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
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.
Not sure how to choose the correct mallet?
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!