Vater Eternal Black Los Angeles 5A Drumsticks — Wood Tip, Hickory
This black, wood-tip Los Angeles 5A is a hickory drumstick, 16 in long and 0.570 in at the grip, with its balance leaning toward the front. Its teardrop tip, turned from the wood itself, keeps cymbals round where a nylon tip would make them harsher.
What sets it apart
- Balance carried toward the tip, immediate attack on the drums
- 16 in (40.6 cm) and 0.570 in (14.5 mm): the dimensions of the benchmark 5A
- Teardrop tip, turned from the wood
- Penetrating black stain
- Lively response with an ordinary weight
- American hickory
Front balance, and what it does on the head
Two sticks of the same weight can behave very differently depending on where the wood is placed. Moving the mass toward the tip gives the end more momentum for the same wrist motion.
On the snare, the attack speaks sooner and the stroke sounds more direct. It is this detail of distribution, much more than the dimensions, that explains why this design became the benchmark of the lineup.
Stained wood: why the colour does not eat the sound
The stain seeps into the fibres instead of forming a rigid film on the surface. Nothing is added between your hand and the wood, and nothing dampens the vibration of the shaft.
What changes is the surface: a slightly smoother finish and a dark look under the lights. The acoustic behaviour stays that of bare hickory.
Why a wood tip on this design
With a balance already geared toward attack, a hard tip would push the sound toward something very cutting. Wood tempers it: it keeps the liveliness of the stroke while keeping cymbals round. It is the more balanced of the two versions.
Specifications
| Overall length | 40.6 cm, or 16 in |
|---|---|
| Grip diameter | 14.5 mm, or 0.570 in |
| Wood | Stained hickory |
| Tip | Teardrop, wood |
| Balance | Shifted toward the front |
What it is for
- Rock, pop and soul at moderate volume
- On stage under the lights, where looks matter
- Drummers after a direct attack without adding mass
- Studio work, when the attack must stay woody
- A first stained pair for a regular 5A player
Compare with other manufacturers
Dark-finish, wood-tip 5A sticks from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Equivalent size | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic 5A | The maker's own weight distribution and tip design |
| Promark | Classic Forward 5A | Taper profile specific to the range |
| Los Cabos | 5A Red Hickory | Colour that comes from the wood itself |
| Regal Tip | 5A wood tip | Different neck and tip design |
Frequently asked questions
- How is it different from the unstained model?
- Only the finish. The dimensions, balance and tip are those of the classic Los Angeles 5A.
- Wood or nylon tip on this design?
- Wood keeps cymbals round despite an already lively attack; nylon pushes toward a more cutting sound, useful in a very loud amplified band.
- Is it a good size for beginners?
- Yes. The 5A is the safest starting point, and nothing in this version makes it harder to get used to.
Avis clients
Want the attack of a 5A without hardening your cymbals?
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