Vater Cymbal Stick Oval Drumsticks — Wood Tip, Sugar Maple
The Vater Cymbal Stick Oval is a pair of sugar maple drumsticks, 16 in long with a 0.570 in diameter and an oval tip cut from the wood. The manufacturer places their sound in the mid-range: a cymbal that stays audible among the other instruments without having to cut through, on a stick lightened by the wood chosen.
What sets it apart
- Oval tip, elongated with a soft top
- Mid-range sound: neither clicky nor dull
- Sugar maple body, noticeably lighter than a hardwood
- 5A measurements: 0.570 in by 16 in
- The brand's usual lacquer finish, with no protective coating
- Contact area that changes with the angle of the stick
The oval, a shape that gives the wrist a choice
An oval tip has no single contact area: laid flat, it lands on its side and gives a broad sound; raised, it lands on its end and gives a tighter sound. The drummer has two colours in the same stick.
That range is controlled by the angle of the arm, without switching sticks mid-song. That is why the oval shape comes up so often among drummers who back a wide variety of music.
The mid-range, the one that blends
A very bright cymbal sound cuts through the mix but blends poorly; a very dark one blends in but disappears. The mid-range does the opposite of both: it stays audible while sitting with the other instruments.
It is a quality that is not very impressive when you try it in a store and very useful on the job. On a recording, a mid-range ride needs far less correction in the mix than a ride at either extreme.
What eventually happens to an oval tip
Every tip turned from the wood wears with playing, and the oval loses its point when it loses its geometry: as the side gets hollowed by the cymbal edge, the two colours move closer together and the choice of angle fades.
Nothing here slows that down. The model wears the brand's standard lacquer, with no reinforced coating and no band at the rim, unlike the series built for rimshots. Replacement is planned the way you plan for a new drumhead.
Specifications
| Length | 16 in |
|---|---|
| Tip | Elongated oval, wood |
| Wood species | Sugar maple |
| Diameter | 0.570 in |
| Stated sound | Mid-range |
| Surface treatment | Vater's usual lacquer |
What it is for
- Backing a wide range of styles in a single night
- Drummers who shape their sound with the angle of the arm
- Recording where the cymbal has to stay easy to mix
- Acoustic music and small groups
- Smooth moves between ride and hi-hat playing
Compare with other manufacturers
Several manufacturers make an oval tip; the difference comes down to the wood and the size:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Custom SD5 Echo | Also maple, but a much thicker stick — 0.67 in — and a round tip |
| Promark | Shira Kashi Oak 5A | Oak, a much denser and more durable wood |
| Los Cabos | 5A Maple | Canadian maple, the manufacturer's own tip profile |
| Zildjian | 5A Hickory | Hickory rather than maple: more mass and strength |
Frequently asked questions
- How does it play differently from the acorn tip?
- The acorn always lands wide and thickens the sound. The oval changes with the angle: it lets you go from a tight sound to a broad one without switching sticks.
- Is a mid-range sound a bland sound?
- No. It is a sound that leaves room for the other instruments while staying clear. Its value shows up in the mix, not on its own.
- Do these sticks hold up on drumheads?
- Yes, and sugar maple is described as a wood that holds up. They are still designed for cymbals and nuanced playing, not for heavy rimshots, which the manufacturer leaves to other series.
- How long do they last?
- No lifespan is published, and it would depend on your playing anyway. The point to know is different: this model has no reinforcement in the rimshot area.
Avis clients
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