Mike Balter

Mike Balter Mallets has the widest selection of semi-custom-made mallets produced world-wide. When you purchase a Mike Balter Mallets product, you are assured of optimum quality, perfect weight and balance, along with superb craftsmanship.

Our Mike Balter section includes the following categories:

Balter Basics

Designed to provide the student and band program with an economically developed solution for obtaining mallets. With exceptional quality at an affordable price, this colour-coded series has a model for every percussion situation. Balter Basics come with moderately thicker birch handles for more control and durability. Balter Basics are featured in the Band Director's Special prepack.

Balter Basic II New for 2010

Balter Basics II is a line of economically developed products for the high school percussionist or student in a Percussion Methods Class. This series will provide the player a mallet that has a great feel and exceptional quality at a very affordable price. The three round-headed marimba models (BB21,BB22,BB23) produce a full tone and the three mushroom shaped vibe models (BB24,BB25,BB26) have a bright, articulate sound. Model BB27 is ideal for general marimba playing, wood blocks, temple blocks, and an array of percussion instruments.

Latex Covered Series New for 2010

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.

Pro Vibe Series

The Mike Balter Pro Vibe Series carries on a heritage of performance and reliability with a distinctive style. The heavier, round shaped cord wound mallet head provides the preferred vibe sound. Ready to impress in any situation, the Pro Vibe Series with its ideal weight and balance is the all-around choice for today's player. Available in Satin Birch, Black Birch, Two-Stage Fiberglass, or Rattan Handles.

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.

Wide Bar Series

Developed for graduated bar vibes, this three model series is intended for two mallet jazz performance. Speed, dexterity, and accuracy are improved with the short handle. Available in Satin Birch or Rattan Handles.

Mushroom Head Series

The mushroom head design brings to life a rich, smooth tone and will provide additional attack when needed. Yarn wound for marimba and cord wound for vibes. Available in Satin Birch, Black Birch, Two-Stage Fiberglass, or Rattan Handles. Available in Satin Birch or Rattan Handles.

Super Vibe Series

Designed to generate a full, lavish, powerful tone taking your vibe playing to an unprecedented level. The Super Vibe Series is made specifically with large, massive weighted mushroom shaped heads that bring out a full fundamental. Wound with an extremely durable synthetic material, the Super Vibe Series is available with thick Rattan or Satin Birch handles.

Artist Series

Unique and original in design. The Arthur Lipner Models offer a bolder, full sound with thick rattan handles. The John Piper Models feature a specially developed impact cushion. While the Julie Spencer Mallet was designed for "Tribeca Sunflower", the rare design offers an ideal solution for a 'buzz' marimba effect. Available in Rattan Handles.

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 or Rattan Handles.

Pink Series

The UK favourites in Pink!

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.

Unwound Series

The Unwound Series consists of various oval shaped rubber, wood, metal, and plastic heads to supply multiple timbres and dynamic levels. Designed for response, clarity, control and sensitivity. The Unwound Series is available in Satin Birch, Black Birch, Two-Stage Fiberglass, or Rattan Handles.

Grandioso Unwound Series

Larger, heavier round mallet heads on longer handles bring your instrument to life with a big, rich tone and strong fundamental. Available in Satin Birch, Black Birch, or Rattan Handles.

Chime Mallet Series

Double-sided head featuring a genuine leather striking surface at one end. Long hard-maple handle provides increased proficiency.

Timpani Mallet Series

Made with select maple shafts. Only the highest grade felt is used to produce these seamless Timpani Mallets.

Triangle Beater Series

Professional quality double-ended triangle beaters with adjustable counter weights for the percussionist who only wants the best. The Triangle Set, Model TB, includes leather carrying case.

Concert Bass Drum Mallet Series

Synthetic covered heads offer extended durability. The hard-wood maple shafts are well-balanced allowing the player to get a big, warm sound. An ideal selection for the professional or the school band and orchestra program.

Gong Mallet Series

Four distinct models meet the needs of the serious percussionist. Large, weighted heads on hard-maple shafts.

Suspended Cymbal Mallet Series

Two models to meet all of your band, orchestra, and ensemble needs. Model SC1 features a tightly wound head for articulation and a cutting cymbal roll. SC2 is perfect for general playing supplying mellow single strokes and a big sound on long cymbal rolls.

Louie Bellson Drumset Mallet Series

Essential innovative accessories for today's drummer. Several models are double-ended providing great solutions for quick changes.

Emil Richards (Soud of the Studio Series)

An array of products each producing a unique sound. A sound created by Emil Richards, Mr. Hollywood Percussion, in the studios for TV and movies. Attention to musical nuance was key in the development of this series. The line will be expanded with new sounds soon to come.