Drumstick Choice with the Select Balance Series
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- Опубліковано 14 чер 2024
- One of the most commonly ignored attributes of a drumstick is the taper, yet it has a monumental effect on how the stick behaves. In this Product Feature, we’re breaking down the concept of the Select Balance series from Promark.
Select Balance: www.daddario.com/SelectBalance...
Sticks shown here:
RBH565AW tinyurl.com/Rebound5aHickoryA...
FBH565AW tinyurl.com/Forward5aHickoryA...
RBH565TW tinyurl.com/Rebound5aHickoryT...
RBO565AW tinyurl.com/Rebound5aOakAcorn
RBM565RW tinyurl.com/Rebound5aMapleRound
Hosted by: Cody Rahn
Production: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
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I am happy that Promark developed these balances. I play in a room that a little sound goes a long way so I finally ended up with 7A Rebounds Active Grips. In the bigger rooms I'll go with 5A Rebounds Active Grip. Changing out of Rebounds will take some practice.
short, informative, and to the point. another nicely done video.
Thanks so much! -Ben
Been through and back and forth with many sticks the past few years and keep going back to a few pairs . The 5a Rebounds, the 7a Manhattans, 5a vics and 5a Vater LA sticks. The Promark Rebounds and 7a Manhattans are my go to just so comfortable and great balance.
I love discovering a years-old video, made about a specific product line, and there's still so many lovely little nuggets of information that are still applicable in a breadth of different applications. I absolutely adore this channel. 🖤
I use 55a Rebound Maple sticks. I find that the Maple sticks last a bit longer than Hickory ones because they tend to dent more than fray when you play rimshots. They fray after a while but they last about double the time when you are playing light to medium genres of music. For rock and heavier types of tracks I use the Marco Minnemann signature stick.
Very good explanation of the effects of stick taper. I've been using the new Vic Firth FS5A stick and they have a ridiculously long taper and I love it.
I've always been partial to the discontinued Tony Williams Zildjian stick and never found a solid replacement.
I’ve been using the Forward Balance since they beta tested them a few years back. I absolutely love them for the way I play - ‘Nashville-esque’ backbeats. Nothing complicated, but it needs consistency - these sticks have only made my hits more consistent while letting me use gravity to pull the stick down, so I’m using less energy!
I tried using 2B’s for awhile, using Gordy Knutson’s idea of letting the stick do the work, but they’re just too big. The 5A Hickory Forward Balance is my go to! I didn’t know they made a long version...now I have something new to try!
Great advice Cody, thanks for the knowledge once again 👊🏻👍🏻😊
Wonderful. Great playing Cody and clear explanation. Think I'll try some of the long taper sticks but only if it makes my ham fisted efforts as fluid as yours. Keep these vids rolling, much appreciated.
I cannot wait to try these. Been playing Neil Peart Sigs for years now and I feel like If I get an acorn tip with the same diameter and shorter taper I will feel even more at home! Thanks for the great video as always!
Awesome and informative! Always wanted to see a video talking about stick lenghts, and materials! You guys just seem to find that information black hole thank you!
Awesome video, the wood, size, taper and tip are huge variables that I need to consider more depending on the gig
Excellent. I use the active grip. They are awesome.
Very informative!!!
Great video! I've been playing PM 808 for almost 15 years. I wish they included 808 model in their newer series
Nice to see product demos, even though I use a different brand. The taper difference makes a big difference. I found a serious with the same dimensions that work similar to the rebound series for the exact same reasons you mention.
For so long we’ve been taught that there is one perfect stick out there for you. But having different sticks give you access to different sounds. I’ve got 3 sticks, 3 brushes, and 2 rods in my standard bag. Works great!
Have you considered doing a video showing how different stick head types and materials affect the sound? Not everyone has researched or knows the differences.
