How to Buy the Best Drumsticks for You 

If you didn’t know, now you know! Head over to Sweetwater to grab the right drumsticks for you 👉 imp.i114863.net/Ao6gg1

man… would've loved if my band teacher in middle school went over ANY of these differences. We were just thrown into the weeds and made do with whatever we could scrounge up. Couldn't stand it. May've enjoyed it more had I known all this…

Hey Nick! You have been an absolute blessing to the drumming community! Thank you so much!

About 15 years ago after using many different brands and models of sticks I picked up a pair of Vater 1A wood tip sticks and have never looked back. The extra length gave me the power I needed but without my wrists getting tired yet I can also play softly when needed with them and not overpower the band. The perfect drumsticks for me, I’ll never change now!

as someone who usually had to play really low volume, I loved the Promark Jazz Cafe mjz 11 which was light but still had a great sound on cymbals, something most maple sticks lack. Sadly it was discontinued, I now use the rohema tango stick (not available in USA afaik). As drum maker I try to build drums that can sound great with as little energy possible, which makes really sensitive drums that reward playing them low volume. Sadly stores are not much interested in such instruments, as this goes against the grain in rock and roll biz - being loud it the mantra - but it is a nice nieche, for acoustic purpose. We also make the adoro silent sticks, which might be synonymous for playing low volume by now with more than 10.000 churches in USA using them every day. Just saying.. anyhow... I wish promark would make the MJZ 11 again.. who agrees?! Thanks for this great overview btw!

I've been drumming since 1990, always roll a pair of sticks on a flat surface, I have seen banana sticks before. I asked the owner of the small shop. He said for beginners, I laughed and said they're junk. I prefer Vater sticks the Stewart Copeland Model is a great all purpose stick, I tried the John Freeze model as well good for louder playing. I am current using the Chad Smith Funk Blaster, a bit big for my hand size. Plastic tip don't chip, but they sound different.

7A all the way!!!

I'm so sad Regal Tip seems to be gone from the market. No one has quite been able to do a coating like theirs. And their 5AX was one of my favorites for Rock and Pop music. The subtle differences in sticks; weight, length, tip, coating, all impact how they feel when playing.

I Use Only Vic Firth Drum Stick's. Especially Peter Erskine and Steve Smith Signature Model Drum Stick's.

2b or not 2b, that is the question 🤔

All the answers I could never get from anyone else. Thank you Nick. How on Earth did you get so smart?

I typically play heavier music yet I prefer 7a sticks even have liked some thinner sticks

Vic Firth for me, specifically 5A and 5A Freestyle!!!! I also love the Steve Gadd signature sticks, and I used to use a pair of Buddy Rich signature sticks. I actually used those in my blues jam sessions all the time on Wednesday nights at Hickory Street Lounge. The last time I used them was when I played with a Texas blues legend by the name of Texas Slim. I’ll never forget it. We played Soul Man, and it was the first time I sang and played at the same time!!! It was awesome!!!!!! It was one of the best nights of my life!!!! And I asked him to sign one of my sticks, and another friend of mine, Thad, to sign the other one!!!! He played on Soul Man too!!! I retired the sticks from use, but it was a night I’ll never forget!!!! Also, since I’m playing percussion as well (congas, bongos, djembe, cajon, and timbales), I needed a proper stick that would be great for me. And the Alex Acuña Conquistador Timbale sticks, the purple ones, should be just fine for me!!! The ones that originally came with my timbales, they weren’t good at all. They kept splitting and I had to tape them up, and it’s not easy playing with taped sticks. So I chucked them and got 3 pairs of Alex Acuña sticks!!!! I could’ve chosen the red ones, but I felt they were too thin, so I got the purple ones!!!

I had a old pair of Shira Kashi Oak sticks from Pro Mark I think they were 5as..loved them..

I got the zildjian 5b black dipped handles and love these. I’m a big foo fighters fan and Taylor Hawkins has signature 5b drumsticks but I haven’t tried them yet. Another sweet video, thanks!

Very helpful! Thank you.

