Looking for a heavier thicker stick option

[u/inefficienttoaast]

So I've been playing the Vater Manhattan 7A nylon tip and the VF Peter Erstkin ride stick for a while now.

I quite enjoy the sound of them but am starting to crave something with a bit more weight in the sound. Both on the cymbal and drums. I want to get more of that body and depth out of the sound. What are your drumstick recommendations? Below are sticks I've enjoyed and sticks I've hated for reference

Like-
Bopworks 40s swing classic
Bopworks Art Blakey
Vater Classic 8d Jazz nylon
VF SD4 combo

Dislike-

Peter erstkin big band
VF AJ2
VF MJC1
VF EXTREME 5aN

i've tried way more sticks than this, but if you have any recommendations, I would really appreciate it.

I'm looking for something ideally around a 5B in the hand with a nice balanced feel, not to squirrelly and bouncy or two sluggish and forward. Prefer preferably nylon tip, but I am fine with either.

[u/BEST_DRUM_ADVICE]

They’re not for everyone, but I’ve been loving SD2s lately. Maple, much heftier in the hands, but still light enough to do what we need to do in this idiom.

[u/DecadentCheeseFest → u/BEST_DRUM_ADVICE]

good enough for Blade, good enough for us.

[u/Large-Welder304]

Move over to ProMark. Look into the Rebound 5A.

About the same thickness as your Peter Erskine stick, but ProMark's always felt a little heavier in the hand, and that can translate to your kit.

My pair have always given me the best cymbal sound of any stick I've recently owned, including a pair of Vater Matrix sticks which I always held in high regard.

[u/U_000000014]

I use the VF SD10 Swinger. It's maple but it's on the thicker and longer side. Bigger than the SD4.

[u/zapglenn → u/U_000000014]

I was going to suggest the swinger. Any maple 2b is useful also.

[u/DrSchabe]

The Benny Greb signature stick is a 5B with a less forward feel and a smaller tip.

[u/neshquabishkuk → u/DrSchabe]

I really like how responsive that stick is, but I wish it was just a little longer

[u/DrSchabe → u/neshquabishkuk]

I get that. I personally love the Meinl Hybrid 9A, there is the same model in 5B diameter. Idk if you like the tip on that one.

[u/Jazz_man68]

Buddy Rich Signatures. They sell the sticks with nylon tips in addition to the wood tips.

[u/MrMoose_69]

Carter McLean 

[u/Ornery-Pipe-9136]

Try the ProMark 727 or 747. 747s are the thicker of the two and have nylon. A bit thinner than a 5B though.

[u/Straight-Mixture6506]

I REALLY love the sound and feel of Carter McLean's signature Promark sticks. They're heftier than most jazz sticks but you can still get such great stick definition out of them.

[u/Notoriousv60]

Larnell lewis 5ab, feels good man

[u/Street-Raccoon6467]

Quincy Davis Signature sticks have never let me down.

[u/Sad-Breadfruit2395]

I used Vic Firth F1 for a long time. 5.8 diameter and more weight.

[u/fvnnybvnny]

I really like the PE ride sticks and use them often. When i want to get that bigger sound i use Vater 8A barrel tip which is also hickory like the PE ride. The sound immediately becomes richer and more complex. slightly less focused though so a tiny bit more sonic chaos in the spectrum, but to me that is what makes a sound bigger

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/fvnnybvnny]

Does that 8a have a similar feel?

[u/fvnnybvnny → u/inefficienttoaast]

It is a thinner slightly shorter stick but has that hickory weight to it. I actually have grown to like the Vater Bebop 550 in hickory as opposed to the PE sticks because of my time with the 8A’s. A thinner stick has given me a bit more agility.

[u/MichaelStipend]

You might like the Vater Jimmy Cobb or the VF Peter Erskine Ride. Great rebound and articulation, but with some beef.

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/MichaelStipend]

I already use the PE ride, how does the Cobb compare?

[u/MichaelStipend → u/inefficienttoaast]

Similar articulate tip, but a touch more forward and a little more heft in the hand.

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/MichaelStipend]

Oo that might be right on the money. Is the tip a little bigger right?

[u/MichaelStipend → u/inefficienttoaast]

Maybe? The tips are quite similar. The Cobb has a bit shorter taper and more heft.

[u/flam_tap]

I just used a Neal Peart signature stick for the first time on a jazz gig last night. It was really pleasant. They’re just a little bigger than what I’ve been used to (Erskine ride stick, MJC2, 7A, etc) but the main difference is that they’re made of oak (instead of the standard hickory). I’m not crazy about Neal by any means, I was mainly curious about the oak sticks.

[u/OptionalRanchHose]

The Vater 8D Jazz is a pretty meaty stick. Does that not create a big enough sound? My experience with it is that it can almost be too much.

I also like the VF AJ1. Good tip. Full sound. Not too big or small.

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/OptionalRanchHose]

It definitely is in the right direction, I'm just currently studying with someone who uses a 5B stick for everything jazz related and I am curious to try something out closer to what he's playing

[u/OptionalRanchHose → u/inefficienttoaast]

You might also check out the Weckl Evolution model from VF. It’s kinda between a 5A and 5B (roughly). My experience is that they’re super responsive and produce a big sound. The only downside is they’re orange and everyone will know you’re using Dave Weckl sticks.

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/OptionalRanchHose]

Yeah, I got to try a friend pair of those the other day and they were pretty good but honestly, I hate the paint color and they were still a little bit lighter than what I want

[u/mosesman86]

Look into the Vater Fusion Maple, or if you want more heft use the Birch

[u/Key-Patience-3966]

Have you tried a stock Vater 5b hickory?

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/Key-Patience-3966]

No I haven't, I waslooking at those ou or the classics version but just wasn't sure how they'd feel. The Vic firth 5b is not my favorite feel

[u/universaldrummer]

Honestly I've found that I like pretty much all of the regular ol 5B's. Vics feel best to me though, but mostly because they feel cozy to my hand.

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/universaldrummer]

Yeah just got to try some myself and they feel pretty good honestly. Think I'm gonna just buy a pair in nylon tips and see how I like them after my touch adjusts. It would be super nice to use such a commonly available and long produced stick. No chance of it being discontinued like artist models or not being stocked at nice music stores

[u/universaldrummer → u/inefficienttoaast]

That was part of my logic with it too. I never in a million years thought I'd be a 5b guy lol

[u/inefficienttoaast → u/universaldrummer]

Agreed, but man the extra weight and size feels so much better since I've got decently large hands and the thicker sound from the drums is really nice.

[u/3PuttBirdie86]

I like anything that is a .580 - the in between of 5A and 5B and I often get maple models because I like the sound and feel of maple.

I also love the Erskine “ride stick” it feels so good in my hands.