Vic Firth

I first came across the Dave Weckl sticks when my local drum store ran out of the signature Steve Gadd sticks. I figured these looked a lot similar, so I gave them a chance. I am also a big fan of Weckl, so I figured they couldn't be too bad. These are almost exactly the same as the Steve Gadd sticks, except that they are a bit heavier (they seem more condensed) and slightly longer. The exterior coating is the same, except it is a different color. I have only ever used the wood tipped versions. In fact, I would suggest that the wood tips are better for all sticks. I know that the nylon tips last longer, but in general it is the shoulder of my sticks that wear out. The added durability is not worth the harsh change in sound when striking cymbals. These sticks served me very well for the time I had them. I usually prefer longer sticks, so it is difficult to say why I switched back to Gadd Signatures later on. Something about these felt odd, like they were too dense for their reasonably thin design. They also sounded a bit duller when clicking on the rim. They still lasted a very long time and seemed durable enough. Both the Gadd and the Weckl signature sticks are susceptible to breaking when hitting heavy rim shots or riding on a cymbal edge. If the gig is gonna be a loud one, be sure to pack some heavier hitters. Otherwise, the Weckl signatures are great for most situations. These can be played in most styles of music as long as it doesn't break the sticks. They are resistant to wear and tear and feel good overall. The tips create really good ping and the shoulder is solid. If louder music is to be played, I suggest going with Vic Firth 5 A's. Otherwise, these are pretty high on my list of sticks I have used.

Not a bad price for this stick. At Hume Music for only $10. This stick is what I needed for some heavy playing. This stick is an awsome stick. It has a tear drop tip for dark drum and cymbal sounds. If you want to start a heavy metal band this stick will really make loud noises on the drums. As for the dark cymbal sounds, that is awsome. The cymbals sound really creepy but cool with the 2B's tear drop tip. Vic Firth definitely makes good sticks. It's a bit heavy. A Vater 5B is lighter than this stick. I'm not saying the stick sucks, but if you want to play faster, I'd use the Wuv signiature sticks. Hickory Length = 16 1/4" Diameter = .630" Ideal for heavy rock, band, and practice. Not ideal for fast playing or jazz. It is really good for heavy metal. After using them for a while, and then switching back to a lighter stick, you can play faster than ever! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

These drum sticks are great for jazz music. I also use them to rock out to 1980s rock reggae, like the police, they help me get a quick hi-hat hit for emulating stewart copeland, all the way to gene krupa fills. I find that 7A sticks suit me well save for one single flaw: they break on me like toothpicks. This might be a result of my hard-hitting technique which is most likely attributable to me playing for years with 5A sticks and striking the snare extra hard to get a loud snap like chad sexton of 1990's 311 albums. In the big picture, I would love to have the lightness and thin shape of these sticks as my daily use sticks, despite the breaking frequently issue. I also noticed over the past few years that Vic Forth seems to have improved the quality of the sticks. I used to spend a good 20 minutes trying to match a pair of sticks in the bin, looking for good equal length and no blemishes or grain defects. This used to be a difficult task, however over the last year or so, I’ve noticed my local music shop has had great quality improvements for sale. I cannot tell if this is a common thing, but it is my experience with them. That said, I find that these sticks allowed me to reapproach the way in which I held and used my sticks. I was able to pinch the stick differently likely because I was not holding such a thick stick, and also because I have smaller, thinner hands. I owe a lot to these 7a’s. The price is pretty standard for these sticks, as should be. I understand you are getting a little bit less wood for your money, but these are a fine product, not a commodity. Knowing what I know now, I wish I started my drumming career with these sticks, and eventually if needed, made my way up to 5a’s or even 5b’s if I so required. I think I still carry 5a’s in my bag, incase the jam requires some harder hitting stuff, but all in all, I love and use my 7a’s first.

