D'Addario Core: How to Choose a Drum Stick by Genre

Learn more at ddar.io/promark
---
Get info on your favorite sticks, artists and more: www.promark.com
Check out ProMark on Instagram: / promarksticks
Follow ProMark on Twitter: / promarksticks
Like ProMark on Facebook: promarkdrumsticks

[@tobinwasabi]

"Metal drummers need a wide diameter stick, you know 5B and up" *grabs mike portnoy stick *

[@Russ.Murphy]

Bian this is not true! I've used Promark Shira Kashi Oak Rock Knockers since 1965. The stick diameter is .551 inches. A 5A thickness. NO STICK ON THE MARKET HAS THE SAME HARD HITTING CAPABILITY! Unfortunately, D'Addario upper management has discontinued the stick. Currently, I'm using a Vic Firth TMB-1 for Heavy Metal. They don't last very long; but you don't cry when you break them because they're half the price.

[@jonashellborg8320]

I’m both a Promark and Vic Firth user, lately back in favour for Promark, their forward sticks and firegrain models work great for my hands and taste in music This tutorial was so good, moved quickly between styles of sticks, and all the focus on thickness, tip choice, taper choice, not “2B”, “7A” etc which can be too high level. Like Kenny says, for jazz the long taper and small tip matters more than the butt end of the stick. I’ve watched Kenny S for other things like drum tuning and he really knows his stuff.

[@rifqidhiaramadhan1794]

is it just me who think this man has a sexy voices?

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you 😉

[@MikeGiraldo]

Me too jajajaj

[@KennySharretts]

Thank you 😊

[@joshcarmona4118]

This is like National geographic for drum sticks. Good stuff

[@el_wilder8860]

"To transfer their power from their hand and their heart into the drum" 3:19 I like that description! and Ive been playing promark 5B nylon tips for almost 15 years since I got my first drum set. Luh dat stick bruh.

[@KennySharretts]

I've been loving the 5B Forward balance lately.

[@CrazyLG72]

I just hit the big 5-0 and been drumming since I was 4. Promark was always my favorite. I've messed with other brands and some are great but nothing like that feel of a promark in your hands. As of right now I loaded up on some 5a Promark LA specials which I love especially the price. I still use 5a Rebounds and Neil peart 747s but the La specials last long for me. All around great sticks by Promark my favorite

[@AGoodBuzz]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaand he mentions nothing about the actual stick _sizes_

[@gazicj]

i know, right

[@Russ.Murphy]

Hi Ben! As follows: PW-JZN Diameter: .521 inches, Length: 16 inches PW-727N Diameter: .531 inches, Length: 16.25 inches PW-707N Diameter: .551 inches, Length: 16.25 inches PW-747N Diameter: .551 inches, Length: 16.25 inches PW-5AN Diameter: .551 inches, Length: 16 inches PW-RKW Diameter: .551 inches, Length: 16 inches The new "Forward" and "Rebound" have thicker diameters because there made out of Hickory and it compensates for the lower durability.

[@najtrows]

Bought some tx5bn today! I hope my ride bell will enjoy the more distinct tone! Can't wait to get back to my kit and try the new sticks :) Awesome video

[@Russ.Murphy]

Najtrows! If you can find them, try a PW-5AN. I think you'll find you'll get the tonal quality you're looking for, with a little more speed. A PW-707N will give you a bit more cymbal definition, but good luck trying to find them!

[@mackyow791]

would like to have one of those promark pro round sticks for Christmas but there's none available here in Philippines

[@s0spr1ng3r]

What you talking about Vern?

[@eljheova8581]

What's the name of the drumstick you showed for rock?

[@user-td6zm2eq9j]

For me promark drumsticks are the best.I cant compare them with another stick and i dont really know the reason...maybe the feel and the rebound they have but i really dont know

[@CrazyLG72]

I totally agree with you! Neil Peart sticks are the best sticks I've ever used in my 40 plus years of drumming..Promark is #1 in my opinion, great grip,finish on them and very durable..Vic Firth sticks are my second choice, 7a and 5a

[@Str8representing]

what sticks fast rebound?

[@sholaakinbo7003]

pls how can I order for it am in Nigeria pls

[@Russ.Murphy]

Great video! It's too bad the executives at D'Addario didn't watch it! I've been using Promark Drumsticks since 1964. My favorite models are: TX-JZN, PW-JZN, PW-707N, PW-5AN, PW-RKW; all of which are DISCONTINUED by D'Addario! When I contacted D'Addario about this issue, I was told it was an UPPER MANAGEMENT decision and nothing could be done about it. Obviously, D'Addario management is oblivious to the needs of drummers. I've substituted Vic Firth 8DN for the TX-JZN and Vic Firth TMB-1 for the PW-RKW, and Vic Firth Extreme 5AN for the PW-5AN.

