Vic Firth M138 Medium Poly Keyboard Mallets - Orchestral Bells & Xylophone Mallets
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The Vic Firth M138 Orchestral Keyboard Mallets are medium poly mallets designed for bells and xylophone, with an added internal brass weight that helps produce a warm, dark sound with a fuller response. Built with rattan handles, they offer a flexible, lively feel that suits not only orchestral playing, but also concert band, percussion ensemble, solo repertoire, marching band, drum corps, and indoor percussion. Product listings and catalog references consistently describe the M138 as a medium poly orchestral keyboard model with weighted head design and a 14 1/4" overall length.
The M138 has also become a familiar choice for players who want more body and less harshness than very bright bell mallets, making it a useful option for repertoire that needs clarity without sounding too brittle. Vic Firth’s current Articulate Series M423 is explicitly described as comparable to the former M138, reinforcing the M138’s role as a go-to weighted poly model for a broad range of keyboard percussion work.
Key Features
- Medium poly keyboard mallets for bells and xylophone
- Added brass weight for a warmer, darker and fuller tone response
- Rattan shafts for flexibility and rebound
- Round head design with medium hardness
- Suitable for orchestral, symphonic band, marching band, drum corps, indoor percussion, percussion ensemble and solo playing
- Approx. 14 1/4" length
- Approx. 1 1/8" head size
Why Choose These Mallets?
If you want a pair of keyboard mallets that sit between overly bright bell mallets and softer general-purpose options, the Vic Firth M138 is a strong all-rounder. The weighted poly head helps bring out definition on glockenspiel and xylophone while keeping the tone rounded enough for players who do not want an overly sharp front-end attack. That makes them particularly useful for school ensembles, orchestral parts, percussion ensemble setups, and players who need one reliable pair for a range of tuned percussion jobs. This positioning is supported by both retailer descriptions and percussion education material that places models in the M135–M138 range in bell/xylophone use.
Because the M138 is an older orchestral-series model, it can also appeal to players specifically searching for that classic Vic Firth spec rather than newer naming. Including that older model reference can help capture searches from players, schools and ensembles looking to replace an existing pair or find the nearest current equivalent. Vic Firth’s own current product page for the M423 directly references the former M138, which makes that comparison especially relevant for search visibility.
Specifications
- Brand: Vic Firth
- Model: M138
- Series: Orchestral Series / Keyboard Mallets
- Hardness: Medium
- Head Material: Poly
- Head Shape: Round
- Head Size: 1 1/8"
- Handle Material: Rattan
- Length: 14 1/4" / approx. 14.25"
- Instrument Use: Bells / Xylophone / Keyboard Percussion
- Weighted Core: Yes, brass weight
Who They’re For
The Vic Firth M138 suits:
- orchestral percussionists
- school and youth ensemble players
- concert band and symphonic band percussion sections
- marching band and front ensemble players wanting a medium poly sound with some added body
- players looking for a classic Vic Firth bells/xylophone model or an alternative reference point to the newer M423
What’s Included
- 1 pair of Vic Firth M138 Medium Poly Keyboard Mallets