5 Recommended Timpani Mallets!

Are there any timpani players out there who are having trouble choosing the right mallets for timpani?
I was in charge of percussion in a brass band for 9 years, but I was assigned to play timpani for the first time at a competition during my second year of junior high school. I started out not knowing how to read music, but before I knew it, I was hooked on playing the timpani. By the time I was a high school student, I was playing the timpani on almost every piece.
The timpani has such an important role that it is often referred to as a second conductor. As with other percussion instruments, the sound can change dramatically just by changing the mallets, not to mention the way they strike!

So, in this issue, I will introduce some recommended timpani mallets!

1. PLAYWOOD / T13 Series

PLAYWOOD's Standard Series, uses easy-to-control Lamin wood for the handle. I recommended these for beginners as it is very easy to handle!
Sound House currently carries four types: medium, medium-hard, hard, and very hard.
The pair shown below are hard mallets. I used to love these mallets when I was a student. They’re slightly heavier due to the wood core and they have a solid sound with a good release.

PLAYWOOD / T13-H Timpani Mallet

2. PROMARK / PERFORMER Series

PROMARK timpani mallets are ideal for all percussionists, from beginners to professionals. We offer five different hardnesses ranging from soft to ultra-staccato.
The seamless parachute-style felt head allows for an even tone! Also, because they’re made with a maple shaft, they can be gripped similarly to a stick, making it easy for beginners to get a feel for how to hold it.

PROMARK / PERFORMER Series Timpani Maple

3. PEARL / 662 Series

PEARL's standard timpani mallets, 662 Series. Four types of hardness are available, ranging from soft to extra hard, and they can be used for a wide range of applications, from school bands to ensembles.
Like the PROMARK mallets I introduced before, the shafts are made of maple, making them easy to grip even for timpani mallet beginners!
If you are in doubt, choose the medium size, which works well with a wide range of music genres!

PEARL / 662-M Timpani Mallet

4. VIC FIRTH / American Custom Series

Vic Firth timpani mallets are recommended for middle and high school brass bands.
Although the mallets themselves are light, they provide a clear attack and ample power!
We carry 5 different levels of hardness from very soft to very hard.
I used VIC FIRTH sticks all the time when I was a student, so these timpani mallets made by this company were also easy to grip! Hard mallets were useful when marching!

VIC FIRTH / VIC-T4 Timpani Mallets

5. YAMAHA / 600 Series

The 600 Series from Yamaha is a model made under the supervision of multi-percussionist Shinichi Ueno.
Currently, we offer five different types, ranging from soft to very hard.
My favorite is the medium-hard TPM-603! It is characterized by its bright and lively tone, and I felt that I could easily expand the range of expression in passionate passages.

YAMAHA / TPM-603 Timpani Mallet

- A Little Something Extra - PLAYWOOD / PRO-3100 Classical Series

This is a special-order item, so I'm showing it to you as something extra! I highly recommend these mallets!
I have fond memories of this mallet, which I first encountered when I was in a slump in high school and my advisor lent me one of his personal mallets.
At first I found them difficult to handle, but once I got used to using them, I felt that my range of expression had expanded greatly because of their wide dynamic range. I remember the first time I participated in an ensemble using these mallets, I was impressed by the ability to comfortably produce the sounds I wanted.

In addition, this series of mallets has a grip tube that prevents slipping when playing. The stability of the player's strumming is remarkably different without the grip tube, so if you are interested in this product, please try it out!

PLAYWOOD / PRO-3114 Timpani Mallets

PLAYWOOD / PRO-3117 Timpani Mallets

These are the recommended timpani mallets!
Just by changing the mallets, you can change the sound and the mood of the instrument, which makes it more fun to play.
Please try to find your favorite mallets!