The Kolberg Triangles

• Posted on 23 August 2023
• 0

Kolberg makes handcrafted concert triangles from different materials and alloys. The triangles come in different shapes and sizes, and Kolberg can custom-make instruments. They also make triangle beaters, stands, mounts and accessories.

Kolberg has the world's largest selection of triangles which allow for nuanced highlights in small ensemble settings, large orchestral works as well as in music education. Visit Timpano-percussion to play and compare the individual models yourself.

Kolberg Percussion Germany triangles are without a doubt among the best triangles on the market. Their handcrafted concert triangles are made of different materials and alloys and come in different sizes. They can be customized as to thickness, side length, extra hammering…

The optimal tool for the Kolberg triangles are the Kolberg triangle beaters and the instruments can be set up on Kolberg stands and mounts.

Kolberg triangles are used by some of the world’s finest orchestras, soloists and academic institutions. Above: International Soloist and Kolberg Artist Marianna Bednarska

Come try them at Timpano-percussion.

Kolberg’s orchestral triangles are made of two different alloys:

• Exotic Natural triangles are made of bell bronze
• Classic Concert triangles are made of stainless steel

In the Exotic Natural line, we find the following models:

• "Exotic Natural" : these triangles are made of a specifically-manufactured, high-quality bell bronze alloy, giving the instruments the warm sound, soft attack and balanced, wide frequency spectrum.

• "Exotic Natural Baroque": these triangles are made of the same high-quality bell bronze alloy, giving the instruments the warm sound, soft attack and balanced, wide frequency spectrum. As part of the Baroque line, this series sports individually rounded, hand-crafted tips, which give a nostalgic look and enhanced sound spectrum and longer decay.
  

• "Exotic Natural Baroque Hammered": these triangles are hand-hammered and made of a specifically-manufactured, high-quality bronze bell alloy. This gives the instruments an extremely warm and soft sound character and a compact, homogeneous frequency spectrum when compared with non-hammered models. With their individually rounded, hand-crafted tips, triangles of the baroque series offer a nostalgic look and stand out because of their unique sound and long decay.

In the Classic Concert line, we find the following models:

• "Classic Concert": these triangles are made of high-quality silver steel, giving the instruments the brilliant, sparkling sound character as well as a very articulate and succinct play. 

• There is an option to have a black finish. There are no sound differences between both finishes; the black plating is meant to cancel out potential light reflections and glares and appears more discreet.

• "Classic Concert Baroque": these triangles are made of high-quality silver steel, giving the instruments a brilliant, sparkling sound character while guaranteeing a very articulate and succinct touch. This line sports the nostalgic looks and longer decay due to the extended and hand-rounded ends.
  
  
• There is an option to have a black finish. There are no sound differences between both finishes; the black plating is meant to cancel out potential light reflections and glares and appears more discreet.
  

• “Silver Virtuosity”: these triangles are made of specially-treated steel, with a serrated surface and tapered tips. They are extremely easy to roll at the softest volumes and recreate something of an overtone glissando.

Kolberg Concert Triangles come in 5 different sizes, metrically measured by their side length: 14cm, 17cm, 21, cm, 25cm, 30cm.

The thickness of the sides is standardized to 12.5mm but can be customized by special request.

(International Soloist and Kolberg Artist Adélaïde Ferrière)

Recommended beaters

Kolberg makes triangle beaters for the most exacting of musicians.

They are different shapes, thicknesses, and alloys, so that you can perfectly match any desired sound character.

Which beater should you use?

For triangles made of silver steel, we recommend triangle beaters with a stainless steel tip, as they best bring out the brilliant sound character rich in overtones of these instruments and enable very articulated and succinct play.

For triangles made of bronze, we recommend triangle beaters with a bronze tip, as they bring out optimally the homogeneous sound character and the low frequencies of the instruments, with their full sounding and very soft attack.

Here are some of the great beaters Kolberg makes:

Kolberg's new freely vibrating triangle beater series Elastic maximizes the sound projection of a triangle. Thanks to an innovative manufacturing technique, a vibrating element has been integrated into the beater. This minimizes the noises that may arise when trying to play very softly with a rigid triangle beater. The added elasticity allows for the sound of the instrument to unfold in an optimal fashion. The triangle beaters of the Elastic series rest free in the hand and are perfectly suitable for individual, solo hits and for beautifully sounding rolls at all dynamic levels.

