Tongue Drum/Marimba Mallets — MADE IN U.S.A. Percussion

I was in the market for some cheap mallets for my percussion students to use without breaking the bank. After a quick search i discovered a few options for hard plastic and rubber and got all four to test out. These are the models i got to compare. Timber Drum Co - T2HP (Hard Plastic) Timber Drum Co - TMD2 (Rubber) Shappy "Bell Mallets" (Rubber) Fanrel "Glockenspiel Mallets" (Plastic?) Right off the bat i noticed a ton of differences. The Shappy and Fanrel Mallets came from China. That right there should tell you the quality isn't going to be as good as even their pictures online looked like the were copying the American made mallets. The Chinese ones came in cheap plastic bags (one wasn't even sealed). The Timber Drum Co mallets are Made in the USA and arrived in a sturdy protective tube (see photos). The differences between the mallets where even more noticeable. Both the Shappy and Fanrel had unfinished wood handles and oversized mallet heads that were too big for the instruments my students play on. Nice try guys ;-). The mallet head quality was really rough (see Photos). The Shappy "rubber" mallets were basically plastic mallets and too hard for the instruments i would use rubber mallets on. The Timber Drum Co Mallets were obviously the higher quality option. Both the hard plastic and rubber options had finished wood handles that were the perfect size for a comfortable grip. Each mallet head was the perfect size and sound that i was looking for. This made sense when i realized the Timber Drum Co mallets were made in the USA. The Shappy/Fanrel were both made in China (according to the plastic bag they came in) and seems like they were just trying to make something that looked like a mallet to sell. Basically, the Timber Drum Co mallets are the best low cost option for mallets on Amazon. I will be recommending them to all my students from now on. *******U P D A T E***************** I purchased these mallets and wrote a review back in 2019. I actually liked them so much that i decided to get a few sets more for my students in 2020. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the company made the mallets even better! Dowel quality is improved with smooth rounded ends. They seem even more sturdy an added a logo. I can't say this enough, Timber Drum Co makes the best "low cost" mallet on Amazon. See new photos for the changes.

Great balance and quality. Beautifully crafted. Comfortable and easy to hold. No more cramping in the metacarpals. I use these to play steel tongue drums. Deep resonance, penetrating sounds. If I could give them more than five stars I would. Great product! Thank you Timber Drum Company!

Just like the other 5-star reviews said, these two mallets are very well made, nice to hold, perfect length, and the rubber is just the right balance between too hard and too soft. And, it was delivered in just one day--and we didn't even use Prime! Thank you.

This is an amazing bit of kit at a remarkably low price. Feels good in the hand and you can play hard or soft. Every player should have a pair

Love these things! My hands and fingers are slender for my size, so playing cajon or bongos for a period of time would case them to swell and ache and I'd have to take a break from playing. The rubber ends on these have just the right flexibility and firmness to produce a hand/like sound. Genius! I may rewrap them with leather tennis racquet/golf club grip for durability and to make them sound even more like hands. That's my only reason for giving them four stars instead of 5. Great product!

Purchased a Hopwell Steel Tongue drum for my wife as a Christmas present and it came with a pair of percussion mallets. But unfortunately my step-sons dog was visiting and he found the originals and chewed them into toothpick sized pieces. I searched for replacements and these mallets were even better then the originals. I little bit heavier and with a slightly harder ball, which to me made for a much better sound. The length was good, they are well built and should last a good long time. Purchase was easy and delivery was fast and as expected. Assembled in the good old US of A which is always a plus. Great seller, would buy from again.

Exactly what is explained and as expected. Great quality, right materials, and correct softness for my tongue drum. Just perfect. Thank you.

These mallets are amazing for xylophone and bells, it still works to this day perfectly fine (has cancer on warning sign btw just don’t eat it, don’t worry I didn’t taste it)

ils sonnent très bien , j'aime beaucoup, juste un petit hic.... la toile s'effiloche à côté des coutures, ....petit problème. Il faut les utiliser avec soin.

Great quality wood, just firm and soft enough to get a soft yet pronounced tone

Very hard - brings out bell sounds. Precises. Well weighted but loud.

This material is too hard for our glockenspiel. The handle is also a bit too long, with the head too weighted, so that there was no bounce on contact.

Bought this for my husband (the drummer) and he really likes the sound they produce. Will buy again IF he breaks them.