Hard. Designed for articulate "lead line" playing within the top third of the instrument. Plenty of clarity with this mallet! No latex cover. Developed with DCI Hall of Fame member, Thom Hannum, the Ensemble Series provides a consistency of timbre and tone quality across the full range of the marimba, regardless of which model you choose from the series. These mallets provide a very focused sound for the marimba choir, with a real strength and uniformity in the specific sound. With a plastic core covered in latex for a full-bodied sound and a rich fundamental, each model has its own latex recipe for a true graduation of timbre and tone production. The materials also enhance rebound, making them very easy to play. Large, clear finished birch dowels increase the mass of the entire mallet. Though designed for the marimba, the Ensemble Series mallets also have a tremendous quality of sound on the vibraphone as well. They are an outstanding choice for solo playing as well as for marching band, drum corps and WGI type of indoor concert and marching percussion ensembles. L = 16 1/2"
