A xylophone is a common musical instrument that belongs to the percussion family. Generally, it is made of wooden bars that are beaten with mallets or sticks to produce awesome sounds. Like other instruments that we have today, xylophones are manufactured by different companies around the world.
What are the Best Professional Xylophone?
2) Gearlux 32-Note Glockenspiel Bell Kit
- 32 notes, ranging from F to C
- 2-1/2 octave aluminum bell set
- Includes 8-inch tunable pad, mallets, sticks, music rack, and carry bag
1) Mendini MGS-30 Educational Glockenspiel Bell Kit
- Frame is made of powder-coated aluminum
- Stand with quick release bell mount
- 8" Tunable practice pad with drums sticks
3) Stagg XYLO-SET 37 37-Key Xylophone
- Padouk Bars
- Includes padded nylon gig bag
- Includes stand. Double x-shaped adjustable heavy duty stand
- The weight is 15 pounds
Therefore, if you want to buy one that will be able to serve you well, there are a few things you need to look out for.
· Where you will play the instrument
When buying a xylophone, you need to think about the musical setting. If you are an orchestra musician, you should go for a xylophone with superior tonality. For school kids or students that are just mastering how to play the instrument, a durable xylophone with average tonality will be an excellent choice.
· Bars
The function of a xylophone depends largely on its bar. So, you need to consider the materials and removability of the bars before choosing your xylophone. In general, we have wooden bars and metal bars. While the tones of wooden bars are rounder and warmer, those of metal bars are sharper. Also, you need to think about whether the bars should be removable or not.
· Mallets
Mallets are also important considerations for your xylophone. Although you will likely get a pair of mallets when you buy your xylophone, you can purchase better mallets. It is also worthwhile to note that mallets can either be soft-tipped or hard-tipped. So, you need to think about this before buying anything.
6 Best Professional Xylophone Reviews
1) Mendini MGS-30 Educational Glockenspiel Bell Kit
As the name indicates, Mendini MGS-30 is recommended for students and professionals that want to master the art of playing xylophone. The kit has several high-quality components that can be easily and quickly assembled without any technical know-how.
This instrument has 2.5 Octave bells (30 Notes G5 - C8). The pitch is A-442HZ. Its frame is made of powder-coated aluminum. The xylophone also has a stand that features an easy-to-use quick-release bell mount.
The kit contains 8” tunable practice pad that you can use to learn how to play the instrument. You will also get sticks for the practice and a pair of mallets for the xylophone itself.
Additionally, there is a carrying bag that is specifically designed for this product. With the reinforced handles and backpack straps of the bag, it is easy to move around. The bag also has a drum key. Overall, the weight of the product is measured to be 13.01 pounds with dimensions of 26 x 15 x 6 inches.
2) Gearlux 32-Note Glockenspiel Bell Kit
The Gearlux 32-Note Glockenspiel Bell Kit Pack has 32 notes that range from F to C. It also features a 2-1/2 octave aluminum bell set that differentiates it from the majority of other xylophones.
Created with the unparalleled workmanship, this xylophone has unique keys that are manufactured with aluminum. The features of this instrument make it suitable for use by students and bands as well as professionals that play different genres of music such as hip-hop and jazz.
In the package, you will receive a premium padded nylon carrying bag that you can use for moving your xylophone anywhere you are heading to. This bag has straps that make backing the instrument easy.
You will also get an 8” drum pad that can be used for practicing how to play the xylophone. Mallets, detachable sheet music holder, and wooden sticks are all included in the package.
The Gearlux 32-Note Glockenspiel Bell Kit Pack also has an adjustable metal stand that the player can use with the practice drum pad or the xylophone itself. The instrument has dimensions of 27 x 3 x 16 inches.
3) Stagg XYLO-SET 37 37-Key Xylophone
Stagg XYLO-SET 37 - 37 Key Xylophone is another quality xylophone with nice features. Because of the padouk materials that have been used for making the bars of this xylophone, the sound is natural and feels warm.
It comprises 3 Octaves (C5~C8); hence, it has the standard range that you can find in the majority of xylophones that are available in the market nowadays. Stagg XYLO-SET 37 - 37 Key Xylophone is packaged along with a double x-shaped heavy-duty stand.
This stand is strong and durable; so, it can serve you for a long time as long as you maintain it properly. Similarly, this stand can be adjusted to suit the height of the person that is playing the xylophone.
Another quality feature of this instrument that you should look out for is its padded nylon gig bag. This bag makes the Stagg XYLO-SET 37 - 37 Key Xylophone to become the ideal instrument for individuals that need to travel around with their xylophone.
