Vater Extended Play 5B Drumsticks — Wood Tip, Hickory
The Vater Extended Play 5B is a pair of 5B drumsticks in hickory, 16 in long with a 0.605 in diameter and an acorn tip cut from the wood. The manufacturer describes this size as its all-purpose model: enough mass to make the head respond, enough agility to last a whole night. This version also gets the series' protective finish and a 3 in Stick Shield band where it contacts the rim.
What sets it apart
- 0.605 in diameter, 16 in long
- Acorn tip, cut from the stick
- Protective coating on the tip and the taper
- 3 in Stick Shield band in the rim contact area
- All-purpose balance, neither front-heavy nor back-heavy
- American hickory, a dense and responsive wood
The acorn, a tip that forgives the angle
An acorn tip has straight sides and a rounded top. Its contact area changes little with the angle of the stick: whether you hit the cymbal flat or slightly off-angle, the tone barely moves.
That is what makes it comfortable when you move quickly from ride to hi-hat to toms. A more pointed tip would ask your wrist to repeat the same angle every time to keep the same sound.
Thirty-five thousandths of an inch, and the margin they give
Diameter does more than change the grip. It determines how much wood fibre sits between the notched surface and the core of the stick. On a 5B, that reserve is larger, and a rim notch takes longer to work its way through.
Add the reinforcement placed in that zone, and the gap in lifespan compared with a thinner stick becomes clear for anyone who plays rimshots constantly. The wood is never pushed as close to its breaking point.
The stick to grab when you are not sure yet
All-purpose is the manufacturer's word, and the measurements agree: 0.605 in by 16 in, with a balance that pulls neither forward nor back. Enough mass for the head to respond without effort, enough agility not to tire your forearm within an hour.
In its protected version, this size also suits the drummer who hits hard without having refined their stroke yet — the one whose rimshots rarely land twice in the same spot on the rim.
Specifications
| Diameter | 0.605 in |
|---|---|
| Length | 16 in |
| Tip | Acorn, wood |
| Wood | American hickory |
| Protection | Coating on tip and taper, 3 in Stick Shield band |
| Character | All-purpose, neutral balance |
What it is for
- Lessons and music schools, where pairs get passed around
- Rock, blues and funk at club volume
- Drummers who find a 5A too light and a 2B too bulky
- Mixed cymbal and tom playing without changing angle
- Shared rehearsal spaces
Compare with other manufacturers
Every manufacturer makes a 5B; the difference comes down to the tip and the wood treatment:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic 5B | Teardrop tip rather than acorn, untreated wood |
| Promark | Classic Forward 5B | Forward balance point, no protective coating |
| Los Cabos | 5B White Hickory | Sapwood hickory, more flexible; no added protection |
| Zildjian | 5B Hickory | Different tip and taper design, no reinforced zone |
Frequently asked questions
- 5A vs 5B: how do I choose?
- The 5B is thicker and heavier. Pick it when you need volume without forcing, or when a 5A feels like it bounces on its own. The 5A stays faster on tight patterns.
- Is a 5B hard on the wrists?
- Over long sessions, the extra mass is noticeable. A drummer used to thinner sticks gains volume but has to let the rebound do more of the work.
- Does the protective coating change the cymbal sound?
- While it is intact, the striking surface is a little harder and the attack slightly drier. The difference fades as it wears.
- Is it a good stick for a beginner?
- Yes, and it is a good place to start: the size is all-purpose, and the reinforcement absorbs the off-target rimshots that come with learning.
Avis clients
Do you teach with this size? Tell us how it holds up in lessons.
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