PhillyJoeFan
Member
7A Concept Freestyle’s, best stock ever.
My favorite sticks
- Thread starter Thomas
- Start date
PhillyJoeFan
Member
Stick typo
lefty2
Platinum Member
I like to use those for quiter rehearsals and gigs. I've been using Ahead sticks for home practice and not so quiet gigs. I've got four different sizes. 5A fat beat and 5AB hybrid concert are my favorites.
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PhillyJoeFan
Member
Sick !!! Keep it funky bro !!!
Ensnared!
Active Member
Just some silly stick BS ( kinda long) from me...
( guitar guy still playing rudiments on a practice pad- and loving it.
Trying to get somewhat coordinated, smooth, and buildup speed)
But also, just for kicks, as my practice pad and sticks are my musical instrument- my 'drum kit',
I've really come to enjoy trying out a few of the stick types.
Some cited here on Drummerworld as well as the drummers I gig with.
I'm curious to hear the sound they make; feel the diameter, and weight, and tip.
A cheap brand of 5A's ( came with practice pad) and now Vic Firth 5A's are my fave or benchmark sticks very comfy- great bounce and tone. Any other stick I try is compared with them.
To the point,
I do like most of the sticks I've tried ( about 5 other sizes and a few different brands) and practice with all of them.
BUT, one stick I did not care for...
( and I feel bad or weird, because this is the main stick of my fave drummer that I play with- amazing local blues and R&R drummer, who I know can play much more complicated music than what he does with me!)
...are the Vic Firth 5B's!
I did not like them.
the wider diameter did not bug me ( I have huge SD1's that are fun!)
so much as their density and weight?
I think these are Hickory vs. Maple ( on 5A's and others) and just seemed unresponsive; no bounce- thuddy. Just not fun to play.
Did I get that right? Are they that different, do folks like them?
* I know I'm hitting a practice pad vs. real drums and heads. So feel could be 100% different with any of these sticks
Thanks for opinions on 5B's!
( guitar guy still playing rudiments on a practice pad- and loving it.
Trying to get somewhat coordinated, smooth, and buildup speed)
But also, just for kicks, as my practice pad and sticks are my musical instrument- my 'drum kit',
I've really come to enjoy trying out a few of the stick types.
Some cited here on Drummerworld as well as the drummers I gig with.
I'm curious to hear the sound they make; feel the diameter, and weight, and tip.
A cheap brand of 5A's ( came with practice pad) and now Vic Firth 5A's are my fave or benchmark sticks very comfy- great bounce and tone. Any other stick I try is compared with them.
To the point,
I do like most of the sticks I've tried ( about 5 other sizes and a few different brands) and practice with all of them.
BUT, one stick I did not care for...
( and I feel bad or weird, because this is the main stick of my fave drummer that I play with- amazing local blues and R&R drummer, who I know can play much more complicated music than what he does with me!)
...are the Vic Firth 5B's!
I did not like them.
the wider diameter did not bug me ( I have huge SD1's that are fun!)
so much as their density and weight?
I think these are Hickory vs. Maple ( on 5A's and others) and just seemed unresponsive; no bounce- thuddy. Just not fun to play.
Did I get that right? Are they that different, do folks like them?
* I know I'm hitting a practice pad vs. real drums and heads. So feel could be 100% different with any of these sticks
Thanks for opinions on 5B's!
PhillyJoeFan
Member
Right with you brother, trying my best to hit my practice pad daily for at least an hour. Just switched from regular 7A’s ( .540 @ 15.5” length ), close to my favorite drummer Philly Joe, to now, 7A Concept Freestyle’s still ( still .540’s, but now, 17” in length) close to my 2nd favorite drummer Questlove, feel my rudiments come out even better, with the extra weight & with the length, I can choke up more & the rudiments almost play themselves dude. Play on my man !!! Loving life !!
