Lone Star Percussion: www.lonestarper... 877-792-0142 Zach compares the 3 most popular wood types in drumsticks, Maple, Hickory and Oak. He demonstrates how the wood type affects the sound of the cymbals and drums.
Love the maple on the ride crash sound, oak and hickory on the bell. Hickory on the drums, second is oak, maple is less power and less command on drums, maybe better for jazz? I would like to see a tip shape comparison next time..
If you used sticks that were the same weight instead of the same size, you'd be able to tell the difference on snare, cuz you'd be using big honkers in maple and 7A in oak.
I think the bottom line is style and technique. The are best for fast pace and high articulation. Hickory is a general o.k. stick for just about anything and Oak is for heavier fuller tone, but it is also slower.
I did notice that the bell sound on the japanese oak was more defined. As well as rim shots and side sticking but I didn't hear much just between the tips of the sticks.
I tried oak for awhile years ago. I believe they were Promark. I really liked them and wanted to be able to continue to use them but I found that they would snap clean in half out of nowhere. Usually before they even became worn down. That feeling we all know when a hickory stick starts to shred or split and gets that springy feeling never happened. You'd be playing along and all of a sudden, maybe particularly on a snare hit when you crack the rim, all of a sudden you're only holding a nub and the other 2/3 is on the floor. Clean break. Anyone else experience this?
Only once, but it must be a flaw in the wood, because it was a brand new pair and it happened with the very first hit on the snare, not even a rimshot. But usually they are way more durable than hickory, that's for sure. Sometimes I've used the same pair for years and finally replaced them, not for being broken, but because of use they were so smooth that they were constantly slipping from my hands (wich usually dosen't happen to me unless I have my hands really tired). Oak is definitley my favourite wood for sticks, not only for its durability, but also for its responsivness: being so dense, you don't need to make much exertion to get clean tone, attack and volume. They might be a bit heavier than hickory, but it's nothing you can't fix by finding a model that suits the best for you. If you find one with the proper balance for you, that mass can be an advantage for rebounds. One the other hand, the cons for me is the limited variety of models, some brands doesn't even use oak at all. I'm still searching for the perfect pair for me... I'm close, but not yet. I'm currently using Promark 747 Super Rock, but I'd like they had a slightly smaller and barrel shaped tip, instead of that big oval one, and I wish they also made a lighter version for softer stuff, but keeping the same lenght. That extra lenght is definitley magic for me... (it sounds weird, but you know... 😂🤣)
82 Camino, I'm 71 YO. I resurrected playing Drums after 50 Years (1969 as an 18 yo). I took lessons in 1966 (thanks to Ringo and Charlie Watts !!). Drums was in my Blood for sure. Played with 2 other HS Buddies - we were all Learning our instrument as went along. Practicing in on of the guy's basement (I lived in an apartment - nowhere to keep a drum set {in my day that's what we called it]. I kept my Original pair of Drumsticks (which were nylon tipped) and my Practice Pad. When I resurrected playing in 2019 as a retirement Hobby / Pleasure on a cheapo Gammon kit which was upgraded to a PDP Concept Maple kit, I still use the same Drumsticks (and others as well). Yes, they are beat up / chewed up at the shoulder, but still going!! They have a Definite Oak Grain which I do not see in current Oak sticks. I doubt they have these available. All markings have worn off - but I think they are thinner than 2Bs. Since it was 1966 +/- they must be made in the USA !! I use varied sticks now and yes, there are definite sound differences using them. Happy Drumming !!
Thank so much for this video and intro to the drum sticks... i really appreciate... !!! May i ask for a beginner to drum play... what stick will your recommend. ...tks!
Including the Vic Firth Titan, which is the same size stick would have been cool. I've been using Titans for two years. I have yet to break a pair and they play very well. I wish they were offered in different sizes...
using oak too much can really cause some damage to the wrists after prolonged use. it does not absorb the shockwaves well enough to protect your wrists as much as hickory. just a thought.
the difference in shock is not much. if you played oak exclusively for 30+ years over hickory or maple exclusively you'll MAYBE feel a difference. other than that there is no difference to your health.
Yeah, I started playing with an old pair of promark Japanese sticks (when I say old, I mean OLD, they've been kicking around with my uncle and I for at least before d'addero bought them, and they haven't cracked. Though they're bent and chewed to hell) and I could tell after using hickory and maple sticks that they were substantially more painful to use. Such a ridiculously tough wood.
I agree with what you said when it comes to drum sticks, but the funny thing is it says maple is harder than oak. Doesn’t seem that way but that’s what’s said if you look it up. Then it says hickory is hardest of all. Maybe it’s the type they use for drum sticks idk.
If they weren’t so fuggin expensive they would be the only sticks I’d play. The fact that they’re laminated makes consistency from stick to stick second to none. The comment above mine is correct, they are considerably heavier so I’d recommend going a size, or even two sizes down from what you’d normally play. I generally play 5b hickory sticks, but tend to prefer the 7a zildjian birch sticks if you can believe that.
take a look at something called the Janka scale for grading hardwood hardness. Maple is not the softest of these materials. the order would actually go oak maple, then hickory from softest to hardest. while it’s not actually softer than oak, it is lighter and more flexible. oak is more dense and stiff. hitting something light and flexible SEEMS softer than hitting something dense and rigid which is why many people think maple is softer, but it is not.
+Gausgovy ☆CS:GO☆ IT is actually the frame rate on the camera. The cymbal is vibrating much faster than the camera captures at 24 frames per second. It also happens with the drum heads too.
And maple tips actually break a lot less in my experience than hickory do. I think because it’s a bit softer it has less chance of cracking cause it’ll give in a bit more instead of competing with the cymbal.
