Vater Wood Handle Whip — Poly Bristle Drum Rods on a Wood Handle, Dual-Ended
The Wood Handle Whip is a 16 in stick with a wood handle and a 0.610 in grip, with poly bristles fitted at one end. Both ends are playable: bare wood for a full stroke, bristles for restraint, and you switch just by flipping it in your hand.
What sets it apart
- Wood handle, grip sized like a 5B
- Both ends are playable
- 16 in (40.6 cm), 0.610 in grip
- Poly bristles from the same family as the Whip's
- The wood handle carries the feedback of each stroke into your hand
A wood handle, and what it changes in your hand
The moulded handle of a rods bundle isolates. It absorbs part of the feedback and gives a slightly dull feel, pleasant over long sessions but not very communicative. A wood handle does the opposite: it conducts, and your hand knows what the head is doing.
For a drummer coming from sticks, that feedback is decisive. You find the rebound cues you are used to, instead of learning a new motion at the same time as a new sound.
Two tools, one hand
The 0.610 in grip is not a detail: it is the size of a 5B, and so of a stick meant to hit. Vater chose it so that the bare end is genuinely useful, and not just a counterweight to the bristles.
In practice, you hold the tool one way for a full chorus and the other way for a restrained bridge. No swap, no loss: the song changes density without the drummer having to reach for anything.
Specifications
| Length | 16 in (40.6 cm) |
|---|---|
| Grip | 0.610 in, 5B size |
| Handle | Wood |
| Bristles | Poly bristles |
| Playable ends | Both |
What it is for
- Drummers used to a 5B who want a soft option without changing grip
- Songs built on a continuous rise in intensity
- Acoustic bands that sometimes play louder
- Recording sessions where you try several textures
- Tight stages where setting tools down is impossible
Compare with other manufacturers
Wood-handled sticks with soft bristles, from other makers:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Promark | Wood handle brush | Wire bristles, more of a swish |
| Vic Firth | Wood handle rute | Birch dowels, a warmer material |
| Regal Tip | Dual-ended model | Different bristle length and spread |
| Zildjian | Rods with a rigid handle | Only one playable end |
| Los Cabos | Rods bundle | Different bundle construction |
Frequently asked questions
- How is it different from the regular Whip?
- The handle and the size. The Whip is held by its bristle-fitted handle, at 0.570 in; this is the wood-handle version, at 0.610 in, the grip of a 5B, and both of its ends are playable.
- Does the wood end sound like a real drumstick?
- It strikes like a stick shaft, with no shaped tip. On a drumhead the difference is small; on a cymbal you can hear it, because nothing defines the contact.
- Does the wood split against the rim?
- The risk exists, as with any wooden stick. The exposed area is the front third, and heavy playing on the rim shortens the life of any model.
- Is it heavier than dowel rods?
- It weighs more than the original Whip, because the wood handle adds mass. That is what gives it its drumstick-like behaviour.
Avis clients
Do you play songs that build from a whisper to a full chorus?
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.