PhillyJoeFan
Member
I heard those SD1’s are SICK !!!Right with you brother, trying my best to hit my practice pad daily for at least an hour. Just switched from regular 7A’s ( .540 @ 15.5” length ), close to my favorite drummer Philly Joe, to now, 7A Concept Freestyle’s still ( still .540’s, but now, 17” in length) close to my 2nd favorite drummer Questlove, feel my rudiments come out even better, with the extra weight & with the length, I can choke up more & the rudiments almost play themselves dude. Play on my man !!! Loving life !!
Ensnared!
Active Member
They are 'big fatsos!' ( like me, really!) LOOK!
But they ( albeit big diameter that takes getting used to) are very light for the size; comfy and bouncy ( maple)- and I'm digging the tip, too.
Well-balanced
Maybe someday they will hit real drums!
( I have a cool no-name Burgundy sparkle snare with a good sound/ new heads a buddy gave me- but just too loud for apartment life)
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mrfingers
Senior Member
VF 5A's are too thin for me, the 5B is too heavy but diameter's a bit too much but the Zildjian 5A's are just about right diameter(close to .58 of Reagal Tip 5A) and almost front weighted. So just about right 
. Then I tried Vater fusion sticks...and I'm almost sold on them 
. Now I alternate between the two depending on the sound/ music.
. Then I tried Vater fusion sticks...and I'm almost sold on them . Now I alternate between the two depending on the sound/ music.
gish
Senior Member
It’s crazy how a stick that felt weird to me a few months ago has now become my current go-to, but that’s what happened.
Vic Firth Extreme 5A. Stick feels light and nimble but the extra length gives a lot of power for me when needed.
Have also gone to nylon tips after being a wood tip only snob for a few decades. Got tired of tossing sticks with spit tips that were otherwise still in great shape. Also gets me more articulation out of my Sweet ride.
Pro Mark stick wrap- beefs up the diameter just a bit, easy to hold onto no matter what the weather is like, let’s my hands relax.
My current winning combination.
Vic Firth Extreme 5A. Stick feels light and nimble but the extra length gives a lot of power for me when needed.
Have also gone to nylon tips after being a wood tip only snob for a few decades. Got tired of tossing sticks with spit tips that were otherwise still in great shape. Also gets me more articulation out of my Sweet ride.
Pro Mark stick wrap- beefs up the diameter just a bit, easy to hold onto no matter what the weather is like, let’s my hands relax.
My current winning combination.
Ensnared!
Active Member
So there is variation ( besides, say wood choice) in 5A sticks? ( or any other stick w/ same size name) Thanks!VF 5A's are too thin for me, the 5B is too heavy but diameter's a bit too much but the Zildjian 5A's are just about right diameter(close to .58 of Reagal Tip 5A) and almost front weighted. So just about right
mrfingers
Senior Member
Oh, yeah! 5A's diameters are all over the map! Different companies-different diameters, different weights, lengthwise about the same.
Out of Round
Well-known Member
Yeah, the dowel size and length for the classic sizes (7A, 5A, 5B, 2B) seem to be fairly consistent across brands (more or less). The tip shape, taper length, butt shape, and finish or lack thereof is where the differences are.
prodigy4299
Member
If the hickory 5B's feel too heavy, I would recommend trying the VF 5B Maple sticks. I am a big fan of those, personally.VF 5A's are too thin for me, the 5B is too heavy but diameter's a bit too much but the Zildjian 5A's are just about right diameter(close to .58 of Reagal Tip 5A) and almost front weighted. So just about right
petrez
Senior Member
New favorite sticks, never thought that could happen after using my trusted Vic Firth 5A Extreme woodtip for the last 20 years almost. Rohema 5AX woodtip. German sticks, American hickory wood. I admit that price increase had a lot to do with me looking elsewhere, but I actually think I like these better than the VF's now. Being about 30% cheaper, that can add a lot for me using at least 12 pairs a year, hoping these might be a bit more durable as well, looking good so far. Been using them a lot for practice recently, nothing but thumbs up from me.
Croatian Man
Active Member
Love SteppenWolf! Great Trophy for you!! Man, if that's the wear & tear on one pair of sticks form one Concert session - he really hits hard!.
I wish companies would separate their sticks by weight like Meinl does. Not all 5b's are heavy.