60sec Tip Bits #3 – Makeshift Mallets

60 Second Tip Bits #3 – Makeshift Mallets. Whether you’re at a gig, rehearsal or recording session you may get the need for mallets. If you’ve been caught short and don’t have any to hand this simple and effective tip will help you solve the issue.

Cymbal Felts

In my previous 60 Second Tip Bits video (#2) my advice is to get yourself a set of cymbal sleeves AND cymbal felts. Then, just leave them in your cymbal bag / case. So that you’ll always be prepared to protect your cymbals should you be at a gig with neglected equipment. Furthermore, you can also use a pair of those cymbal felts to make makeshift mallets. The felts will be the same material as used with the percussion mallets.

If you don’t have this option then go straight to your cymbal stands and pick off 2x felts – the ones on top of the cymbals so you still have a soft base for your cymbals to rest on.

Assemble Your Makeshift Mallets

It’s easy to assemble your makeshift mallets. You simply put the cymbal felts on the butt-ends of you regular drumsticks. That’s it! The reason for choosing the butt-end is because of it’s width. The other end of the stick is tapered which results in the felt being too far down the shaft for playing.

They’re not staying on!?!

If you have thinner sticks for example, such as: 7A’s or thinner you may want to wrap a piece of tape around the stick beforehand to increase the diameter or indeed, adding a type of double-sided sticky tape. The same applies if your cymbal felts are older or dishevelled and lack the robustness needed to stay on by themselves.

If you don’t have any cymbal felts but do have gaffa tape, you can wrap a strip of tape around the stick as an alternative. Yes it has a different sound to cymbal felts but it will dumb down the harsh stick noise.

A Wry Smile

Once I was at a London rehearsal studio when I noticed top UK session drummer Andy Gangadeen at the front desk. He was looking to purchase a pair of Mallets for his rehearsal. Unfortunately there were none in stock but when I showed him this method of makeshift mallets. With a wry smile he said he’d never ever thought of doing that before.

Sometimes even the simplest solutions pass us by.

Have you ever made any makeshift mallets? Leave any comments I’d love to hear from you!