How important are quality sticks?

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Squirrel Man

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I'm not suggesting junky sticks like the ones that come with starter kits but how much of a difference is there between average quality sticks vs. high end sticks?

If you use high end sticks and had to gig with average sticks because that's all you had would it really make a difference? Who would notice?
 
I'm curious how you differentiate between a 'hi-end' stick and an 'average' stick. I play VF AH5A, 5A and AH5B models. To me they're completely 'average' sticks, whereas the Ahead 5A would be a 'hi-end' stick.
 
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hsosdrum said:
I'm curious how you differentiate between a 'hi-end' stick and an 'average' stick. I play VF AH5A, 5A and AH5B models. To me they're completely 'average' sticks, whereas the Ahead 5A would be a 'hi-end' stick.
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That basically.
 
Squirrel Man said:
That basically.
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OK. I won't use a stick that isn't a traditional wood stick, either maple or hickory. I don't like the balance on oak sticks (although I haven't tried any of the newer models) and the balance and feel of those Ahead synthetic sticks really don't work for me at all. I haven't broken a drumstick in decades, so durability isn't any incentive for me to change.

In fact, as my hands become more and more arthritic the maple models feel better in my hands than their hickory equivalents, especially the 5Bs.
 
To me, the quality of sticks is pretty important. Though, I don't tend to buy anything premium or exotic, I find certain brands to be a bit better quality-wise and I like sticks that are a straight and as even grained as I can find. I tend not to chew through them very quickly, but I still like to have something that's durable as I don't like to have to go through them very quickly.
 
I will preface this with saying I associate the term “high end” with price.

With that in mind, Vater and Innovative Percussion have the highest quality wood sticks, but haven’t jacked up their prices. Vic Firth cost almost 50% more than Vater, and their quality is lackluster. So Vic Firth being “high end” doesn’t necessarily equate to them being “quality”.

So quality is important, but high end isn’t.
 
I don't like warped sticks, they feel kludgy.

I also prefer weight or pitch matched sticks. If you're playing beats only, keeping the same hand on snare all the time, then that wouldn't matter much. But, if you're playing anything hand-to-hand, especially closed rolls, then weight matched sticks are essential, at least for me.

So, straight equally weighted sticks are important to me.
 
The proper stick is VERY important to me. It's the conduit between the drums and my fingers. They are my connection to the instrument. I hope Vater never stops making their 5B wood tips. If they did I'd be sad.
 
Any of you folks who think Vic Firth's stick quality is lackluster must've never used* Regal Tip sticks in the 1970s...

*or should I say "tried to use"
 
No offense to the OP but this is a bizarre thread. There are first quality wood sticks and second quality wood sticks. First quality is every branded wood stick. Second quality are the sticks that don’t pass quality standards and generally in a bin on the counter for $3 per pair.

Ahead are no more first quality than Vic Firth, Zildjian, Pro mark or Vater. They’re more expensive because they’re synthetic and marketed as longer lasting. That can be up for debate.

Drumsticks are the most important tool in a drummer’s toolbox. It’s why when pro drummers like Chris Whitten, Bun E Carlos and Trey Gray show up at a gig or a session the one thing they always have is their stick bag. So whether there’s a difference depends on how serious you are about playing the drums.

I can tell you from personal experience, drumsticks; their feel, weight, balance, sound on cymbals etc are the most important thing to the vast majority of pro drummers I know. Hands down.
 
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Pretty much a dedicated VF 5AN player. Have been for a decade. They're reliable and serve me well. That's all I care about when it comes to sticks.

Nothing at all wrong with ProMark, Vater Zildjian either.

Now, I really don't care for Aheads and the pair I had broke. I wasn't playing any harder than I usually do.
 
John DeChristopher said:
No offense to the OP but this is a bizarre thread. There are first quality wood sticks and second quality wood sticks. First quality is every branded wood stick. Second quality are the sticks that don’t pass quality standards and generally in a bin on the counter for $3 per pair.

Ahead are no more first quality than Vic Firth, Zildjian, Pro mark or Vater. They’re more expensive because they’re synthetic and marketed as longer lasting. That can be up for debate.

Drumsticks are the most important tool in a drummer’s toolbox. It’s why when pro drummers like Chris Whitten, Bun E Carlos and Trey Gray show up at a gig or a session the one thing they always have is their stick bag. So whether there’s a difference depends on how serious you are about playing the drums.

I can tell you from personal experience, drumsticks; their feel, weight, balance, sound on cymbals etc are the most important thing to the vast majority of pro drummers I know. Hands down.
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Great post, John! I'd agree about the importance of sticks. As much as us jazz drummers geek out on cymbals, the sticks we use can have a profound effect on the sound of our cymbals, maybe as much as our personal touch and technique does.

I've found that the pitch and weight of my sticks are essential in getting the sound, response, and dynamics I need from my ride. The neck and taper of the stick affect the sound I get from the drums almost as much. The straightness of the stick has as much to do with the feel as the taper and weight. All of these factors work in conjunction with each other and make a stick either usable or unusable for me.

As some here know, I use Vic Firth sticks, so that should illustrate my opinion on whose sticks are the most "high end." But to address the title of the thread, quality sticks are extremely important to me!
 
If they made 16-inch pencils, you’d get used to the balance of those in a couple of weeks. You’d break more, but your drumming would sound the same with the eraser end in your hand.
 
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