Vater Classics 5B Drumsticks — Nylon Tip, Hickory
The Classics 5B nylon tip is a pair of 5B drumsticks, 16 in long with a 0.595 in diameter, finished with an oval tip in hard material. The manufacturer promises a full, bright sound, which is exactly the compromise a drummer who plays loud without wanting to lose the ride is looking for.
What sets it apart
- 16 in (40.6 cm) and 0.595 in (15.11 mm) shaft, identical to the wood version
- Oval nylon tip, for a sound described as full and bright
- The mass of a 5B with a cymbal that stays articulate
- Tip shape that stays stable over time
- Hickory, with a less bulky grip than a standard 5B
- Dimensions inherited from the company's historical profiles
The oval, a middle ground between acorn and teardrop
Three shapes recur on these profiles: the acorn, broad and rounded; the teardrop, tapered; the oval, in between. Each presents a different surface to the metal, and that surface decides the colour.
The oval keeps body while tightening the attack. Paired with nylon, it produces a sound the manufacturer calls full and bright, both qualities at once rather than one at the expense of the other.
A volume profile without sacrificing the cymbal
A drummer short on volume instinctively moves up a size. The trouble is that the cymbal gains nothing: it gets buried in the overall level instead of gaining clarity.
Changing the tip as well solves the other half of the problem. The mass drives the drumheads, the hardness drives the bronze. That is the logic of this model, and it shows most on stage.
What to watch on a nylon tip
A nylon tip is glued and crimped onto the wood. It holds up very well to straight strokes and wears under glancing blows, typically against the snare drum hoop.
A drummer who plays a lot of rimshots will know they are stressing that joint. It is not a hidden flaw; it is the known trade-off of a tip that never loses its shape.
Specifications
| Shaft length | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 0.595 in (15.11 mm) |
| Tip | Oval, nylon |
| Shaft material | Hickory |
| Range | Classics |
What it is for
- Amplified stages where the ride has to stay articulate
- Rock and popular music at high volume
- Drummers who want a single pair for a whole gig
- Hard-hitting ride bell playing
- Varied repertoire played at sustained volume
Compare with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers also offer a thick profile with a hard tip:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic 5B Nylon | The company's own dimensions and tip shape |
| Promark | Classic Forward 5B Nylon | Mass shifted toward the tip |
| Zildjian | 5B Nylon | Different taper and diameter |
| Regal Tip | 5B Nylon Tip | Historical maker of the process |
Frequently asked questions
- What tip shape does this model have?
- An oval, whereas the wood version has an acorn. The oval sits in between: narrower than the acorn, less tapered than a teardrop.
- Is the diameter the same as the wood version?
- Yes, 0.595 in for a 16 in length. Only the tip separates the two models.
- Is this tip good for ride bell playing?
- It is one of its strengths. The hardness of the nylon brings out the attack of the bell instead of rounding it off.
- What should I do when a nylon tip comes off?
- Take the pair out of rotation. The bare wood left where the tip tore away has an edge that can mark a cymbal.
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