warrbeat Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Nov 2, 2010 - 7:47 AM

I live in New Brunswick, Canada... in the winter monthes the rehearsal space I had for the last few years got pretty cold between practices. I was going through atleast a pair or more each rehearsal for our hard rock band... I know that the rimshot issue was increasing my tally but once I started taking my stick bag home each night the number of sticks that I broke decreased. I'm wondering if the temperature changes made the sticks more brittle.

loko123 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010 - 8:25 AM

Been playing for 15 years , mainly with pro mark and vic firth hickory, and most of the time, wooden tips were gone long before i broke the sticks. I recently bough a Vdrum for practice, and sticks played only on electronic drums last forever. I kept my previous vic firth for 6 months and replaced them with Regal Tip Nylon and broke them both in just two weeks, playing only on electronic drum... I don t know if anyone had the issue with this brand, but i will never buy regal tip ever again.

MichaelH Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Aug 3, 2010 - 6:59 AM

I've been playing for about 5 years now and have only broken one or two sticks. The thing that gets me is the tips chip and become unusable forcing me to replace them.

slowmotioncowboy Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 2:51 PM

when i get a new pair of sticks, I put them in the freezer for a day or two. I don't know if this does anything or if it is just superstition, but it has been doing good for me the last few months. Since i've been doing this i have broken only 3 pairs in six months!

toddc Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010 - 9:48 AM

I use wood tip sticks from 6as to 5as depending on style and venue.
Vic Firth is my brand. Although I found Zildjian 6as in hickory are great in some circumstances.

I play jazz mostly and never break sticks.
The head or bead will go bad before I break a stick.

You power guys are amazing...A pair of sticks per show is incredible!
Man... if you can stop breaking sticks its like getting a raise in pay:)

slowmotioncowboy Says marching sticks are pretty

Submitted On: Tuesday, Jul 27, 2010 - 3:23 AM

marching sticks are pretty damn strong but too thick for set but i have sanded down the shaft or whatever and also vic metal sticks. not the material but like the name.

- - D - - Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009 - 11:15 AM

The Cheap stuff in bulk man. $10 for 10 pairs @ GC. Just watch how you hit the cymbals, I am sure most of you know already but hihats can become a sawmill if your not careful. I have pair of 10in hats for a cocktail kit and it just eats away. Rimshots too man. kills sticks.

bdrums777 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009 - 12:16 AM

i play the Silverfox cm models for live and then i use cheap bricks of sticks for practice. but live, if i break one stick for an entire show, thats a lot for me.

D3Pantera Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Monday, Jun 22, 2009 - 9:59 PM

I have tried numerous vic firth sticks with no luck. I used Vater 5B's for a while. Those were ok. One day my grandmother was shopping for sticks and ran into Freddy Fender in Corpus Christy, Texas. He told her to get me ProMark 747's . Best stick. I do alot of rim shots, and my only complaint is that they look like hammered dog poo. That is when I replace them. Never broken a pair before that. I can snap a Vic Firth stick just by sneezing on them.

ilickdrumsticks Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 4:34 PM

I break Vics and Zildjians like twigs. I used the Vic SD2 Bolaros for a long time but I went through thoughs faster than Lindsay Lohan in rehab. I swiched to the Vater 7As about 2 years ago and have to TRY reall really hard to bust them an I play on a Single Flange Rim (Stick Chopper). I love them the key is to never use Zildjian sticks and always use there cymbals.

sadash27 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - 12:19 PM

I'm actually pretty fluent in not breaking drum sticks that often. But whenever I do, it's usually from beats that I have to hit the cymbals a lot, and they just "wear through" the shoulders, if that makes sense.

But other then that I've only broken sticks a few times and that was from not holding 'em right.

CompulsiveDrummer Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Saturday, May 16, 2009 - 10:08 PM

I seem to some how chips the stick heads until they have a point on the end, i would keep playing with them but it would just ruin the drum heads on my drums, this doesn't happen when i use nylon tips so i guess im just going to have to buy a new pair of nylon tips instead of stockpiling on wooden ones

Shmop™ Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Friday, May 15, 2009 - 3:46 PM

I use Pro Mark 5A when I play. I manage to make them last for what seems like forever. I bought 4 pair last July, I've only broken 1 stick since then. Best drumsticks ever!

