What stick size do you use?

What stick size do you use?

  • Total voters
    153
eric_B said:
If a mesh head is still too loud for your place: do you live in a library :unsure:? 😁
Click to expand...
It (the mesh head) maybe isn't too loud- and our apt. units here, are practically 'vacuum-packed' airtight- when it comes to sound.

But it's our son's apartment; my wife and I now live with him ( kind of a hardship situation), and I just don't want to create any kind of issue for him w/ neighbors> management. Keep the peace. So it's OK.

Plus, honestly, I don't really like the sound or feel of that SilentStroke head! I prefer my practice pad here- we have a bond!

Will hit that snare 'full volume' ( now with Remo Fiberskyn head- not much quieter, but looks cool, which is always important!) somehow, somewhere else, soon!
 
Ensnared! said:
Will hit that snare 'full volume' ( now with Remo Fiberskyn head- not much quieter, but looks cool, which is always important!)...
Click to expand...
I've seen this statement from you before, concerning mesh heads.
It sounds like you think the Fiberskyn head will make the drum quieter.
It won't.
It's one of a long line of drumheads that were designed to imitate the sound of natural Calfskin heads, or come as close as possible anyway.
What I found worked the best for making any drum quieter, was to change my playing style. Of course, I understand you're just starting out on drums, so you're still trying to establish a certain amount of control, but when it comes to playing quietly, the best thing I found was to simply, play quieter.
 
Elvis said:
I've seen this statement from you before, concerning mesh heads.
It sounds like you think the Fiberskyn head will make the drum quieter.
It won't.
It's one of a long line of drumheads that were designed to imitate the sound of natural Calfskin heads, or come as close as possible anyway.
What I found worked the best for making any drum quieter, was to change my playing style. Of course, I understand you're just starting out on drums, so you're still trying to establish a certain amount of control, but when it comes to playing quietly, the best thing I found was to simply, play quieter.
Click to expand...
I did not really expect the snare to be quieter with the Fiberskyn head, but just as with the Silent Stroke ( mesh) head, and gels, it was more a curiosity thing...
S
The snare even playing quietly ( unless with brushes), is just louder than my 'apartment volume comfort level' - so I'm sticking with the practice pad ( my good friend!), and take the snare to buddies houses, to jam.

I do like the Fiberskyn head- its sound and look I think my cheap snare tunes up well, evenly, and I'm liking the dry, snappy tone.
I sort of envision ( someday?) having a cheap vintage-style 4-piece Jazz kit, and my snare w/Fiberskyn would be great!
 
I am not tied to one size or type of stick. In addition to rods and brushes, I carry the following in my stick bag:

Vic Firth AJ5 (hickory): Very light and thin. Great for keeping the volume down.
Aj2 (Hickory): My go to stick for louder gigs.
7A nylon tip: That cutting ping from a nylon tip.
Head Hunter AAs (hickory or maple): Loud gigs, especially out doors or if I like the sound from the cymbals for the room I am in.

I have a variety of other sticks for practice rehearsal and recording. The tip and wood type make a difference on the sound. I sometimes choose a particular stick based on the sound I want from my cymbals, but that is rare. My rehearsal sticks are often sticks I bought over the years to either try or to use on electronic drums that would otherwise would get little or no use.
 
Tama 5B rythmic fire (oak). I like the full sound and the flames pattern although after 2 weeks they look like any other stick as the paint is on your fingers.
I tried so many different sticks I ended up with a ridiculous choir of lonely single sticks after I broke their twin brother. So I'm trying to stick (😏) with the same type now. I'm going through terrible waves of missing out and having done it all wrong but I guess that's just character building.
 
Last edited:
Pretty much most of them.
I change sticks to suit the song- everything from timbale sticks, wands, to Gavin Harrison's big beasties for "heavier" numbers.

Couldn't imagine playing the same sticks for an entire rehearsal/gig.
 
I'm just ( months now, new guy) on a practice pad, having fun learning rudiments.

