Innovative Rattan Series AA25 Medium Vibraphone Mallets

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These are very heavy, fyi, especially for 4-mallet playing (I play musser grip). I almost returned these but there's something about the attack I really like - but they are a workout! The are described as 'medium' but there is a cool, bright 'bite' to the attack at higher volume. I was looking to replace my 20-year-old Good Vibes Mike Manieri and Gary Burton models, and these are close in terms of attack, but wildly different weight. I'm not sure what the core is, but it seems larger than most of my mallets, which gives it a big tone. It's described as "mushroom", but it's a much bigger mushroom than, say, my Jerry Tachoir JT23's, hence the heavier weight. My only con with Innovative Percussion vibe mallets is the rattan handles: they have a 'springy' feel to it that is taking some getting used to, and it's different than, say, Malletech rattan. I mentioned this in other reviews: Innovative rattan has a very different feel than the solid, thinner rattan in my old Good Vibes mallets. To thwart this, I sometimes I cut off the ends of the handles to match the Manieri length (14" from head center to end of handle), but this would probably change the balance drastically, as I'd have to cut of 1 1/4" to match. (There is a subtle difference between my Manieri rattan and birch, but it's enough to truly effect my playing) The AA25's are not my daily go-to mallets for solo and small ensemble work, but they are useful.

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This is one of the best mallets I've got in my collection, and probably my favorite ones thus far! They actually came along with the Majestic Vibraphone that i purchased, and I've been enjoying them ever since! The weight is a little heavier than I thought I would like at first, but they produce such an beautiful sound at ANY dynamic level, that I don't have to work very hard to make them REALLY sing, and they're so perfectly balanced for rolls, and faster, four mallet passages. The chord that is used to wrap the mallets, along with the specific rubber core that they're using produces one of the coolest contact noises on the bars I've ever heard. Even playing at my softest possible level, it just sounds like, well, like rain drops. Best way to put it!

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Spectacular tone! It's a soft, and very warm mallet, but the articulation of the attack is still very present at all dynamic levels. I can't stop playing with these mallets. The combo chord wrap with the rubber core is superb! The weight also contributes very well to getting great attack during softer passages. I'd also recommend the AA30's if you wanted a little more attack.

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These mallets have a beautiful sound on the instrument. Although a little softer than I would like for a medium mallet, with a little extra oomph, these mallets articulate well. Either way, the tone they produce is stunning, and I'll certainly be using them frequently.

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I've been familiar with these mallets for a long time and have used them in various marching groups for the past few years, so I'm extremely accustomed to the feel. They have longer shafts than most vibraphone mallets, which makes the weight distribution different unless you're already used to more front-heavy mallets. When it comes to concert playing, they produce a beautiful tone which is NOT what I like to describe as "airy," an issue I often have when looking for the perfect marimba mallet. They tend to sound softer on a vibraphone than marimba, so you won't be able to get an extremely articulate sound out without putting extra effort in (same goes for AA30, on vibraphone). Although they are most commonly used as vibraphone mallets, they actually produce a gorgeous, clear tone on marimba, a sound that I find less typical from "stock" marimba mallets. I highly recommend them for a variety of repertoire!

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