XCEL SPEEDSTICKS & sometimes POWERSTICKS. Maple. Excellent...ingenious designs. I have broken my hands several times and grip/comfort is a big issue. This small mom&pop business makes sticks that I couldn't really ask anything more from. Maple is light, and I rarely break sticks. 5B Maple in either one of thesestick options is my go to, Although I like and sometimes use smaller sticks & brushes too...its more about the bigger grip that dictate my stick size choices. And if you check them out, pay attention to the "bell strker" about 1½" below the tip, and the weighted end on the SPEEDSTICKS, and XL grip on the POWERSTICKS.
I picked up a stick at sweetwater and it happened to be a 7A promark finesse maple and I loved it! I ordered the 5A version but accidentally ordered the rebounds which also feel and sound great especially on the ride. I will order the 5A finesses next.
A SUPER important thing that was not covered here is that the diameters of the forward vs rebound are slightly different.
The 5a forward has a slightly smaller diameter at .551.
the 5a rebound has a slightly larger diameter at .565. That helps to shift the weight to the back of the stick in addition to the longer taper.
It’s a shame because .565 diameter feels AMAZING in the hand but that longer tapered lighter tip is thinner sounding on the drums which is really unpleasant for me personally. So I use the .551 forward because I prefer a little more punch on the heads.
Just something for everyone to be aware of. :)
Hmmm, this was never the case with the original Select Balance series (what's showcased here). Forward and Rebound have the same diameter (within the tolerance specs). The change between the versions is supposed to be the taper. I can't speak to whether or not that has changed. It's worth noting that there were originally Rebound & Forward .550 models as well as Rebound & Forward .565 models. They may have discontinued certain models that made up this series which, if this is the case, is really unfortunate because it essentially nullifies the whole concept behind the Select Balance series.
I'll be trying the 5a Firegrain sticks. Seem like a quality stick.
I'm using Regal Tip 5AX at the moment and they're great. I just got two more pairs in the mail. Made in New York !
Great vid fellas 👍
Good presentation! I learned about how the taper length influences the feel of the drumstick and the sound on the drums. I´m not aware if you have already done a video on the anatomy of a drumstick, how each part of the stick influences the sound, the touch and how to manipulate the sticks to get different sounds from different surfaces.
+soundslikeadrum *I gravitated to monster sticks early on due to premature breakage;* back in the 1980's, a Ludwig®/Conn Selmer 3S pair snapped after only a few hours' service. The Select Balance principle really needs to be applied to concert and marching side sticks in addition to drumset. I'm also a nylon-tipper at the kit, and, so far, Pro-Mark®/D'Addario® hasn't a real rival to my current-fave Vic Firth® SRHN Ralph Hardimon Corpsmaster® side sticks (although Pro-Mark could easily produce a counterpart in the TXDCBYOSN Ralph Nader/Harvey Thompson Model, which would benefit from a Forward profile in DCI and WGW).
Just made the switch from Vic Firth Extreme 5B to Promark Firegrain Rebound 5B
I tried some of these when they came out. Both seemed strange to me and I had trouble articulating with either. Perhaps if I spent more time with them it would work, but the standard 5A works just fine for me, so I figured "why switch?". I'm also a big fan of the Steve Smith Vic Firth sticks, especially when I want a touch more volume than the 5A provides, without having to work harder to get it. But, thanks for reviewing these!
Great video thank you!! If it was not because if this video it could of cost me in the future since my hands hurt alot with heavy sticks after a while. Thank you again!
I didn't know much about Promark as a company until they announced the Select Balance series, since then I've played a large variety of their sticks. I don't have one pair necessarily that is the one pair for me as I tend to use sticks from their classic 5A (or select balance 5A Light as Sweetwater calls them) up to a 2B, but I like the 5A and 5B mostly. I think that their ability to create such a variety of sticks from wood choices, tip options and finish options, and then double that variation with the select balance line, they've really given that ability to choose the stick that feels right. Their company has really turned around and come back up to the top, rivaling Vic Firth and Vater, and it seems like even though they lost a few big artists like Benny Greb, Eric Moore II and Roy Mayorga due to the initial decline of the company, they are coming back by signing big names like Anika Nilles, Claus Hessler and Carter MacLean, and have a few up and coming drummers who have received popularity online such as Cobus Potgieter, Ben Minal, Louis Sellers and Eddie Thrower.
