My favorite sticks

TunaFresh said:
Very happy with the Benny Greb sticks I picked up. I'm not one to use someone's signature stick, but this one is damn good.
Click to expand...
Just looked them on on VF. Nice, a little thick for Bop Jazz, but totally can get busy with your Benny’s for Fusion or maybe 6 piece of more Jazz-Funk maybe ? Enjoy brother.
 
lefty2 said:
For low volume gigs I like VF AJ5 they are a little longer than 7A sticks and lately I've been using Ahead Fatbeat 5A for everything else. Now that I've used them for a while they feel pretty good but are definitely different from wood. I can play my hats with the tip most of the time with these sticks, whereas with wood even nylon tipped I always used the shaft on the edge of the hats in order to be heard. Most of my rides do not lend themselves to the Ahead sticks though, too sharp and metallic sounding. my Omni sounds the best with them and was a little on the quiet side with wood sticks. I have 5A, 5A fat beats and 5A Maxx, I'm gravitating to the fats most of the time.
Click to expand...
Bro, are your Aheads metal bro ?
 
PhillyJoeFan said:
Bro, are your Aheads metal bro ?
Click to expand...
Yes they have an aluminum tube core with replacable plastic sleeves covering the aluminum. The tips are replaceable in different designs and two material types. The standard tip is nylon I believe. The other is very similar but is supposed to sound more like wood. I can't tell much difference between the two.
 
lefty2 said:
Yes they have an aluminum tube core with replacable plastic sleeves covering the aluminum. The tips are replaceable in different designs and two material types. The standard tip is nylon I believe. The other is very similar but is supposed to sound more like wood. I can't tell much difference between the two.
Click to expand...
Interesting Left, I’m assuming the majority of the music you play is mostly Metal or Rock, I know you said, in your outstanding description of your sticks, that it’s supposed to imitate a wood sound, but I can’t imagine, nor have I ever seen Bop Jazz drummers using Ahead sticks. They sure look cool though. And I’m sure, with the lighter weight, I’m assuming, I guess it’s hollow metal, & light, simulates, almost like a maple stick, in which I’ve seen plenty Bop Jazz drummers use bro. Enjoy my man.
 
PhillyJoeFan said:
Interesting Left, I’m assuming the majority of the music you play is mostly Metal or Rock, I know you said, in your outstanding description of your sticks, that it’s supposed to imitate a wood sound, but I can’t imagine, nor have I ever seen Bop Jazz drummers using Ahead sticks. They sure look cool though. And I’m sure, with the lighter weight, I’m assuming, I guess it’s hollow metal, & light, simulates, almost like a maple stick, in which I’ve seen plenty Bop Jazz drummers use bro. Enjoy my man.
Click to expand...
It wouldn't matter much what genre of music you played, what would matter is the weight of the sticks. I used Ahead since they were first created. For acoustic kits I use a 5b model and for electronic I use a 7b because you don't need the power, you simply turn up the volume button. The same can be said of playing with wood sticks, I would use the exact same sizes (and I do as I don't always use my Ahead sticks) to me they don't feel much different except that the Ahead feel more balanced than the wood ones. I can play any genre with full dynamics with no issues. Maybe try a pair, see for yourself, but don't believe all those people that tell you they hate them because they feel so different, they do not.
 
doggyd69b said:
It wouldn't matter much what genre of music you played, what would matter is the weight of the sticks. I used Ahead since they were first created. For acoustic kits I use a 5b model and for electronic I use a 7b because you don't need the power, you simply turn up the volume button. The same can be said of playing with wood sticks, I would use the exact same sizes (and I do as I don't always use my Ahead sticks) to me they don't feel much different except that the Ahead feel more balanced than the wood ones. I can play any genre with full dynamics with no issues. Maybe try a pair, see for yourself, but don't believe all those people that tell you they hate them because they feel so different, they do not.
Click to expand...
Right on brother. With all the videos, I’m pretty much addicted to watching, especially mostly Bop Jazz videos, for research, again I’ve never see any of the Bop Jazz cats, using them. Especially after tax return time, totally interested in trying out a pair or 2 brother. Thanks for putting me on to those beauties my man. They definitely look very cool & I’m hearing positive comments on them as far as ergonomics & physical health forearm & wrist wise Thanks in advance bro. I’ll holla at you, when I get a pair or 2. Hopefully they have something similar to my 7A’s. 👍🏽👌🏽
 
doggyd69b said:
It wouldn't matter much what genre of music you played, what would matter is the weight of the sticks. I used Ahead since they were first created. For acoustic kits I use a 5b model and for electronic I use a 7b because you don't need the power, you simply turn up the volume button. The same can be said of playing with wood sticks, I would use the exact same sizes (and I do as I don't always use my Ahead sticks) to me they don't feel much different except that the Ahead feel more balanced than the wood ones. I can play any genre with full dynamics with no issues. Maybe try a pair, see for yourself, but don't believe all those people that tell you they hate them because they feel so different, they do not.
Click to expand...
Right on brother. With all the videos, I’m pretty much addicted to watching, especially mostly Bop Jazz videos, again I’ve never see any of
TunaFresh said:
Yeah the Greb's are basically a modified 5b. I still find myself preferring a 2b size stick, even for lighter playing. I like the control and feedback I get from a larger diameter stick. I also don't have to use large strokes to get good sound. You can play dynamically with any stick and 2b's are no exception.

