Thats funny..one of the groups I saw saturday was GUITAR AND FIDDLE (acoustic to boot)AND DRUMS.The drummer was a Keith Moon type- hit hit hit hard hard harder slam SLAM. But he was using HOT RODS The red ones with no rubber in the middle.These things were DESTROYED. He overshadowed the singer and fiddle player.he would have gone thru 10 pair of sticks if he had used them. A little less OMPH would have been better for all,that is why he didnt get to play drums with the main band-too loud and hard!!!

Hey guys I've been a pro touring drummer for around 10 years now. When I'm touring with my main band I do 1 pair of VF 5A sticks a night. If they survive I throw them into the crowd anyway. Ok so maybe 1 CS dot Snare batter per 2-3 shows, Tom Emp batters 4-5 shows and kik PS batter 9-10. I never go through them, they just wear out and loose the magic.

Crashes maybe crack once a year eventually. And I've done 2 rides in that time. Thats because I use K's, and I'm in a Rock band that although is dynamic, I do have to give it some.

My Vintage drums have heads that have been on for years. My Jazz cymbals will probably last for my drumming life. This stuff gets used in studios, and for the Jazz gigs I do when I'm not out on tour. My VF 7A's tend to last for months on end, and usually only die because I've landed up on a louder electric Funk or Blues gig and I still used the 7A's.

Horses for courses I say.

About time someone said it. Well, I hear confession is good for the soul my son. Cool Dude

I've been playing over 40 years and own over 60 cymbals, I've toured, played rock (not metal) jazz, blues, big stadium, corner bar,etc. and I've cracked 2 cymbals, one older 16" A which was probably 10 years old when I got it and may have had a hairline crack. (I still have it, drilled it out and still play it from time to time.) And a paiste 6" splash which I mounted upside down on a larger splash. Also repaired by cutting out the crack and still play it.

Don't think I've ever broken a head but once on tour with no money to replace a badly worn remo head, coating had chipped off, a dent turned to a split and I had to play 2 more dates with a duct taped head.

Sticks - well that's another story, I like thin sticks, Regal tip Jazz and I tend to hit the hat's at an angle so the shoulder of the stick hits the edge of the hats and eventually whittles them down to a toothpick. But that takes about a month.

I think whittling and breaking are totally two different things, so you're all good. Take a look at Bernard Purdie's sticks. ;)

I think he's "doing it right". If you're not, he'll 'splain it to ya. I could watch him play all day.

-Tim

I'm thinking the last stick I broke I was banging out some Skynyrd on the steering wheel of the truck and went for a cymbal crash on the shifter knob... DOH

Guess I'm doing a lot of things wrong...

Under all-purpose circumstances, I've always used ride cymbals on the thick side. (I blame Louie Bellson first. Those ping rides on his records were gorgeous. Then the advent of Zildjian's Earth ride coming out at the same time I was first subjected to Marshall stacks set to Romulan Stun.) I 've always figured it's better to have too much cut and I can back off compared to not enough and it just washes out.

That philosophy has turned out to be a stick company's dream. Since a heavier ride won't "give" on its stand, meaning it's got so much mass that it won't move while it's being played on, my sticks, sometimes not being 2 songs old, will break at the same place. Just about 2 or 3 inches behind the tip along it's grain pattern.

I only actually hold onto the stick with my thumb and forefinger so a death grip isn't the issue. I've tried all of the monster sticks with the big, thick barrels and golf balls for tips but they just feel like the lifeless clubs that they are.

I LOVE the regal 2B nylon. Lotsa meat in the back and enough taper to give it some life. But that taper is also the achilles hell. Tell ya what, the prime stick for me was the old regal 2S. Like a scaled up 2B. A lot of folks say it's too big but I like power in reserve if I need it. If I don't need it, I just don't play as hard. Seemple, no?

Of course, just like everything in this world that I like, Regal quit making them. Also, bear in mind that that stick is a road-only proposition. Under around-town circumstances, I like the Regal 5Be wide. Same deal, though. Unless I'm using my 20" AA med. hvy. ride, any of the heavier rides will take a quicker toll on my lumber stash.

No Doubt! 2nd that! And so typical of GC where they mostly cater to youngsters...They built a hugely successful business based on beginners, entry level gear, and pro level B stock...They do however have some killer good deals on vintage drums on occasion, and typically in economically depressed area's of the country. They also used to ship to the nearest store to the buyer at no charge when purchasing used drums or cymbals.

> a sweet little teenage girl... Now doesn't that touching story just bring a lump to your throat?

Lump in throat, no... lump in pants, yes!

John lol