Do they make sticks out of ash?

[razorx]

I was just wondering because baseball bats are made out of ash due to the fact that it doesn't easily break. They ones that do break are made of maple.

[Wavelength]

They used to, but customers started complaining that their hands got all smeared up.

[razorx]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

They used to, but customers started complaining that their hands got all smeared up.

with the labeling on the stick?

Originally Posted by razorx

with the labeling on the stick?

Just a wild guess here... he is making a facetious reference to "ashes" not ash wood.

[razorx]

Originally Posted by trkdrmr

Just a wild guess here... he is making a facetious reference to "ashes" not ash wood.

Oh Haha. That one went right over my head. I didn't notice who posted it.

[Monica McCoy]

Here I found this for you:

http://www.logolighters.com/custom_drumsticks.htm

Minimum order is 165 pairs but they come personalized.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Or maybe the Wave was speaking of pine tar??

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Originally Posted by Monica McCoy

Here I found this for you:

http://www.logolighters.com/custom_drumsticks.htm

Minimum order is 165 pairs but they come personalized.

And you only need to buy 165 pair to start.

[razorx]

That's crazy. I don't go through sticks that fast that i'd need 165 pairs.

[DrumART Jim]

I don't think they use ash because it's not very good at dampening vibrations. Anyone who has hit a baseball while not holding onto the bat hard enough can relate. Can you say carpel tunnel?

--J.

[Wavelength]

Originally Posted by DrumART Jim

I don't think they use ash because it's not very good at dampening vibrations.

Why on earth would one like to use sticks that dampen vibrations? That's almost as silly as staying away from vibrant cymbals and resonant drum heads. Sticks are supposed to vibrate and sing; the stick's resonance is an essential part of a rim click's and a cymbal sound's attack.

[druid]

just a guess but the "bashingclub" probably have a rough time with sticks that vibrate or resonate....and have problems with dented heads...and broken cymbals...and blisters....."I just can't figure out WHY I keep bustin stuff?!?!".....

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I found this when I googled Ash drumsticks:

Arrange drumsticks snugly on a large foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper on all sides. Pour sauce over and turn drumsticks several times to coat thoroughly. Broil or grill until chicken is browned, about 25 to 30 minutes, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife. While cooking, turn pan around from back to front every 2 to 3 minutes and use tongs to turn drumsticks over. If liquid in baking sheet starts to scorch, add water, 1/4 cup at a time.

[DrumART Jim]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

Why on earth would one like to use sticks that dampen vibrations? That's almost as silly as staying away from vibrant cymbals and resonant drum heads. Sticks are supposed to vibrate and sing; the stick's resonance is an essential part of a rim click's and a cymbal sound's attack.

Seriously? Proper technique dictates getting the stick *off* the drum or cymbal as quickly as possible and letting the struck object do the vibrating, not the stick. "Singing sticks" will get you nothing but a trip to the doctor and some nasty, painful surgery for carpel tunnel syndrome.

--Jim.

[druid]

I don't think so I think most problems come from poor technique not resonant sticks...if you watch JoJo Mayers DVD he talks about this allowing the stick to vibrate on impact rather than holding it tightly which makes sense. I think grabbing a stick tightly is what results in doctors visits...not the stick itself. if you are allowing rebound off the instrument you are playing it should be loose enough for the stick to vibrate.

[DrumART Jim]

I have all the respect in the world for Jo Jo as a player, but implying that the material the stick is made of contributes greatly to the sound of a drum or cymbal sounds like voodoo to me. Your grip should be loose to keep from transferring vibrations into your wrists and elbows, not to channel some mystical magical force. It just doesn't exist.

That's not to say that weight, taper, tip, length, etc. don't matter -- they do. My point was and is that ash may not be used for a reason.

Let's try this -- why do they make most sticks out of hickory? Because hickory has a natural ability to dampen vibrations and transfer more energy to the drum and away from the player. Hickory is not a "tone wood" -- it does not resonate and it will never "sing." It's the same reason you'll rarely if ever see hickory drums, at least I never have. Because they'd sound like plastic garbage cans. :)

[druid]

personally I recommend trying to intentionally hold the sticks loose for awhile in varying degrees while practicing. I think it is reaaaaallllly easy to slip into gripping too tight territory while playing...especially in a live situation. Concentrating on this can help your sound over time. Playing drums often is like building a puzzle and making sure you have all aspects firing at the same time. It's easy to slip into old habits with grip etc. I have expermented alot lately with what Jojo says and it does improve your overall playing to try it for awhile. It's like breathing..something few think about but can affect your playing and sound greatly. it also gets you playing "easy" rather than forcing things.

