How many sticks on a gig?

1 pair for all regardless of style.
 
Rockdrill said:
Recently I've bought a variety of stick types. My favourites are 7a balanced LDC customs, Promark 7a forward 16", Promark 7a rebound 15.5" and AJ5s. During the course of a gig with my covers band I'm finding that rather than use one pair I'm selecting the stick that suits my style/song. So a lot of swapping.
Question is, how many of you use one type of stick the whole gig or change according to the song.
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I change baaes on the venue. Big outdoor ahows get 5B or something like that. Smaller rooms get a Gadd or smaller barrel tip
 
I generally bring 2/3 pairs of basic VF 5A. Last concert I did I happened to break 2 sticks. Those sticks were rather old. So it’s my mistake not to have brought fresh sticks.
I rarely break sticks so they were just worn.
Question: do you wait for your sticks to break or do you throw them away when they become too worn?
 
Tamaefx said:
Question: do you wait for your sticks to break or do you throw them away when they become too worn?
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I don't mind them getting a bit chewed up but throw them out way before they stand a chance of breaking. Mostly because for me they get to a stage where they don't balance as nicely and a new stick feels better. Once they're at that stage they go.
Having said that, at the moment 75% of my gigs are with an Ekit, and as the dtx6 has rubber rims (and rubber cymbals) the sticks last forever!
 
When it comes to sticks I’m always loaded up on my Ahead custom model. It’s the right fit for any gig I do, and typically bring enough to last the length of the tour. 1 pair = 3 shows.

When it comes to specialty sticks, ie brushes, mallets, and rods, etc. I only brig those if they are needed for the gig.

On this current tour I’m doing we have 1 song that has a side-stick section in the bridge. So I brought a couple pair of wood sticks for just that purpose, and only use them for that song.
 
I use Vater 5A's nylon tipped 99% of the time.

Sometimes mallets or brushes for certain songs.

I have lighter and heavier sticks in my bag, but 5A's are what get all the use.
 
Everything from sticks to brushes to mallets to beaters to shakers to jingles to a mini bag with spare parts and tuning keys.


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I recently switched from the Steve Jordan to the 5A Freestyle as I wanted slightly more meat, but close the same feel and touch.

To add, I basically never change sticks during a gig. Its either one or the other depending on the gig.
 
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.....eleven..........and 2 thirds of a stick....and some shavings on the rug.....and 5 splinters.
 
just had a fresh delivery of sticks, now time to wrap them up! :)
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I have two stick bags. The one I take for sessions/one off shows (that are not heavy rock/metal) which is one of those Tackle roll up bags has 3-4 pairs of Vater Classics 5B, 3-4 pairs of Vater Sweet Ride sticks, Rods, mallets, brushes, whips etc. Basically all the bases are covered. My other stick bag, also by tackle, has only one stick pocket but holds about 8 pairs of sticks. Up until recently I was using the Powerhouse model in there, but I'm enjoying those thick sticks less and less, and one my last few heavier gigs they've been replaced by just the standard Vater 5B (quite heavier and thicker than the classics) but once those have been used up I'm probably just gonna use the classics or maybe switch back to the 3A Fatback.

Nerdy stuff.

-Jono
 
Im using sticks less and less but I have 3 types in the bag

1. 7aN hickory by default
2. 8a maple if I want to punch harder
3. Home made hazel for bossa xstick

Sometimes a mix of above ( after a stick drop )
 
I used to carry multiple differens sticks in my bag and change from song to song, then I did a corporate rebranding or what you wanna call it, I slimed down the selection, rather I changed to a smaller stickbag and then the sliming process started. Before there was two different pairs of brushes, 2-3 pairs of mallets, one pair of rods and maybe 4-5-6 different types of sticks, with some having two or more pairs.

Now there's only two pairs of the sticks I'm currently using(only one if I'm feeling risky), a pair of brushes, a pair of mallets and a pair of rods.
The sticks can change depending on what I'm playing, if its something lighter, it's been the Erskine ride stick or Questloves signature sticks. If it's something heavier, the sticks will be Promark forward Firegrain 5B or Tama traditional oak 5B.
 
Tamaefx said:
Question: do you wait for your sticks to break or do you throw them away when they become too worn?
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I have only once broken a stick, so I throw them away when they get too worn. Usually the tips chip slightly, dulling the ride 'ping' and the shoulder just start shedding wood, as if it had terrible dandruff. That's when it's time to say goodbye.
 
I play originals which all fit within a given style and so use one of two stick types throughout. So for small rooms my stick bag contains Vic Firth, Peter Erskine signature x 3 pairs and x 1 pair 5A. For larger rooms Vic Firth 5A and 5B x 2 pairs. Depending on set list may also bring set of medium mallets.
 
Rockdrill said:
Recently I've bought a variety of stick types. My favourites are 7a balanced LDC customs, Promark 7a forward 16", Promark 7a rebound 15.5" and AJ5s. During the course of a gig with my covers band I'm finding that rather than use one pair I'm selecting the stick that suits my style/song. So a lot of swapping.
Question is, how many of you use one type of stick the whole gig or change according to the song.
Click to expand...
I usually keep my stick size the same (5B) but I use a lighter size when I play my e-kits. and normally I have the pair that I am using plus two spare pairs and that covers it when:
1 I drop a stick after hitting the rim of a tom.
2 A stick breaks after a while.
3 A new stick sometimes is very weak and breaks unexpectedly.

I drop the stick here at the 3:52 mark, but recover (continue playing before the stick hits the ground) That was my norm, the stick would break, the top would be flying the bottom dropping and I would have a new stick already and would continue playing, if you blinked you missed it.

 
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