ADJUSTABLE DRUM MALLETS

The drum mallets disclosed are adjustable, by the percussion player, as to weight and/or balance and/or head characteristics, so as to vary the "feel" of the mallet, and thus also the tonal effect obtainable when playing upon kettle-drums, snare-drums, and other percussion instruments; and, typically, the mallet has frictionally slidable, removable and replaceable, external balancing mass means, positionable to serve as the striking head of the mallet, whereby the adjustment as to balance, overall weight, head characteristics and tone production may be readily obtained. In some forms, the said mass means regularly serves as a removable and replaceable striking head; while in other forms, the mass means comprises one or more thin elongated tubes having a frictionally-gripping fit on an elongated mallet body, so as to be manually slidable thereon but tight enough to avoid dislodgment under normal playing action; and such a tubular member may be slidable to the head-end of the mallet to serve as a striking head or it may be slidable to a position to serve as a hand grip; and one or more such tubular members may be placed in various positions along the length of the mallet. The mallet body may also have a tapered element at the head-end to assure retention of mass members especially of enlarged-head types; and the disclosure further includes such heads embodying a relatively hard inner portion and a relatively soft outer covering.