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I'm doubting my stick selection...(again).
I'm playing 5A's....but the music we're playing is cranking up. I have also read on here (I think it was Louie P)that the bigger the sticks the better the bounce control etc.
What size sticks do most rock drummers use and whats the relevant impact on technique if any? And on sound?
i have currently been reviewing my stick choice and trying all sorts of others at the mo,,,,the big stick that i use (shedder) is cool for some things but gives a SHIT cymbal sound and i dont want to have to change stick for each style - maybe only if i was doing light jazz or something. for jazz i found the peter erskine ride stick which is a GREAT stick.
so anyway, i did an audition for a punk rock band last night, and this was some heavy full on stuff - good, but heavy. so i used the shedder and to me, it just made it a lot easier and i felt weird when i used a 5B or 5A type stick. you don't necessarily get more POWER but you do get a fatter and thicker sound giving u a little bit of help with volume.....it just makes sense. however i dont think useless weight helps, so dont just get the heaviest stick you can find......i dont think the shedders are too heavy, just thick. virgils stick is cool giving you more power due to the added length.
i have recently been trying the evolution stick (always liked the bounce on that one), buddy rich stick and ordered a pair of jojo mayer;s. but am struggling to like the laquer on these.....what would be the equivalent of the weckl stick without the paint.....5A??
Get the VF5B. It will work better for you.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">VF describes the Evolution as "A short tear drop tip on a 5A shaft" so I guess the answer is yes.Quote:
Originally posted by palmerlouie:
...what would be the equivalent of the weckl stick without the paint.....5A??
I use the Vater site a lot ... I like the way you can navigate around their sticks from the one you're looking at to sticks that are shorter, longer, thinner or fatter. Kinda neat. For example, here's a slightly heftier 5A from Vater: http://www.vater.com/newproducts/product.cfm?M=8
I like Vater's sticks too. I have very dry hands, but I don't find their laquer slips out of my hand like VF.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 14, 2005 09:31 AM: Message edited by: moosetication ]</font>
The VF Evolution is similar to a 5A but the feel and rebound is very different from the regular VF 5A.
thats the thing,,,,,the rebound and feel of the evolution is great.....but the laquer isnt. i just wonder why all these guys have sticks like this...have u seen el negros!! wow his is like slime is all over it.....do these guys never sweat???!
Louie,
You know I did a 30,000 word article on sticks and stick selection? Do you want a copy? Well, if you do, you got my number mate, gimmie a call or PM me and I'll send it right over...
MP
I'm in agreement on the Evolution lacquer. I played the VF 5A almost exclusively for years, and the Evolution seemed to be an improvement of an already perfect design. It was like the same stick but with a better balance point and more rebound. I bought a dozen pair, and then realized that damn lacquer finish just doesn't work well [img]graemlins/grrr.gif[/img] . Somebody ask Weckl how in the hell he can hang on to those things!!
I've tried sanding them down (which is a pain in the ass if you're doing it by hand) and applying some carnauba wax, but it's just not the same as the VF/Vater type of finish.
I wrote VF and asked them if they would consider putting out the Evolution in a standard finish. Their recommendation was basically that I should use the standard 5A until I become good enough and popular enough to deserve my own signature model. That was diasappointing because I've heard of VF doing small "favors" for amateurs who really desire a certain type of stick.
As Andy said, the Evolution looks almost identical to the 5A, but they certainly feel different. I tried to size them up with a pair of calipers, and they are definitely different. If my measurements were accurate, the Evolution actually bulges at the shoulder and then tapers down.
For a couple of years, I have been trying to find the right stick for me, and I just can't seem to settle on one model. One type of stick that no one offers would be like an enlarged version of the Evolution or a reduced-size version of the Thomas Lang model.
Many sticks that have a lively feel are too heavily weighted toward the butt. Many sticks that have more weight toward the taper or bead either feel dead (like the Steve Smith or Paul Wertico models) or are too destructive on the heads/cymbals (like Virgil's model) or they feel like they're playing me (like the Zildjian Super 5B).
Lately, I've really been into maple sticks. I was thinking about buying Vater Concert sticks, and trying to lathe them down to something that feels good to me.
I've found the Powerhouse by Vater to be excellent, both for cymbalsound, rebound, durability and overall balance and feel.
:I like it!
I don't know this for sure, just a possibility, but the slippery laquer just might be DW's attempt at forcing the technique he uses. When you use no "grip" and stay relaxed it stays in the hand just fine. But apply just a little bit of pressure on the thumb and forefinger and oops....