What kind of mallets from Malletech would you recommend for a student?!?!?!?

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Kyle -

A couple of questions, if I may:

What age/level is the student?

Will the mallets be used for performing solo pieces, or with an ensemble, or both?

Are we talking about two-mallet or four-mallet playing, or both?

If four, is the student using the Stevens grip? Burton? Something else?

Will the student be using these mallets on vibraphone as well as marimba?

Finally, why only Malletech? They make fine mallets, but they're far from the only quality brand on the market.

JW

I really don't think it matters too much. I think early
students shouldn't start off with great sounding mallets.
It they get use to crappy ones and learn to get a ok sound
out of them, the transtion to good mallets will bring a great difference in their performance. just get em something that they can get by with, mike balter general mallets or so.

for just marimba playing I would go with the Concerto Series CN 14, it's a good general mallet. Plus it's entirely synthetic yarn so no fraying. Or, try the Soloist Series SO9 Medium or SO14 Med. Hard. The Soloist series has a real nice old fashioned sound. Or I would recommend the Michael Burrit Med. Hard too MB13. I wouldn't go for the Stevens line, they're just a bit too easy to overplay on, and wear out really fast.
For Vibes, go with the Dave Samuels DS 18. An awesome vibe mallet

OR..
Use Innovative Soloist Series Med. or for great durablilty the Jim Casella medium or hard..(Great for rosewood)

Hope it helps,
Scott