I just wish that they offered their Select Balance 55A and 5A Light (the 550 5A) with acorn tips and active grip. I do use the 5A and 5B primarily, mostly the 5A that I have the most variations of, but wish that they had those variations for the 55A when I want something in between the 5A and 5B. But I love the variety they have now and only hope that the 55A will receive the variations it deserves.
Another thing I noticed about taper: Ease and certainty of rimshots. I love playing rimshots, but when the taper on my sticks is too long I cannot play them as controlled as I can with a medium or short taper. And if you want to play rimshots at a low volume you need all the control you can get.
I learned some things in this video. I think it’s gunna stick.😜
We see what you did there...
Promark oak 5b rebound... best of both worlds!
I find your videos as an amateur/hobby drummer fascinating. I’m guessing that if one was to major in percussion at the college or university level you might learn a lot of this in your program, (maybe not.) So as someone who has never done that and never will, I truly appreciate your offerings. I especially like your clarity of communication and how well thought out your experiments are.
About this video....I was left wondering about how the tip affects play....perhaps you have done a discussion about this already? If so, my apologies.
Thanks! We havne't gotten into the real nitty gritty of drum stick stuff yet, that's gonna be explored in a future series. - Cody
Im Blown away Being a Vic Firth Stick Drummer Mostly 40Years I've been Playing 62 Years I use the VF 85A and the David Garabaldi Both Excellent Sticks Now When I got the Promark 5A Rebound Series At first the Large Acorn Head put me off a Bit? I Like a Smaller Acorn Head But Then I Started Playing them First on my X Moc Pad The Rebound was Fabulous They Used a sort of Black Stick Paint Only as you Sweat they Hold Better and When I Played them On My 3 Sets One Yamaha Recording Custom Then My Gretsch USA Custom then my Joe Montineri Both my Yamaha and Gretsch I'm Using Remo P4 Clears Top and Clear Ambassador Bottom SD Garabali Coated Ambassador. My Montineri Coated Enmperor and Coated Ambassador The Sticks Worked Fantastic on all three Sets But the Clear Heads Sounded Better Fuller with Punch & Depth on my Monetineri I had to Hold Back a little or it sort of Muddled the Sound once I lighted My Grip Beautiful I used Both Grips Matching and Traditional and the Larger Acorn Head Terrific Great Bell Sound and Triplets Clear Precise
As a Drum Teacher I had the opportunity to do a review on the Select Balance sticks about five years ago. When I tried them I was I instantly amazed! I gave some pairs to my students and drummer friends. I received some really great feedback. Being a D’Addario Education Collective instructor Promark is the only brand of stick I recommend for my students. I play the Select Balance 5A forward and the Active Grip sticks. Promark is definitely the best stick a drummer can play with!
So this became d'Addario exclusive channel :/
D’Addario has chosen to support the channel and make it possible for us to invest the time, energy, and equipment. Other companies are welcome to support the channel as well. As a result, everything we produce is free for you to watch. There aren’t any subscription fees, buy-ins, etc. On top of that, we're sharing information that can be applied across all brands and can help inform and inspire decisions made with products and creative approaches. Thanks for watching! -Ben
I really want to try more of the promark sticks because i've tried the actice grips and they where really horrible. XD there is no active grip when your hands are sweating. D: the rebound was kinda great tho. :° I was using 5B btw.
i use a pair of them right now and they are very comfy....and i dont know if quality control is different at the states, but here in Greece it is a rare thing to find a solid straight pair from any major manufacturer...i always spend some time mitch and match different pairs at the drumstore and get the looks from people....it is also more rare to find a straight pair with a perfect pitch as it is advertised, and pitch is important to
QC seems to be somewhat better now, but there are still warped sticks being sold. Mixing and matching can be tough if you're also concerned with matching weight and pitch.
