Have you tried the Regal 5B Nylon tip? Do they have the same texture as the wooden tip?
I'm asking because the Nylon tips I have are not as "sticky" as the texture on the wooden tip (which is what I prefer). I ordered them from Sam Ash so I couldn't try them first.
They make all the sticks the same way... probably just a pair that didn't get coated enough...
So, I worked at Artist Relations Manager for 3 years for Calato 2004-2007... I would be happy to answer any questions you guys have about the company.
The finish on the sticks is a special lacquer that they have been using for over 50 years. Back in the day all stick companies used this kind of finish, but around the 80's-90's Vic and Pro Mark stopped doing this, and most companies soon fallowed, but Regal kept it.
The finish works as a fantastic grip for those of you who do not have sweaty hands when you play. For me it's the only brand of sticks I can use without grip tape.
For those players who sweat a lot more when you play, the finish does get real slippery and difficult to hold. This is why most models of Regal Tip sticks are available unfinished. Like the Vater Nude series.
The E-Tip...
This came out a few years ago. Joe Calato invented the Nylon Tip around 1958. A feature that is available from all modern drumstick companies. The purpose of the Nylon tip was to increase the life of your drumstick, a side effect of this was a brighter sound on cymbals, mostly the Ride. Not all players liked this... so Joe, the originator, went back to work and came up with the E-Tip. A slotted Nylon tip that still gives you all the added durability of a regular Nylon tip, but with a Darker-closer to wood tone.
We did an audio test for Regal's website while I still worked there. Not sure if it's still online or not, but I took 3 pairs of sticks, all the same model, 1 wood tip, one nylon and one E-series. I played all of them on a real thick Ride and recorded it. The E-Series and Wood Tip sounded virtually the same, while the nylon of course sounded brighter. We used no studio tricks or effects when recorded to make sure it was as natural sounding as we could get.
Hope this Helps, feel free to ask any other questions you might have.