Which Keyboard Mallet Handle Is Best For You? The choice of keyboard mallet handles is a matter of personal taste. Mike Balter keyboard mallets are available with three different types of handles. Each handle has its purpose and application.
		Birch Handles, Satin Birch (A) or Black Birch (B), are a light weight, extremely strong, durable material that supplies a firmer feel. Because of the diminished flexibility especially on long length models, Birch Handles have become the standard choice for today's marimba artists. Two-Stage Fiberglass Handles (C) are extremely durable and characteristically indestructible. It makes a perfect mallet for outdoor performance. Rattan Handles (D) provide excellent rebound with an optimum amount of flexibility when striking the instrument. It is the vibe player's choice because of its "give" which is especially useful in mallet damping. Rattan is also an ideal handle for bell and xylophone mallets and is the professional's choice.		Keyboard Mallet Hardness: EH  Extra Hard H  Hard MH  Medium Hard M  Medium MS  Medium Soft S  Soft ES  Extra Soft EES  Extra, Extra Soft BASS  Bass Marimba JAZZ  Medium - Medium Hard
		When ordering keyboard mallets indicate handle choice by adding the following suffix to each model number: B for Satin Birch, BB for Black Birch, F for Two-Stage Fiberglass, R for Rattan

Latex Covered Series
The ideal choice for percussion ensembles who seek a perfectly blended sound. Each model provides a solid, full-bodied, warm tone with a strong fundamental and precise clarity. Made with a slightly larger core and varying sizes of latex on either Satin Birch or Rattan Handles. Models 171 and 172 are excellent for lead, solo voices. Models 173 and 174 are an exceptional choice for inner voice lines. Model 175 is excellent for bass voice and moving bass lines.

Chorale Series
The Mike Balter Chorale Series is a line of marimba mallets featuring extra long birch handles enabling the player to reach any interval. The heads are wrapped with microfiber, an extremely durable material, which is ideal for both indoor and outdoor playing. The Chorale Series Mallets produce a unique sound on both rosewood and synthetic marimba bars. The sound has the full-bodied warmth of a yarn covered mallet with the articulation of a mallet covered with cord. It is a logical choice for today's keyboard ensemble when you want each voice to be heard.

Universal Series
The Mike Balter Universal Series offers an array of multi-tonal models. Loosely wrapped wool yarn wound heads around heavy, hard cores with various underlayments that change timbre with the strength of your stroke. Designed to encompass the entire range of a five-octave marimba, the Universal Series delivers as much or as little impact as you will ever need. Created for the serious marimba soloist or ensemble player. Available in longer, thicker Satin Birch or Rattan Handles.

Ensemble Series
The cornerstone of the Mike Balter keyboard mallet line. These single-tone yarn wound mallets feature solid rubber cores that are the ideal weight for general playing. Their proven reliability has made them an industry standard that continues to exceed the needs of the player. Available in Satin Birch, Black Birch, Two-Stage Fiberglass, or Rattan Handles.

Ultimate Series
The Ultimate Series is designed to produce a full, rich, warm sound with a very strong fundamental. Heavily weighted rubber cores with a latex underlayment wound with an extremely durable synthetic material on slightly thicker and longer handles. The wide variety of the Ultimate Series makes them the preferred choice for every solo, ensemble, indoor or outdoor situation. Available in Satin Birch or Rattan Handles.

Performing Artist Series
The Performing Artist Series with medium weight solid cores provides an exquisite fundamental along with a mellow, rich tone. The additional weight of these elongated grey wool yarn wound mallets offers a complete gradation of hardness for today's marimba soloist or ensemble player. Available in longer Satin Birch or Rattan Handles.

Contemporary Series
This light-weight, dual-tonal, wool yarn wound series provides improved dexterity and smooth rolling for today's accomplished marimba soloist. Available in Satin Birch, Black Birch, or Rattan Handles.

Tradition Plus Series
The latex wound mallet head on longer handles creates a unique sound in the Latin American 'South-of-the-Border' tradition. Available in Satin Birch or Rattan Handles.

Shadow Series
These extremely well-balanced mallets were developed expressly for the concert marimba soloist. The black cord wound oval-shaped head on a long Black Birch Handle produces an articulate, detailed sound at all dynamic levels.