Went through 3 sticks last night..... :(
Maybe time to move up to something heavier than 5A's before this starts to get expensive but is there anything else to watch out for that might be contributing to stick breakage?
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Technique is usually the key reason sticks break. Wrong stick size the 2nd.Originally Posted by thereformant
If you have done 3 sticks in 1 night, I would suggest its the former.
Do you play a lot of rimshots? As in, hitting snare head and rim at the same time? Not the quieter, lay stick across the drum type...
What cymbals you use? Are they chunky? How do you play your cymbals?
Don't get me wrong, sticks WILL break, no matter what, but the longer you can play before this happens...the better! They ain't cheap are they!?
Last edited by Jazzy_Jefferson; 2nd August 2011 at 12:50 PM.
In terms of your next purchase, Get a brick of sticks, its cheaper in the long run.
OR, have you seen the DW 3 stick packs? You get 3 sticks in a "pair" rather than 2. A good way to buy, for £20 you get 3 pairs!!
I don't usually do that many rim shots although often when i do they are unintentional so it could be these accidental ones which are causing the problem.
Cymbals arent particularly chunky, they're just entry level stuff, paiste 302 hats, paiste brasstone crash and a sabian solar ride.
I think I have a tendency to use the shank rather than the tip, particularly with the crash. I have my crash angled slightly inwards though so don't think it should be hitting the edge dead on or anything like that.
Thinking about it i might be hitting rims on the toms sometimes, I have them pretty flat and play sitting quite high, perhaps i ought to angle them a little more.
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My band made (another) Xmas song: https://soundcloud.com/polarityman/p...in-vallhalla-2
Hmmm.....interesting. Not sure to be honest...
rim shots and hitting the rim will dent sticks, but shouldnt break them.
Do you use "economy" sticks, or proper branded stuff?
How do you play your cymbals? Hit them on the edge, jobs a good un type playing? Or with a side, sweeping type action?
How tight do you do them up? Can they rotate freely?
Last edited by Jazzy_Jefferson; 2nd August 2011 at 05:33 PM.
Definitely not. Its all about the flat tom set up
Ill have to try and pay attention to how i hit the cymbals, i dont think i use a sweeping motion but perhpas its something i dont realise, i set them up free to rotate. The sticks im using are vic firths but as i said theyre 5A's so pretty light.
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My band made (another) Xmas song: https://soundcloud.com/polarityman/p...in-vallhalla-2
Could possibly be it?
I used to go through sticks and cymbals until I realised the error of my ways.
Try a side ways sweeping motion, (you can still use force) Use the shoulder of the stick on the edge. Once you master it, it keeps sticks and cymbals going for much longer. You should know if you've got it, because your cymbals will rotate round, perhaps not by much, but they should.
Plus side is, you aren't hitting the cymbals in the same place repeatedly. This knackers cymbals, and probably sticks.
To be fair, I am sure you know most of that , I don't think you are 5 and just starting out
Try a 5B stick, its what I use. Like a 5A in terms of shape and length, but slightly thicker. Its all about the girth...apparently.
Last edited by Jazzy_Jefferson; 2nd August 2011 at 06:18 PM.
Are the vic firths splitting across the grain of the wood? Do they break in a diagonal line down the stick?
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