What sticks do you use?

I know this seems like a pretty n00bish question, but i reckon this is rediculously important. I've practiced a lot (maybe too much), and i reckon a thinner stick with a ball or barrel head is best for me. For jazz, i really like the Zil 7a, which is .525. I used a Vater Fusion for a while, which was slightly too heavy at .540, and i've just ordered some Vater Studios, which are .530, but knowing me, they're going to be too light for rocky situations, and i'm gonna want something inbetween, lol - .535. Maybe i should get a signature stick made!

But seriously, how thick are the sticks you guys use, and what situations do you change sticks? There's no ideal stick for all situations, i know, but i'd like to think you could come as close as possible to it without seeming overpowering in some situations and weak in others. So whatdyou think?

for jazz i use the peter erskine ride stick - sounds great on cymbals but is still quite thick and has a nice feel.

at the mo for the rest of my stuff i am using a AS5B - 5B but with small round tip. it is bizarre that all the standard 5A's, 5B,s 2B's etc come with huge oval tips that sound horrible on cymbals??? i would like 5B thickness but a little longer with a nice tip for cymbals.....this stick simply doesnt exist. i like the buddy rich stick alot but it has the stupid paint on it and the broke REAL easy.

I just started using the Firth AS5A and AS5B. Very Moeller friendly sticks! And I like the sound of the round tips.

Oh yeah the Erskines are excellent sticks, lighter than a 7A great for low dynamics and cymbals.

Generally I use some sort of ball-tipped 7A for everything these days. My local shop stocks zildjians, vaters, and vic-firth so I just get the best quality sticks I can find at the time because manufacturing quality seems to be an increasingly common problem at the moment. Recently though, I've bought a whole lot of Zildjian Dennis Chambers models. They are excellent sticks! 7A weight, with ball-tip and extra thick shoulder for a cracking rim-shot and cross-stick sound. I use them for acoustic jazz trio gigs and loud mic'd up rock gigs and the function great in all situations. Can't recommend them enough!

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 09, 2006 07:37 PM: Message edited by: elpatricio ]</font>

I use the Vic Firth American Heritage 5Bs which are actually made from MAPLE, not hickory. It's much ligher than the "normal" sticks, but has the thickness and size of the standard 5B, which I like. The only problem with maple is they break pretty easily.

Danny

I prefer heavy 5Bs, and currently use the Vinnie signature stick. Years ago, Dean Markely (the company that makes guitar strings) used to make great sticks that were nice and heavy. I'm thinking of trying some new sticks since I've been using the Vinnies for a few years now, and I may like something else better.

http://www.promark-stix.com/products...8-f70cbbf1191c

I've got a bag full of Rick Latham's signature stick. That's what I use in all rock/funk settings.

Jazz is probably the only setting where I like maple. Vic Firth's SD4 combo can be nice for that.

I pretty much stick (no pun intended) with the Vic Firth American Classic 5A's. Prior to that I used their Shogun's which were Japanese Oak, but they discontinued that line. Oh well, if I can borrow a line from Clint Eastwood's character in "Pale Rider": "Nothin' like a good piece of hickory".

VF/Vater 5A or VF AS55A; if I'm feeling particularly loud, I might move up to a 5B, but as I get older, the sticks get smaller.....

I use RegalTip 8a.

They have a nice feel and fit my hand well.
I'd love it if they made the same stick that was 1/2 inch longer.

I use 9a on the more heavy gigs.

I used to use Cappalla Fatbacks and FunkButts, but they are simply too hard to find anymore.

Vater Fusion since Years, and before is used Tama Alain Gozzo which are = to Vater Fusion [img]wink.gif[/img]

Vater 7A Manhattan for acoustic stuff (like the fusion, but thinner). I use the maple version on my e-drums. For amplified stuff, Vater 5A.

I'm sure that answer will be different in six months time. I'm feckless when it comes to sticks.

I use the Vic Firth Dave Weckl Evolution sticks pretty much exclusively. I really like them.

For warm-ups I use a 2B and I also have a few pairs of Vic Firth 5A's in my stick bag and one pair of the 5A Extremes that I bought by mistake thinking they were 5As - they're a little longer.

I have a few pairs of ProMark 5A's in hickory and oak that I received (along with a nice t-shirt) but I don't use them because I like the weight and balance of the Vic Firths better.

Regal-Tip Quantum 3000 and
the Vic Firth Omar Hakim's.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

Vic Firth 5a's, 85a's and Garibaldi sig.

For jazz I like the Vic Firth AJ (American Jazz) sticks, which have a long taper, thus, a lighter feeling head and more rebound. They come is 6 sizes. For example, the AJ1 has a 5A barrel, and the AJ6 has a 7A barrel. For heavier hitting I like the PE Ride Stick which is weighted more toward the tip than the AJ sticks.

Vinnies Zildjian sig / Vater Powerhouse / Virgils Vater sig.

I prefer heavier sticks , because they tend to "warm up" the drumsound and I also like to do a bit of work.
I love practicing on pad with Vater Shedders on a Moongel pad 'coz -when combined- they really take it out of you.

I've been using the VF 55A's lately.

I've been using the VF 55A's lately.

damn these double posts! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

I recently switched from the VF Weckl Evolution model to the VF Tony Royster Jr. model. I prefer the barrel tip on the Royster. Plus, it doesn't have that annoying lacquer finish and it seems a bit lighter. I really like them.

Yeah the laquer finish on the Weckl Evos annoys me too, I don't feel like I've got a good grip on them and they feel like they could fly out of my hands at any time. I admit though, when I was a kid I would always pick the drum sticks that stood out, like steve gadd's black model or weckl's brown model, just because they looked cool.

I've been using the Vinnie Sig sticks for about half the time i've been playing drums and lately i've found that they are very inconsistent. There are some real real light ones that seem almost hollow whilst others are quite heavy. I prefer the heavier ones. I use these on most things appart from low volume stuff

For the low volume stuff i use Zildjian Jazz sticks.

I'm not that bothered just yet about the sound of each tip etc as im more worried about what feels good and getting my playing together. Later on i'll worry about sound, when i actually start playing gigs on my own kits

I like the Vic Firth SD4's. Nice and light with a rounded tip. It's funny, one you use these, when I go back and pick up a 5A it feels like a log. [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

man, everybody's sticks are so different than mine. i love the capella 3d's. but like someone else said, they're getting harder to find. but i live close to their head quearters and can usually find them.

i like the quality and consistency of Vater.

I also have a pair of Vic Firth 2B's that I like to warm up with.

Contrary to popular opinion in here, i actually like a lot of lacquer. I find that it gets real tacky and gives me a better grip. seems like the whole industry is headed in the other direction though. except for regal tip.

gp

Picture just deleted.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ January 12, 2006 02:07 PM: Message edited by: Juan Exp?sito ]</font>

Just got the Vater Studios through, really nice sticks, really nicely balenced, perfect diameter for me. Really pleased.

I use various regal tips. They are o.k butr I got to be honest, I only play them because I have an endorsment.