Which Sticks Do You Use?

[Tim Brown]

5A in a rock band?
IMO, 5A's are better suited for a jazz or soft-rock band.
Have you tried 5B's? And how are your cymbals setup? You may be hitting them at a bad angle, thus shaving wood off your sticks.

I use VicFirth or Zildjian 5B's. Try the Zildjian Anti-Vibe's, they're sweet!

Well, I sometimes use Aquarian Graphite 7A's, and I was playing Power Metal with them.

Generally, my favorite wooden stick these days is Vic Firth's Jeff Queen model. It's a 17" Marching/Drum Corps stick, and it is awesome!



Tim

 

[rory]

This is interesting. I actually prefer a D head. I use vic firth 8D wood tip sticks. I absolutely LOVE the way they feel. I used to play SD4 sticks as well, but are made of maple which split on me much more often than the 8D.
Rory

 

[Minion]

I usually Buy the Cheapo $1 sticks at Long & McQuade which are Hickory sticks that are Pretty Much Identical to Vic Firth sticks I used to use and they seem to last just as Long and even if they didn"t at $1 each you can not Go Wrong.....

I actually usually Tape up the Thin end of the Stick and use it as the Handle and Hit the Drums with the Thick Handle end of the Stick which Makes for a Realy Loud Heavy Drum sound but I go through Skins and Cymbals pretty quickly.....

I have recently Started useing the Thick sticks that have the Big Round Plastic Ball at the Tip (don"t know what they are Called) but I am starting to really like them cuz they have a Really Nice Bounce Back which makes it a Lot easier to Do Nice Fast Drum Rolls.....

Cheers

 

[tilinmyowngrave]

I tried ahead lars ulrich sticks, and I hate their feel and the sound they give to my ride. $35 wasted right there. My favorites are Vic Firth SDC (Danny Carey model). Awesome, awesoem sticks. The tip tends to chip easily though, so I replace them every 2 or 3 weeks. They only cost $7, so its not that bad.

 

[breeeeza]

i play hardcore/metal in the vein of hatebreed/all out war and no stick lasts longer than one set for me. i have paid the $30 for a pair of aheads and broke them. i play my kit like a redneck treats his girlfriend, i beat the shit out of em.

yer same so i just bey cheap packs of 12 pairs of sticks off e bay. Some times stagg and i once got a massive pack of reduced sticks from guitar center. 5a or 5b.

 

[Tim Brown]

promark 808's japanese oak, best sticks i have ever used

I used those for years. That used to be the Billy Cobham model during the 80's. It's a great stick for rock music.


Tim

 

[Tim Brown]

yer same so i just bey cheap packs of 12 pairs of sticks off e bay. Some times stagg and i once got a massive pack of reduced sticks from guitar center. 5a or 5b.

I went to a local Chain (George's Music - like a mini-Guitar Center, which we also have here) and they were trying to unload Tama Power Tool sticks... i don't recall the model number of hand, but it's a good sized stick, and I picked them up for like $2 a pair or something like that, I came back home, grabbed some cash, and went back and wiped them out of 3 dozen pair. LOL

Just to have them, because they work great as a general duty drumstick.

Once I start playing regularly again, I want to have a stick custom made for me.


Tim

 

[ckgdrums]

I use the Vic Firth David Garibaldi Jam Master sig. model, they are matched pairs and have a very solid feel.

 

[iceyflame]

well i play mostly punk music with my band but i use Vic Firth 8D (Which I THINK are for jazz ) sticks because I have good technique and I don't hit very hard. And I don't break the sticks often.

i also play funk and rock and a little metal

 

[ckgdrums]

well i play mostly punk music with my band but i use Vic Firth 8D (Which I THINK are for jazz ) sticks because I have good technique and I don't hit very hard.

I like those 8D's as well. They are a bit longer than a "normal" stick and are lighter than a 5B. Great for Jazz or a small room.