[@janknjazovic]

I'm new to pro mark. I found a jazz cafe 7 and I'm happy! - It's a pair closest to what I ever need! however, I need something a bit more stable. for louder music. just longer maybe. - but to keep that control I have with the jazz cafe. What would you recommend me? thank you!

[@Russ.Murphy]

If you can find a Promark PW-JZN it might do the trick. It has a diameter of .512 inches and a length of 16 inches. It has a shorter taper than a RegalTip jazz nylon tip and made out of Shira Kashi Oak; both properties, making it hit harder, yet having a high degree of control. It's definitely in my top 3 jazz sticks ever made. However, D'Addario doesn't make this stick anymore.

[@janknjazovic]

@@Russ.Murphy tnx Russ for that info! will try to find something similar to that. thank u so much! cheers

[@Russ.Murphy]

@@janknjazovic Mladja, I wish you a lot of luck with that. RegalTip produced two really good Jazz sticks, both had a diameter of .520 inches and a length of 16 inches. The difference is one stick had a smooth oval nylon tip; and the other had a corrugated nylon tip. The corrugated tip actually produced a darker sound. It made an A Zildjian sound more like a K Zildjian. Unfortunately, RegalTip hasn't made any sticks in 3 years. I'm currently substituting a Promark PW-727N, but it plays a bit louder. It works well for playing Jazz where the audience area is half the size of a basketball court, but in a more intimate setting, you have to concentrate on playing softly. Best Wishes, Russ

[@janknjazovic]

@@Russ.Murphy what a message! thank you Russ very very very much! cheers!

[@gazicj]

helpful, thx

[@johnmorrow1253]

The big fat stick with the short taper is great to use with gorilla snot on the tip (don't forget the golf gloves) because you can get a whack from Hell if/when the guitarist turns up to 11 by using the thick end to smack the shyte out of your bullet proof Kevlar batter on your snare.

[@UncleFjester]

Newbie still banging on throw Pillows. I like OP Sticks

[@eastbaymauiboy]

Very vague about stick size. Which size stick were you talking about for Rock?. You were just saying "larger-diameter". 5A?, 5B?... What?. Some specific examples would be nice. Oh, and please describe "long taper" and "short taper". C'mon man

[@steverizundrums]

EastBay MauiBoy Hey man I’ll help you with the long taper and short taper. Long tapers usually give you a lighter feel at the tip of the stick where as the short taper gives you a heavier feel at the tip and more power when you’re striking the drum. ProMark has the new Select Balance sticks which come in a Rebound (Long Taper) and a Forward (Short Taper) so you can choose if you want more weight at the tip or less. Also if your playing rock I’d go 55A Forward Balance which is between a 5A and 5B or just go Forward 5B. If you’re playing metal I’d go with a classic 2B for the power and cut

[@kaziiqbal7257]

I mean, just go to a music store and hold a stick in your hand. Everything varies from musician to musician so the actual size means nothing.

[@Russ.Murphy]

@@steverizundrums Steve! Good taper synopsis! However, I don't like ANY of the select balance sticks. If your buying a hickory stick, you might as well go with a competing company. What made Promark the industry STANDARD was Shira Kashi Oak drumsticks with nylon tips. The Shira Kashi Oak sticks hit harder and last longer than hickory sticks. You don't need FAT drumsticks to play Heavy Metal! I have hoarded a $2,000.00+ cash of Promark Shira Kashi Oak drumsticks and I'm hoping it will last me through the next 7 years, but I doubt it.

[@Russ.Murphy]

@@kaziiqbal7257 Kazi! It sounds like a good idea, but music stores don't carry drumsticks any more! You have to order them! Every brand has their own standards, what's more, they keep changing them. A PW-707N purchased in 2019 is not the same stick design as a PW-707N purchased in 2004. Same brand, same model, different sticks. By the way, they're both good sticks, they should have just changed the model number. It's a mute point, D'Addario no longer makes a PW-707N drumstick!

[@fiftyghoststrading8500]

Colonel Flag is _also_ a badass drum tech?? NICE!

[@jayplayz7049]

Does anyone know the model of the ball tip stick at 1:49?

