friction mallet

Which gong mallet or friction mallet should I buy?

Which gong mallet—also known as a friction mallet—is right for you depends primarily on your gong, the sound you’re looking for, and your personal preferences. The intended use also plays a role in choosing the right mallet. As a general rule, a smaller mallet head produces higher tones, while a larger mallet head produces lower tones. The larger your gong is, the more ways you’ll have to play it and produce a wide range of tones.

Several factors come into play when choosing a gong mallet:
What sounds do you want to create?
What size is your gong?
What type of gong do you play?
How do you use your gong?
What playing technique do you prefer?
In what context do you plan to use the gong mallet?

What sounds would you like to create with a gong mallet?

A gong striker sets the surface of your gong into a long-lasting vibration, producing intense overtones, ethereal soundscapes, and extraordinary vibrations.

As a general rule:

Delicate, high overtones: Choose a gong mallet with a smaller head and a rougher surface. This is ideal for precise and clear tones.
Deep, intense vibrations: Use a gong mallet with a larger head that makes more contact with your gong. A smoother surface also produces a deeper sound.
Versatile soundscapes: Combine friction mallet of different sizes to fully explore your gong’s sound spectrum.

Many gong players own mallets and friction mallet of varying sizes. This allows you to create different timbres and fully explore the sound spectrum of your instrument.

The sound that can be ollihess friction mallet with an ollihess friction mallet is difficult to put into words. Rubbing the gong creates a ethereal soundscape that is sometimes reminiscent of whale and dolphin songs or even the famous Tibetan “Om” mantra chanted by monks.

Which gong size is best suited for which gong mallet?

The size of your gong also determines which gong mallet is best suited for you. The larger your gong, the larger the mallet head can be. However, smaller friction mallet also be used on large gongs. We do not recommend using large friction mallet small gongs, though.

Large gongs (60 cm and up)
Larger friction mallet our Intense Edition 70, bring out the full volume of your instrument and produce impressive depth. At the same time, you can create very subtle nuances with clear overtones or add tonal accents.

Small gongs (under 60 cm)
For these, we recommend smaller models like the Smooth Lava Edition 30. They offer optimal control and produce a delicate, bright tone. Mallets that are too large, on the other hand, can overdrive your instrument and are therefore not recommended for small gongs.

Which gong mallet should I buy for TamTam and Feng gongs?

Not every type of gong responds the same way to a friction mallet. The same friction mallet sound very different on a different TamTam gong.

Nevertheless, the following general observations can be made regarding tam-tams and feng gongs:

Tam-tam gongs: When played with a gong mallet, they often produce a dark, vibrating rumble, powerful sounds, and a deep hum.
Feng gongs (wind gongs): They respond much more quickly and usually produce bright, clear, and very direct sounds rich in overtones.

Our tip: Try different gong mallets on your instrument to find out how your gong responds.

Which gong scraper is suitable for which applications?

The requirements for your gong mallet vary depending on the application. Which gong mallet is right for a particular application depends primarily on the energy or mood you want to create.

Sound Meditation, Sound Baths, Sound Therapy, and Sound Journeys

Choose medium- to large-sized gong mallets. Gong mallets like the ollihess Intense Edition produce gentle, calm, and long-lasting vibrations that create a sense of spaciousness and are ideal for relaxation and meditation.

Versatile models such as the Gongreiber Intense Edition Plus are ideal for particularly rich and varied sound baths or meditation sessions.

Concerts and Experimental Gong Performances

You can create striking accents with instruments like our Crazy Egg gong scraper or the eGong gong scraper. It opens up entirely new playing techniques and adds extraordinary highlights—both sonically and visually.

Here's what you should look for when buying a gong scraper

A high-quality gong mallet differs not only in sound, but above all in material, craftsmanship, and balance.

Here’s what matters when buying a gong mallet or friction mallet:

natural caoutchouc: Opt for natural caoutchouc mallet head. It’s soft, durable, and leaves no marks.
Specially Textured Surface: A textured surface helps prevent annoying squeaking.
Ergonomic Design: An ergonomically balanced ratio of handle to head ensures greater and longer-lasting enjoyment while playing.
Sustainable materials: Environmentally friendly materials protect nature and are reflected in the sound.
Handcrafted in Germany: Support local producers and enjoy high quality.
Fair production: Support fair working conditions with your friction mallet.

Every Olli Hess gong mallet is inspired by our own sound practice and is handcrafted by Olli Hess together with his sons in our workshop.

How do you use a gong scraper?

