Which gong mallet should I buy?
With so many models, it's not always easy to decide. Here's an initial overview: The m70 is the beginner's choice and an all-rounder for subtle timbres. The S186 is the best-selling mallet in our range – lightweight, versatile, and suitable for almost any gong. The M305, with its short handle, is particularly suited for rhythmic passages and long rolls. The L355 is the heavyweight – it brings out deep, grounding frequencies from large gongs.
Additionally, there's the Lite Series for particularly light play, the Direct Line for powerful energy, the Soft Line with its spring-back construction, the Move Line for gong, singing bowl, and drum all in one, as well as Special Editions and the Earthtones Collection for those looking for something visually unique.
Are you unsure which mallet is right for you? Then let's talk!
No problem – that's exactly what we're here for. Our chatbot on the website answers your initial questions directly and around the clock. If you'd like a personal assessment from Olli and his team, simply write to us at kontakt@ollihess.de. Briefly describe which instruments you work with, how you play, and what you hope for from the sound – we'll get back to you quickly and provide targeted assistance.
What is special about an ollihess gong mallet?
Every ollihess mallet embodies over 20 years of experience in sound work. Olli develops each model from his own practice as a sound worker, sound healer, and craftsman. What you hold in your hands is not a catalog product stamped out in some factory – it is a tool handcrafted, inspected, and tested for its sound properties in a family-run business in Germany.
No mallet leaves the workshop without being personally handled.
That's what makes our gong mallets special
Three things set ollihess apart from everything else on the market. First, the choice of materials: natural caoutchouc, Oeko-Tex fleece, and organically waxed beech wood from the region – not the cheapest, but the best for sound. Second, the variety of colors: 19 colors in the standard line, plus custom colors, Special Editions, and Earthtones – you'll find your style here. Third, handcraftsmanship: each mallet is unique, slightly varying, never perfect in an industrial sense – but always authentic.
This is what our community has valued for years.
Ergonomic handle of our gong mallets
The handle of all professional gong mallets is made from organically waxed beech wood. The end is slightly thickened – this prevents slipping even during long sessions and gives you more control over guiding the mallet. The wood feels pleasantly warm in the hand, offers a slight give, and allows for a natural, relaxed playing experience.
Who hasn't experienced cramped hands after 20 minutes of sound bathing? With the right handle, that won't happen to you anymore.
Core and padding ensure minimal strike noise
The core of all professional gong mallets is made of soft natural caoutchouc. This cushions the impact upon striking and reduces strike noise to a minimum – leaving almost only the sound of the gong. The covering made of Oeko-Tex certified wellness fleece gives each mallet its characteristic warm tone and ensures a soft, round resonance.
Depending on the model and series, the core and padding are specifically varied to create different sound characteristics.
An overview of the different lines
The professional series is divided into several lines, which differ in weight, construction, and sound character.
The Standard Line (m70, S186, M305, L355) is the core of our range – four weight classes, 19 colors, suitable for most gong sizes. The Lite Series (lite 100, lite 200) is for those who want to play lighter and react faster. The Soft Line features a spring-back construction and produces deep, intense sounds with a bouncy effect. The Direct Line is the opposite: direct, powerful, energetic. The Move Line goes beyond the gong and also works with singing bowls and drums. The Flex Line combines different degrees of stiffness in the shaft for even greater playing control.
Cylinder or Sphere: which head shape suits you?
Most ollihess mallets have a spherical head – this is the classic shape for soft, full gong sounds. The Move Line, however, has a cylindrical head in four sizes (40mm to 70mm). The cylindrical head gives you more contact surface, reacts more directly, and is particularly suitable for precise playing on various instruments.
As a rule of thumb: Sphere for warm, full, floating sounds – Cylinder for precision, control, and versatility.
Sets: when is a mallet set worthwhile?
Combining two mallets opens up a significantly wider range of sounds. The Profi Gong Mallet Set includes our best-selling models as a coordinated package – available in all 18 standard colors. The Profi Gong Mallet Set Chakra brings together the Chakra series for those who specifically want to work with different chakras in energy healing.
Sets are the most economical way to be fully equipped.
Gong Mallets and Singing Bowls
Not every mallet is suitable for singing bowls. The S186 and the m70 are specifically designed for singing bowls – their light weight prevents the bowl from being overstimulated. The Move Line and the lite series are also well-suited for singing bowls. Therefore, for use with the Universal Bowl or the Sound Bath Bowls Set, we specifically recommend these models.
With heavier mallets (M305, L355, Direct Line), you should be careful – too much weight can overstimulate the singing bowl and distort the sound.
Fair and Sustainable Production of Our Mallets
For all Profi Gong Mallets, we exclusively use renewable raw materials sourced from the local region. Natural caoutchouc, Oeko-Tex fleece, and organically waxed beech wood – regionally sourced, carefully processed, with short supply chains. Production takes place in family-run businesses in Germany, not in mass production in the Far East.
This is not a marketing promise – this has been our standard since 2003.
Vegan gong mallets from ollihess
All Profi Gong Mallets are 100% vegan. No animal products are used in the core, the covering, or the handle. This has been important to us from the beginning – not as a trend, but as a conviction. Natural caoutchouc, Oeko-Tex fleece, and beech wood: three materials that prove handcrafted sound tools can be made without animal products.
Difference Between Gong Mallets and Friction Mallets
A gong mallet is used to strike the gong – you hit it to create the initial, impulsive sound. A friction mallet, on the other hand, continuously rubs over the gong's surface, creating long-lasting, floating overtones. Together, both create the complete sound experience of a sound bath.
Anyone who wants to delve deeper into sound journeys should experience both. Discover our friction mallets – from the Lava Edition and Intense Line to the Crazy Egg.
singing bowls-Mallet from ollihess
Those who play singing bowls in addition to gongs will find the right mallets at ollihess. The Move Line Edition, the Profi Gong Mallet J.O-70, as well as the CH1- and CH2 J.O are also specifically suitable for therapy singing bowls. For a complete singing bowl setup, also check out our Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowls and the Sound Bath Bowls Set – the best combination of instrument and tool.
