Stick and Mallet Selection

Stick Selection

Mallet Selection

Stick Selection

There are several things to keep in mind while you're in search of a drumstick that will best suit your playing style. Straightness, density, tip shape, taper, length, wood type, diameter and balance are all key factors in how a drumstick is going to "feel" in your hands.

Vater's mission has always been to produce the highest quality drumsticks on the planet. Period. Vater has set very high quality control standards during the production process. From the lathing, sanding and finishing, to tip shaping, rolling and pairing, the goal is always to produce the best quality drumsticks possible.

You may ask yourself while looking through our range of sticks and mallets, "Why does he/she use a bunch of different sticks?". Artists may use an assortment of models to express a particular sound or mood in their playing that they can't get from using just one stick model. On this page, we've given you a breakdown and explanation of all the factors to consider when choosing which model to use.

Point of Impact: Tip Shapes

The tip of a drumstick impacts the sound more than any other factor. A small tip will give you a bright, clean sound on the cymbals. A large tip will produce a warm, full tone.

The other option to consider is nylon vs. wood. Neither is better nor worse. If you want a bright, clean sound that will cut through guitars and bass, then you want to go with a nylon tip. If you want a warmer, natural tone that will blend in with the surrounding sounds, then you want to go with a wood tip.

TEARDROP: Produce rich, dark tones with focused lows.
ACORN: Produce a full, fat sound. Very responsive.
BARREL: Tips produce a full, punchy sound. Great for louder volume situations
BALL: Tips produce a clean, bright and articulate sound
OVAL: Tips produce a broad, mid-range sound due to tip length

Moisture Content and Wood Types

Wood type and moisture content are the key elements to a drumstick's response and durability. Vater crafts their drumsticks from only the finest American Hickory and Maple available. Vater is extremely picky about the moisture content of their dowels. Too much moisture produces a stick that feels "rubbery" and that will warp quickly. Too little moisture will produce a stick that is very brittle and will break easily.

Vater manufactures drumsticks from dowels that measure a particular percentage, making a stick that is very durable and will remain straight for longer. Other drumstick manufacturers opt to use dowels that measure at a lower moisture content because it will yield them a higher percentage of straight sticks from a production run, thus sacrificing quality and durability. There's an old saying that Vater has adopted in their drumstick making: "Quality, not quantity".

Hickory

The most popular wood used for making drumsticks is American Hickory. Hickory is denser, heavier and more rigid than Maple. Hickory can also absorb a great amount of shock, which reduces hand and wrist fatigue. Dark, or "brown hickory", is found closer to the tree's centre and is slightly denser and heavier than "white" hickory.

Maple

A much lighter and less dense wood than hickory. Maple can provide the feel of a big stick without the extra weight of a hickory stick. Maple sticks are primarily used for light, fast playing in low volume situations.

Staying in Shape: Profiles of Vater Drumsticks

Four main components make up a drumstick. They are responsible for the overall feel, balance and response of the drumstick.

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Length
Affects the balance and fulcrum point of all drumsticks. Longer sticks offer greater reach and leverage, while shorter sticks are easier to control and tend to feel "quicker".
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Thickness
Affects the durability and overall weight of the stick, as well as the "feel" of the stick in the hand. Thicker sticks are more durable and heavy, while thinner models offer a lighter, more sensitive feel.
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Shoulder Profile
Affects the weight distribution of the stick and has an effect on the sense of rebound.
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Taper of the shoulder
Affects the feel and performance of a stick. A long taper provides more flex and a greater response, while a short taper is stiffer and offers additional strength.

Mallet Selection

Birch Shafts

Birch is a strong and durable wood that offers a firm feel and it’s the most popular shaft for Marimba, Xylophone and Bell Mallets. The Concert Ensemble Series Mallets feature 5/16" shafts (designed for feel ) while the Front Ensemble Series feature 11/32" shafts (designed for strength).

Rattan Shafts

Rattan is an extremely strong yet very flexible shaft that has the perfect amount of “give“ when striking the instrument or dampening the bars. Rattan is the most popular choice for Vibraphone and is also very good for Xylophone and Bells.

Hardness and Color Identification

The “Hardness” of any Vater mallet can be easily identified in 2 ways:

By part number
By tape color under the mallet head and also on the butt end of the mallet for quick identification, whether the mallets are head up or down in a player's bag.

Head Shapes

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Oval Shape Heads
A full, rich and articulate sound over the entire instrument.
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Mushroom Shape Heads
A rich, smooth and warm fundamental sound over the entire instrument.

Vater mallets are hand-matched to give you the perfect set. Rattan Shafts are matched by Diameter, Flex, Fulcrum measurement and Color. Birch Shafts are matched by Color, Straightness, and Feel.

Vater Quality Pledge

Each pair of Vater drumsticks is guaranteed to be straight, consistent, and weight/tone matched by computer analysis when leaving our Massachusetts factory. Nylon tips are guaranteed not to fall off, crack, or break for the performance life of the drumstick. All Vater products are manufactured to meet our strict high-quality standards, giving you the best possible experience on your instrument.

Thank you for choosing Vater!