Vater Players Design Jimmy Cobb Hickory Drumsticks — Teardrop Wood Tip
The Jimmy Cobb is an American hickory drumstick model designed for swing: 0.595 in in the hand, between a 5A and a 5B, with a very long taper that shifts the weight toward the back. The stick carries its weight where you hold it, not where it strikes.
What sets it apart
- 0.595 in (15.1 mm) grip, between the 5A and 5B benchmarks
- Long taper: the wood starts thinning early and gradually
- Medium teardrop tip, for a warm but clear ride
- Classic 16 in (40.6 cm) length
- Balance shifted toward the hand, for a lively rebound
- Lacquered American hickory
A full grip on a stick that is light up front
The two impressions seem to contradict each other: 0.595 in is nearly a 5B, and a 5B is known as heavy. But the diameter only tells you what happens in the hand. Here, the shaft starts thinning well before the middle, and all the wood removed comes off the front.
The result: you hold something substantial, and the tip travels like that of a thin stick. The comfort of a full grip without the inertia that usually comes with it.
What the long taper does for the ride
A stick with its weight toward the back rebounds quickly and high. On a ride pattern held through entire choruses, that rebound does half the work: the hand guides instead of restarting every stroke. Fatigue sets in later, and the tempo holds better.
The downside is well known: less weight up front means less raw volume. This is not a stick for covering two distorted guitars.
The medium teardrop, a deliberate compromise
A small teardrop articulates the pattern but can sound thin; a large acorn warms the sound but blurs the eighth notes. The medium teardrop sits between the two: you hear the note of the ride and you hear the cymbal.
On a snare tuned high, the same tip gives a clean muted rimshot and ghost notes that stay audible at low volume.
Specifications
| Material | American hickory |
|---|---|
| Length | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
| Diameter | 0.595 in (15.1 mm) |
| Tip | Medium wood teardrop |
| Shoulder and taper | Long, starting early on the shaft |
| Balance | Toward the back, at the hand |
What it is for
- Club jazz, from trio to big band
- Ride accompaniment over long stretches
- Drummers who want a full grip without a heavy stick
- Low-dynamic playing, ghost notes included
- Standards played alternating between brushes and sticks
Compare with other manufacturers
Long-taper jazz sticks from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Jazz AJ5 | Thinner grip, longer length |
| Promark | Rebound 5B | Rear balance achieved through the shaft, acorn tip |
| Regal Tip | E-Series Jazz | Noticeably thinner size in the hand |
| Los Cabos | Hickory Jazz | Red hickory, shorter profile |
Frequently asked questions
- Do jazz sticks have to be thin?
- Not necessarily. Where the weight sits matters more than the diameter. This model is thick in the hand and light up front, which gives the expected liveliness without a narrow grip.
- Can I use it for rock?
- It will handle it, but that is not what it is for: little weight up front means less volume on the drums. A short-taper stick is better suited.
- How is it different from a regular 5B?
- The brand's 5B measures 0.605 in; this model stops at 0.595 in, between the 5A and the 5B. More importantly, its taper starts earlier and moves the centre of gravity toward the hand.
- Does the wood tip wear quickly on the ride?
- It shows wear over time, like any wood tip. A nylon tip keeps its shape longer, at the cost of a brighter tone.
Avis clients
Has the rebound of this model changed your ride pattern?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.