Vater 5B Drumsticks — Wood Tip, American Hickory
The VH5BW is a pair of 5B drumsticks in hickory: a 0.605 in by 16 in shaft ending in an acorn tip. This diameter is only only 0.035 in larger than the best-selling size, about a millimetre, and that almost-nothing changes everything — more wood in your palm, and a stroke that hits harder.
What sets it apart
- 0.605 in grip: the next size up
- 16 in length
- Acorn tip, turned from the wood
- American hickory
- Rebound described as highly responsive by the manufacturer
- A common choice for drummers who play loud
About a millimetre, yet everything changes
Going from 0.570 to 0.605 in looks trivial on paper. In the hand, you feel the difference right away: your fingers close a little less, the stick rests more in the palm, and the motion comes from the forearm rather than the wrist alone.
Diameter also governs mass. A thicker cylinder holds more wood along its whole length, so each stroke carries more energy for the same motion. That is the mechanical reason this size sounds louder without you having to force it.
The acorn, a balanced tip
An acorn is fuller than a teardrop and less spherical than a ball. Its broad shape makes full contact with the head and gives body to snare strokes; its narrower end keeps enough definition on the ride for the pattern to stay clear.
That dual nature is what makes the design hard to fault: it is not spectacular anywhere, and it does not fall short anywhere either.
What this size asks of the drummer
A heavier stick is less forgiving of bad habits. If your hand squeezes, fatigue sets in sooner and tight rolls lose their evenness. A relaxed approach, on the other hand, draws volume from it that the smaller size will not give you.
For a drummer who switches between an amplified band and rehearsals built on dynamics, keeping both sizes in the stick bag remains the simplest solution.
Specifications
| Size | 5B |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 0.605 in (15.4 mm) |
| Overall length | 16 in |
| Tip design | Acorn, wood |
| Material | Hickory |
| Difference from the 5A | 0.035 in larger in diameter |
What it is for
- Rock, pop-rock and amplified music
- Cover bands in noisy rooms
- Drummers who break thinner sticks quickly
- Working on power and consistent strokes
- Playing on thick heads or drums tuned high
Compare with other manufacturers
The thick-grip size is everywhere. What sets the designs apart:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Promark | Classic Forward 5B | Shorter taper, balance described as front-weighted |
| Vic Firth | American Classic 5B | Teardrop tip rather than acorn |
| Los Cabos | 5B White Hickory | Untreated hickory, light colour and its own density |
| Zildjian | 5B hickory | Different shoulder profile and taper length |
Frequently asked questions
- Do thicker drumsticks break less often?
- Generally yes, because there is more wood at the section that takes the most stress. What breaks a stick, though, is repeated rimshots, and no diameter makes that motion harmless.
- Are 5B sticks good for jazz?
- They are generally considered too thick for brush-style work and soft dynamics. Jazz drummers tend to go for thinner sizes, which are quicker on the cymbal.
- Do I need to change my technique when moving up a size?
- No, but you need to loosen your grip. A heavier stick does the work on its own; squeezing it cancels out its advantage and tires your forearm.
- What about a young beginner?
- Better to start thinner. You move up to this diameter once your hand has learned to relax and you find yourself short on volume.
Avis clients
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