[DrumART Jim]

Absolutely! I'm often stunned at how lazy my right foot becomes when I don't really think about it. Same goes for grip, posture, etc.

Why does drumming have to be so hard??? ;)

--J.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

A great source for this topic.

http://www.drumdojo.com/drumsticks.htm

[druid]

Originally Posted by DrumART Jim

Absolutely! I'm often stunned at how lazy my right foot becomes when I don't really think about it. Same goes for grip, posture, etc.

Why does drumming have to be so hard??? ;)

--J.

Ha...I don't know....but it IS.....and to think some people think we "just beat stuff with sticks"...the key is conscious effort really helps pay off down the road.

[Wavelength]

Originally Posted by DrumART Jim

Seriously? Proper technique dictates getting the stick *off* the drum or cymbal as quickly as possible and letting the struck object do the vibrating, not the stick. "Singing sticks" will get you nothing but a trip to the doctor and some nasty, painful surgery for carpel tunnel syndrome.

A freely resonating stick implicates that the grip has to be extremely loose. Therefore, the more the stick resonates, the looser and the healthier your grip is, and the quicker the stick is able to rebound off the head. Would you mind explaining how a loose grip can cause CTS?

Originally Posted by DrumART Jim

(...) implying that the material the stick is made of contributes greatly to the sound of a drum or cymbal sounds like voodoo to me. Your grip should be loose to keep from transferring vibrations into your wrists and elbows, not to channel some mystical magical force. It just doesn't exist.

If your grip is tight, the stick's vibrations are absorbed into the hand; if it's loose the stick's vibrations dissipate naturally as audible resonance. Try this: grip your sticks hard, then strike them against one another. Then grip them as loosely as possible and repeat the process. You should hear a clear difference in tone and resonance, and you should definitely do the same experiment with your ride cymbal. Another experiment you should do is to buy a pair of maple sticks and see how they sound.

The stick you use has a huge impact on the sounds of your cymbals and rim clicks. There's absolutely no mystery in it. If different striking implement materials didn't have any effect, then how come mallets, rods, brushes, sticks, hands etc. sound totally different?

[Wavelength]

Originally Posted by DrumART Jim

Let's try this -- why do they make most sticks out of hickory? Because hickory has a natural ability to dampen vibrations and transfer more energy to the drum and away from the player.

They make sticks out of hickory, because it is very tough and fairly abundant.

[eddiehimself]

I definetly agree with druid here, it's all about technique to avoid injury to your wrists. (and cymbals) I use carbon sticks which are like ash only stronger :p

[DrumART Jim]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

They make sticks out of hickory, because it is very tough and fairly abundant.

This is why they make sticks out of Hickory:

What is the benefit of Hickory?

The benefits range from very durable wood with a high shatter point, meaning it can take a get deal of abuse before breaking. Hickory sticks tend to chip away as they are played on cymbals or rimshots, as opposed to Maple and Oak, that can merely snap in half when the much lower shatter point is reached. The most important benefit is how Hickory sticks absorb more than twice the about of shock as the other woods. This means more of the vibration that stick occurs due to contact with a rim as in rimshots, or cymbals, is keep within the stick as opposed to transferred on to your hands, wrists, forearms, and elbows.

Thanks to GRUNTERSDAD for the excellent link. I still like the singing stick idea, though! Makes for a very funny visual.

[DrumART Jim]

Originally Posted by Wavelength

A freely resonating stick implicates that the grip has to be extremely loose. Therefore, the more the stick resonates, the looser and the healthier your grip is, and the quicker the stick is able to rebound off the head. Would you mind explaining how a loose grip can cause CTS?

It can't. But it also can't make the stick "sing." The drum is the instrument, the stick is the tool. Maybe they should start making guitar picks out of the same stuff so they'll sing, too? ;)

Originally Posted by Wavelength

The stick you use has a huge impact on the sounds of your cymbals and rim clicks. There's absolutely no mystery in it. If different striking implement materials didn't have any effect, then how come mallets, rods, brushes, sticks, hands etc. sound totally different?

Those items are all different in the *tip* and yes, tips absolutely make all the difference in the world.

[austin412]

I use promark 747s and i know when i play on my practice pad both sticks always make a different sound on it the pair i am currently using one is much brighter than the other and their is always a difference lightly hit your cymbal with 2 "identical" sticks and i promise u there will be a difference

[Customdrumstix.BIZ]

yeah man you can make sticks from ash. its not as heavy as hickory but if you needed to play a coffee shop or record store then ash would be great. its not as durable to drumming like you are carter beauford. if your doing some cool stuff that isnt giving the sticks a work over than they are nice because your ears arent taking a pounding either. tips give out a little bit sooner if you ride the hell out of your bell.... its just a softer wood


cdx