[@CrazyLG72]

The one on the left is a Neil peart 747 and the one on the right is a 5b hickory

[@tomtom1484]

Kenny!!! 😊

[@bravepart]

What's the record quickest you guys have had sticks break?! I got 2 pairs and both broke in less than a week recently. 5B's lasted about 5 days, just got unlucky fraying the shaft from rimshots and split it on a Cymbal strike, but had a natural finish 5A set last an hour and a half. That was honestly a joke, I find Natural Finish to be a total waste of money unless you're gonna use them on a practice pad. Looking forward to my set of Firegrain 5B's to arrive, think they'll be my go to moving forward.

[@Russ.Murphy]

In 1967, I had a pair of Slingerland 19N drumsticks that lasted 24 seconds. The tip broke off on the first cymbal crash. A short time after that, I was using a Premier Lancewood stick that snapped at the first rimshot. I was pretty brutal at the time, but a pair of Promark PW-JZN would last me between 15 weeks and a half a year.

[@Russ.Murphy]

Yon Sire Liege, You sound like a power hitter! Out of all the sticks I've ever used, the Promark PW-RKW has had the longest longevity. However, Promark doesn't make Rock Knockers any more. D'Addario upper management wants your sticks to break, so they can sell you another pair. The fire grain sticks do last longer than the regular hickory, but the tips still splinter. That way they can sell you Evan's replacement batter heads, when the sticks puncture your existing heads. Generally speaking, I've had the best success with Shira Kashi Oak Nylon tipped sticks. I wonder if it's possible to make a double nylon tipped Shira Kashi Oak Rock Knocker?

[@kioumarssaffary6189]

hi everybody. i have a Q. lightweight stick's are better or heavyweight? for example vic firth a5 are 3.2 ounce. i bought a pair recently from a chinese company and it's about 2.7 ounce. beside the break problem, which one is better for better rebound?

[@Russ.Murphy]

Kioumars! Let me kind of pull your questions apart. Taper is the most important factor in rebound. To simplify, the longer the taper, the greater the rebound. When it comes to weight, the lighter the stick, the faster you can move it. Stick durability has to do with the materials used in making the stick, and how the stick is made. Different materials have different densities, elastic and resilient strengths, and different tensile and impact strengths. Everything is a series of compromises. I use a wide variety of sticks depending on what I'm playing. My advise is to try every stick you can get hold of and see what works for you. It doesn't matter what works for me, if it doesn't work for you.

[@kioumarssaffary6189]

@@Russ.Murphy thanks alot man. You r absolutely right 👍

[@chipyuto69767]

What about concert percuusion

[@forever_spiteful]

Personally I’d use Promark Simon Phillips 707’s for lighter stuff, but for heavier styles I run Vic Firth Metal N’s

[@Russ.Murphy]

Midnite! A 707 is a great stick! It works great for mid-range to very loud. I personally use a PW-707N. The nylon tip gives a brighter cymbal sound and doesn't splinter. Shira Kashi Oak is heaver and harder than Hickory. It delivers more impact and lasts longer than a hickory stick. It works really well for Hard Rock and Speed Metal. Too bad D'Addario doesn't make the stick any more. A PW-747N doesn't have the same maneuverability or cymbal definition, but I guess it's the best you can do for now.

[@forever_spiteful]

@@Russ.Murphy fair enough

[@drumsanddrumming]

I love ProMark and used Ian Paice sig stick before, they are too thin for my taste though and can`t find the right stick, using VicFirth Thomas Lang but would return to ProMark if I find a stick I enjoy

[@PromarkDrumsticks]

Have you tried the 419? www.promark.com/pmProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3917&productid=69

[@drumsanddrumming]

I will check them out!

[@KennySharretts]

I find the indtruders are a great in between stick.

[@Blaver]

drumsanddrumming fire grain

[@paradigmshiftz7]

By hearing the intro music I thought "On Top Of The World" by Imagine Dragons was gonna play

[@constantlydrums]

Is there a stick between 7A and 5A?

[@nelwardo7236]

Kwame Tweneboah Check out the Peter Erskine signature drum stick. it feels like a 5a but hits a cymbal and throws like a 7a. ive used them for months and i swear by them

[@zachescarcega]

6a

[@Russ.Murphy]

Promark makes a PW-727N. The diameter is .531 inches and has a length of 16.25 inches. If you work on your stick control, you can use it for light Jazz to moderately loud Rock.

[@geengenee]

this guy looks and sounds like Mick Jagger

[@KennySharretts]

Lol Totally. I actually toured with, and met Mick. There were definitely second looks that day.

[@geengenee]

Kenny Sharretts really? When?

