Vater Sugar Maple Los Angeles 5A Drumsticks (Maple, Wood Tip)
The Sugar Maple Los Angeles 5A is a 5A turned from sugar maple, 16 in by 0.570 in, with a rounded oval tip. It is the most common size in drumming, made lighter by the wood: the same feel in the hand, less mass to throw.
What sets it apart
- Standard 5A dimensions: 0.570 in by 16 in
- Rounded oval tip, turned from the wood
- Sugar maple, lighter than hickory for the same volume
- Quick attack and full sounds, according to the manufacturer
- Works across all styles, with no specialization
- The brand's standard lacquer finish
What maple takes away from a 5A
The 5A is the reference size in drumming: not too thin to carry, not too thick to move fast. Turning it from maple changes none of those dimensions, only the density of the wood.
A drummer who switches from hickory to maple in the same size feels it immediately on the rebound: the stick comes back up faster because there is less mass to stop. The trade-off is that it dents sooner.
An oval tip, neither acorn nor ball
The oval is a compromise shape: longer than a ball tip, less shouldered than an acorn. It lays a slightly elongated surface on the cymbal, which adds body without drowning the definition.
The manufacturer describes full sounds and a lively attack around the whole kit. That is exactly what this design should do: the tip speaks cleanly thanks to its curve, then lets some fundamental through thanks to its length.
The size for a drummer who does not want to choose
This model is not aimed at any particular style, and that is deliberate. The manufacturer presents it as good for all music, which in drumstick terms means none of its dimensions is pushed to an extreme.
The advantage shows on tour or in a music school: one model to reorder, one feel to learn, and a stick that lets you down neither on a ballad nor on a hard-hitting tune.
Specifications
| Size | 5A |
|---|---|
| Wood species | Sugar maple |
| Diameter | 0.570 in (14.5 mm) |
| Length | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
| Tip | Rounded oval, wood |
What it is for
- Varied repertoire, from pop-rock to funk
- Lessons and daily practice at a music school
- Drummers on hickory 5A looking for less fatigue
- Stages where hand speed matters more than power
Compare with other manufacturers
5A sticks in maple or lighter woods from other manufacturers:
| Manufacturer | Similar size | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic 5A | Hickory, acorn tip, shorter taper |
| Promark | Classic Forward 5A | Hickory, forward taper, acorn tip |
| Los Cabos | 5A White Hickory | Pale hickory, heavier |
| Regal Tip | 5A Wood | Hickory, longer taper |
Frequently asked questions
- Is a 5A a good size for beginners?
- It is the size recommended most often: light enough to control, thick enough to produce a sound. The maple version adds a little softness to the motion.
- What is the difference between an oval tip and an acorn tip?
- The acorn has a pronounced shoulder that broadens the sound; the oval is more streamlined and keeps more definition on cymbals.
- Are these sticks too fragile for rock?
- They hold up to normal playing, but maple gives out before hickory under repeated rimshots. For very heavy hitting, a denser wood is a better choice.
- Why “Los Angeles” in the name?
- It is the name of the profile in the manufacturer's lineup, not a style indication. It distinguishes this 5A from the brand's other 5A models.
Avis clients
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