Gong mallets can be played in various ways. Slow circular motions produce steady vibrations. Deliberately striking a specific area of your gong allows you to create subtle tonal accents. Using two gong mallets at the same time produces impressive stereo and overtone effects. A well-balanced gong mallet made of high-quality materials makes all playing techniques easier and ensures a relaxed, fatigue-free playing experience.

What makes Olli Hess Gongreiber so special?

Every Olli Hess gong mallet is born from our own sound practice. We develop our gong mallets—or friction mallets—directly on the instrument, with the goal of enabling you to achieve even greater expression, finer nuances, and greater depth.

Our gong rubbers, or friction mallets, are all developed in our family workshop from carefully selected materials and handcrafted by Olli Hess and his son. From selecting sustainable materials to sanding the natural caoutchouc and final assembly, each model is created with the utmost care and attention to detail.

Each ball is carefully sanded to the optimal size, and the handle is perfectly matched to the striking head. The right combination of materials and a balanced mix of weight, shape, and length of the friction mallet a comfortable playing experience, maximum control, and an exceptionally broad sound spectrum.

We dare to think outside the box: the friction mallet Egg the friction mallet and the e-Gong differ significantly in appearance and shape from other models. They are real eye-catchers and, thanks to their varied surfaces, offer even greater tonal diversity on your gong.

That’s why gong players, sound therapists, and musicians choose ollihess friction mallet:

Handcrafted in our family workshop
Developed from decades of sound practice
natural caoutchouc that leave no marks on the gong
Specially textured surface to prevent annoying squeaking
Perfectly balanced ratio of head to handle
Innovative models like Crazy Egg and e-Gong
Sustainable materials and regional suppliers
Made in Germany
Fair production

Perfect balance for effortless gong playing

The head and handle of our gong mallets are perfectly balanced in terms of length, shape, and weight. Only then can you enjoy a comfortable playing experience, and the gong can reveal its full range of sound.

The balanced design also ensures that the friction mallet feels the friction mallet in your hand—even during longer sound journeys or sound meditations.

natural caoutchouc tips—no squeaking, no marks

The heads of our gong scrapers are made of natural caoutchouc, a relatively soft material. They are precision-hand-sanded to the correct size and then roughened. This not only ensures that no marks are left on your instrument—thanks to their shape and material composition, we’ve also made sure that no annoying squeaking occurs when scraping.

The use of natural caoutchouc the manufacturing process offer several advantages:

no annoying squeaking while playing
no residue or marks on the gong
even friction
clear overtones and long-lasting vibrations
high durability

This allows you to play your gong intensively without damaging the instrument.

Sustainably manufactured – Made in Germany

We want to create musical instruments that will bring joy for many years to come. In the production of the ollihess friction mallet we use exclusively regional and sustainable materials. When sourcing materials, we always prioritize fair conditions and a personal relationship with our partners. Short transport routes, fair production conditions, and durable materials are just as much a part of our philosophy as precise craftsmanship.

Every Olli Hess gong mallet is manufactured entirely in Germany and does not leave our facility until we ourselves are convinced of its quality.

Advice on Buying Gong Grinders

Olli Hess and his team will personally attend to your needs—it’s easy to reach them by phone or email. With us, you’ll receive honest and informed advice and, above all, someone who’s willing to listen to your wishes and suggestions. Together, we’ll find the gong beater that’s the perfect match for your instrument, your playing technique, and your vision for the sound.

Can ollihess friction mallets be used for singing bowls?

Many gong players also use singing bowls . Which size and design singing bowl right for your singing bowl depends, once again, on the size of your singing bowl your personal needs and preferences. Basically, the same rule applies here as with gongs: The larger the singing bowl, the larger the singing bowl mallet can be. You singing bowls more tips and our recommendations for using gong mallets with singing bowls in the detailed descriptions of our products or in our blog post“Our Top Mallets for singing bowls.”

Our Lava Edition gong mallet and the Crazy Egg gong mallet are ideal for use with a singing bowl.

What is the difference between friction mallets and gong mallets?

Gong scrapers and gong mallets differ not only in appearance. There are particularly distinct differences in their sound. These differences arise mainly from their different uses. A gong friction mallet is rubbed against a gong, whereas a gong mallet is used to strike a gong. Rubbing the gong creates intense vibrations that last a long time and—depending on where on the gong you use the gong friction mallet—produce very different tones.

You can learn more about the characteristics of a gong mallet (also called a gong beater) and how it differs from a gong friction mallet here.
Be sure to check out our gong accessories as well—there you’ll find practical items for playing the gong.

Take a look at our accessories for gongs - there you will find practical things for playing the gong.