I'm debating what kinda of drum sticks to buy, I want sticks that are very light, but are 5A or 5AB/AN size. Do the Ahead aluminum sticks damage cymbals and rims? Any reccomendations on drum sticks?
i have american hickory pro mark millennium and those work very good. they are 5A and i highly suggest them. my drum teacher thinks they are perfect. they make a good sound. i have asked about aluminum they dont damage anything but they dont sound as good and they look funny.
I don't think they would hurt anything but you would have no real rimshot with aluminum.
No, ahead sticks do not damage cymbals unless there plastic sleeves are worn out badly. Most pro level drummers like tommy lee said they crack half as many cymbals now that they use ahead sticks. i have used them for years and there great, the 5b are pretty heavy probably 1.5x heavier than wood sticks. once you use the ahead which make toms and snare much louder then go back to wood sticks its like playing with pencils. ahead sticks are 30.00 a pair and will last years, the sleeves u have to replace are 3.50 each and last about 2x longer than regular wood. i will break wood in 2 days, ahead cover last me a month
I was thinking of getting Ahead drumsticks years ago, but decided against them after learning that Sabian and possibly Zildjian cymbal warranties are voided if you use Aluminum drumsticks on them! I don't know anyone who has personally used them, so I can't guarantee how much if any damage they cause...but I have to assume that they do cause more damage than regular wood sticks if they void warranties! Anyways, Ahead sticks are quite expensive, and although wood sticks will wear through much faster, they don't wear down on expensive gear as much. As far as stick choices...I use the Travis Barker sticks by Zildjian...I like the length and the large round ball tips give good cymbal sound for the way I play and are terrific for rolls...they're about a 5B in size I think, and made of hickory. However, if you're looking for as light as possible, go for 5A los cabos drumsticks (which are CHEAP and very light). Really, just go for any 5A drumstick, but if you want it to be light, make sure it is made of maple. Hickory is heavier and denser, but because of that is more durable. Just go to a local music store, and feel the different sticks in your hand, and they usually have a practice pad setup where you can try different sticks out...just find out what works for you; what works for one person won't necessarily work for another! Cheers and good luck! -Clint
