Detail 01
Rubber head
Harder and brighter than yarn or cord. Notes cut through clearly but you hear more bar contact noise.
Product detailSKU #1274115062571
Vic FirthM5 Rubber Mallets Medium
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Vic Firth's M5 medium rubber mallets — a general-purpose pair for xylophone, bells and utility percussion work at a low price.
Strong match
Who this is for
- School and community band percussion sections
- Xylophone and bell parts needing clear note definition
- A cheap first pair before buying by hardness
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Marimba players wanting warm low-register tone
- Anyone needing a soft, sustain-focused sound
- Timpani — wrong head type entirely
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Medium hardness
The middle setting — enough attack for metal bars, not so hard it overpowers a wood marimba in soft passages.
Detail 03
M5 model
Vic Firth's numbered keyboard series, so you can match or step up hardness later within the same line.
Detail 04
$24.99 price
Entry-tier pricing. Fine for practice, ensemble utility work and as a backup pair in a stick bag.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Rubber can mark or dent softer wood bars if you play hard
- 02One medium pair won't cover a full concert program
- 03Confirm the pair count before ordering for a section
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01What instruments are these for?
Keyboard percussion — xylophone, bells and glockenspiel mainly, where rubber's brighter attack helps notes speak. They also work as general utility mallets.
02Are these good for marimba?
They work but aren't ideal. Rubber is harder than yarn, so low marimba bars sound clacky rather than warm. Yarn mallets suit marimba better.
03Are these OK for a beginning student?
Yes. Medium rubber is the standard starting hardness for school percussion, and the price makes them easy to replace.
04Can I use these on timpani?
No. Timpani need felt heads. Rubber will damage the drumhead and produce a hard, unmusical sound.
