djarrett Posted April 17, 2001 Share Posted April 17, 2001 It is an age old question since the birth of the nylon tip stick in 1958. What sounds better? What provides better definition? What provides better response? Which lasts longer? What do you prefer ... nylon tip or wood tip? DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton Trott Posted April 18, 2001 Share Posted April 18, 2001 I use wooden tips, I used plastic for the last 15 years and changed to wood about 18 months ago because I feel I can get a lot more variety in the sound. I did the same thing with the kick beater, I played with a wooden one for years because I found it to be more consistent, then as I got more consistent, I changed to felt beater and instantly loved the feel because it isn't as consistent. It's funny, I seem to play for ages one way and then suddenly one day I will say "this doesn't feel right" and change the whole kit around. Anyone else do this? Brenton Cheers Brenton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 18, 2001 Share Posted April 18, 2001 Wooden. I think you can get more variety of tones without the nylon tips. Also, even if you're not a hard hitter those nylon tips tend to break off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwarf Posted April 18, 2001 Share Posted April 18, 2001 I'm a nylon fan, and have been since I started playing (23 years ago). I prefer the higher pitched ping I get on ride cymbals. In all my years of playing the only tips I've had problems with were on Regal Tip sticks - Vic Firth or Promark sticks have never been a problem for me. -- Rob I have the mind of a criminal genius.....I keep it in the freezer next to mother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted April 19, 2001 Author Share Posted April 19, 2001 True, Nylon gives a brighter cymbal sound. Wood is usually a little warmer. Today, with advances in adhesives and plastic technologies, you will hardly find a problem "losing" tips in the nylon realm. Recently, Regal Tip launched a newly patented technology to ensure their tips stay tight. I used nylon for years and just recently made the switch back to wood tips. I think it comes down to personal preference and application. I find nylon helped in highly amplified music and wood in more moderate amplified situations. DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebonn Posted April 19, 2001 Share Posted April 19, 2001 The only problem I have with wood tips is they chip thus muffling the sound. I use Regal Tip Quantum 9000's. Luckily they come in both nylon and wood. However the nylon tips are the size of cannon balls and dent the heads. The wood tips seem to have a better balance anyway (not as top heavy) but of course not as durable. When using sticks other than the Quantum 9000, I usually go with a 1A type long stick with a nylon tip when playing out live in the band to cut through but prefer wood tips in acoustic settings. www.blairsdevillestudios.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted May 5, 2002 Author Share Posted May 5, 2002 Cuss and discuss! DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted May 7, 2002 Share Posted May 7, 2002 I agree DJ, in louder situations the nylon tips stand out in a room that has a more muffled room, and the sound is absorbed quickly. In a room with little absorbtion, wooden tiped sticks seemed to work fine. The nylon tips can also help if the drummer is on the same elevation as the rest of the players. Cymbals usually are harder to hear, while the drums are booming away in a room that has alot of fabric in it, with little or no reflective surfaces. Of course I am refering to a group that plays without mics on the drums, if the drums are properly set wooden tip sticks would sound ok also. Just my two cents worth. Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumtek Posted May 7, 2002 Share Posted May 7, 2002 Vic Firth wood tips for me. I've used nylons in the past, but found them to be less than durable. Although with nylons, the sound is brighter and more "focused", to my ears, wood sounds, and feels, more natural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted May 7, 2002 Share Posted May 7, 2002 Nylon gets that killer bright cymbal sound, but the fundamental doesn't come across. Two great solutions: Carbon fiber sticks, where do you get those these days? Ebony! Truly HARD wood, bright and you get the fundamental. Also they weigh so much, you can get the subtlety and precision of small sticks with enough mass to make it really work. www.lefima-usa.com They have ebony, rosewood, and other fine symphonic sticks. I know not many of you can say this: I use 7A's or smaller and have not chipped or broken a stick in years. They just get sanded/whittled down until they're really pointy. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted May 9, 2002 Share Posted May 9, 2002 Ted me too with the 7A's and not breaking a tip. I'm using a set of sticks called "Studio"......can't remember the make right now, it might be a Vic type of stick. It is very light, and I get a lot of action out of it. All of my gear is packed up right now. I'm moving to a new location, and my studio is packed and in the process of storage until I get the studio area set up again. Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted May 9, 2002 Share Posted May 9, 2002 Jazzman, If you like little sticks you have to try these ebony ones. It's amazing to have the mass to really get some tight powerful buzz rolls and that going. Yum. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted May 9, 2002 Author Share Posted May 9, 2002 I am surprised Ted, ... although this strays from the original subject, I would think that ebony would be very suseptable to breaking since it is so dense and non-forgiving (no flex factor). Interesting. I can, however, see them used for Symphony or Concert Snare work. DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted May 9, 2002 Share Posted May 9, 2002 You're right, ebony is very brittle, and I've had ebony pieces on guitars chip off without much provocation. No trouble yet with these sticks, but I've only had them for a month now. They seem to be very slowly tapering away like the hickory ones, so far. