Boy if I had to choose the single, most misunderstood instrument…
I’d probably go with the xylophone.
Don’t agree? Then think about it for a second: do you know exactly what a xylophone is?
Well, you probably know what it looks like…
And how you’re supposed to play it…
But do you know what makes it different from his cousins marimba, glockenspiel or vibraphone?
Probably not, right?
So if you’re looking to learn more about the xylophone as well as discover the best models currently available…
You’ve come to the right place as I have compiled in this post the 8 best models of xylophones…
As well as the best mallets.
Sounds good? Then let’s start.
But before we start…
Some Facts You Should Know
Before we start looking at the best xylophones models, let’s first clear out some common misconceptions:
- Xylophones ARE NOT glockenspiels – a lot of sellers advertise what is in fact a glockenspiel as xylophones. Xylophones have wooden tone plates as opposed to metal tone plates for glockenspiels, are bigger and also have resonators.
- Xylophones’ tone plates are ALWAYS made out of wood – in the case of some Yamaha models they might be made out of synthetic materials. However, they’re NEVER made out of metal.
- Xylophones’ mallet are ALWAYS hard – unlike marimba’s, xylophones’ mallets aren’t covered in yarn.
- There are no rules as for a xylophone’s size – But you’ll generally find Soprano, Alto and Bass xylophones.
Ok, so now that we’ve put all of the common wrong ideas aside, let’s actually refresh our memories by listening to a “real”, orchestra-type xylophones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMzBnuBC6Y&t=0m55s
Ever heard this tune before? It’s probably because it’s one of the, if not the most famus classical pieces ever written for the xylophone.
And Camille St. Saëns (the composer) was also one of the very first classical composer to incorporate a xylophone in his orchestras, all the way back in the second half of the 1800’s.
Ok, so now that we know for sure what a xylophone is and how does it sound, let’s quickly look at how it’s made.
And so next up…
Anatomy of the Xylophone
So let’s first look at the etymology of the word “xylophone”. It comes from the greek word “xylon” for wood and “phone” for sound.
So basically something made out of wood that produces sound, right?
Now, the xylophone is pretty similar to the marimba, except that
- it’s smaller – meaning it has a smaller playing range
- it has shorter resonators and therefore…
- simply produces a different type of sound, with less sustain and a sharper attack
The xylophone is made of 3 main elements:
- The Tone Plates – which are the wood pieces you strike with the mallets
- The Frame – which is what holds the whole instrument together
- The Resonators – which are the tubes attached to the underside of the tone plates and serve to amplify the sound
For more details on woods or type of resonators, check out my post about marimbas, which are virtually identical.
Now, the list below will be divided in 2 categories. This is important because depending on the category you buy your xylophone from, you’ll be buying a completely different instrument.
And so these 2 categories are:
- Student Xylophones – which generally don’t go above 3.0 octaves, don’t have resonators nor a stand
- Professional Xylophones – which use higher quality wood for the tone plates, have resonators and an adjustable height
Finally, some info on my picks:
- NO model costs less than $100 – it seems to be the absolute minimum if you want to get a decent xylophone
- ALL models are chromatic – in case you didn’t know, many xylophones directed are diatonic, meaning they don’t have accidentals (the black keys on a piano) and can only play a given scale, generally C major. Chromatic xylophones can play any note.
Got it? Then let’s see the first model:
Best Student Xylophones under $800
1. Yamaha TX-6
Probably the easiest way to start learning how to play the xylophone, the Yamaha TX-6 is:
- Small – with a range of 2.5 octaves, it is very compact
- Good to learn music – with engraved notes on the tone plates, it is perfect if you’ve never played an instrument before or don’t know how to read music sheets
- Able to produce a great sound right out of the box – make no mistake, although this is a student xylophone, its tone plates are still made out of padouk, which is known to produce a rich, warm sound.
- A Yamaha – Well, yes, it’s hard to go wrong when choosing any instrument from Yamaha.
Check it out: (Amazon)
Next up…
2. Stagg XYLO-SET
Everybody knows the brand Stagg as a low-cost company that manufactures pretty much anything closely, or remotely related to musical instruments.
What you might ignore though is that they also produce some high quality instruments, such as this xylophone.
With:
- A 3 octave range
- Tone bars made out of rosewood
- A sturdy frame, and…
- A resonating backboard
It certainly has all the features you’d expect from a professonal xylophone…for half the price.
Check it out – (Amazon)
Next up…
3. Suzuki AX-200
So although this model looks like a diatonic xylophone…
It is not exactly one, for the simple reason that you can choose to add the accidentals thanks to a “chromatic add-on stand”.
On top of that, the tone bars are made out of rosewood.
Now the Suzuki AX-200 is part of a family of 3 sizes of xylophones:
- Soprano – with notes ranging from C2 to A3
- Alto – with notes ranging from C1 to A2
- Bass – with notes ranging from C to A1
Check it out:
Next up…
4. Sonor Global Beat Fiberglass
Here’s something a little bit different. The Sonor Global Beat actually sports fiberglass tone bars.
Compared to the usual wood tone bars, fiberglass is much more resistant in that it doesn’t suffer from sudden weather change.
As an organic material, wood might change shape when subjected to abrupt humidity or temperature changes, which causes the tuning to fluctuate.
Fiberglass’ tuning doesn’t move, whatever the weather, and the sound is virtually the same as wood’s.
This particular fiberglass xylophone is a bass model.