Ah, the classic American drum stick. Every beginner is given a pair of these to start off with, as well as a drum pad. I was the same. These sticks stuck with me for the first 5 years of my playing. As I perfected my paradiddles, my rolls, and focused on gaining a better understanding of rhythm as a concept within, I found myself focusing on the most important extension of me, my drum sticks. As a young player it is important to have a firm, yet light stick. This is to help make up for speed issues with regards to lack of muscle strength in arms and hands. As the lessons increase, the recognition of loudness requires one of two things: 1. Stronger hits and faster rebounds –Arm strength increase 2. Bigger, heavier sticks If you are focused on jazz, I recommend a lighter, thinner stick. 7A would be perfect. These 5A sticks are perfect for a young drummer to take with him or her for the remainder of their life. As they move from a snare alone, to a full set, the 5A will remain invaluable as they roll along the set for a fill. I find that the 7A sticks I use for Jazz time, tend to break too easy. I’m partial though, because I am a drummer who doesn’t like to beat the drum too loud, I prefer to know my place behind the bass player, and hold time. For me, 5A’s will always be my stick of choice. The one bad aspect of these sticks are out of every batch of say 10, 4 will have a grain crack. I find that most times this is not an issue, but when my sticks fail, it is always along the grain. Which with these Vic Firths, happens to be along the length of the stick. Splintering is something that will occur given time, and so when I purchase a new Vic Firth 5A set I spend a few minutes following my hand along each stick tto feel for the grain and look for any weak spots. This combats any future early terminations.

There normally isn't a lot that can be said about drum sticks and brushes. The Steve Gadd Signature series deserves recognition because this combination has permanently worked its way into my playing. I Love both the sticks and brushes more than any other brand or line and they have serves me well for years. I am going to review both products, although the brushes are the only ones featured in the picture. The Steve Gadd sticks are excellent. They are a little on the lighter side, if you are into that sort of thing. They have an interesting cylindrical head, not too angular or round. It produces really nice strokes on the ride and the shoulder crashes nice. There are both wood and nylon tips, I always prefer wood for sound. Nylon is better for durability. These sticks have served me well, although I have broken them on a few occasions playing live because they are light. They have a black coating which feels similar to the natural wood. It is a good balance of grip, but not too much friction. These sticks are very similar to the Dave Weckl signatures, which are also very good. The brushes are really cool because they have a unique set of wires. The first 3/4 of the wires are angles to a different degree than the normal wires, so the ends are lifted up slightly. This helps prevent the brushes from getting caught on a really rough coating on a snare, and helps let them glide more smoothly. Of course, drummers have been playing without this technology for hundreds of years. It is just another minor improvement that is really nice to have. Other than that, these brushes are as good as the normal Vic Firth brushes. I love Steve Gadd for his playing and influence, but I also love him for the great products he has helped develop. These sticks/brushes are excellent.

The Vic Firth Drummer Headphones are a simple pair of headphones designed to help drummers keep their hearing! It isn't connected to any sort of wire, so these aren't the type of headphones that you would use to listen to things on, they are merely designed for hearing protection. They do look a lot like the black version of these headphones that do indeed have listening capabilities. The advantage here is that the Vic Firth Drummer Headphones are specifically designed to protect your ears while maintaining the ability to still be able to hear what you are playing and have it come in crystal clear. While I wouldn't call myself a drummer, I have played the drums a lot and have used these headphones a number of times while playing around. In my opinion they do a great job of keeping the decibel level down while still giving you the ability to hear everything well. A lot of sets of ear plugs and headphones I feel that while they will protect your hearing well, they cut out a lot of the frequencies you want to be hearing and make it hard as a musician to hear everything that is going on around you. I haven't used these too often while playing with other people, but for solo drumming I could hear everything fine - it was just at a lower volume. All drummers should know that since their instrument is so loud that proper hearing protection is essential and for this reason I highly recommend these headphones. While I would probably rather have the other version of these headphones that you can plug in and use as traditional headphones, these are specifically great for drummer to use while they practice or play shows. All in all, this is a very smart product from a company that knows a ton about drums.

