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Thread: When do you call a stick dead?

  1. #1

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    Default When do you call a stick dead?

    When I first started playing, I'd go through sticks pretty quickly. Over time, my technique has improved, and therefore my sticks last a lot longer. However, I still get the occasional chipped tip. I was just practicing at home, and I must have nicked a cymbal edge or something, because I just chipped a tip on a pair of Regal Tips, that I really like.

    So it made me wonder, how many of you continue to play sticks with chipped tips, and who calls that a dead stick?



    Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
    "I shall either find a way or make one"

  2. #2

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    For me it's perspective. If I feel a tip will damage a drum head, it's done. I've even played with cracked, broken and whittled in the middle sticks until they flex and bend to the point there's no power left in them.
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  3. #3

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    I'll continue to use a stick for practice purposes until it's pretty much split in half. I'll use new sticks if I'm playing a gig.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by Bish View Post
    For me it's perspective. If I feel a tip will damage a drum head, it's done.
    I'm thinking if I take a file to the tip and just lightly dress it out, it'll be fine for a practice stick. But like Cdeleone said, I'll use new sticks for a gig.
    Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
    "I shall either find a way or make one"

  5. #5

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    I noticed chipped tips leave sharp dents in my heads. Must be from the exposed vertical grain that run down the stick. Are your sticks hickory? Try switching to a maple stick if you use hickory. I tried the switch and found the maple sticks too soft but the tips lasted longer than hickory. I switched over to nylon tips.

  6. #6

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    There! I filed away any rough edges. Almost good as new.

    Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
    "I shall either find a way or make one"

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by late8 View Post
    I noticed chipped tips leave sharp dents in my heads. Must be from the exposed vertical grain that run down the stick. Are your sticks hickory? Try switching to a maple stick if you use hickory. I tried the switch and found the maple sticks too soft but the tips lasted longer than hickory. I switched over to nylon tips.
    Honestly, I don't know if these are maple or hickory. I think hickory. They are Regal Tip Jason Sutter "Chopsticks". I did get a pair of Regal Tip 5BX nylon tips as well. I just prefer wood tips. But if the tips keep chipping, maybe I'll make the switch.
    Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
    "I shall either find a way or make one"

  8. #8

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    I eliminated the worry and hassle by switching to nylon tipped sticks. Love the sound on my ride and the added durability.
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  9. #9

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    I'll continue to use my sticks until they snap. It depends what stick tip you use. I use promark 7a, and the tips are perfect. When I use vic firth's, the tips chip within a few sessions.
    Quote Originally Posted by rickthedrummer View Post
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  10. #10

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    I use sticks until they break. I prefer nylon tip sticks so the tips are never a problem.
    - Zack

  11. #11

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    Quote Originally Posted by xweasel View Post
    I use sticks until they break. I prefer nylon tip sticks so the tips are never a problem.
    Same here. And I always have 220 grit sandpaper nearby to smooth the tips out when they get sharp edges on them.

  12. #12

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    As soon as they dont feel right anymore I get rid of them.

  13. #13

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    I use em till they break. I've used some beauts at practice. I don't like to but really try to get my moneys worth out of them. For shows nothing but new in the stick bag.
    Last edited by slinky; 12-23-2014 at 10:15 AM.
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  14. #14

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    I get rid of them when I notice a change in weight due to loss of wood (yeah, I said loss of wood). Tips never an issue since I use nylon.

  15. #15

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    I've pretty much gotten to the point where I only dent heads when playing with sticks that have chipped tips. So, when I chip a tip, that stick goes in the kindling bucket.
    Mmm... Saturns.

  16. #16

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    Quote Originally Posted by inthpktplayer View Post
    I notice a change in weight due to loss of wood .


  17. #17

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    It is for this exact reason my switch from nylon tips didn't last that long.
    PDP | Black Panther | Sabian |

  18. #18

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    I toss chipped tips, also sometimes the sticks get bent from rimshots so I'll toss them after that and whenever they just don't feel right they get burned in the next bonfire.
    Wear hearing protection.

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by Northern Redneck View Post
    As soon as they dont feel right anymore I get rid of them.
    +1

    or if the chipped tips no longer sound consistent on the ride cymbal ... no nylon tips for me ...

  20. #20

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    I tend to lose sticks, more so than anything.
    "The chances of being attacked and killed by a terrorist are less than the chances of being attacked and killed by your own heart"
    Carrying the message to Garcia. Today and everyday.
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  21. #21

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    I use mine till they are whittled down to a flimsy state, or if the tip is damaged I discard them immediately. I don't want to damage my heads.

  22. #22

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    I used to go through sticks like crazy, then I began playing with bands with a lighter sound and it seemed like sticks lasted forever.

    A little over a year ago I started playing in a classic rock/oldies act, I'm chewing up sticks faster than a caffeine addicted beaver these days.

    I play them in practice until they are pretty chewed up, but I always use fresh sticks for gigs.
    -Mike


    "We don't stop playing because we grow old.
    We grow old because we stop playing."

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  23. #23

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    I just use them until they don't feel or sound right anymore. I've never had tips chip in a way that created a sharp edge, maybe it's just because of the tip on the sticks I use.

  24. #24

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    Tried Nylon didn't like the sound or feel. I use wood all the time and just change them up when I feel they are done. Had problems with Dave weckel sticks but Changed to Ringo star sig and they seem to last. Also have used and still do sometimes Daniel Adair sticks. I think its up to you when you stop using and nothing wrong with sanding a chip so you get more use outta them.
    So whats so wrong with laughing. Some need to learn to laugh

  25. #25

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    I use nylon tips so I don't have to worry about chipped tips. I use a pair of sticks until they break or crack.
    Matt

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