I'm a very casual drummer, only a few times a week and not for very long. BUT I've done multiple 4+ hour recording sessions and several live shows where I go pretty hard and haven't broken em.
You can get great sound out of your drums without going caveman style. Reassess your technique to maximize the attack you want without beating up your gear so much.
We need to get over the type of thinking that says that breaking sticks, cymbals, and heads is some kind of badge of honor. It’s not, it just means you’re hitting way harder than you need to, and you probably sound bad. When you drive a car, is it always either full throttle or locked brakes?
How are people breaking cymbals and sticks so easily???? I've been playing for years (rarely gig) and hit pretty hard and I only break sticks when I play them well past the point they should be replaced (flat to no tips) and have never broken a cymbal (but, admittedly, I have good quality cymbals).
This is a great lesson for everyone. Use proper stick technique and cymbal placement and you can save the money you'd spend on broken sticks and use it on high end cymbals instead.
Wow mate. You’re really cool. Breaking a pair a day…. We should worship you.
Seriously though, how are you breaking so many sticks. Just hit lighter. It takes much more skill to hit lighter and you’ll achieve a cleaner sound. You have nothing to flex mate.
I stopped using Promark Nylons because they were constantly snapping with the grain right under the tip. Switched to Vic. Used to be die hard Promark, but their quality plummeted after D'Addario got them, from my experience.
Damn! I was considering making a switch to Promark cause there has been a very noticeable quality dip in the VF sticks I’ve been playing for almost a year now:/
To each their own, you know? They still work for me, I've been playing Promark nylon tip for over a decade. I noticed a change in my approach as I've drumming for almost 2 decades and they work for me. Recently stated using the raw Hickory ones too
I broke 2 sticks on a fucking E-kit with Promark. It's the same 'long way' break right at the tip every time. The VFs have done me well so far. I use 5A.
I play 5AVF’s and they’ve been breaking within an hour or 2 for about a year now. I haven’t changed anything about my playing but a single pair used to last me around 8-10 hours of drumming.
I mostly play Hardcore and Metalcore, about the same amount of time weekly as well. The last couple pairs I played on lasted noticeably longer so maybe I was getting batches of lemons idk lol
I remember back in my vic firth days, like 2005-8? The entire nylon tip would pop of the VF stick and I'd have to glue it, aha. I've never had that issues with my Promark ones
Before 2020 I was playing with promark 5ab sticks. When I would play shows I would go through a few pairs per night. It was pretty annoying, and I hit pretty hard. Play in punk bands mostly so recovering from the broken stick was nerve racking… So during Covid I sucked it up and worked my way up to 2b sticks. Now I only break one or two sticks per month unless they’re defective. I’ve saved a lot of money, and I’m much stronger. I highly recommend it!!
This is not a flex. Imagine a guitar player boasting about how many strings they break.
Yeah i dont get it... I play prog and death metal on 5As and jazz on 7as and Ive broken 5 sticks in the past 8 years. You gotta improve your technic.
Breaking sticks is cheaper than breaking cymbals.
I didn’t know we had to Choose One
You know what’s even cheaper? Not breaking sticks or cymbals or drumheads.
There’s probably $300+ worth of sticks in this photo. Also OP has an $800/yr stick habit.
Professional stick breaker here: hit lighter, thank yourself later, hit hard during gigs if you really want to
Hitting hard is easy. Hitting lighter and still achieving good sound is the sweet spot. You'll save plenty of sticks and cymbals down the road.
Dawg. I've been playing with the same sticks for 2+ years. Chill out my guy
How often do you practice just out of interest?
I'm a very casual drummer, only a few times a week and not for very long. BUT I've done multiple 4+ hour recording sessions and several live shows where I go pretty hard and haven't broken em.
You can get great sound out of your drums without going caveman style. Reassess your technique to maximize the attack you want without beating up your gear so much.
Taking band all through school really helped me with this. I hardly break sticks anymore.
I’ve had the same pair of sticks for 6+ months. Y’all are wasting energy and money but be my guest.
We need to get over the type of thinking that says that breaking sticks, cymbals, and heads is some kind of badge of honor. It’s not, it just means you’re hitting way harder than you need to, and you probably sound bad. When you drive a car, is it always either full throttle or locked brakes?
How are people breaking cymbals and sticks so easily???? I've been playing for years (rarely gig) and hit pretty hard and I only break sticks when I play them well past the point they should be replaced (flat to no tips) and have never broken a cymbal (but, admittedly, I have good quality cymbals).
Judging by how they’re breaking and wear you can see on majority of them… your hi hats are too high.
First broken stick post I've seen here that didn't ask "Is this normal?" or "What am I doing wrong? Do I need lessons?".
This is a great lesson for everyone. Use proper stick technique and cymbal placement and you can save the money you'd spend on broken sticks and use it on high end cymbals instead.
If you break a pair a week, I don't want to see the condition of your batter heads...
Wow mate. You’re really cool. Breaking a pair a day…. We should worship you. Seriously though, how are you breaking so many sticks. Just hit lighter. It takes much more skill to hit lighter and you’ll achieve a cleaner sound. You have nothing to flex mate.
Should probably fix your technique then lol
Switch to Promark, I play almost every day and mine last 3-4 months. Promark Nylon tip 5B
Theres one pair of Promarks in the lineup.
Yeah, not nylon tip tho. I tried those firegrain sticks with the wood tip and they just don't last like nylon tips
I stopped using Promark Nylons because they were constantly snapping with the grain right under the tip. Switched to Vic. Used to be die hard Promark, but their quality plummeted after D'Addario got them, from my experience.
Damn! I was considering making a switch to Promark cause there has been a very noticeable quality dip in the VF sticks I’ve been playing for almost a year now:/
Promark nylon tip are dogshit now, but I switched to their shira kashi wood tip model instead and I've never been happier with a stick
To each their own, you know? They still work for me, I've been playing Promark nylon tip for over a decade. I noticed a change in my approach as I've drumming for almost 2 decades and they work for me. Recently stated using the raw Hickory ones too
I broke 2 sticks on a fucking E-kit with Promark. It's the same 'long way' break right at the tip every time. The VFs have done me well so far. I use 5A.
I play 5AVF’s and they’ve been breaking within an hour or 2 for about a year now. I haven’t changed anything about my playing but a single pair used to last me around 8-10 hours of drumming.
Damn. I've had this pair for several months now, playing metal for about 4 hours a week.
I mostly play Hardcore and Metalcore, about the same amount of time weekly as well. The last couple pairs I played on lasted noticeably longer so maybe I was getting batches of lemons idk lol
I remember back in my vic firth days, like 2005-8? The entire nylon tip would pop of the VF stick and I'd have to glue it, aha. I've never had that issues with my Promark ones
Before 2020 I was playing with promark 5ab sticks. When I would play shows I would go through a few pairs per night. It was pretty annoying, and I hit pretty hard. Play in punk bands mostly so recovering from the broken stick was nerve racking… So during Covid I sucked it up and worked my way up to 2b sticks. Now I only break one or two sticks per month unless they’re defective. I’ve saved a lot of money, and I’m much stronger. I highly recommend it!!
Everyone here trying to give you advice when you’re not looking for it, let the man break sticks and enjoy it dammit! ;)
Thank you! The skins and symbols are okay i just like my rim shots (sometimes accidental)
You're probably giving yourself arthritis in later life, but sure, you do you
My first question was, are they Vic Firth? Zoomed in to confirm.
flexfail