Also, a pair of mallets is included in the package, so you don’t have to worry about buying mallets to start playing it. The dimensions of the instrument are 44.1 x 7.1 x 24.5 inches and the weight is 15 pounds.
4) Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation SX-200 Soprano Xylophone
Produced by Suzuki Music, SX-200 Soprano Xylophone is made with high-quality, genuine rosewood bars. These bars deliver warm and timbric resonance that can hardly be compared to similar products.
Since the instrument is perfectly balanced and tunes, even the most experienced professionals will enjoy playing it. This xylophone boasts of having several additional features that you will probably have to pay for when you buy other products.
These features include chromatic bar storage and mallet storage. Similarly, the SX-200 Soprano Xylophone has bottom positioned bar-holding pins that make sure that your xylophone will not bend even if you remove the bar improperly.
Furthermore, inside the chamber of each resonator, the note is appropriately labeled to make it easy for you to identify. You will also get 2 separate pairs of mallets when you buy this xylophone.
Besides, the instrument has cloth covered instrument tubing that cannot be destroyed; hence, you can use it for as long as you want. The SX-200 Soprano Xylophone weighs 10 pounds and has product dimensions of 25.7 x 10 x 10 inches.
5) Gearlux 37-Key Wooden Xylophone with Mallets, Stand, and Gig Bag
If you are a student that is learning xylophone, Gearlux 37-Key Wooden Xylophone is one of the best xylophones you can get. This portable percussion instrument has a 3-octave (37 notes) range of C-C that can deliver top-quality wood feel and sound.
The bars are made of padouk, which is a kind of timber. Apart from the quality of its sound, the instrument comprises tons of other accessories. Firstly, it has a heavy-duty bag that allows you to carry the instrument anywhere you want without much trouble.
The zippered pouch outside of the bag is good for keeping a music sheet or other kinds of accessories that you may need on the go.
Also, you don’t have to worry about buying mallets because you will get a pair of mallets when you purchase this xylophone. This pair of mallets is of good quality, so you will be able to use it for a long period before it breaks.
In addition, there is a double-braced stand that you can fold with ease. This stand is also durable as many people have been able to use it for several years. Weight and dimensions of Gearlux 37-Key Wooden Xylophone are 29.9 pounds and 44 x 8 x 25 inches respectively.
6) Wooden 25-note Xylophone
The Wooden 25-note Xylophone is a product from inTemenos. Made for both adults and children, this xylophone is a chromatic wooden musical instrument that plays on the conventional diatonic scale.
In other words, you can play from G to G, as well as the semitone scale from A to G. Apart from its 10 flat keys, the bottom row of this instrument also comes with 15 different keys.
Each bar of this xylophone has a letter notation; hence, new players can use this notation to master the instrument. It is a product of topnotch craftsmanship that features exceptional tonal quality that most professional players love.
You can extend the metal stand of this xylophone vertically and horizontally so that you can play without any form of discomfort. The Wooden 25-note Xylophone has been tuned by professionals.
The weight of the item is 17.95 pounds. The product dimensions are 24x16x12 in and 2.8 inches. When kept in a folded position, the stand height of this xylophone is 31 inches. Based on its large size, this musical instrument is a perfect fit for people of different sizes. Along with the instrument, you will also get 4 mallets and a carrying bag.
Choosing the Best Professional Xylophone
When buying a xylophone, brand name and cheap price tag should not be your major considerations. Go for something that is within your budget but features most of the things you want in a xylophone.
Also, choose an instrument that has the right mallets that will provide the correct tone. If the mallets that come with your xylophone do not produce the best tone, don’t hesitate to get new ones.
2) Gearlux 32-Note Glockenspiel Bell Kit
- 32 notes, ranging from F to C
- 2-1/2 octave aluminum bell set
- Includes 8-inch tunable pad, mallets, sticks, music rack, and carry bag
1) Mendini MGS-30 Educational Glockenspiel Bell Kit
- Frame is made of powder-coated aluminum
- Stand with quick release bell mount
- 8" Tunable practice pad with drums sticks
3) Stagg XYLO-SET 37 37-Key Xylophone
- Padouk Bars
- Includes padded nylon gig bag
- Includes stand. Double x-shaped adjustable heavy duty stand
- The weight is 15 pounds
In addition to the above, you should also pay attention to how you clean your xylophone, especially the bars and the body. If you want to clean the bars, you need to remove the bars gently and carefully.
Wood polish is required for cleaning wooden xylophone whereas warm water and mild soap are good for cleaning xylophone with synthetic material. Also, you need to clean the body, stands and other components that are needed for playing this percussion instrument.