Vater Los Angeles 5A Nylon Tip Drumsticks — Oval Tip, Hickory
The VH5AN is a pair of 5A nylon tip drumsticks in American hickory, capped with an oval nylon tip. The shaft measures 16 in by 0.570 in, and the tip is what gives the model its whole character: the only part that touches the cymbal is not wood.
What sets it apart
- Oval nylon tip, added onto the shaft
- Sound described as bright by the manufacturer
- Same shaft as the wood tip 5A in the lineup
- 0.570 in thick, 16 in long
- Hard surface that does not dent with use
- American hickory
A tip that keeps its shape from the first gig to the last
A tip turned from the wood rounds off over the hours spent on a ride. The sound follows that change slowly, without you noticing: definition fades and you end up thinking the cymbal has changed.
Nylon is much harder than wood. Its shape holds, so the sound holds. That is the main reason a studio or pit drummer chooses this version: the take recorded on day four sounds like the one from day one.
Why a hard tip sounds brighter
At the moment of contact, a hard material transfers energy faster and over a narrower area. The cymbal's high frequencies come out all at once instead of being cushioned by a brief moment of give.
In practice, the bell becomes easier to hear, the ride pattern stands out from a wall of guitars, and the hi-hats articulate better. In a dampened room or quiet music, that same clarity can feel like too much: that is when the wood tip version is the better fit.
The oval profile, between teardrop and ball
An oval presents a medium contact surface, without the extremes of other shapes. It does not focus energy as much as a ball tip, and does not spread it as much as a teardrop laid flat. The attack stays clean even when your hand angle drifts late in the night.
Specifications
| Tip material | Nylon |
|---|---|
| Tip shape | Oval |
| Overall length | 16 in |
| Grip diameter | 0.570 in |
| Shaft wood | American hickory |
| Sound as described | Bright |
What it is for
- Studio work, where the sound has to stay consistent from session to session
- Rock and metal, when the ride has to cut through
- Loud amplified music
- Orchestra pit and musical theatre
- Drummers who wear through wood tips quickly
Compare with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers apply the same idea of an added hard tip:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Zildjian | 5A Nylon | The manufacturer's own tip shape and tip-to-shaft joint |
| Vic Firth | American Classic 5A Nylon | Different tip profile, in-house taper |
| Regal Tip | 5A Nylon | The historic maker of the added tip, distinct geometry |
| Promark | Classic 5A Oval Nylon | Another wood species offered as an option, different taper |
Frequently asked questions
- Do nylon tip drumsticks damage cymbals?
- No. What marks a cymbal is a badly placed stroke on the edge, not the tip material. Nylon is harder, so it sounds brighter, but it does not cut the metal.
- Can the nylon tip come off?
- It can happen after very long hours of playing, because the joint takes stress with every impact. It is the only real weak point of this type of tip compared with one turned from the wood.
- Can I mix a nylon tip stick with a wood tip stick?
- On stage, yes, as a stopgap. When recording, no: the two sounds do not match from one hand to the other, and the ride mic picks it up.
- Is the shaft really the same as the wood tip version?
- Yes. The manufacturer lists the same dimensions and the same wood for both. Only the tip changes.
Avis clients
Wood or nylon on your ride? Tell us what you hear.
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