@@jc3drums916 i also try to avoid sticks that the waterfalls arent vertical with the stick, they tend to last longer if they are...10-15$ on a warped pair is such a waste and a bad thing for your hands....people should get informed
I have a pair of ziljian dip sticks. Nylon tips & national finish 5a’s I prefer natural wood
Thanks for the info...btw, caught you guys on a podcast....was awesome! Ever thought of having your own? I’d be listening!
Glad you enjoyed it! Which podcast were you listening to? We've definitely thought about it, though we'd need to find more time in the day! Cheers! -Ben
Sounds Like A Drum drumeo Gab, an episode from last year I believe. I could listen to you guys talk drums all day man, killer content.
Can I hear more about wood choice in sticks? I’m not sure what each one does/doesn’t do
Sure, we're gonna have a whole sticks-oriented series in the future. Happy to answer any Q's you might have though, feel free! -Cody
What is the diameter of 5As?
I think I prefer the black background.
We kinda dig it too ✨
@@SoundsLikeADrum what's the difference of the 7a and 5a?
Personally I love how promarks feel, but the matte finish on vics feel better in the hand so I'm really torn. Wish promarks made a stick with less laquer
My Firegrain did feel slippery when I first bought them.
Pete, there's nothing in the rule book that says drummers can't modify their gear! Get some sandpaper of different grits and start experimenting with how much finish to take off. Nice part is, if you go too far you can always respray it. I have found DEFT brand lacquer to give the best finish and it gets just slightly tacky after the sticks warm up from playing.
I'm at the point now where I just spray a light coat on every new pair I get.
Good luck!
They do. It's called the natural line. See the ones with the green text and logos.
Ive personally never liked promark. The strength of the sticks are great but the feel of them in my hand never felt comfortable. And the connection between my drums and i feels disjointed as if there was a blob of jelly in my hand instead of a stick. I stick with the heavier vic firths at the moment only cause i cant find anything else thats accesible and comfortable.
It might be worth trying out some of the Select Balance models then. The different taper options combined with controlled variables for every other aspect of the stick allow you to find a stick that really feels like an extension of your hand. -Ben
Sounds Like A Drum hmmmm ill try, but only for u bby
Always worth experimenting! Select Balance is available in Hickory, Maple, and Oak, so you've got some different options to help find the best match. Cheers!
I used the Pro-Mark 707 Simon Phillips for most of the 90s, then the 739 Evelyn Glennie for most of the 00s, but for a while their QC seemed to be bad - lots of warped sticks, nylon tips falling off, etc. Hopefully things are better now.
I don't use nylon tips anymore, but I now use a variety of stick they don't make anyway (length of a 7A, diameter between a 5A and a 5B), so bye-bye Pro-Mark.
What ride and hihat combo are you hitting on Cody? They sound great 👍
Josh Kanusky LOL! I was just saying to myself, self, that ride bell sounds horrible! Ha ha ha ha ha ha
keith Gillard different drum strokes for different drum folks :)
Hahaha, yeah no cymbal does everything :) these were made by Jesse Simpson here in BK. -Cody
Sounds Like A Drum thanks 👍
Sounds Like A Drum indeed sir it is a matter of personal preference! I am so old school that likely comes with a bit of a narrow mind and prejudice to that vintage sound! Having said this, I love boutique work with two of my kits being Canadian boutique offerings!
Ever have a taper-worm?
😮
But no nylon tip. Hmm...not sure why us nylon players who love the definition on the cymbals that tip provides always get the snub.
Sorry Promark...you won’t find this model in my house.
Some excellent feedback! Would be great to see their injection molded nylon tips as an option within the Select Balance series. Seeing as they continue to expand the series, it’s likely only a matter of time. -Ben
Sounds Like A Drum I did find a short taper/nylon tip with the Promark Mike Portnoy sig stick. Light like the one you’ve shown and has both wood and nylon options.
Thanks for the video here just the same. You always give us “little guys” the good stuff to make us better.