I love Vic Firth sticks. On the kit I use 5A and 5B depending on the size of the room or if I'm outdoors. But usually 5A. I use the SD1 Generals on the pad. Maybe I'll find something better but for the last 15 years these have been my sticks of choice. 🥁❤️

I love my Vic Firth 5B's for rock drumming

I have been through the gambit of sticks. I have tried stick after stick after stick from nearly every brand out there. I started with Vic 5A, moved to Vic 5B, Zildjian 5B, Vic X5A and X5B, I used Ahead for minute when the church jumped on the electric kit fad because those vibrated less on the rubber pads than wood. I tried several models from Vater, I was hot on Promark 747’s (Hickory version) for a long time. But going around the stick world as often as I have, I always land right back on Vic Firth Extreme 5A. Those just feel the best to me in my hands. Anything thicker (even 55A) fatigues my hands. And I love the extra .5 inch in length because I can actually hold the entire stick in my hands while keeping all the leverage I need without my hands moving further back on the stick. Vic Firth Extreme 5A is for sure my perfect pair.

Promark Classic 2b Firegrain feels like I'm home. I like that shirt.👍

I've been using Ahead drumsticks for years. I wish they were around in the 80's when I started drumming. Occasionally I use wood sticks but fatigue sets in quick with them. Wrist problems.

not sure why the vater pro rock nylon seems to be a unicorn lately, but it's hands down my favorite. can't seem to find them anywhere.

A really good video.

After 25 years, numerous different sizes and manufacturers i found certain manufacturers aren't good, although popular and some of the smaller manufacturers make amazing sticks....i now use 95% of the time, 0.5 timbale sticks (different makers), straight and solid but light and fast, i found Rohema Jose signature timbale stick and have a few pairs they are amazing. I don't hit hard, break sticks or cymbals so these work best for me.

Great content

This guy would make a great voiceover artist!

I play kuppman carbon fiber for practise because they are unbreakable, one acorn and one sphere, but they have no sound, totally dead. It's best to own a stick bag with anything and everything, and swap them about. They all have their own sound - they are actually a wood block. How you grip them can make them sound loads of different tones. There is even a technique where you form a cup with your hand to amplify the stick sound.

My favorite drumsticks are beer batter, but otherwise I go for ProMark 747's in Oak (Neil Peart wasn't wrong about that choice).

Playing since I was 7years old now 35. I've always been into Zildjian and Pro-Mark. I play with 7B and 5A or 5B. I have Zildjian Adrian Young sticks and they're awesome and also Trilok Gurtu Rock, awesome sticks. I've tried Vic Virth and Vater, the length and the balance of the stick I've never liked. Also, they're not durable. That's why Pro-Mark and Zildjian have been the best. Same as Remo heads.

Vic Firth Freestyle 5A is pretty nice.

I like 7A, 5A, and occasionally 5B... Pro Mark. Wood Tips

Vic Firth, Jojo Mayer Signature sticks is my favorite.

I see Travis Barker Signature sticks in the video

Thank you

IMO all those brands but Zildjian are great sticks, I prefer Vic Firth for the price and they are great lasting sticks for my heavy hitting. Great video

I love Dave weckl maroon sticks

Ahead for me. Can't go back to wood since I started playing with them. For my playing style perfect.

True answer to find the perfect pair is , time . I still enjoy varieties of different drumsticks but go back to a certain pair I favor.

My favorite is Vic Firth

Hey man I love Tommy Lee!

If you want thin and light and bright, I've found a kind from Vater that I like called BeeBop. They come in 500 and 550. My hands are gonna get weaker and weaker as I get older until I can't use them when I'm around 40ish. These have extended my enjoyable years of playing. Bee Bop 500s, check em out.

VATER & VIC FIRTH & MEINL. No Promark. No painted sticks.

I only use Vic Firth Classic 2B or 5B's.

I LIKE THAT

Vater 5B Acorn

Great help. All I know is: Don't buy cheap sticks on Amazon.

WITHOUT KNOWING @ 0:21 HE ACTUALLY SAID " VIC FIRTH DRUM STICKS "

I love the Neil Peart 747s. I also take my chances with the Promark La specials. .Why? Lots of money saved and almost or just as durable as the overpriced drumsticks in todays market. Interesting how ive been using these the last few years and never had any issues like ive had with VF and Vater sticks...

Sounds like Vic Firth is making lots of money here !

alright....imma stop you right there......3S larger than 2B.....now carry on

I've used Regal Tip for over 30 years ... 7A ... They're gone ... It's been tough. 15 inch drumsticks? GONE!

I was born with a PHD in common sense.

Give me six has my name on it Brandon Haywood

6:38 "hitting" -- should be "playing?"

I want someone to make a stick with a tip at both ends in a 5a and an 8d Theres your million dollar idea. Your welcome

😎👍💗🇺🇸🥁 VIC FIRTH!!!

could Sweetwater get a better drum spokesperson? i think not!