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mallet recommendations

vibemate 26 October 2025

Does anybody have a recommendation for a mallet (4 mallet playing ) that would be a grade softer than the Malletech Dave Samuels soft DS11
or the Malletech Dave Friedman DF12 which I currently use but I think are no longer made. I tried the Malletech eMotion Series Soft Vibe Rattan
but it was too soft (and heavy). Ordering and trying them out from Steve Weiss is too expensive when you have to pay return shipping ($18!!!!)
I'm open to any make or model. Thanks for your suggestions!

Comments

behng Fri, 10/31/2025 - 13:51

You should try the Malletech JC12 (Jazz Classics). I think they're the same as the former Friedman mallet and they're pretty soft.

Randy_Sutin Tue, 11/04/2025 - 18:02

While it's true that heavy can also be tough on your technique, it seems to pay dividends in sound... at least to my ears.   I used to wrap my own to get what I wanted, but for the last several years, I have really enjoyed playing the Malletech Stefon Harris model... the blue soft ones.  Yes, they are heavy; they can be played with a Burton grip, but would probably be really stressful on a Musser Grip or a Stevens grip.  Yes, they are short and you would have to modify your grip a little to get the larger intervals.   But, they do sound and play really nicely in my opinion.   They also seem to hold up really well, or at least, far better than the original Albrights.

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