Mike Balter BB27 Mike Balter Basics II Black Yarn 27-Inch Soft Mallets Like the xylophone, a marimba is made out of hardwood. The tone is configured differently, though. The xylophone is very staccato and bright, while the marimba produces a richer, more resonant tone. Metal tubes below the instrument help create that sound. Marimbas are great instruments for solos, but they are also used in orchestras.