Spittyball Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Monday, May 11, 2009 - 6:43 PM

my favorites are promark 747s but i have broken those in less than 20 mins of drumming before so i usually vic firth 5B

don p Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Monday, May 11, 2009 - 4:50 PM

I try to buy cheap sticks in bulk. At the moment I am using a 5b cheapy I think I paid .50 apair and bought 50 pairs. I rehearse with the band in a small room and must play quietly, I use my 18" Zildjen crash as a crash/ride at these low volume rehearsals, I break sticks when I crash hard with the tip of the stick and not the shoulder. I have a hard time playing some of the up tempo tunes quietly and sometimes get a little carried away so I crash hard, but to keep the volume down I contact the cymbal with the tip... crack! On to the next stick/victim.

ThatDrummerKid Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Monday, May 11, 2009 - 12:45 PM

Man I'm playing the Vic Firth 5B Extreme's (wood tip) and They actually last awhile for me, but when I play out they tend to take a beating :/

Drummerguy12005 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Saturday, May 9, 2009 - 10:46 PM

I can go through 4 pairs a month at most ^.^

I once broke a pair the DAY after I got them ^.^

Cash Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - 8:29 AM

I've found out as a drummer that it's all in how you play your drums and/or position them. If they are in a position where you can hit them precisely without tearing up the rim of the toms or crashing into the cymbals like crazy but giving each drum the proper touch my sticks seem to last a while. I play with Vic Firth sticks a lot and I usually can keep a pair for atleast 3 to 4 months.

Johnny Nobody Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 - 11:20 PM

Use Ahead sticks at least for practice. They are good for physical conditioning and you won't break them. And they might spoil you into fulltime. They do sound a little different than wood.

D-Rok Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Sunday, May 3, 2009 - 1:00 AM

Hmm...I play fairly hard, with everything completly straight (cymbals, toms, snare) and I will go through a pair of sticks in probly 2 months. I think after a while i just developed the feel of everything straight and found the right way to crash on the cymbals with them being straight and I love em! Its sooo hard for me to play on angled cymbals now lol. But yeah i think its all a matter of your technique and getting the feel of your equipment.

drummer21208 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Thursday, Apr 30, 2009 - 7:11 AM

You guys suprise me! I practice everyday for atleast and hour playing everything from lamb of god to all that remains to metallica, etc, and i break sticks maybe once every 6 months. I have my HH up higher so i have room for my snare stick, so i know what you mean with how the HH chips down the stick over time. My only thought is cheap sticks. At pep band games for school i break a pair almost overy game (record 3 pairs-1 game) and its just because of cheap wood. Stick to Zildjian/Vader/Vic Firth and you should be fine.

Now that I think about it, I've never broke anything but the nylon tip off my Vader 5B Fusions, yet they have cracked 2 of my cymbals. They are probably my favorite stick out there. xD

jake4444 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 - 10:32 PM

When I got my new drum set I broke pairs of sticks every couple days. Some where off brand sticks, but my ProMarks broke just the same. I just wanted to save money but I realized it isn't worth it. So I use Vic Firth always now. Or maybe my new drum set hype is calming down. Also you said you lowered your hi hats and I think there where better options. That can affect sound, depending on what you like.

Drummer -n- az Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 - 6:21 PM

I cant remember the last time i broke a stick!! i switched to Ahead sticks5b..when they get really bad i just change the tips and shaft out!!

kyle7863 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Apr 8, 2009 - 5:20 PM

if you have a big problem with breaking sticks you can get ahead sticks. they're made with some sort of plastic that you can't break. they don't come cheap though. i think its about 30 bucks a pair. here's a link if you really need em'
[url=http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ahead-Drumsticks?sku=445200&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26032625]http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ahead-Drumsticks?sku=445200&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26032625[/url]

I love the japan oak sticks although mine were stolen  :-[

Drummer515 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Mar 4, 2009 - 12:08 PM

I break a pair probably every 2-3 weeks because i do rimshots mostly. 

King Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Monday, Feb 16, 2009 - 10:18 AM

I like the 747 too. They're similar to a 5A but not as big as the 5B. I sometimes switch between the hickory and the oak. The oak they use is VERY durable. I also tried the Mike Portnoy stick and really liked the feel it had, but in the end it was just a little too light for me.

sticksofury989 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Saturday, Feb 14, 2009 - 7:32 PM

i have a terrible problem with just playing too hard in general...i hand lathed a pair of solid aluminum drumsticks and i put them through a 2-ply evans 10" tom head. then i broke one of the sticks when i did an overly enthusiastic rimshot and put a sizable dent in my snare rim at the same time. before i made the sticks i used vic firth 5a's a lot and i mean a lot a lot...i could go through 10 pairs in a month and a half but after a lot retraining myself i've been quite satisfied with ahead tommy lee signatures. i like the feel, the weight, and the fact that i go through one pair every 4 months...lol ya i have a serious problem. but hey...me play drums...me hit things...

King Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 - 11:19 PM

Pro Mark does make great sticks. Like you I play a lot of rim shots but my sticks don't chew up at the shaft like some do, they just split right down the shoulder. I should play more towards the shaft because it's killing my sticks and I don't beat them THAT hard.

DannyMeazell Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 - 5:14 PM

I play live weekly and go through a brick of sticks about every 6 to 10 months. I have tried almost every brand stick on the market but always go back to Pro-Mark Japan Oak in 747 Super B. I do rim shots automatically with every beat, so I chew my sticks. I do brake them too. I broke two on Friday and Saturday's shows. I have found that the Pro-Mark Japan oak is the very best drum stick on the market (In my opinion.) Several professional drummers agree including :) Chris Adler, Frank Beard, Victor  Bisetti, Jason Bittner,  Jason  Bonham, Chris  Wilson,  are just a few of the 950 drummers that endorse Pro-Mark.
Double Kickin
Danny Meazell

King Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 - 2:33 PM

What I like are the GC specials of the unlabeled Vic Firth sticks.....10pr for $10 bucks. I guess they sell them like that because they don't past their strict quality assurance testing. They don't last long but they're Vic's and they're cheap!

DrumBum27 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Jan 13, 2009 - 1:00 PM

I play Promark 7a's.. Im a light hitter,, but even still, I use alot of wood blocks, and rimshots.. Go threw a pair bout every 4-5 months. good thing their only $8

silvercymbal Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Friday, Dec 26, 2008 - 5:12 PM

ugh...i break drumsticks all the time.  i have a major problem. HELP!

drumhead101541 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 9:28 AM

I played 5a vaters and loved them, now i play 5B Vaters haha

Trippsol Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008 - 5:49 PM

I had a similar problem. My problem was my crashes weren't angled down enough to take the beating. I was hitting the side of them more then the top. pretty easy fix.

I think i might make the switch to 5-A Vaters. 5-A Promarks is what ive always used...but they seem to bite the dust a lot faster. =/

King Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 - 10:24 AM

Unless you just absolutely hate the sound you should try nylon tips. Silverfox drumsticks seem to last a long time as well, they just don't get enough credit.

StrangerDrum Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 - 11:41 PM

Vater Power 5A's... I rarely break a stick... Usually just have to replace them due to the tip wearing away...

Maybe break one every 3 months or so...?...

drumaniac Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 - 4:44 PM

I never really broke too many sticks until last year when I broke my wrist and had to go to 7as because they are lighter.Now drumsticks are in my monthly budget.

Dave Heim Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Thursday, Nov 13, 2008 - 2:34 PM

I rarely break sticks any more.  Maybe a pair a year.  But
I do buy them a brick at a time, though.  I tend to whittle down/chip away the throats of the sticks over time.  When that happens they end up living out their lives as plant stakes in the garden, or they get cut up for use as wood dowels for projects.

r2champion Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - 11:36 AM

[quote author=king link=topic=294.msg1076#msg1076 date=1225737060]
But a cracked cymbal is a DRUMSTICK BEAVER! [/quote]

Nice, never heard it put that way before!

drumhead101541 Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Wednesday, Nov 5, 2008 - 11:10 AM

Yeah I really don't go through sticks like I used to. I used to play Vic Firth when I first started playing and I used to chew them up like nothing. But I play Vater 5B's now, and they last forever. (wood tip)

King Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Monday, Nov 3, 2008 - 1:31 PM

Most of the ones I break tend to be from rim shots. I make sure to angle my cymbals and to sweep across when I hit them - being careful to not chop through the stick. But a cracked cymbal is a DRUMSTICK BEAVER! That,and a cracked hi hat will chew up your sticks faster than anything.
The Ahead sticks are pretty cool, but people have the misconception of thinking they're indestructible, only to be pissed off once they break a $30+ dollar pair of sticks. Some of the Wheatware sticks and carbon sticks are more durable, but too bouncy for me.... I don't know, they just feel weird.

Bdesormeaux Says Re: How often do you break drumsticks?

Submitted On: Saturday, Nov 1, 2008 - 10:23 PM

well, i break my drumsticks maybe once every 4-6 monthes, and its because of when i hit my cymbals. but if your having a problem, they have drumsticks that arent made of wood