- Malletech
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Malletech LLC is a manufacturer of mallet percussion instruments and mallets formed in 1982 by Marimba Productions, Inc. The company sells its own line of marimbas, xylophones, and glockenspiels. In addition, Malletech offers mallets for marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone, suspended cymbal, bass drum, and timpani.[1]
Contents
History
In 1978, marimba performer Leigh Howard Stevens, author of Method of Movement for Marimba, designed a series of marimba mallets for manufacturer Vic Firth. However, in 1982, Stevens decided to independently create a new brand of mallets ("Malletech"), collaborating with percussionists Bob Becker, David Friedman and Dave Samuels. Later, in 1985, Stevens was hired by Ludwig-Musser as a consultant for their already-successful line of keyboard percussion instruments. Stevens left the company in 1991 to develop instruments for Malletech. Malletech debuted its instruments in 1992 at PASIC. Malletech started manufacturing and refining their instruments in Gurdon, Arkansas employing local craftsmen and tuners.
In 1997, Malletech was bought by the Avedis Zildjian Company, but Stevens finished buying it back by June 2005, renaming it "Malletech LLC". The company currently operates in Neptune, New Jersey, United States.[2]
Products
Malletech offers several different marimba and xylophone models as well as a line of glockenspiels. The mallet catalogue includes series named for and endorsed by certain prominent percussionists, including [1]
- Bob Becker (xylophone and glockenspiel)
- Kevin Bobo (marimba)
- Michael Burritt (marimba)
- Thomas Burritt (marimba)
- Fred Hinger (timpani)
- Marta Klimisara (marimba)
- Mike Mainieri (vibraphone)
- Eric Sammut (marimba)
- Dave Samuels (vibraphone)
- Ed Smith (vibraphone)
- Leigh Howard Stevens (marimba)
- Gordon Stout (marimba)
References
External links
Categories:- Percussion instrument manufacturing companies
- Companies based in Monmouth County, New Jersey
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