Such as:

Kolberg Triangle Beaters Elastic Elliptical Stainless Steel Tip:

Kolberg Triangle Beaters Elastic Elliptical Bronze Tip:

Kolberg Triangle Beaters Elastic Cylindric Bronze Tip:

Also available are the Ellipse with their tip of stainless steel, which provide very flexible and differentiated possibilities of play and sound. The elliptic shape of the tip widens the range from very delicate at the very tip to full and strong on the wide, central part of the tip. The cylindrical rod and the tip are made of stainless steel. The colored grip sleeves clearly define the different sizes also in poor lighting conditions (e.g. orchestra pit) and they provide a pleasant grip.

Sound: very brilliant

The Ellipse also comes with a bronze tip. Bronze provides a warmer, deeper tone but stays highly flexible thanks to the special elliptical form of the tip - from delicate to voluminous and powerful sound. The cylindrical rod and the tip are made of stainless steel. The colored grip sleeves clearly define the different sizes also in poor lighting conditions (such as an orchestra pit) and they provide a pleasant grip.

Sound: Warm, soft attack


Kolberg triangle beaters Cylindric with their cylindrical tip made of stainless steel, provide very balanced and voluminous, powerful possibilities of play. The cylindrical rod is made of rustproof stainless steel. The coloured grip sleeves clearly define the different sizes also in poor lighting conditions (e.g. orchestra pit) and they provide a pleasant grip.

Sound: Full, succinct

The Cylindric line is also available in bronze, which offers powerful, balanced and voluminous sounds. The cylindrical rod is made of rustproof stainless steel. The colored grip sleeves clearly define the different sizes also in poor lighting conditions (such as an orchestra pit) and they provide a pleasant grip.

Sound: Solid, soft attack

The classic Kolberg triangle beaters with a loop come in 6 color-coded diameters and produce a comprehensive range of sound, from most delicate and tender to extremely strong and impacting. The rustproof beaters made of stainless steel are easy to handle, their attack is rich in overtones and allow for great articulation. The grip loops at the butt end fit very well in the hand. They facilitate the play with several beaters. The loop can also be used to play crotales or bells. The thin rods are like knitting needles and are also excellent as cymbal sizzlers. The tips are rounded and do not damage the cymbals when you do glissando effects.

Kolberg triangle beaters with black rubber grip are a classic model. They produce a comprehensive range of sound, from most delicate and tender to extremely strong and impacting. The rustproof beaters made of stainless steel are easy to handle, their attack is rich in overtones, and they offer very good possibilities of articulation. The tips are rounded and do not damage the cymbals when you do glissando effects.

Here is a short comparison video of Kolberg beaters:

So that you can store and protect your triangles, Kolberg makes 2 triangle bags:

The 2121T is made for two Kolberg triangles from 14 to 21cm:

The 2130T is made for a set of 5 Kolberg triangles and 3 pairs of beaters. This bag will hold triangles from 14 to 30cm:

They also make the 881 triangle beater bag that can hold 3-6 pairs of beaters:

But it’s not just the bags and beaters that make Kolberg stand out, it’s also their world-famous combination stand system for triangles.

Device for playing the triangle (249):

This device allows for play with excellent sound even when fast multi-percussion passages make it impossible to change beaters. The instrument is played indirectly by hand or with any other mallet or stick by means of hitting the felt ring mounted to the spring-back triangle beater.

The 249 contains:

1 triangle beater 888EED with felt ring
2 x U-shaped adjusting ring 115U
triangle holder 242
supporting bar with rubber mounting piece 248
(transverse tube not included)
All combination stand parts are made of high-quality steel and high-gloss chrome-plated.

In terms of clips/holders Kolberg makes:

246 clamp-on triangle holder for any music stand:

247 triangle holder with leather cover for finger, music stand or combination stand:

   

247FS same as above but with a rubber insert so as to recreate a "free suspended" feel, thus there is no vibration loss between the instrument and the stand:

Stands
The unique Kolberg combination stand system provides multi-functional possibilities for mounting instruments with optimum sound results. We would be glad to provide advice and help you assemble combination stands according to your specifications. Timpano-percussion has Kolberg combination stands in stock, and all set up.


combination stand for 1 triangle, classic 2110K1:

combination stand for 1 triangle, multi-purpose 2110KM (hand-held and attached):

combination stand for cymbal or triangle, free suspension 2110KS:

combination stand for 5 triangles, classic 2110K:

combination stand for 5 triangles, modern 2110K2:

Here is a detailed video showing some of the triangles and accessories (in German):