Vic Firth M122 Robert van Sice Marimba Mallets - Soft Synthetic Core Yarn Mallets

The Vic Firth M122 Robert van Sice Mallets are soft marimba mallets from the Robert van Sice Signature Series, designed for players who want warmth and fullness but with more definition than the very soft end of the range. Vic Firth describes the M122 as “Soft. An ideal mallet for pieces such as the Bach Cello Suites,” which gives it a clear musical use case for lyrical playing, rolled passages, and repertoire that needs body without sounding overly heavy or diffuse.

Unlike the rubber-core end of the series, the M122 is a synthetic-core model, and Vic Firth says the Robert van Sice synthetic-core models are multi-tonal. The series as a whole is designed with an exclusive hand-wrapping technique intended to virtually eliminate bar-contact noise, and uses 17" maple handles for feel and control at wider intervals.

Key Features

• Robert van Sice Signature marimba mallets.
• Soft response for warm, lyrical marimba playing.
• Synthetic core design for a multi-tonal response within the Robert van Sice range.
• Yarn-wound head in grey.
• Maple handle for control and feel.
• 17" length according to Vic Firth.
• Designed for concert marimba use.

Why Choose These Mallets?
The M122 sits in a very useful place in the Robert van Sice range. It is softer and more rounded than medium-soft and medium models, but still offers more clarity than the very soft options. Vic Firth’s description of it as an ideal choice for repertoire such as the Bach Cello Suites suggests a mallet aimed at expressive, lyrical playing rather than sheer articulation. That makes it a strong option for players who need warmth in solo repertoire, chorales, and lower-to-middle register marimba work.

It is also helpful to note where it sits relative to nearby models. Thomann lists the M121 as very soft, the M122 as soft, and the M123 as medium soft, which reinforces the M122’s role as the softer middle ground in that section of the Robert van Sice line.

Specifications

• Brand: Vic Firth.
• Model: M122.
• Series: Robert van Sice Signature Series.
• Instrument Use: Marimba.
• Hardness: Soft.
• Core Type: Synthetic core.
• Head Material: Yarn.
• Head Colour: Grey.
• Handle Material: Maple.
• Length: 17". Thomann lists 432 mm, which is close but not exact, so Vic Firth’s manufacturer spec is the better primary reference.
• Application: Concert.

What’s Included

• 1 pair of Vic Firth M122 Robert van Sice marimba mallets. Thomann describes the package quantity as a pair.