I always grab the lighter batch 2b's I can find. I also have a pair of Promark Finesse 2b Long maple sticks. Those are nice for light playing as well.

Time will tell with what I stick with no pun intended. I like to become accustomed to using any size stick. Anything thinner than a 5a though I find myself having to squeeze a bit too much. My hands are on the med/med large size so a 5b/2b diameter works best at the moment.
Click to expand...
So right with you brother. Anything less than a .540 diameter stick, I feel like I’m working too hard, & taking my concentration on the tune. The great Tony Williams, even before he steered towards Fusion, like playing Post Bop or even Avant Garde with Miles, he was using like a 2B boss.
 
PhillyJoeFan said:
Interesting Left, I’m assuming the majority of the music you play is mostly Metal or Rock, I know you said, in your outstanding description of your sticks, that it’s supposed to imitate a wood sound, but I can’t imagine, nor have I ever seen Bop Jazz drummers using Ahead sticks. They sure look cool though. And I’m sure, with the lighter weight, I’m assuming, I guess it’s hollow metal, & light, simulates, almost like a maple stick, in which I’ve seen plenty Bop Jazz drummers use bro. Enjoy my man.
Click to expand...
PhillyJoeFan said:
Interesting Left, I’m assuming the majority of the music you play is mostly Metal or Rock, I know you said, in your outstanding description of your sticks, that it’s supposed to imitate a wood sound, but I can’t imagine, nor have I ever seen Bop Jazz drummers using Ahead sticks. They sure look cool though. And I’m sure, with the lighter weight, I’m assuming, I guess it’s hollow metal, & light, simulates, almost like a maple stick, in which I’ve seen plenty Bop Jazz drummers use bro. Enjoy my man.
Click to expand...
I play classic rock and country mostly. I only fool with metal at home. I only top out on dbl kick around 160 bpm so I couldn't keep up with most metal. I can go faster if I tighten the head use a trigger and play heel toe dbls but I don't like doing all that. The wood sound that Ahead claims is simply not true. Those tips are just slightly different sounding than the stock tips but are far from really sounding like wood. I doubt that they sound or feel like Maple at all. They sound and feel pretty solid. They're pretty powerful on Tom's and snare, I can't tell much difference between wood and these sticks on cymbal crashes struck with the shaft of the stick, but the tips are very bright sounding. The tips are great on hats, but too bright on most of my rides. Flams are great, cross stick is just slightly below wood in vol. but still sound good. Overall I'm happy with them because I think they are relieving some of my shoulder pain. The rebound is not the same as wood especially on ride cymbals, which might be a turn off for Jazz players. It's much harder for me to get 4 notes out of a single stroke (kind of like Moller technique) with these compared to wood sticks. It's not hard on the snare but it is on the rides. Sometimes I pretend I can play jazz. A heavier ride would help. I never use that type of playing with any bands, only at home so it's not a priority.
 
Last edited:
I've been a fan of Vic Firth Steve Gadd and Buddy Rich sticks but now I'm sold on Bopworks sticks-Memphis R&B and Rhythm and Groove models are only ones I've tried so far and love them. I've bought some Ahead sticks but I just can't get on board. I've tried to like them but I can't stand them. My bad.
 
i'm boring lately it's been VF 5b nylon tip, but they are just a great playing stick. now that regal tip is back in business i'd like to check out their 5b or maybe even their rock size stick. for a light stick i've always adored the regal tip 7a nylon tip great side click sound also.
 
TunaFresh said:
View attachment 143886
Click to expand...
Sick !!!
bonzolead said:
i'm boring lately it's been VF 5b nylon tip, but they are just a great playing stick. now that regal tip is back in business i'd like to check out their 5b or maybe even their rock size stick. for a light stick i've always adored the regal tip 7a nylon tip great side click sound also.
Click to expand...
Right with you all day on the 7A’s brother. I’m 6’2 and change, 235, and it’s still my go to stick my man. 👍🏽 Despite my size.
 
Vic Firth Wood Tip 5B Hickory Acorn Tip for heavy playing
Vic Firth Wood Tip 5A Hickory Acorn Tip for RNB , Jazz-Rock
Regal Tip 7A for Jazz ( Or La Specials) I've had the same pair of Regals for 10 years, LoL
For seconds i like LA Specials, which are Pro mark rejects. On Amazon for $23 for 3 pairs.

They are usually straight but i have to switch them around to match the weight. Sometimes the tips might be rough on the end. I just sand it a bit.
They are a good practice stick at a good price.
 
After years of Vater LA 5A (and some 2B) I tried some Promark Firegrain 5B rebound... I might have a new favorite.

I like how they feel, and if they really last they might be worth the few extra bucks; but if they don't last as long as I hope, I'll try the regular ones. Blast beats were way easier than with my normal stick, and I was less fatigued after my last gig.

Haven't used Promark in years because I used to always snap the tips off easily, both hickoryand oak. Stuck with Vater because of how long they last, but the last pack I split one in a fresh pair 20 minutes into a recording session. Must be a dryer batch of hickory 😆
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top