The Studio 49 contrabass bars are carefully made to have an acoustically accurate tone chamber, which gives the instrument excellent intonation. Contrabass bars are in the register an octave below the bass xylophone, making them a great substitute for timpani. These instruments are excellent for classroom use and are durably made for years of music-making. Mallets are not included with these bass bars, but Studio 49 recommends using a yarn contrabass bar mallet, like the Studio 49 S60.