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. You may ask yourself while looking throughout this catalog, "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 you are choosing which model to use.

 Point of Impact...

Tip Shapes

Tip shapes are the main factor that affects the overall sound the stick will make on drums and cymbals.

		Teardrop tips produce rich, dark tones with focused lows.
		Barrel tips produce a full punchy sound. Great for louder volume situations.
		Ball tips produce a clean, bright and articulate sound.
		Acorn tips produce a full, fat sound. Very responsive.
		Oval tips produce a broad, mid range sound due to tip length.
		Nylon tips produce a brighter sound than wood tip models. More durable than wood tips.

Wood Types

Wood type is the key element to a drumstick's response and durability. Vater crafts their drumsticks from only the finest American Hickory and Sugar Maple available.

Hickory is the most popular wood used for making drumsticks. 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 center and is slightly denser and heavier than "white" hickory.

Maple is 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.

Profiles of Vater drumsticks

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

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".

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.

Profile affects the weight distribution of the stick, and has an effect on the sense of rebound.

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.

 Unmatched Quality Guarantee

  Vater guarantees their drumsticks to be straighter, more consistent and of higher quality than all other leading drumstick manufacturers. Vater's Nylon tips are also guaranteed not to fall off, crack or break for the performance life span of the drumstick. 100% of Vater's drum sticks are manufactured in the USA. All Vater sticks are tone & weight matched by computer analysis.