Sunday, May 22, 2011

Drumsticks: Episode 2

First off, let me start by quoting a certain statement made by Vic Firth.


"Of course, there are a variety of other materials that drumsticks can be made of, but these two types of wood (hickey & maple) are considered best for all around playing. Non-wood products (such as composite fiber or metal), which may offer extra durability, can deliver undue shock to a player's wrists and arms, sometimes resulting in sore muscles or even tendonitis."
Quoted from Vic Firth 2011 Catalog





Question: "Non-wood products can deliver undue shock.......or even tendonitis". Is this statement true?
Unfortunately yes. However, Ahead sticks are well-known for shock absorbing. How is this possible? Well, there are two assumption which Vic Firth is making when it makes this statement: 
1) The drumsticks are made entirely of metal. 
2) It is true, Ceteris Paribus  
All Ahead did was to break this assumption. It makes its drumsticks out of different individual parts and install some Vibration control system.
A pair of Ahead is made up of an aluminium shaft and a replaceable taper cover. This implies that taper of the Ahead drumsticks are removable and changeable. In fact, you are supposed to change this polyurethane taper cover. So when playing with Ahead, you are not hitting the drums with aluminium but plastic instead. Furthermore, since the cover and the shaft are not joined together, it will dampen the shock. 
The aluminium sticks itself has a built-in vibration control system (VRS) as well, breaking Vic Firth's 2nd assumption. This VRS is patented by Ahead.

Note: Ahead Drumsticks are available at Drums Resources.

Drums Resources 
Ph: 91170692 (You will be speaking to Nigel. CALL HIM FIRST before you go)
Lock & Store 37 Keppel Road #01-03 Tanjong Pagar Distripark Singapore 089064

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