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted May 9, 2002 Share Posted May 9, 2002 Hmm. Our drummer uses Vater or Pro-Mark hickory 5B's, and recently switched to nylon tips because the wood ones were always breaking (and he does like the brighter cymbal sound). He said that didn't used to be a problem. I wonder what that is? Is the wood these days not as good quality? Or maybe it's because he beats the crap out of the drums much more so than he did in his last band. --Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted May 10, 2002 Author Share Posted May 10, 2002 Well, Lee: Sounds like he is backing a LOUD guitarist! Who luvs ya baby! We do ... that is who! LOL, DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaudrum Posted May 28, 2002 Share Posted May 28, 2002 I have used everything from those baseball bats (Ahead) to chopsticks, and what works for me differs from gig to gig and song to song. For Recording I have been using nylon tip 747s or the natural 747s. For shedding by myself I still use the Ahead sticks because of the weight (they are heavy and I get a really good workout), but they are too heavy for a four hour gig and loud too! I like the feel and sound of the nylon tip, however I do play my high hat with the neck of the stick most of the time to get a fatter sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 Finally got ahold of some carbon fiber sticks, used. Super bright on cymbals and ultra articulate on the drums. I think they must last forever- these have absolutely no sign of wear. Don't forget mallets. And also with mallets yo can play cymbals with the shaft for a more usual sound, or use the heads of course. Even when I'm using sticks I have the vibe player hitting mallet crashes- very cool indeed! Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alphajerk Posted May 31, 2002 Share Posted May 31, 2002 i prefer nylon myself. im not keen on the sound of woodtips recording. i can make do. wood tips are better with a heavier stick but with chopsticks, they just splatter on cymbals and dont sound very good, not nice and defined like a nylon does with the same lightweight stick. otoh, a few drummers that have come in recently play their sticks backwards [holding the tip] or play timbale[?] sticks, whatever... straight uniform weight from tip to tail. alphajerk FATcompilation "if god is truly just, i tremble for the fate of my country" -thomas jefferson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djarrett Posted June 7, 2002 Author Share Posted June 7, 2002 Hey, Alpha: Good to see you hanging in the drum forum! DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixs_Queen_Angel Posted June 11, 2002 Share Posted June 11, 2002 i say wood , praticing with my drummer i say i like the sound but i agree alot flip them around hehe!! i say whats the point buy both and then u can hear the difference i like the wood strong sound but thats just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted June 12, 2002 Share Posted June 12, 2002 I got a whole bunch of exceptional wooden sticks from Lefima USA. Includes rosewood, and I don't know what all else, but some wood sticks with a nice bright tone on the cymbals, and they are balanced remarkably well. It's very easy to play super smooth rolls and that, I didn't know I was that good! They sure smoke all the usual suspects. A lot of weird looking beads, and some really unusual looking super fat ones, like an inch around at the but- still balanced for zippy rolls, and boy do they sound fat on the drums, almost like mallets. One pair is nylon tipped, they're pretty nice too. Even though there are ten very different pair they all handle very similarly, so it's easy to go to a different sound without getting disoriented. Ted A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyote Posted June 13, 2002 Share Posted June 13, 2002 I generally prefer nylon tip. Only times I ever did wood tip was in little jazz combos, which I didn't do much of (maybe 50-60 gigs over a decade). I used to think I was Libertarian. Until I saw their platform; now I know I'm no more Libertarian than I am RepubliCrat or neoCON or Liberal or Socialist. This ain't no track meet; this is football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngusPodgorny Posted June 19, 2002 Share Posted June 19, 2002 When is Vic Firth going to start making the SD1 Bolero with a nylon tip? THAT would be a cool stick. Happiness is like wetting your pants. Everone can see it, but only you can feel its warmth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngusPodgorny Posted June 19, 2002 Share Posted June 19, 2002 When is Vic Firth going to start making the SD1 Bolero with a nylon tip? THAT would be a cool stick. Happiness is like wetting your pants. Everone can see it, but only you can feel its warmth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted June 23, 2002 Share Posted June 23, 2002 I prefer wood because I use a lot of ride cymble and I don't like the sharper ring you get with nylon tips. Robert This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5feetfromcool Posted June 27, 2002 Share Posted June 27, 2002 i like both. wood gives a better tone (more pingy than wood on cymbals) in my opinion, but if it chips youre screwed. nylon gives a little bit different of a tone (not by much though), but if the tip comes off, you can just glue it back on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4stringslapper Posted June 27, 2002 Share Posted June 27, 2002 my drummer uses nylon but i prefer wood (louder on the heads) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howler Monkey Posted July 5, 2002 Share Posted July 5, 2002 Billy Cobham 808s in oak sporting a wood tip and a honey color................where have they all gone? http://princemakaha.homestead.com/files/bewbies.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BriGuy Posted July 29, 2002 Share Posted July 29, 2002 Plastics don't feel natural to me. I guess you can make anything feel natural though. I've been digging the Vater Fusions or Vater Fat Backs (wood tip)for years. |||Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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