American Classic® Extreme 5B

Great sticks gives that little extra reach

I use several sizes of drumsticks, depending on what I'm playing and the Vic Firth 3A American Classics have been my main go to sticks, until now. I decided to try the 5B Extremes, with the extra length and I'm definitely loving them. Absolute solid quality and balance, for sure!

These are one of my favorite sticks because of the grip and the length. The relatively new Vic Firth Extreme drumsticks are slightly longer than typical drumsticks. I like this because it gives me room for my hands to find their sweet spot on the stick. The grip is also pretty effective and doesn't allow my sticks to slide around or slip in my hand as much when they get sweaty. The thickness of the 5B is also nice because it's not too light to feel like a feather, but has a little beef to it so that they will hold up when they get whacked across my drum set. If you use sticks with grip on them these are some of the best out there!

I do use 5b extreme nylon tips as one of the sticks in my arsenal of choices so I decided to try the grip version since I have the grip on another vic firth stick that I use (the only way that stick is available is with the grip), and it works nicely. However I broke one first time out (which happens so it isn't the stick's fault) -and I have enough regular 5b extremes in my bag for now. I will probably buy these when I run low on the regular ones- although the extra cost might not be worth the benefit.

For those not in the know: The "Extreme 5B" by Vic Firth is the exact same stick as their normal 5B ( Vic Firth American Classic® 5B ) but it's 1/2" longer. They have a whole "Extreme" line for many of the common models of drum sticks. Vic Firth makes great sticks. They are durable, the pairs tend to be matched very well, they feel good, and I generally prefer their tip shapes over other brands. My only critique with this model is the same critique I have will all from their "extreme" line of drum sticks. The drummer tends to feel more vibration or "shock" with these sticks than the normal 5B stick. As a result they don't rebound as well as a normal 5B. It feels as if the energy of the stroke gets channeled back through the stick to the hands rather than into the rebound of the stick off the head. This seems to be true of the X5A ( Vic Firth American Classic® Extreme 5A ) vs normal 5A ( Vic Firth American Classic 5A Drum Sticks ) as well. It is especially noticeable when playing on a practice pad, where you are especially focused on the feel of the drum stick off the pad. Of course, a different drummer (with different technique) may not feel the same vibration as I do. Also, some drummers may feel that the advantage of a longer stick, giving more leverage and hence more power, and of course, more reach, out-ways the negative. Bottom line: Not my personal choice in a drum stick, but I recommend trying out a variety of sticks to find the ones that work for you.

I am 6ft 4 and like to sit quite far back from my drum kit. Despite having long arms, the extra length on these drumsticks truly makes all the difference. Drumming is all about muscle memory and having every part of your kit in exactly the right place - these sticks help to make that easy, and ensure you always strike your drum or cymbal in exactly the right place without having to think about it or stretch. I play mostly classic rock in a covers band, and these are the perfect weight and durability, even for the songs where I have to hit hard. If you are tall, or like sitting further away from your kit than most, then I highly recommend these sticks for you.

I ordered these and received them a day earlier than what Prime said I would. So, off the bat I was already impressed with the shipment on them. Of course, I immediately took them out of the package and checked out the balance and feel. I've already played with Extreme 5A's and love the length, but I wanted the 5B thickness that I am accustomed to playing. This time, I wanted to see how the added grip felt. That's why I bought this particular stick. I am glad I did. I think I found my perfect set of sticks. It's kind of like that "Aha" moment you get when something just feels right. I highly recommend at least trying these sticks for those that have felt that the ones they have just seem to be missing something.

I'm only a casual drummer so I can't tell you how good these play in a live setting, the kind of sound you'll get from these or anything like that, BUT I can tell you that I have enjoyed using these sticks and they haven't broken yet! I'm kind of a hard hitter when I drum (I tend to play hard rock / metal songs) and even though I'd ideally love to use a really light stick, I find that those tend to break on me easier. So far, this pair of sticks has held up nicely and can withstand my playing style, yet they don't feel overly heavy in my hands. Love the nylon tips. Probably my favorite sticks to date.

Good quality, genuine product.

The only sick I play!

Purchased these sticks for my son as a gift - he loved them!

Precio igual que en las tiendas Útil Aguantadora

Nice drumstick