Vater Xtreme Design Rock Drumsticks — Wood Tip, Hickory
The Vater Xtreme Design Rock is a pair of hickory drumsticks, 16.5 in long with a 0.630 in diameter and a rounded barrel tip. The manufacturer specifies a 2B-type grip: it fills the palm, and the weight of the stick alone is enough to make a bass drum or floor tom speak without forcing it from the arm.
What sets it apart
- 0.630 in cross-section — the grip of a 2B
- Extended 16.5 in length
- Heavier taper, for a feel the manufacturer calls solid
- Rounded barrel tip, turned from the wood
- Hickory with the brand's usual lacquer finish
- Heavy, balanced and responsive stick, according to the manufacturer
What 0.630 in feels like from the first bar
A grip this thick fills the palm. You no longer pinch the stick between two fingers: you hold it. For a drummer coming from thinner sticks, it takes a few sessions to adjust, mostly by relaxing the hand.
Once the grip is found, the benefit is immediate. The stick's own weight is enough to make a floor tom or bass drum speak, and the drummer stops making up for it with arm strength.
Volume, without losing the head's rebound
The usual drawback of thick sticks is that they deaden the feel of the rebound: the stick drops instead of coming back. The manufacturer describes this series as heavy but balanced and responsive — and it is precisely that balance that preserves part of the rebound.
In practice, you can still play doubles on the snare instead of sticking to single strokes. That is the difference between a massive stick you can play and a chunk of wood.
What wear does to this profile
This model gets no protective finish and no band at the rim: only the brand's standard lacquer. Its feel in the hand comes from its cross-section and profile, two things that do not fade over time.
Wear therefore stays easy to read: the stick gets gouged where it hits the rim and the tip rounds off, without a coating flaking off in the meantime. For a drummer who inspects their sticks before every show, that honesty is worth something.
Specifications
| Grip diameter | 0.630 in |
|---|---|
| Stick length | 16.5 in |
| Profile | Heavier taper than on standard models |
| Tip | Rounded barrel, wood |
| Wood species | American hickory, lacquer finish |
| Grip equivalent | 2B size |
What it is for
- Rooms without sound reinforcement
- Heavy rock, metal and hardcore
- Hard-hitting drummers looking for a full grip
- Low toms and bass drum that call for a big stroke
- Rehearsal rooms where the drummer has to cover the amps
Compare with other manufacturers
Other manufacturers' heavy models aim for the same volume by different means:
| Manufacturer | Comparable model | What differs |
|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth | American Classic 2B | Similar cross-section, but standard length and traditional profile |
| Promark | Classic Forward 2B | Forward balance point, traditional profile |
| Zildjian | 2B Hickory | Similar size, different tip and taper design |
| Los Cabos | 2B Red Hickory | Density from the choice of wood, classic profile |
| Regal Tip | 2B Wood Tip | The manufacturer's own tip shape, standard length |
Frequently asked questions
- Are 2B drumsticks only for hard hitters?
- Not only. They are also used for practice, because their mass forces you to work on wrist relaxation. They stay demanding over long sessions.
- How is it different from the 5A in the same series?
- The grip, first of all: 0.630 in versus 0.580 in. The length is the same, at 16.5 in, and the profile follows the same principle.
- Do these sticks wear out drumheads faster?
- A heavier stroke wears a head more, whatever the stick. The rounded tip does spread the contact rather than concentrating it.
- Why choose this model over a coated stick?
- Because nothing chips and nothing rubs off on the cymbals. The feel comes from the shape of the stick, which stays the same from the first show to the last.
Avis clients
Playing without a PA? Tell us whether this grip helped.
Aucun avis pour le moment. Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience après votre achat.