Wiener Pauken Produktions GmbH Mahler Soprano 660
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Wiener Pauken Produktions GmbH
Mahler Soprano 660
Product Info
* Prices may vary. Check retailer for current pricing and availability.
This Mahler Soprano 660 from Wiener Pauken is a serious instrument, built for the discerning orchestral percussionist who values historical accuracy and tonal purity. The hand-hammered copper and goat skin construction gives it that uniquely Viennese sound, and the Schnellar pedal is a joy to use. It's a premium-priced investment for professionals.
Product Description
- Wiener Pauken Produktions GmbH Mahler Soprano 660
- Soprano Timpani
- Gustav Mahler model
- Hans Schnellar system
- Tonal range: C to G
- Shell diameter: 590 mm
- Head diameter: 660 mm
- Shell height: 570 mm
- Playing height: 820 mm
- Total height including tuning crank: 940 mm
- Wide brass foot
- The tonal range may vary in high humidity or extreme dryness
- Reduction to the essentials for the highest sound quality and perfect functionality - the instrument consists exclusively of components that serve to produce sound
- Heads made of goat skin
- The hand-hammered copper shell and brass timpani feet (optionally also available in aluminium) connect the instrument to the stage and together they produce the typical Viennese timpani sound
- so treasured by Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss
- The technically simple tuning mechanism guarantees almost maintenance-free playing
- All parts are handcrafted
- thus slight deviations are possible
- The hand-signed nameplate identifies each of our instruments as unique
- Handmade in Austria
PROS
- • Hand-hammered copper shell delivers exceptional warmth and resonance.
- • Goat skin heads provide a historically accurate, nuanced timbre.
- • Hans Schnellar system ensures precise, responsive tuning and playability.
- • Wide brass feet offer stability and a connection to the Viennese tradition.
CONS
- • The goat skin heads require more frequent maintenance and careful humidity control.
- • Limited tonal range (C-G) restricts versatility for some orchestral passages.
- • The instrument’s size and weight make transport and setup challenging.
Product Video
Key Features
Size
Soprano
Bowl Material
Hand-Hammered Copper
Pedal Type
Hans Schnellar
Range
C to G
Head
Goat Skin
Weight
Approximately 65 kg (143 lbs)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Goat skin offers a more immediate, nuanced response with a slightly darker timbre than calfskin, which some find preferable for historical accuracy and expressive playing.
The shell thickness is carefully varied during the hand-hammering process to optimize resonance and projection across the entire tonal range, a hallmark of Wiener Pauken's craftsmanship.
Significant humidity changes will noticeably affect tuning; careful monitoring and adjustments are needed, and a climate-controlled environment is ideal for consistent performance.
