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.
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"
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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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.
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.
Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
"I shall either find a way or make one"
I eliminated the worry and hassle by switching to nylon tipped sticks. Love the sound on my ride and the added durability.
Custom Classic Pro Maple 6
8",10",12",13" Mounted Toms
(2)14",16" Floor Toms
22" x 18" Kick
6",8",10" Roto Toms
14" x 6.5" Mapex Black Panther Snare
13" x 3" Pearl Piccolo Snare
Sabian: 13" Paragon Hats
14" HH X Hats
22" Paragon Ride
(2) 16" Paragon Crashes
20" Paragon Crash
18" Paragon Crash
20" Paragon Small Flange China
19" Paragon China
Wuhan:20"with gingles
8",10" Splash
Roc N Soc Lunar
DW 8002B Pedals
Tambourine
Cowbell
Sabian Squad
C C Militia
I use sticks until they break. I prefer nylon tip sticks so the tips are never a problem.
- Zack
As soon as they dont feel right anymore I get rid of them.
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.
RDM/Damage Poets
UFiP TAMAHA Zildjian
REGAL TiP
AQUARIAN
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.
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.
It is for this exact reason my switch from nylon tips didn't last that long.
PDP | Black Panther | Sabian |
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.
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.
Temple Beth Snare Buzz-Head Rabbi
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.
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."
"I wish that my playing reminded people of Steve Gadd. But they seem to confuse me with his little known cousin... E."
"Snare drums happen."
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.
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
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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