a complete well rounded sound. On marimbas, cheaper woods other than rosewood have much shorter lengths of tone (sustain). The bigger the bars are made, the deeper (bassier) and richer the instrument sounds. "Graduated bars" get larger (wider) towards the bass end. (Think: BIG IS BETTER!)
2.) The frame. The frame is especially important if the instrument is going to be moved alot. Modern construction is definitely better than vintage instruments. Thin connecting pipes and pieces made older instruments lighter, but also less stable. Almost all mallet instruments will rattle after awhile, but heavier duty construction combined with care can increase the life of the instrument dramatically. It is possible to build a new frame for older great sounding bars, but this can be expensive.
3.) The resonators (tubes). Resonators amplify and add fullness to the sound of the bars. The resonators are generally made of aluminum, but in the past have been made of durable steel and brass. Aluminum can dent easily, although this may not affect the sound as long as the dent is not in the airspace. The gold or silver paint can chip, and resonators can be refinished. During World War II, mallet instruments were made with cardboard resonators, due to the lack of metal. As long as the airspace is tuned correctly, any type of material will do. Just don't bring your cardboard marimba outside during a rainstorm.
Where can I get my mallet instrument repaired? There are only a few companies dedicated to fixing mallet instruments including Century Mallet Repair in Chicago, Fall Creek Marimbas (NY), Salazar Fine Tuning (CA) and Repaircussions (NY) . Most manufacturer keep parts on their latest model instruments, but have a tough time stocking parts on older models. Bars can be replaced, but have to be tuned both for actual pitch and timbre (pitch quality). Keep in mind, to create a even sounding instrument, one marimba's worth of bars should ideally be cut from the same log. Repair bars may not be as close, and you may need to send other bars from you instrument to aid the tuner. Very occassionally, wood bars crack, especially in the bass, where they are thin. These are of course, the most expensive to replace.
What do I play the instrument with? "Mallets" are the sticks with balls on the end you play mallet instruments with. There are a number of kinds, made of a variety of materials. The stick or "shaft" can be made of plastic, wood dowel, or rattan. Rattan is the most expensive, but has a subtle flexibilty and feel most professionals like. The ball can be covered with yarn or cord. The less dense of the ball, the softer and more "bass" the mallet. Harder mallets tend to be used for higher ranges, and softer for lower ranges. Using the wrong type of mallet can damage the bar, so use common sense when picking mallets (Never use metal on wood, etc.) Companies that make mallet include Yamaha, Malletech, Musser, Mike Balter, Pro-Mark, Vic Firth, and a host of others.
Here is a list of types of mallets:
1.) Hard mallets without any covering. Wood, rubber, plastic, plexiglass, or metal balls are attached to the shaft. The sound is generally loud depending on the softness of the ball. Wood and plastic is used for xylophones, rubber for marimbas and xylophones, and metal (brass or aluminum) or plexiglass for bells.
2.) Yarn wrapped mallets. These are the softest mallets, generally, depending on the type of yarn and the tightness of the wrap. Yarn mallets are used for marimba playing and some xylophone and vibes.
3.) Cord wrapped mallets. Corn is a thinner material that can be wrapped very tight and very hard. Cord mallets are played on expecially on vibes, and can be used also on marimba and xylophone, for loud playing.
What does the motor on the vibraphone do? The motor gives the "Wa Wa" sound. We call the instrument a "vibraphone" because it sounds similiar to a violinist using a "vibrato". The motor opens and closes the resonator tubes. Many modern motors can be adjusted to different speeds by changing the rubber belt, or electronically with a dial. Vibraphone motors have actually gotten slower over the years. The very fast vibrato is still used for older jazz, orchestral classical music, or horror movie scores. Slower motors are more desirable for contemporary jazz and fusion, because the sound is mellower and similiar to an electronic effect such as a phase shift.
Where can I find an instrument? Music stores occassionally have mallet instruments, although because there are very few professional versatile percussionists that run music stores, there is little knowledge about vibes and marimbas in stores. Some stores may be at least able to order new products at a discount, although you may not see the instrument until you buy it. Used instruments can be found at pawn shops, with wild pricing. Look in the local and neighborhood classifieds. The local musicians union may have leads, as well as local college music school bulletin boards. There is an electronic percussion computer network with classifieds via Percussive Arts Society (P.A.S.), an international organization of professional and student percussionists. P.A.S. has state and international conventions where many percussion companies show their products.
So what should I do first? Try to figure out what instrument to get. Write down your budget, type of music, size of the instrument, portability, and your best information about availability (see example below). In the end, only you know what you want. Take your time in getting any instrument. Don't buy on impulse. Ask as many people around you about musical equipment in general. Talk to music teachers, especially percussion instructors. Information is your best weapon when making a decision about buying gear. Don't be intimidated by salespeople. It is tempting for salespeople to make a quick sale, rather than getting the proper equipment to the right person. Many salespeople are not that good of musicians, and have very limited experience in music either artistically or professionally.
Drum shops that specialize in percussion equipment are a better bet for quality purchases that will last a long time. The only reason why you should ever sell an instrument is if you want to get a different or better one. If you learn how to play well, you will probably keep your instrument for the rest of your life, and maybe beyond.
How to Buy Example 1: Budget $250-600.
Type of Music Don't know, probably anything. Portability Will stay in basement for a few years, while I learn it. Size Limited space in apartment.
Availability New bells $400-generic company, 2 1/2 octave used xylophone $350, 3 octave used vibe $550.
Conclusion: Xylophone-have to pay rent this month.
How to Buy Example 2: Budget $750-1500.
Type of Music Jazz, rock.
Portability Will stay in basement for a few years, while I learn it. Have small car. Size OK space in house.
Availability Vibes $1200, Marimba $2500 at local store. VISA/MC OK
Conclusion: Used vibraphone-want to play Jazz bad.
How to Buy Example 3: Budget $2500-20,000
Type of Music classical, latin, jazz. Portability Own large van.
Size Have own studio, lots of space.
Availability: 4 1/3 low A marimba via PAS network @ $3000 OBO/Cash only. Also, homemade 4 1/2 low F rosewood marimba via regional maker @ $4500, New 4 1/2 octave rosewood $10000+
Conclusion: Mortgage the house. I want the low end!!!
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