Drumsticks

Waltons

I was just wondering what kind of sticks most people use? I use Nova Rock myself because they seem to withstand tremendous abuse and they're about as cheap as it gets. I decided to start using Novas after I got a few sets of Vic Firths and they busted on me fairly quickly.
I was considering buying a set of Ahead sticks but they're a wee bit expensive (I'm assuming that they'd be even more expensive to buy in a shop here). Has anyone had any experience with em? Do they actually do what they say, or are they just gimmicky?

Doctor J

Found Pro-Mark 2B's and haven't felt the urge to change since

the_obsolete

I have a set of Aheads meself. I dunno about the shock absorbancy and wrist protection n all that crap, all I've realised is they're a lot heavier than wooden sticks (obviously) and so therefore can take a tremendous amount of abuse until the plastic shaft and tip start to wear, which can be easily replaced. They're good for gigs, but for extended practice sessions they aren't the most practical of drumsticks. But, once again, could last ya a lifetime!
Personally I'd go for the Pro-Mark 5B's, a nice middle of the range stick, not too heavy, not too light. I'd also go for the 7A version for small gigs. Apart from that I use Zildjian 5B Dips, which are coated in rubber until about half way up the stick. Great if you're worried about losing grip, but they rip your fingers to shreds...also you'd have ta order the in from the UK, never seen a pair here before.

Waltons

Did you get the Aheads here? Is it able to get the replacement tips and stuff? I was looking at getting them from abroad, but it doesn't really go well unless you're buying in bulk, and I don't want a load of these only to find out that I hate them. I've heard that they're fairly tough on cymbals too, is that right?
I'm gonna have to have to look into your recommendations though. What is the durability like on the Pro-Mark 5Bs and 2Bs and are they expensive? Where do you do your stick shopping?

BizzyC

I think you can get the dipped zildjian sticks in Danfay, up the road from waltons.
I like Vic Firth 7As myself. I hit pretty hard, and they stand up to it fairly well.

Baggio

Use 747 Neil Peart signature stix myself..(of course..I know I know,typical..:) )..but their excellent stix, japanese white oak, pretty hard stix, havne't broken one yet, and i put a fair bit of muscle behind them,, their a good size and are not glossy , so they RARELY fly out of my hands.

ciao' amigos....Baggio..........

the_obsolete

Nah got 'em from England mate, but they were still about the same price as you'd pay for some here, and got some replacement tips for 'em also. They aren't really tougher on cymbals unless of course ya hit them seriously hard and in the wrong place (straight on, big no no!), also not a good idea to use em when the plastic is wearing off- more danger of damaging the cymbals.
On another note Pro-Mark hickory sticks are as durable as they come! I had a pair of Japanese Oaks before...seemed a bit less durable than the hickory as well as bein slightly more expensive.

Heathen

i use Promark 5b's with nylon tip for the ride

but i got 747 Neil Peart signature sticks last time as they had no 5b's
there not bad, but i want to go back to 5b's its just not as easy to get good sticks in Waterford compaired to when i lived in dublin :(

Eoin Madsen

I play with nylon tipped Vic Firth 5As. I've never had any real problems. I've borked two in the last two years, both splits along the wood grain. But I've never lost a tip. I'm thinking of changing to 7As, but I think I'll stick with Vic Firth anyway. A friend of mine has played with equivalent Promark sticks and the nylon tips came loose pretty soon after he got them - But I think every pair of sticks is a little bit different, and maybe he was just unlucky.

Those Ahead sticks look interesting. Can you get the replacement covers from the same place?

Waltons

I'm not sure about getting replacement covers from them, but the thing about the website I linked to is that there's a flat rate shipping to Ireland (I'm fairly sure) Order an entire drumkit, £25 shipping. Order one set of Ahead sticks, £25 shipping.
I went into musicmaker yesterday and asked one of the lads if they stocked the Ahead sticks. He told me they didn't cause they're a load of crap. They break, they're expensive, you can't do rimshots cause of the coating, and you can't use cymbals properly cause of the coating, so I have to say that kinda put me off them. I had a look at the Pro-mark 5Bs and 2Bs too, and I'm gonna have to give them a shot. I especialy like the feel of the 2Bs

Doctor J

Give the 2Bs a shot, they just feel right to me. Not too heavy, not too light and they last for a good while.

mr_angry

I use the Ahead sticks too. Best €25 I ever spent. (I got them in Conor Hughes', Blackrock, Co. Louth.) After about 9 months of use, they're still good as new, and I can't say that they're any harder on cymbals than the wooden ones I used to play with.

I'd highly recommend them.

Dr. Loon

I use various different types of sticks depending on my mood really. Sometimes I use a light stick and sometimes heavy. Sometimes longer and so on... no real reason for this.

Mostly I'd use a 2B and mostly Vic Firth.

biblo

Doctor J wrote:

Found Pro-Mark 2B's and haven't felt the urge to change since

amen to that

Shred

I have tried Regal tip & Vic Firth sticks but they just don't have the durabilty of the Pro-Mark Hickory (or Oak) I find. I found the 5B's to be perfectly suitable for heavy playing back when I was playing Deaf Metal but now I find the 3ALs to have a good balance for both light and heavy playing. They are wooden tipped and I would prefer they were nylon but the response just wouldn't be the same.
All IMHO of course