And am using ( based on what I read here, and other stick threads) Vic Firth 5A's ( very comfy & responsive).
Also my jazz drummer buddy gave me a used pair of VF SD9 'driver' sticks ( heavier/ larger, same tip as 5A's - they help w/control). So I go back and forth...

But have also read ( here) on the 'practice sticks' thread, lots of love for VF SD1's, with their larger diameter, and that round tip.
So am waiting for Sweetwater delivery- just curious as new guy, to check out the sound and feel, even if just on my practice pad!

( I can't play drums in apartment, but can switch up sticks and brushes for experience)
 
I’ve always used Vic Firth, but jumped around in the last 25 years. 2B for a very long time, now those feel like baseball bats. SD1s for a bit, then 5B, really liked 7As for their light touch, now I have been using 8Ds and love them. A little thicker and longer than the 7As, they feel just right.
 
I recently moved from 5A's to 7A's (it sucks to get old) and I picked up this pack as a transition.


sticks.jpg

Yes, I know these are cheapo sticks... but DO NOT BUY...
I haven't done the songs-to-sticks ratio comparisons, but I figured that I was getting 15 pairs for the same price as 2 pair of Promarks.
- but get about 3-4 songs into things and the fun begins - they will shard off at any given moment, and just do not last....
under my hihat looks like a sawmill floor.
 
I just got my first pair of Vic Firth SD1 sticks this morning, from Sweetwater.

I got them because they were referenced by some, on the 'practice sticks' thread. ( I'm new guy on a practice pad, using VF 5A's). Just curious to try...

Boy, these sticks are big and fat! But in a good way.

-they are thick barrel & taper w/round tip.
Very balanced and comfy- heavier w/o feeling heavy- think they are maple.
They should help me with general stick control on basic rudiments- I can see that they would be powerful on a real kit, or snare

Edit: quick observation-
these stick are 'slower', less sensitivity and bounce than both my VF 5A and VF SD9 Driver sticks.
They are big for sure, but comfy.
Kind of like heavier weights to train with than what you really lift in competition?
 
Last edited:
VF- 55A they're between a 5A and 5B in size.
 
Ensnared! said:
They should help me with general stick control on basic rudiments- I can see that they would be powerful on a real kit, or snare
Click to expand...
Much more than a practice stick. They are routinely used for orchestral and solo/concert snare, working well for technical passages. In the orchestral world, they would not be considered beefy sticks. A round tip can actually offer greater sensitivity (e.g., more articulate) for snare work than an acorn shape found on 5A/B:

"Teardrop-shaped tips will give you a really focused low-end sound with a lot of warmth and darkness. Oval tips are going to give you the most well-rounded frequency response, with an even spread of mids, highs, and lows. Acorn tips will give you a sound that is full, rich, and fat. Barrel tips will give you a sound that has punch and is loud, while Round tips will give you clean, bright, and articulate sound."

See: https://www.soundpure.com/a/expert-advice/drums/how-drumstick-tips-affect-sound/

Once you get comfortable with your SD1's, you may find that the 5A feels inadequate in your hand. Let us know! (y)
 
Last edited:
Tamboreter said:
Much more than a practice stick. They are routinely used for orchestral and solo/concert snare, working well for technical passages. In the orchestral world, they would not be considered beefy sticks. A round tip can actually offer greater sensitivity (e.g., more articulate) for snare work than an acorn shape found on 5A/B:

"Teardrop-shaped tips will give you a really focused low-end sound with a lot of warmth and darkness. Oval tips are going to give you the most well-rounded frequency response, with an even spread of mids, highs, and lows. Acorn tips will give you a sound that is full, rich, and fat. Barrel tips will give you a sound that has punch and is loud, while Round tips will give you clean, bright, and articulate sound."

See: https://www.soundpure.com/a/expert-advice/drums/how-drumstick-tips-affect-sound/

Once you get comfortable with your SD1's, you may find that the 5A feels inadequate in your hand. Let us know! (y)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I have no idea where this practice pad/ drum fantasy is gonna go,

but I love to learn all of this information
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top