ColdFusion
Active Member
I wouldn't complain if Uncle Larry got his way on this. Even though the argument of the classifications being entrenched is a very strong one. There are enough responses here to demonstrate that stick buyers are willing to work with what's here, rather than to be re-educated into a different system.
What I think Larry is arguing is that it wouldn't be just a "different" system, but a more intuitive one. The one we "should" have had.
The 5A, 5B, 7A, 8D thing is gonna be hard to replace without engendering Larry's passion into other logical thinking drummers. It'll be ironic trying to convince an older player, even though he might agree with your logic. Because he of all people doesn't have any trouble remembering which sticks to buy.
IME, when comparing many different sticks, I didn't get a clear picture of what (besides "feel") I was comparing until I started looking at things like diameter and exact length.
I had to go to the websites to get this info. I think for many folks it is enough to have access to the information.
What OP is suggesting is to make a clean break and banish the virtually obsolete naming system and replace that ink on the stick with something that is at least related to the physical properties of the stick. But as @Matt Suda suggested, you now have to create a new code to print down the side of each stick.
And I agree with @Stroman that taper is one of those features you really do notice when you play, but that info is usually missing from modern taxonomy anyhow. Gram weight works when selling individual cymbals, but a general stick weight indicator is gonna have to be a non-scientific calculation. Like wood type by diameter by length. Not an actual weight but a relative one.
One thing that might make me agnostic on this issue is the dozens of "signature" and specialty sticks that are constantly being released. If you polled younger drummers universally you might discover that the kids are already using sticks that are named after people or catchy words. In that case they have no idea what the "base size" was before the company painted it and gave it a unique grip or tip.
But I can support OPs point by the scenario that current lifelong drummers, the ones who are already playing the game, and teaching the game, are fully capable or normalizing a new system and demonstrating to newer drummers how the new system has "always been" better.
Now if only we could do something about some of those silly rudiment names.
What I think Larry is arguing is that it wouldn't be just a "different" system, but a more intuitive one. The one we "should" have had.
The 5A, 5B, 7A, 8D thing is gonna be hard to replace without engendering Larry's passion into other logical thinking drummers. It'll be ironic trying to convince an older player, even though he might agree with your logic. Because he of all people doesn't have any trouble remembering which sticks to buy.
IME, when comparing many different sticks, I didn't get a clear picture of what (besides "feel") I was comparing until I started looking at things like diameter and exact length.
I had to go to the websites to get this info. I think for many folks it is enough to have access to the information.
What OP is suggesting is to make a clean break and banish the virtually obsolete naming system and replace that ink on the stick with something that is at least related to the physical properties of the stick. But as @Matt Suda suggested, you now have to create a new code to print down the side of each stick.
And I agree with @Stroman that taper is one of those features you really do notice when you play, but that info is usually missing from modern taxonomy anyhow. Gram weight works when selling individual cymbals, but a general stick weight indicator is gonna have to be a non-scientific calculation. Like wood type by diameter by length. Not an actual weight but a relative one.
One thing that might make me agnostic on this issue is the dozens of "signature" and specialty sticks that are constantly being released. If you polled younger drummers universally you might discover that the kids are already using sticks that are named after people or catchy words. In that case they have no idea what the "base size" was before the company painted it and gave it a unique grip or tip.
But I can support OPs point by the scenario that current lifelong drummers, the ones who are already playing the game, and teaching the game, are fully capable or normalizing a new system and demonstrating to newer drummers how the new system has "always been" better.
It wouldn't take long, if there was strong engagement by the adult drumming community. You must replace the old intuition with a new one. The magic is convincing drummers who are on the fence to agree that this would be better for the future of drumming.
Now if only we could do something about some of those silly rudiment names.
