Vater Players Design Mike Mangini Wicked Piston Hickory Drumsticks — Acorn Wood Tip
The Wicked Piston is a pair of American hickory drumsticks whose shaft does not thin out continuously: it starts at 0.580 in in the hand, swells to 0.620 in toward the middle, then narrows toward the acorn tip. That swell moves weight toward the front, and lets you adjust it by moving your grip.
What sets it apart
- Swelled profile: 0.580 in in the hand, 0.620 in at mid-shaft
- 16 3/4 in (42.5 cm) long, well above average
- Weight carried forward, for consistent projection
- Acorn tip that broadens the sound of the drums
- The extra length lets you adjust the feel by moving the fulcrum
- American hickory
A stick whose weight you adjust without changing it
On an ordinary stick, the centre of gravity is fixed: moving your hand back makes it heavier up front, moving it forward makes it lighter, but there is no swell to amplify the effect.
Here, the central bulge creates a real zone of mass. Depending on whether you hold the stick in front of or behind that swell, the feel changes clearly: more weight for a gig, less for practising at home. One model covers two settings.
What front weight does to a rimshot
When the heavy point sits in front of the hand, the stroke arrives with more energy for the same motion. On a rimshot, that means a fatter crack, with body under the attack rather than a dry spike.
The same mechanics make the stroke more consistent: the stick follows its own inertia, and two strokes in a row sound more alike.
The extra length, a condition of the design
This profile would not work at 16 in: it takes length for the swell to sit clearly in front of or behind the hand depending on the grip. The extra three quarters of an inch are structural, not decorative.
They also add reach on a large kit, which is the second benefit of the choice.
Specifications
| Material | American hickory |
|---|---|
| Length | 16 3/4 in (42.5 cm) |
| Diameter at the grip | 0.580 in (14.7 mm) |
| Maximum diameter | 0.620 in (15.7 mm), toward the middle of the shaft |
| Tip | Wood acorn |
| Special feature | Central swell instead of a continuous taper |
What it is for
- Large kits with several toms and distant cymbals
- Drummers who want to adjust the feel to the situation
- Hard rimshots and power playing
- Technique work at home with the same pair you gig with
- Progressive metal and rhythmically dense music
Compare with other manufacturers
Sticks with engineered weight distribution from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Promark | Forward Balance | Forward balance achieved through the taper, no swell |
| Vic Firth | Freestyle 5B | Lightened profile, longer length, even shaft |
| Zildjian | Super 5B | Extra length only, no change in diameter |
| Regal Tip | Performer | Classic tapered profile, fixed mass |
Frequently asked questions
- Can you actually feel the swell in your hand?
- In the hand, no, since you hold the stick at 0.580 in. You hear it when you strike, through the extra weight up front.
- How should I choose my grip?
- The further back your hand is from the swell, the heavier the stick feels up front. The further forward, the lighter it gets. That is the intended adjustment.
- Is it hard to get used to?
- The grip diameter stays moderate. What surprises at first is the length, which takes a few minutes to adapt to.
- Does it work for soft playing?
- Yes, by moving your grip forward to reduce the effect of the swell. That is exactly what the extra length allows.
Avis clients
Do you change your grip between rehearsal and the stage?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.