 

[RVLVNGDRS]

I'm in a pop-rock band

Elvin Jones Promarks! Very well balanced and a nice natural finish...great sound on the rimshots. Nice jazz sticks too

 

[PhilGood]

Vic Firth 2B's. I've gone round and round with all different makes and models, but everybody makes a 2B. Sound Percussion sticks are made by Vic Firth and Guitar Center usually has them cheap. They are great practice sticks.

Here's a tip. Never buy just a pair of sticks if you can help it. Buy them at least by the dozen. Most stores will give you a price break if you ask. If you only use the same two of a dozen, when one breaks, grab a new one and that becomes your steady pair. This will make a dozen sticks last a really long time and actually save you money. I always keep about 8 pair in the bag, plus a few pair of whatever my last favorite sticks were. Then I have a variety for different situations. I always have something in reserve. If a stick looks used up to me, I chuck it.

Also, get a good bag that will strap to the lugs of your floor tom. Stick holders are crap.

 

[msblaze]

I Recently started using Vic Firth 8DN , made out of Hickory, they have nylon tips and are really great sticks i would also recommend them to any type of drummer

 

[NegadivOne]

I use the Easton Ahead Lars Ulrich sticks. I HATE metallica but those are the most comfortable, easy playing, longest lasting sticks ive ever played. The way they are balanced it feels like they play themselves.

I cant stand playing with wood sticks since i started using the metal ones, but if i have to play with wood sticks my favorite is ProMark by a long shot.

 

[persondude]

Vic Firth 5B's. I split em every few weeks, and I've been thinking about moving up to 2B's. Got a dozen no name nylon tipped 5A's online that are working pretty good, though.

 

[tilinmyowngrave]

About the comments on the Lars Ulrich Aheads and the nylon hyead sticks... Nylon heads make my cymbals sound like crap, ruin the darkness of my dark energy ride, and have a generally harsher tone on the ride cymbal. Wood is much more natural sounding, and wood sticks have a more realistic feel than Aheads (IMO).

 

[NegadivOne]

Yeah the Ahead sticks feel way different than wood. They are hard to get used to. Ive noticed a lot of people try them once and say they hate them. After I got used to mine, I will never go back to wood. When i play wood sticks it really actually hurts because they vibrate so much. The Aheads are much easier on my wrists. And they do change the sound of ride and hi hat cymbals but that is an area for personal preference. I personally cant stand the way wood tipped sticks sound on cymbals...

 

[Drummer706]

Yeah the Ahead sticks feel way different than wood. They are hard to get used to. Ive noticed a lot of people try them once and say they hate them. After I got used to mine, I will never go back to wood. When i play wood sticks it really actually hurts because they vibrate so much. The Aheads are much easier on my wrists. And they do change the sound of ride and hi hat cymbals but that is an area for personal preference. I personally cant stand the way wood tipped sticks sound on cymbals...

i know exactly what you mean. i got used to aheads quick and when i would switch to wood it would hurt my hands but i went back to wood. i threw away that aheads. something about the feel and i hate playing side stick with ahead.

 

[NegadivOne]

i know exactly what you mean. i got used to aheads quick and when i would switch to wood it would hurt my hands but i went back to wood. i threw away that aheads. something about the feel and i hate playing side stick with ahead.

Yeah they definately arent for everyone. For about the first month I didnt like them, the feel was wierd and I was afraid for my cymbals. I still use nylon tipped wood sticks to record with (because as someone mentioned the aheads really change the sound of the drums), but I do all my jamming with the aheads.

 

[innobidova]

I bought a pair of Ahead 5A's for my drummer because I was getting very tired of him bitching about having to pay for wood sticks. We're in an indie pop band, and he chews up his sticks like a metal head. That's mostly because he likes to hit cymbals on their edges which, admittedly, I also like to do. I didn't notice much of a change on the drums, but the cymbals sound better. If anything sounded worse to me, I would make him switch back to wood. Not happening!