Vater Hickory Drumsticks  

Comments about Vater Hickory Drumsticks:

Having played the Vater Fatback 3A for years, I recently decided to shed a few unneeded ounces and switch to a lighter model. Problem is, I was totally attached to the big, meaty tones offered by heavy shoulder and large ball tip of the Fatback. After a few weeks of searching and experimentation, I finally settled on the Vater Hickory Fusion.

The stick has, hands down, the most evenly balanced feel in my hand of any stick Ive played. With a medium taper, mid-sized ball tip and roughly 5A handle, the Fusion is an excellent stick for the player who needs to navigate a number of different situations, but wants a consistent feel throughout. The round bead is both articulate and capable of drawing fat, round sounds from drums and cymbals. The coating is just tacky enough to offer an excellent grip, and the stick has just enough to size to handle any dynamic level required. The only stick I really need.

Comments about Vater Hickory Drumsticks:

I've played Vater Fusion sticks for over 5 years and can't seem to find another brand that comes close to how these sticks feel in my hands. My attitude with gear is always the blind test. Meaning if I were blindfolded and someone handed me 5 pairs of comparable sticks by 5 different manufacturers, would I be able to tell them apart just by the way they feel in my hands. With Vater Fusion the answer is YES! And I'm not talking about how the butt end of the Vater sticks is flat so I'd be able to feel that. I'm talking about the lightness yet sturdiness that Vater sticks have. I feel like I can play at any dynamic level with much less effort. Vic Firth, Pro Mark, etc... are great companies with great products but they all feel so dense in my hands and it's harder to play softer with them.

I also love the round tip of these sticks. They really articulate on the ride cymbal without sounding too pingy. i play with wood tips instead of the nylon for a more mellow tone.

Check them out for yourself.