Ahead Drumsticks

Has anyone out there ever used these? I just bought a pair of 5B Rock and haven't had a chance to try them out yet. The salesman at Sam Ash said that in the long run they'll save me money since the replaceable shafts and tips are much less expensive than a new pair of regular wood sticks. Sounded like it was worth the $30, but I'm seeing mixed reviews online. It looks like the plus side is the cost effectiveness, however some reviews say that they've been known to crack cymbals and rims.

Anyone have any experience with these?

When the guy at Sam Ash tried selling me these, that's all I could think about. Plus I found them REALLY uncomfortable to hold. I'm assuming you're referring to the all aluminum stick.

interestingly, I was looking at these today at GC. I gave them a try, and didnt really care for them. I dont know, they just felt funny.

They're a {censored}ing joke. Don't bother.

I've heard of people breaking them, and breaking cymbals with them. Bad technique? Don't know just what I've heard.

Nice AV. You're welcome.

I had a peir given to me and I gave them a fair shot, but gave up on them. Worse complaint I have is that the tips came off on me and I busted a head with the exposed threads. Take 'em back and buy some great wood sticks. JMO.

My experience:

-tip flies off breaks head, just like marko46 mentioned

-tip cracks completely in half

-broke one shaft in half from riding really fast.

-absolutely hated the chewed up shafts

-very uncomfortable grip, especially if you play any traditional.

-but my biggest complaint of all is the sound. Hollow but plastic attack, made the cymbals ring with dullness.

There's a reason the salesmen have to push these.

I have a few pairs that I have a love/hate relationship with.

On one hand, when they are new and properly attached to itself...they are my favorite sticks to play.. Nice and light, and I enjoy the weight distrubtion very much, I can really wail on my stuff without any thought about them braking.

However, when the tips fly off, or the sides get very chewed up, its a different storry...always watching to make sure you don't break a head is not fun and really distracts from playing. Some people also have trouble holding onto them, which I used to have, but am now past.

Here's how I use them...

If I'm going to play an extremely fast/heavy (if that makes any sense) song, I double check to make sure nothing is going to fly off and use the Aheads.

If I'm playing anything with a simple groove/rimshots/that thing where you lay your stick horizontally across the snare and "click" (I don't know if that makes any sense either), I use my vaters.

Overall, for 20$, I would go back in time and by a few more vaters.

I appreciate all the advice. I wound up finding a few older threads on these sticks and all opinions seem to vary from absolute love to downright loathe. I don't break sticks all that often but they did seem like a good idea, since sticks aren't getting any cheaper. I figure what I'll do is try them out and see how they handle. I'm sure they'll take a little getting used to and a slight change in my technique. Supposedly they're much easier to use with grip tape, which I use on all my sticks anyway. But if they do turn out to be crap I'll just go back to using my old ProMarks and have an expensive set of backup sticks.

Those cheap sale sticks they're unloading at GC right now, seem to be good sticks for 10$. In bundles of 10.

I got some 5A and played the crap out of them today, and they're holding up nice. Seem durable. Might check them out to save some cash.

Back when i was working at GC i got one of those 10 pack of factory seconds for $3. Still have 7 pairs a year later (granted i've been only using brushes and pads for the past 6 months).

Your math theory needs some work.

Try them out man. But I strongly recommend you put some finger nail polish on the threads prior to screwing on the tips. It acts like lock-tight, but can be broken if ya need to. If ya don't ya may be buying a new snare head. When I broke my head with one, I hadn't even realized the tip had come off at that point until it was too late.

I'll try that, thanks man.

If you don't have {censored}ty technique, you won't need metal drumsticks.

I own a pair of them. They were kind of an impulse buy, just to try them out. I haven't used them in years. I don't like the feel of them at all, they have too much flex for my taste.

Now that my technique is much better than when i first started, I barely ever break a drum stick. Maybe once every few months after it's been worn out. The main selling point for the aheads was the durability and reduced cost over replacing wood sticks, but that's not an issue anymore.

Long story short--if you have good technique, you probably don't need aheads.

These are the only sticks I use and I am happy with them. They out last anything wood I have ever tried. On avarage I would go through 12 pair of wood sticks a month, somtimes more. With ahead, I break maybe one a month.

Yes, they do break after a while, but as long as you change the covers when they start to get chewed up, then you will have a good run with them.

They are a little odd at first, but they will be comfortable in no time.

and NO they do not break cymbals. The covers acctualy protect your gear more than a wood stick does, that is provided your technique is proper.

My one and only complaint is that you can't do any kind of cross sticking with them. I keep a pair of wood sticks in my bag just for that.

This really was an impulse buy more than anything else. I had seen them in the music shops before and just figured, what the hell? Even though sticks usually last me anywhere between 6-10 months before one of them snaps just below the tip it'll be interesting to see how these hold up. Like I said, I can always go back to my usual ProMarks.

I have 2 pairs of the Ahead sticks.I don't use them a lot but I do use them when in the right mood.I mostly use cheap wood sticks.They seem to hold up and last a month or so before I have to replace them.I rarely break a stick unless it's "chewed" up from use.

As far as sound goes,I prefer the wood over the Ahead sticks.I haven't had any issues with tips falling off or anything,I pay close attention to the condition of the sleeves,actually I am getting ready to replace them.I've played every speed I am capable of playing and never had a problem.

i used them for a while, as i was breaking sticks/tips ever other band practice. i didn't mind them for rock drumming, they sounded decent, and the durability was great. the cons were changing the cover, which was a bitch. i did have one or two break on me as well, if you can believe that. all in all i prefer vaters go old all wood sticks, 5B specifically.