Vater American Hickory West Side Drumsticks — Wood Tip, Between 5A and 5B
The West Side is a 16.312 in drumstick whose grip, at 0.590 in, falls exactly between a 5A and a 5B. Its small rounded oval tip blends into the neck instead of standing apart from it — a profile few lineups offer.
What sets it apart
- 0.590 in grip — between the 5A and the 5B
- 16.312 in long
- Small oval tip that blends into the neck
- Continuous transition between the taper and the tip
- American hickory, turned from one piece
- An unusual, smoother contact feel
A tip that never really ends
On most sticks, the tip is a separate shape set at the end of the neck: the eye sees the break, the hand feels it. The West Side removes that break. The small oval continues the curve of the neck, with no pronounced shoulder.
The direct result: contact with the metal varies less with the striking angle. On the edge of a ride or on a slightly open hi-hat, the sound stays consistent even when the motion does not.
The in-between size, and why it is rare
Most catalogues jump straight from 5A to 5B. The 0.590 in fills that gap: more mass than a 5A to make the toms speak, less than a 5B to keep fast passages within reach.
For a drummer who finds one too light and the other too heavy, this size is often the end of a long search.
Specifications
| Diameter | 0.590 in |
|---|---|
| Length | 16.312 in |
| Tip | Small rounded oval, blended into the neck |
| Wood species | American hickory |
| Position | Between the 5A and the 5B |
What it is for
- A drummer long torn between 5A and 5B
- Ride playing alternating between edge and bell
- Groups where the striking angle changes often
- Heavy grooves that still need dynamics
- Repertoire mixing rock, funk and world music
Compare with other manufacturers
In-between sizes and blended tips, elsewhere:
| Manufacturer | Closest model | The design difference |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic 55A | Also an in-between size, but with a distinct teardrop tip |
| Promark | Select Balance Rebound 5A | Balance adjusted through the taper rather than the tip |
| Zildjian | Super 5A | Round tip clearly separated from the neck |
| Regal Tip | Combo Wood | Shorter shaft, longer neck |
Frequently asked questions
- What does a tip blended into the neck change?
- It makes the sound less dependent on the striking angle. The contact stays similar whether the stick lands flat or slightly tilted.
- Is 0.590 in closer to a 5A or a 5B?
- Neither: it sits exactly between the two. Your hand gets more wood than a 5A without the bulk of a 5B.
- Does this tip profile wear differently?
- It has no protruding shoulder to chip, so wear is more gradual and the sound drifts more slowly.
- Is it good for soft playing, switching back and forth with brushes?
- Its moderate weight lets you set it down and pick it up without trouble, which is what matters when you change implements between songs.
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