If I had to say that there was a perfect drum stick, then I would have to ay that it is the Vic Firth SD9 Driver. Perfect weight, durable and great sounding. I have used these sticks for about 2 months. They have some minor chips and dings, but are holding up remarkably well, seeing as I broke 3 pairs of Vader sticks in a week. I play in a metal band that has fast blaze beats, break beats and power beats, and these have taken it all. These sticks are the perfect balance of power and feel. I have used a wide variety of sticks, as many other drummers have, searching for the perfect drum sticks. I have used the Extreme 5As (also really good), the Vinnie Paul Signatures, another odd Signature model, Steve Gadd Signatures, Zildjian Black Dip sticks, Vader 5As and 7As, and these blow all of them away. These Drivers have a far better feel than half of those, and those that match its feel, fall short on power. The Drivers are alos far more durable than any of the Zildjian, Vader and Promark sticks I have used. The tip of the stick allows quick maneuvering while do Ride cymbal fills and hihat fills. It also gives the drums more volume than other sticks. The rest of the stick has enough body to produce loud crashes and booms when needed. The price is very reasonable, as half of the sticks listed above cost more than these because there is a name on them. For the time it takes to find the perfect drum stick, it is almost a hassle in which you would rather settle for a 2nd grade drum stick rather than play with your own set masterpiece. This stick was mine and it made a huge difference on my playing . I would save your time and money going through other drum sticks and just give the SD9 Drivers a shot. They are the most amazing drum stick in my book.

Vic Firth makes some of the best sticks on the market today, and the Extreme 5As and the SD9 Drivers vouch for that claim. These sticks have an overall amazing feel, not being too thick or too thin, and having a heavier weight than the Drivers. The tip on them allows for great accents , yet the rest of the stick is built heavy enough to withstand a beating day after day. These have a very durable body and they look good as well. I’ve used thee and my SD9 Drivers for about 2 months now, and I have little complaints. These are slightly heavier than the Drivers, but the Extreme 5As have a good design and are still not too heavy compaired to other sticks I have used. These are, however, a little less durable than the drivers, and have a slightly chunkier feel. These cost just as much as other sticks by Vic Firth, and by buying these, you actually save money, because these are more durable than Zildjian sticks. The only complaints I have about these sticks is that the chunkier feel and heavier weight make them not as fast as the Drivers. By being heavier, these also damage the drum heads faster than the SD9 Drivers. These are more applicable for someone desiring more power in each hit, with a slight sacrifice of speed, whereas the Drivers are a better balance. These are still very powerful and fast sticks. These and the Drivers are by far the best sticks I have ever used. If I had the choice, I would probably buy these again, as they complement some songs well, but I would also buy a set of the Drivers. I would choose these over any other sticks that Vic Firth, Vader or Zildjian makes. These are good sticks for beginner or pro, as well as anyone on a budget, as they do not break easily.

Overall, I was not impressed with the Vic Firth “Rock” stick. I picked it up when I was younger for the purpose that Vic Firth wanted me to, it said “Rock”. Really, I feel that they’re just selling the name. It wasn’t a totally bad stick because like everything, it has it pros and it’s cons. I’m willing to share all. I’ll start off with the pros of the Vic Firth “Rock” stick. When I first got them, the first thing that I noticed was the tip, of the stick. It was Vic Firth’s “bead” style tip. Different than the typical Vic Firth 5A or 5B, the tip was more of an oval shape, getting even tones out of anywhere you hit with it. Also, being that it was an oval, it would get great response and rebound. Very “tight” and sharp attack that enables you to get very fast and crisp double stroke rolls. The last thing that I really liked about this stick was the fact that it was made from hickory. It is a very strong stick, which in the long run, is really what you’re looking for. Now on to the cons of this stick. From experience, these sticks are way too heavy to play anything with any style. And yes, they are just meant for “Rock” but still, they could be a little bit more versatile. The next thing that I didn’t like was the very short “neck”. What the neck of the stick is, is the length of where it starts to get thinner at the top of the stick. I don’t know why they did it, but it’s just about the shortest neck that I have ever seen on a stick. Having a short neck makes it a little harder to get up to faster speeds because the natural rebound of the stick is being messed with.

I've had these headphones for about 4 years now and they continue to be my go to headphones. Not only do they do a great job of isolation, they also have a great sound quality. They are perfect for drummers who want to hear a click track both live and while recording. I've had a ton of drummers use them in my studio and I have heard nothing but how much they love these. They are also great for anyone recording in a studio that wants to use a nice pair of headphones. I have a few other cheaper sets of headphones and looked into buying a more expensive set (Sonys, Sennheisers), but I kept coming back to these. A few things I don't like however is the framing for them - although mine is still intact, it seems they could break pretty easily. Also, if you wear them for a long amount of time they can become uncomfortable but that really happens with all headphones for me. For this price I think you get a great deal for a very nice pair of studio headphones.