Are Signature Sticks for Hobbyists?

Son of Vistalite Black

Son of Vistalite Black

Well-known Member
Seeing Vater offering a signature stick from current Aerosmith drummer John Douglas makes one wonder whether signature drumsticks are marketed mainly to novice drummers.

Son of Vistalite Black went through a phase with Alex Van Halen’s monster (17.75’ and .570’) sticks as a younger drummer.

Do you use a signature stick and would you like one from Joey Kramer’s drum tech?

Also, is it helpful that they’re marked “Right” and “Left”?
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Not entirely sure what the left and right marking is for, but I'm not a novice and I'll still try, and enjoy playing signature sticks.

Vinnie's recent Vater sticks seemed to divide opinion from what I can gather, but I liked them. Also Marco Minnemann's pro-mark sticks have a nice balance to them. Oh, and I have a few pairs of Carter McLean's signature sticks.

The way I see it, I don't really care if they're an endorsement. If I try them, like them and they work for me, I'll use them.
 
IMO signature sticks offer divergences from the stock sizes and builds that can open the door for new stock lines later on. Used to be that lengths longer than 16.25" were very uncommon, but several signature sticks came out that were longer, and sold well. Now most stick companies have a stock extended length stick (usually 16.5"), and a few, like Vic Firth have 17" stock lines (i.e. the Freestyle line). Grip sticks also started out as a signature option IIRC.
 
I’ve been using the Josh Freese sticks for a couple years. I’m not even that big a fan of Josh. I tried the sticks because I liked the dimensions. I also occasionally use the Steve Gadd sticks.
 
Signatures neither attract nor deter me from a stick. Only the specs matter to me.

That said, and as alparrott mentioned, often times it's because of the signature that a stick maker might try something really out of the box, like Mangini's dual tapered sticks that might catch my eye. Often you can't get a stick with a particular assortment of qualities except for a signature model. I'm currently playing the Jason Bonham signature stick, because no one else makes a .595x 16-34" stick in maple.
 
Pete Townsend plays (played? I haven't checked in awhile) an Eric Clapton signature Strat. So I'd say the answer is no in general terms.

Technically speaking, A Customs and Paragons are signature lines for cymbals (for Vinnie and Neil) and plenty of famous drummers play them.
 
SchmuckyPutz said:
Never played any signature sticks. Always seemed like the marketing of false hope to me.
Using the same equipment as your heroes or inspirations will NEVER make you as talented
or creative as they are.
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I agree, but I will say that holding a pair of the sticks someone else uses often gives me a little more insight into their playing. I don't want to play a stick that's way off from what I'm comfortable with any more than I'd wear shoes that didn't fit, but it tells me a lot about how someone else approaches their playing, especially when you have an extreme stick like Phil Collins or Alex Van Halen...
 
Elvin Jones pmk
Roy Haynes zild
all were workingman's sticks
Ian Wallace zild when it was around
nothing pretentious about them
basically remakes (the elvin and roy) of stock/standard/ but discontinued/ Gretsch/Ludwig sticks of their past/ improved
Dave Weckl vf stick also has it's moments.
 
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Winston_Wolf said:
...often times it's because of the signature that a stick maker might try something really out of the box...
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I think that's it. Drummers get some custom sticks made, and the company sees if that variation will become popular. I've tried a few, but I've given up on signature sticks because as soon as I decide I like them, they're not available anymore.
Son of Vistalite Black said:
If you're left handed, do you use the red or black stick in your left hand?
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I think that's for really picky players, so they can remember which stick they like for their ride hand (red or black).

I could never see the point in being that fussy because I chewed through sticks in a hurry. If a stick weighed x grams when I bought it, it didn't weigh that much after I'd played a one-hour set with it. But nowadays sticks are lasting a lot longer, and I'm getting a lot pickier about them.
 
Do these count as "signature sticks"? It's one of the three pairs I use for playing rudiments on a practice pad. The others are Vic Firth Corpsmaster, and some nice persimmon orchestral sticks that my sweetie bought for me.

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I think it's for looks. Any sticks can be used by novices or pros alike, as long as they are well-made and has one's preferred weight.
My perfect sticks are the Vic Firth Keith Moon signature model. I also really like Rohema Step 707 and SD4-H, which if I understand correctly are based on Promark Simmon Philips (707) and Bill Bruford (SD4) signature models, respectively. I just went for the Rohemas since they are crazy cheap :D and I like the made-in-Markneukirchen connection.
 
SchmuckyPutz said:
Never played any signature sticks. Always seemed like the marketing of false hope to me.
Using the same equipment as your heroes or inspirations will NEVER make you as talented
or creative as they are.
Click to expand...
That’s a little insulting. Nobody buys sticks their heroes use unless…

1. They like them
B. They’re collectors

And nobody thinks that owning the gear their heroes use is going to turn them into their heroes anymore than a 4 year old kid thinks wearing Superman pjs will make them bulletproof.
 
I have my own signature stick made by Pellwood. Available to order if you so choose. Think I've been watching too many shameless John Good marketing videos ;) Just wanted a round tip on one of their current models I'd used for years and got in touch with their rep who set me up and the Michael York stick was born lol!

Purely a cost thing too, if I bulk purchase 16 pairs it works out at about £4 a pair. As a working drummer it's worth it!

A for other peoples I use the Steve Gadd stick for really light stuff and a pair will last for years!
 
They're for stick produces to make money from leveraging an artist name. A win win for artist and stick producer.

As a recent poll on this forum indicates; 5a and 5b are the most popular sticks.
Brand, wood variety, finish, (insert marketing gimmick/innovation here), are all individual choices the buyer can make.
 
Seafroggys said:
Pete Townsend plays (played? I haven't checked in awhile) an Eric Clapton signature Strat…
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Which is hilarious given that PT has probably had more signature guitars than anyone else I can think of. :)

For drumsticks, if the specs are right I’ll use them. I like 7As but they’re a little short. Elvin Jones model? Please & thank you.

:)
 
JimmyM said:
That’s a little insulting. Nobody buys sticks their heroes use unless…

1. They like them
B. They’re collectors

And nobody thinks that owning the gear their heroes use is going to turn them into their heroes anymore than a 4 year old kid thinks wearing Superman pjs will make them bulletproof.
Click to expand...
Name recognition oriented marketing is why any signature is there in the FIRST PLACE, and hero worship is the reason it sells
 
I once went to a somewhat impromptu Roy Haynes drum clinic-- he was in town and the drum shop organized something hastily. It was just after his signature stick came out. I seemed to be the only person at the clinic who actually knew who he was, so after the clinic we chatted. And he was so excited about the sticks and gave me a pair to try. I found them to be unbelievably clunky and was stunned he was playing them. "They're awesome," I said. No way *I* was ruining Roy Haynes' day. He was the best, by the way. SO generous.

I guess my point is that I would never start using a stick because one of my heroes was using them. But I would certainly try a pair in the shop, especially if I thought someone's style or approach was very similar to my own.
 
DrumDoug said:
I’ve been using the Josh Freese sticks for a couple years. I’m not even that big a fan of Josh. I tried the sticks because I liked the dimensions. I also occasionally use the Steve Gadd sticks.
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I guess for me it the only reason to "stick" with regular sticks would be the higher price you have to pay for signature (in the event that those are not different (spec wise) from other non signature ones. (Ahead for example).
 
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