Detail 01
Rattan handle
Natural cane flexes on the stroke, which softens rebound and eases wrist fatigue over long passages. Each shaft varies slightly.
Product detailSKU #1274228070212
Vic FirthPro Vibe Series Rattan Handle Keyboard Mallets 21 Yellow Cord Hard
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Hard cord-wound keyboard mallets on rattan handles, aimed at vibraphone and marimba players who want articulate attack with a flexible shaft.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Vibraphone parts needing clear note definition at speed
- Players who prefer a shaft with noticeable flex
- Cutting through an ensemble on bar percussion
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Players wanting warm, soft mallet-instrument tone
- Anyone needing a stiff, uniform synthetic shaft
- Budget buyers — birch-handle versions cost less
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
Cord winding
Cord over the core gives a defined attack with less click than plastic, and it wears slower than yarn.
Detail 03
Hard
Brightest, most articulate end of the range. Fast runs stay legible; sustained chordal writing can sound harsh.
Detail 04
Yellow head
Vic Firth color-codes hardness, so you can grab the right pair from a stick bag mid-piece without testing them.
Detail 05
Keyboard mallet
Built for tuned bars — vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, bells. Not a drum, timpani, or gong implement.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Rattan is natural cane, so handle diameter and flex vary pair to pair
- 02Hard mallets can chip or mark softer wood bars on heavy strokes
- 03Most keyboard writing needs multiple hardnesses — one pair rarely covers a full program
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Is this sold as a pair?
Vic Firth keyboard mallets are packaged as a matched pair. If you play four-mallet, you need two pairs.
02Rattan or birch handle — which should I get?
Rattan flexes and absorbs rebound, which many vibraphone players prefer. Birch is stiffer and more consistent shaft to shaft.
03Can I use these on a xylophone?
Hard cord will speak on xylophone but cord is generally chosen for vibes and marimba. Xylophone parts usually call for plastic or rubber.
04What does hard change versus medium?
Hard puts more fundamental attack and high end into each note. Medium rounds the attack and blends better in soft, sustained passages.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Yellow
