Vater Cindy Blackman Santana Magic Wand Drumsticks — Wood Tip, Hickory
The Vater Magic Wand is a pair of drumsticks 16 in long with a 0.585 in diameter. The manufacturer itself places it between the 5A and the 5B, and that is the starting point of the whole model, designed with drummer Cindy Blackman Santana.
What sets it apart
- 0.585 in (14.86 mm) diameter, between the 5A and the 5B
- 16 in (40.6 cm) long
- Quick taper, according to the manufacturer
- Hybrid tip between oval and teardrop, medium size
- Tones described as full but defined
- Model designed with drummer Cindy Blackman Santana
Between two classic sizes
The 5A and the 5B are the two most played designations, and many drummers spend years hesitating between them: the first lacks a little body, the second crowds the hand a little. You end up choosing the less annoying of the two.
The manufacturer places this model between the two, at 0.585 in. It is not a catalogue detail: it is what the drummer who designed it was looking for in her own playing, and it is the first thing you notice when you pick it up.
A quick taper, and what it produces
The manufacturer specifies that the taper is quick: the shaft narrows over a short distance before the tip. That stiffens the tip end of the stick and makes the attack more immediate.
Combined with a fairly thick shaft, this short taper gives a stick that responds instantly. It is a responsiveness setting, useful for anyone who moves from jazz to rock within the same tune.
A tip that refuses to choose
The tip is neither an oval nor a teardrop: it is a hybrid of the two, medium in size. The oval brings body, the teardrop brings definition, and the chosen shape borrows from both.
The manufacturer sums up the result in two words: full but defined. It is a hard colour to get, and it is the one a drummer whose repertoire goes from jazz to rock without transition is looking for.
Specifications
| Length | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 0.585 in (14.86 mm) |
| Taper | Quick |
| Tip | Hybrid of oval and teardrop, medium size, wood |
| Wood species | Hickory |
What it is for
- Repertoire that moves from jazz to rock in the same set
- Drummers stuck between a 5A and a 5B
- Responsive playing where the attack has to be immediate
- Stage and studio, with the same pair
- Musicians looking for body without losing definition
Compare with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers' in-between profiles, to put this one in context:
| Manufacturer | Equivalent | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic Extreme 5A | Profile made longer rather than thicker |
| Promark | Select Balance Rebound 5B | Balance shifted toward the back of the shaft |
| Zildjian | Super 5A | Extra length on a 5A-type grip |
| Los Cabos | 5A Red Hickory | Heat-treated hickory, classic 5A dimensions |
Frequently asked questions
- Where exactly does it sit between a 5A and a 5B?
- At 0.585 in in diameter, it is thicker than the Classics line 5A, at 0.565 in, and thinner than its 5B, at 0.595 in.
- What is a hybrid oval and teardrop tip?
- A shape that borrows from both: the body of the oval and the definition of the teardrop. The manufacturer describes it as medium in size.
- Is a quick taper an advantage?
- It depends on how you play. It stiffens the tip end and makes the attack immediate. For very nuanced playing, a long taper will give a softer contact.
- Do you have to play her style of music to get along with it?
- No. A signature model answers a technical need first: here, an in-between diameter and an immediate response, which is useful well beyond a single repertoire.
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