Tattoo said:
This is a great thread for drummers deciding on sticks. What would really help is a bit more on the specifics of WHY you like particular sticks and particular brands. People mention "feel" and "balance" sometimes but can you please be as specific as possible?
I've been using Vic Firth 2B only for about a year now and I feel no need to experiment or change.
I've found out that I prefer sticks slightly longer than standard 16", but that anything over 16.5" is too long and causes tension in my hands, so the 16.25" of 2B feels just right.
Thicker sticks feel better in my hands and 2B are pretty thick. I wouldn't mind if they were even thicker, but the only thickers models available where I live are marchings sticks, and I think they are too big and heavy for drumset playing in terms of both sound and feel.
The weight would have been a problem a couple of years ago, but I've since learned to control heavier sticks without fighting them, so I feel more weight allows me to get more sound with less work.
My hands sweat a lot but the finish of Vic Firth sticks feels very good when warm and damp so there's no problems there.
I've found tip-heavy sticks don't really work for me, and VF 2B have a nice in-between balance so I can move the fulcrum point according to the playing situation. I wouldn't mind even less weight up front, but the sticks are still well inside my comfort zone.
The thin neck yields very good feel and touch for cymbal playing. I would prefer an acorn shaped tip, but the teardrop is also ok.
If the Vic Firth Tomas Haake signature stick was avaliable for purchase where I live, I'd consider changing, but 2B fits my needs without any major objections.