Check it out: (Amazon)
Now that we’ve seen he best student xylophones, let’s move on to the…
Best Professional Xylophones Above $800
1. Adams Solist Xylophone
Here’s the true first professional xylophone of this list. The Adams Solist Xylophone has all the features you’d expect from this type of xylophones:
- It’s mounted on an adjustable stand
- It has resonators
- Tone bars are made out of pau rosa, a precious, dense wood.
Furthermore, the Adams Solist Xylophone is available in both 3.5 octaves and 4 octaves.
Check it out:
- Adams Solist 3.5 octaves – (Thomann)
- Adams Solist 4 octaves – (Thomann)
Now, another feature to take into consideration is the type of tuning. Two are available with this model:
- Quint Tuning
- Octave Tuning
For a similar model from Yamaha, check out their YX 125:
- Cllck here to compare prices – (Thomann)
Next up…
2. Studio 49 RXP/R 3050/V

- Rosewood tone bars – which is the standard in professional xylophones and marimbas
- A patented accidental notes raw – which allows you to choose whether you want the accidentals to stand higher than the natural notes, or a bit higher depending on what you’re playing.
On top of that, the Studio 49 RXP/R 3050/V has a foldable frame, meaning it’s easy to transport depsite its large size.
Check it out:
- Click here to compare prices: (Thomann)
Next up…
3. Sonor CX P Concert
Coming from famous drum manufacturer Sonor, we have the CX P Concert.
To make it simple, this is one of the best xylophone currenty available on the market. Check out some of its main features:
- An extremely sturdy, adjustable frame – it’s virtually indestructible and can be moved without concerns, and can be adjusted from 30 to 40″ too.
- Big resonators – this xylophone’s resonators are bigger than most models on the market and produce a rich, deep tone
- Arch design – makes it easier to reach low and high end notes.
So if you’re looking for a mix of innovative design and tone quality and budget is unlimited, the Sonor CX P Concert is a great choice.
Check it out:
- Click here to compare prices: (Amazon)
And for the last pick…
4. Marimba One Concert Xylophones
For many players the best marimba manufacturer…
California-based company Marimba One has proven its excellence for about 20 years now.
The rosewood is selected under the supervision of CEO Ron Samuels and comes from Guatemala and Honduras and is about 5 to 6 years old at the time of instrument manufacturing.
- Curved rails and resonators – for a more projecting sound
- Extremely hard rosewood – this rosewood is virtually impossible to dent and produces an extremely bright and projecting sound. It is still to this day personally hand selected by the company’s founder.
- Unique accessory bar – which allows for extras such as cymbals or other small percussion instruments
- 3 types of keyboard:
- Traditional – which is said to be one step above the competition
- Enhanced – which has more depth of fundamental and resonance than the Traditional keyboard
- Premium – which is the best sounding keyboard ever made, according to the company
Now, Marimba One are pretty secretive on their acoustic engineering methods and the differences between the 3 types of keyboard aren’t fully disclosed.
But apart from wood quality, the main method that sets the company apart is the tuning of the sound bars.
The company has a few of trained tuners working under the supervision of a “master tuner” and the reason their instruments sound better is, they say, because of the way they are tuned.
Of course no details are available on this tuning process, but the truth is:
Each and every person lucky enough (they’re pretty expensive) to play their instruments usually say they’re the best sounding instruments they’ve ever played.
Each and every model is handcrafted when ordered, which means it’s basically made for you.
Marimba One xylophones are available in bth 3.5 and 4.0 octaves.
Check them out:
Basically if you’re looking for the very best xylophones out there, look no further than Marimba One’s.
Next up…
The Best Xylophone Mallets
Contrary to Marimba mallets, xylophone mallets have a hard tip, to produce that bright, striking sound with a sharp attack.
This tip can be made out of:
- Some kind of hard plastic – which covers the vast majority of mallets
- Wood – high end mallets’ tips can be made out of ebony or rosewood
As for the shaft, it’s either made of:
- Rattan – which is soft and is less prone to break since it bends, but might slip in your hands
- Birch – which is stiff and might break if played too hard but provides a better grip
So let’s check out some of the best mallets currently available. First off…
1. Timber Drum Co. T2HP
It’s simple, there is no better reviewed, more sold pair of xylophone mallets than the Timber Drum Co. T2HP.
The reason? They are:
- Super cheap – They cost right under $10 a pair
- Durable – Although they’re cheap, their shaft is made out of birch
So if you’re looking for something cheap or for your very first pair of xylophone mallets, the T2HP are a no brainer.
Check them out:
- Click here to compare prices – (Amazon)
Next up…
2. Malletech Bob Becker Signature
In the world of percussion instrument mallets, Malletech is probably the most renowned manufacturer.
And with their Bob Becker Signature models, they managed to pull some of the very best xylohone mallets on the market, thanks to the help of the most famous contemporary xylophone player.
Whether you’re looking to up your speed game or start playing with great sticks right our of the bat, the Malletech Bob Becker Signature are perfect.
Check them out:
Next up…
3. Vic Firth American Custom Keyboard
If you’re familiar with drumsticks, you’re probably probably familiar with Vic Firth.
Well it just happens they make a huge array of percussion instrument sticks and mallets too.
Unlike other mallets, these have a rubber head, which creates a softer sound.
Check them out:
And for the final pick…
4. Innovative Percussion Christopher Lamb Series
The Christopher Lamb Series from Innovative Percussion is the fruit of over 2 years of development.
And it seems all the players who try these are simply mind-blown by 2 major factors:
- The sound they produce – which is not the loudest, but is very rich
- The ease of play they provide – especially the crisp articulation and rebound
So this serie’s mallets are pretty pricey, but it seems xylophone players who have tried them are absolutely unanimous.
Check them out:
- Click here to compare prices: (Amazon)