Drum Stick Questions.

Ocelot · Sea Monkey Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 13

First off, whats the best type of drum stick to get when you are just beginning to play drums?

Second, how do you twirl drum sticks? I always wanted to know Very Happy

Thanks.

phantompong · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 12:43 am Post subject:

I'd say 5As. They can play almost anything and are a comfortable size.

Besides, if you went to a music store and asked them for sticks for a beginner, they'd probably give you 5As (or 5Bs or 7As, all are OK). I'd also try out the sticks before buying them because you might find 5Bs or 7As more to your tastes, if they feel better, then by all means. I find 7As a little on the thin side though. I would stay away from signature series sticks or anything beyond 5B/7A for a first or beginner pair of sticks, you can get those after you're some way into playing. You don't want to have bought 2Bs and be asked to play jazz or something of the sort. 5Bs for jazz and 7As for rock/punk/metal are a little of a stretch as it is.

Stick twirling, can't help you there.

Edit: I'll correct that a little. Some signature sticks are actually very close to 5As and you might prefer them. For example, Promark's Ringo Starr sticks are long 5As. If you like them, then go ahead. 8Ds are essentially long 7As, and 55As are between 5As and 5Bs, and 85As are between 8Ds and 5As, for example. They aren't quite as all-purpose as the 5As but they aren't specialty sticks either, and will work for a beginner. But if you decide to pick up a pair of say, Vater Bottle Rocketts, or Alien Freaks, or Zildjian Trilok Gurtu signatures, I'd stash those away somewhere until I'm quite confident with the drums. Then there are those that fall in between, say Chad Smith's Funk Blasters, or David Silveria's DSKs. I'd wait a little before buying those, because they aren't made to play everything.
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If you don't like it, you can just *Golly Gee* off! - Keith Moon's last words

Drummers are subject to physical laws of nature. One of them states that if you drop a wing nut, it will roll under the bass drum. - Roy Burns

nkf31 · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 3:49 am Post subject:

My suggestion is not to buy Zildjian sticks. It's kinda a personal thing, but i've also heard on the forum that they break really easily compared with other sticks. Go with a more reputable company like Promark or Vic Firth etc.
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God bless you.

phantompong · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:30 am Post subject:

random white person · Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

when i first started, i just used a $3 pair of 5Bs i got out of the non-branded stick bin at my local music shop. i personally would recommend starting out with either 5A or 5Bs just because they are pretty much the middle of the road in terms of size and weight, and are generally well balanced.
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phantompong · Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 6:28 am Post subject:

I realised I didn't help you there at all.

OK, try this instead: go to the music store, find a pair of 5As, then pick out a few other sticks to try. Get hickory or oak sticks, not maple, not for now. Compare the length and the diameter of the sticks you've picked out with the 5As, and return those that are significantly thinner/thicker/longer/shorter. Take perhaps 15.5" to 16.5" for length and between 0.52" and 0.58" in diameter. Tips and shafts don't really matter now, and both nylon and wood tips are fine. Try out the sticks and choose whichever feels best to you. That should do it, if my previous rambling didn't make sense.
_________________
If you don't like it, you can just *Golly Gee* off! - Keith Moon's last words

Drummers are subject to physical laws of nature. One of them states that if you drop a wing nut, it will roll under the bass drum. - Roy Burns

__Lewis__ · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject:

I might ask a quick question, as I don't want to take up excess thread space:
I play rock to heavy rock (not metal though, that's TOO far Rolling Eyes

) and previously broke a pair of Zildjian 5B's. I'm looking to a new pair of sticks soon and have been looking at Pro-Mark's sticks. Should I invest in these? Or do a little hunting?

RemoteContact · Ferret Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 100 Location: Miami, FL

Ya really can't go wrong with the big boys. Vic Firth, Pro-Mark, Regal Tip,....
All worth the bread shelled out.

Is Vater considered a big boy in sticks nowadays?

If you play rock, go pick up a few pairs of the worst sticks you can buy. Don't buy just one, broken sticks are great crowd pleasers and souverniers for fans!!!

__Lewis__ · Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 8:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks man, if Pro-Mark and Vic Firth aren't any good, I'll go with Vater. They were my first pair of 5A's.

And we don't get Regal Tip in Western Australia...

CanadianDrum · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject:

Here are a couple articles that I think would help you guys out!

Choosing The Right Drumstick

Choosing The Right Stick Tip
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Primary Drum Kit: 1982 Yamaha Recording Customs

12", 13", 16" toms, 22" bass drum, 6.5" x 14" snare. The green finish was only sold in Japan in the early 80s. It was discontinued by the mid 80s.

Cymbals: Too many to list: Sabian, Zildjian, Paiste

funki_chunki · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:18 pm Post subject:

i also would liek to post a question on here.... i like heavier sticks and i found a pare of vic firth sticks at school they are nice and heavy but i can no longer see the size.i can vaguly read VIC FIRTH.. americana series???
any help with that or if anyone knows good quality thick heavy sticks?
would be appreciated
xxxooox

pooterscooter · Sea Monkey Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 12

lookatme · Little Guppy Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 36

sfauts · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:32 am Post subject:

I would second the opinion that Zildjian sticks aren't the most durable.

I'd say i've had 5 sets of their "Dip" series.

1 set snapped upon the first cymbal i hit. (Yes both sticks)

One set lasted me 3 months.

If you get a good batch then great, but they appear rear.

Yes.. I'm a very hard hitter, but i've never had similar problems with Vic Firth, Vater, Regal Tip or Stagg. Stagg actually make some very good sticks! I had some of their oak series.