Nice Mallet but Stains Timpani Heads
- Posted by
- Mark M
- Date Posted
- 04/15/2026
As a school band director of beginners through high school, I have appreciated the JH2's tonal characteristics and durability. However, it must be noted that the red-dyed felt of the JH2 will leave permanent red marks on your timpani heads. Promark's recommended cleaning solution did not seem to help. While the red dye on the heads has not bled onto our other white-colored felt mallets, it is an unfortunate situation when a set of timpani heads runs between $400-$500+.
Decent Mallets
- Posted by
- GG
- Date Posted
- 11/16/2022
These mallets served me well in college, but while they're a bit better than the JH4s, I never found them exceptional.
Great Timpani Mallets
- Posted by
- Gabe Albertus
- Date Posted
- 12/13/2018
I recommended these for my high school instructor to buy for ensemble use in his band and these are a great purchase. They produce a surprisingly warm tone for being felt mallets, and are great for staccato hits to cut above the ensemble without being shrill and harsh. These also can be used for some solo applications as long as you do not have to use them for rolls. The handles feel amazing and the mallets feel extremely light and a little longer than normal, which might not be true but it's just the sense I get from these. 10/10 recommended.
Favorite Tympani Mallets
- Posted by
- Dan Helm
- Date Posted
- 06/22/2017
As a middle school band director, I found myself frequently asking my students to strike the tympani with more force or to use harder mallets. I discovered these mallets when I judged blind (behind a screen) all-district band auditions and tympani players from one school continuously produced clean stokes with consistently appropriate tones. My last pair lasted a couple of years and are still in pretty good condition. If you have ever asked a timpanist to use harder mallets or to play with more force, you owe it to yourself to try these!
Good mallets
- Posted by
- Steve M
- Date Posted
- 04/02/2013
I've been using these for a while and they've held up very well. A little heavy, but they sound really good. I got these mallets because I was looking for something in between VF ultra-staccatos and the staccatos and these are great! I use them for a lot of classical stuff because of the good articulation, AND warm sound.
Dr
- Posted by
- Barbara Wowk
- Date Posted
- 08/18/2012
I've tried several brands of mallets and both the JH2 and JH3 had the sound I liked best. I alternate use depending on which set of timpani I'm playing--those at home, my instructor's, or the band's and also the sound I think a particular piece calls for