[@KennySharretts]

Joss Stone opened 5 shows for the Stone 2005 Bigger, Badder, Better Tour. I met him at SIR in 2012 while I was with Rihanna rehearsing for 777 Tour/SNL Performance of Diamonds.

[@ricklieffering]

Hahah I thought he looked like Bruce Spence, the Gyro Captain from Mad Max and I believe the dying needle dude in Se7en!

[@DanMowry]

No man, you have it backward... Mick looks like our boy Kenny!

[@anthkny752]

I would assume that punk would be similar to metal, but what kind of sticks are good for punk?

[@DrummingMoose]

Anthony Franco For punk, I would look into the 747B Super Rock or any 5B style stick

[@anthkny752]

OldSchoolAddict thanks for the tip

[@KennySharretts]

I agree. Thick shoulder gives you mass for volume, and strength to take a beating without breaking.

[@Russ.Murphy]

The PW-747N will work fine. The PW-707N not only works great for Punk, but if you break into Speed Metal, it's the perfect stick. Good luck trying to find a pair!

[@harrisonmyers1572]

I've noticed that my ProMark sticks chip real easily, despite not being a heavy hitter. Any idea why that is?

[@PromarkDrumsticks]

This would depend on what's causing the chipping- cymbal angles, rimshots, and general technique have a significant impact on how much your sticks will chip.

[@harrisonmyers1572]

***** my cymbals are all at straight angles - 180-degree angles - and I don't do rimshots.

[@PromarkDrumsticks]

If the sticks aren't experiencing significant impact, it's tough to say how they'd be chipping.

[@harrisonmyers1572]

***** I can only think of one way

[@PromarkDrumsticks]

Your playing style has the greatest impact on the longevity of the sticks. Which model(s) are you playing and how long do they tend to last?

[@funkydown]

if i try playing funk with 2Bs am i going to waste my gear?

[@KennySharretts]

If you hit hard possibly. Lol. Bigger sticks generally mean bigger sound. More mass=More volume.

[@funkydown]

i dont have them anymore. dad threw them outside the fence

[@Russ.Murphy]

If you already know the answer, why are you asking the question?

[@CarlosCostaX]

Elvin Jones chopsticks are my weapons of choice 🥢

[@chaddavis5787]

What about Gospel?

[@PrettyNiceRecords]

Chad Davis go for a 5a or 5b

[@martywhite2988]

Chad Davis Ask Jesus

[@kevinx.5104]

Would a 5a stick be good for rock

[@KennySharretts]

If that's what works for you then yes. While generally one would use a "beefier" stick for rock it's really all about what works for your technique. Eric "Boots" Greene was using 5A Forward balance with active grip on Puff Daddy and he was killing it in arenas

[@paradigmshiftz7]

Yes 5A and 5B are good for Rock

[@Russ.Murphy]

Kevin! The PW-5AN is the first Promark stick I ever bought back in 1964. I've used it for Rock ever since then. Unfortunately, D'Addario doesn't make the stick any more. By the way, BEEFIER sticks is the best way to damage your drum heads. If you don't think you're playing loud enough, MIC YOUR DRUMS!

[@DrumTeacherManila]

Can you please read me a story every night so I can sleep? Insomnia is killing me... I wish a have that voice.. haha btw, great video, very informative...

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Buddy in the plaid shirt looks like he really wants a bigger tip.

[@KennySharretts]

Lmao.

[@CipherSerpico]

How cool is this dude? That's my Caucasian. He looks and sounds just like Harry Connick Jr. in Independence Day.

[@davidmcaninch4714]

I like Vic Firth better.

[@DrummingMoose]

Zach Moggy Their nylon tips have flew off too on occasion. Promarks don't chip whatsoever and are the only company to offer an oak stick with a nylon tip

[@paradigmshiftz7]

I prefer Vater and/or Zildjian

[@cigarettecat3981]

Then why the fuck are you here

[@Russ.Murphy]

David! Different sticks have different purposes. I use a combination of Vic Firth, RegalTip and Promark sticks. No one company makes everything I look for.

[@Russ.Murphy]

@@DrummingMoose Hi Moose! That's true for now, BUT D'Addario is rapidly divesting itself of ALL of their Shira Kashi Oak nylon tipped drumsticks. D'Addario is running Promark into the ground. I think they're planning to use Promark as a tax write off.

[@TheLikeButtonLMAO]

Talking about metal drumming... just use marching sticks lmao

[@Russ.Murphy]

Oh Yeah Yeah! Stop being sardonic! Somebody may take you seriously, and break their drum heads.