Vater Whip — Poly Bristle Drum Rods, 14.75 in
The Whip is a 14.75 in bundle of synthetic bristles with a 0.570 in grip, made for hitting the drums without making them loud. It fills a gap no other tool really covers: more attack than a brush, much less volume than a drumstick.
What sets it apart
- Poly bristles: a real attack, not just a swish
- Much lower volume than a solid drumstick
- 14.75 in, 0.570 in at the grip
- More bite than a brush without the volume of a stick, in the manufacturer's words
- Poly bristles from the same bristle family as the other Whip models
The gap between brush and stick
Many acoustic bands hit the same wall: with brushes, the drums vanish as soon as a guitar is amplified; with sticks, they bury the vocal. For a long time there was nothing in between except playing softer, which never lasts.
A bundle of plastic bristles answers exactly that need. Every stroke sounds like a stroke, with a clean transient, but the energy sent into the head stays low. The drummer can play with a normal motion instead of holding back.
Synthetic bristles rather than wooden dowels
A bundle of wooden dowels splits and chips against the rim. Synthetic bristles bend and spring back: they take deformations that would break birch.
The trade-off is audible: the sound is a little drier and less woody than a dowel bundle. The choice comes down to whether you want warmth or durability.
Specifications
| Length | 14.75 in (37.5 cm) |
|---|---|
| Grip | 0.570 in |
| Bristles | Poly bristles |
| Volume level | Between a brush and a drumstick |
What it is for
- Acoustic bands with an amplified guitar
- Stages where the wooden dowels of a bundle wear out fast
- Drummers who find brushes too quiet
- Cover sets played by a small lineup
- Backing music in a café or restaurant
Compare with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers' low-volume bristle tools:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Regal Tip | Plastic bristle brush | Bristles with a different cross-section, wider spread |
| Vic Firth | Birch rute | Wooden dowels: warmer, less durable |
| Promark | Synthetic brush | Bristles with a different profile, wider spread |
| Zildjian | Low-volume bundle | Wood construction, more flexible feel |
| Los Cabos | Bristle brush | Different bundle density |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it a brush or a drumstick?
- Neither. A brush sweeps, a drumstick hits hard; this one hits softly. It is the tool for situations where neither of the other two fits.
- Does it damage drumheads?
- No more than dowel rods, as long as you treat it like them. Damage comes from heavy hits on the rim, not from the head.
- Do the bristles keep their shape?
- A synthetic bristle springs back after bending, which is the main advantage of this material. A wooden bundle, by contrast, goes out of balance as soon as a few dowels give out.
- Can you play rimshots with it?
- That is not what it is designed for. Contact with the rim is what wears out any bundle fastest, whatever it is made of.
Avis clients
Do your drums disappear as soon as a guitar is amplified?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.