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For Gongs, Tam Tams & Drums
3 Sizes: Medium, Large & Mega-large!
NOTE: The color combination may vary from what is shown in the photos.
International shipping: Contact us
Delivery Time: Typically arrives in 3 - 7 days in the continental U.S; tracking info will be sent to you. If you need faster delivery time or for shipping to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska or anywhere outside the continental U.S., please email or call us.
Description: Artdrum Friction Mallets are hand-made, specialty gong mallets. Each Friction Mallet has two different size balls, which are attached to a plastic coated cable. Each FM is essentially two mallets in one! As a rule of thumb, the larger the ball the lower pitch, the smaller ball the higher the pitch. FMs sound great on all gong types (Paiste, Meinl, Tone of Life, Chinese gongs, Tibetan gongs, & so on) as well as various drums.
The Medium Friction Mallet has the medium and small balls; we recommend the Medium FM for 12" and larger gongs and drums
The Large FM has the large and small balls; we recommend the Large FM for approximately 18" and larger gongs and drums
Our Mega-large FMs come with an extra thick cable, which provides more control over the Mega-large ball
The Mega-large FM has the mega-large and large balls. The mega-large ball produces the deepest and lowest bass of all the balls; the mega-large ball is too large and not effective on small gongs; we recommend it for approximately 28" and larger gongs and drums
Warranty: If you are inside the U.S. and if a ball on your FM falls off the cable within a year of receiving it, just let us know & we'll help you repair it or send you a replacement ball or FM for free.
Reviews:
"The greatest Friction Mallets, ever!!!" Wayne Marto, Beneficial Sound
"When I first received my gong from ArtDrum.com I had some basic mallets, but when I received my custom Rubber Ball Mallets from them, that's when things really changed. The sounds they make are absolutely wonderful and my clients always have amazing experiences. I'm very happy with the service and products and highly recommend them! "Thanks, "Ricky Goodall", Nova Scotia, Canada, Professional Lifestyle Coach, Elevated Lifestyle
Sizes & Weights (Medium, Large & Mega-large):
Medium FM: medium ball (about 32 mm) and small ball (about 25 mm); weighs about 1 oz
Large FM: large ball (about 42 mm) & small ball (about 25 mm); weighs about 1.8 oz
Mega-large FM: Mega-large (about 58 mm) ball & large ball (about 42 mm); weighs about 5.5 oz.
Friction Mallet Tips
For best control and vibration of the medium on the Medium Friction Mallet & the small ball on the Medium & Large FMs, we suggest holding the cable that your fingers are about 1/2 to 1.25" below the ball
For best control and vibration of the large ball on the Large Friction Mallet, we suggest holding the cable so that your fingers are about 1/4 to 1/2" below the ball
For best control and vibration of the Mega-large suggest a for your fingers to be in a range from about 1 to 2" or more below the ball
We also recommend testing finger/grip location to see what you like best
If a ball becomes slippery (which can happen from skin & hand oils, etc), wash the ball with soap & water with a rag, sponge or scouring pad; a gong can also accumulate skin oils, dust or grime over time, so wiping your gong firmly with a dry cloth may help too
For soothing and nuanced sounds rub the ball gently and slowly against the face, edge or back of gong in any direction you like; moving the balls slowly across the gong typically produces the most beautiful, interesting & nuanced sounds
Bend the cable (especially for the medium & large FMs) so that both balls are rubbing against the gong at the same time; or alternate the balls; or use two mallets at once to alternate or produce sounds from two balls simultaneously
Strike or tap the balls against the gong to produce various tones & a distinct timbre; different size balls will produce varying degrees of bass
Along with gongs, Friction Mallets sound great on drums!