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Author Topic: What size of sticks do you use???  (Read 3368 times)
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7lazy8
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« Reply #60 on: August 24, 2005, 05:50 AM »

I just can't seem to stray from the Pro-marks. I've used
707's, 747's and I am currently in love with the 737's.
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Fiery
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« Reply #61 on: August 26, 2005, 07:47 AM »

Regal Tip 5b nylon tip
Perfect size, really good grip, good ballance. I use nylon tip mostly for durability, wood tips on sticks I used before chipped off just too fast. I guess RT wood tip would last a bit longer, but I'm not too keen on experimentation at the moment.
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zorrosg
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« Reply #62 on: August 27, 2005, 06:22 AM »

I am glad this topic was started. Now that it's been raised, can some kind soul(s) please explain what is the physical difference between these different stick 'sizes' like 5a, 5b, 7a etc? Which number or letter tells us whether the stick is thicker, longer, lighter, heavier etc?
Sorry for the ignorance. It's a shicking admission especially since I have been buying sticks for a long time - they are another bit of drum paraphenelia that really fascinates me.. I go through phases of liking skinny sticks, then fatter ones, nylon tips then wood tips. I seem to like the ones with round beads, acorn beads or small beads. Somehow I didn't like the barrel tip on the Steve Gadd signature stick after settling in with it, I also get turned off by the normal oval beads, especially if they are to the larger size.
I've been using a Vater Manhattan 7A wood tip for practice on my drum pad, whereas on my kit I tend to use a 10 year old pair of Rogers nylon tips that look really puny and short , almost like a pair of chopsticks, but I am also equally happy with longer or thicker sticks. But 5s seem to me to be a little to thick around to use comfortably..
I guess it goes with the genre of music, but a lot of people I know, including myself, seem to prefer a stick that is not too heavy, for the simple reason that it is easier to control. A heavy stick seems to be designed for stadium rock, which most of us never get to do in real life..
I wish they would design even more sticks, there's not enough to keep us going! Saw the Vic Firth Harvey Mason stick which is real unusual, has a thick barrel that tapers to a tiny little bead, and the Buddy Rich, which also has a thick barrel which ends in a strange 'no bead' style head, but didn't buy em.
Just was given 2 pairs of no brand maple sticks, 5Bs, I think which are really nice, not quite as thick as a pair of Zildjian 5As I have.
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Fiery
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« Reply #63 on: August 27, 2005, 09:35 AM »

This page about sticks is pretty good:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~marcz/Stix.html

Here's quote from that page about stick sizes:
"The numbers and letters on the sticks were first used for inventory purposes by Ludwig which first mass produced sticks in 1917, using a machine called a V10 Rotary knife made by a company called Goodspeed. 7A meant number 7 "All Purpose" and 2B meant number 2 "Band", 3S meant number 3 "Snare". Not very useful nowadays 'cept as somewhat of a vague reference point. "

Generally a 5a drumstick is around 0.56"-0.58" in diameter and 16" long, 7a is around 0.51"-0.54" and 15"-15.5" long, 2b is 0.63"-0.65" by 16"-16.5" and 5b is 0.6" by 16". Of course, this can vary greatly, depending on the manufacturer.
For example, Vic Firth American Classic 5a is 16" by 0.565" while Regal Tip 5a is 16" by 0.565"

Weights of the stick can vary even more, depending on the type of wood etc. The best advice is to just go out and try as many different types and brands of sticks as you can.
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Joe
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« Reply #64 on: August 27, 2005, 11:54 AM »

Of course, this can vary greatly, depending on the manufacturer.
For example, Vic Firth American Classic 5a is 16" by 0.565" while Regal Tip 5a is 16" by 0.565"

Is there a typo somewhere?
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I'm not a particularly slow player, yet I don't play fast.  I play half-fast.
Fiery
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« Reply #65 on: August 28, 2005, 12:06 PM »

Ehh, yes. Error in copy/pasting it seems.
Regal Tip 5a sticks are actually 16 by 0.580 inches.

My appologies for the misinformation.
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punkrockguilt
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« Reply #66 on: September 01, 2005, 12:42 PM »

i use the dennis chambers model from zildjian. theyre sort of a beed up 7A with a balled tip.
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ARCHxANGEL
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« Reply #67 on: September 01, 2005, 11:17 PM »

I honestly shift stick sizes often. well every few months. I swap between 5B - Vater Rock - Vater Xtreme 5A's and a few others. It all depends on my mood and where I feel like expanding my drumming.
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Merlin Coryell
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« Reply #68 on: September 02, 2005, 01:14 PM »

Used ProMark 54 Hickory for years. Just switched over to the 747B Super Rock Oak stick. I love them so far, much bigger and an inch or so longer than the 5As.

Suprisingly, in actual playing they feel much "quicker" or lightly balanced than the smaller 5B and 2B oaks, and I actually get less fatigued with them than the Hickory sticks, I suppose due to the larger, heavier stick reacting easier with heads. (Rebounding)
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Merlin Coryell
University of Houston
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