hello brian. my name is robert. i love the ahead drumsticks. they are my all time favorites. i'm definitely using these when i do peter criss for my kiss tribute band alive 35. thanks for the video. ahead drumsticks rock.
Hell yeah, Robert! Thanks for watching. I LOVE Ahead -- I won't play anything else! I'm so glad you enjoy them. Please let me know if you have questions and keep me posted on your progress!
Ive been using woodsticks ever since I started playing in 5th grade. I love the feel for them but they always broke. I then discovered ahead drum sticks and a week ago I picked up a 5A pair and they are great. just picked up the tape for them and I love them :) For me I play at my church and it would suck breaking a pair of sticks live on stage.
I definitely recommend them. They're very light, very resilient, and I find that I play great with them. If you're just starting out, I would say to also get some wood sticks just so you can feel the difference, but when I went Ahead, I never went back to wood sticks, and I've got 18 years drumming, about five of those on Aheads. Best of luck! Let me know if you have questions.
True. I just wanted to add that. I've just seen it before. some people don't tape it right. you know what you're doing. and it's true ahead sticks do slip when people start sweating. good video.
I actually found out from Ahead's founder that I'm putting the tape on backwards, but I personally like putting it on this way, it stays forever and works really well! Thanks for watching!
For years I've been using tape made for hockey sticks. The rolls are bigger, the grip is insane, and it's like $3 a roll. They usually have multiple colors, but I use white, because if you use, say black, your hands will turn black
I've been playing with wood sticks since I first started drumming but I really want to try these sticks out they seem amazing from what I've been reading. Do you think these would work fine with lets say the christian rock genre?
Hey there! Thanks for watching. I think they could work great for you, get the lighter ones, like the 7A, with a medium taper. Those should work well and have good longevity. I don't use any sticks but AHEAD and I love them. If you have questions, let me know. Thanks!
Oh man, they ship super duper fast, and I think it's much better to buy from the source, it supports them further. They'll get you taken care of, tell them brian botkiller sent you! Thanks!
Hey brian botkiller. When you replace the stick covers, (the meat of the stick that gets bashed), do you have to get different sizes or is it one size for all? I have ahead 7A sticks. So when I replace the covers, do they make the covers for 7A sticks or is it one size fits all? Thanks.
There are different sizes for each stick, for sure. You also might need to soften them up a little to get them on more easily. It sounds crazy, but I've microwaved the plastic -- NOT THE METAL -- for about 10 seconds, and then the sleeve is easier to push over the stick. Let me know if you need more help!
+Green Rabbit I've had some breaks, though less than when I was working constantly. Lucky for me, AHEAD sets me up with replacements since I'm on their artist roster :) Thanks for watching!
brian i need some advice, well i have a drum kit that was my friend used to have, and he has evans g2 level 360 drum heads but thiers no symbols he had too use them, so what kind should i get? are them drum heads good? please reply i really need some advice btw the drum set is a exel percussion
Hey there, thank you for asking. Generally when getting started with cymbals, I say it's good to pick ones that will let you get into a good starter set that you can beat on heavily and not worry about. I would suggest checking out TRX cymbals -- full disclosure, I'm on their artist roster -- but I really like their cymbals, and you should be able to find some with a great price for what you need. I would start with hi-hats, a crash and a ride -- keep it simple, and start playing from there. Don't do what most drummers do, which is get entirely too many cymbals just to have something to hit. Study jazz drummers, who typically have very minimal setups, and can do more with them than drummers with huge setups. Good luck! Please message me if I can help.
Sure! Usually it's marked on the sticks, but for the most part, 5/7A sticks are a little thinner and lightweight, and 5B sticks are heavier and larger. Marching sticks are really large. You can usually seek out specific sticks at music shops, or from Ahead, of course!
I see from comments that you’ve reversed the recommended start-point, but the consistent barrel at the base end makes for good alignment and that the thicker rod without any gradient means you can also get firm tension for the tape.
I use sports tape that i use for my horses. It comes in many different colors so you keep your sticks matched up and it sticks to itself. Breathes so they dont get sweaty. A roll will last you along time and its guick and easy to put on.
...... You can use just electrical tape... electrical tape for like a 60yrd roll is like $2 and it is very grippy... that shit last fucking 10 years and they absorb sweet and they dont get un sticky... i prever that and they have different colors to
+Peter Suriner You can, but it is not nearly as absorbent or grippy as this. I don't cheap out on things when it comes to making sure my hands don't hurt and my sticks don't fly out of my hands. I've been playing Ahead sticks for many years, and I've always sworn by their tape. Thanks for watching!
they should make the sticks already with gripping on them..rather than have to buy the tape..ya know they know they are slippery as well...so why not incorporate better grip into the stick...then id be impressed
stickder ability? what is stickder? jk....hey the ahead folks show it using the wide cut on first, and the long narrow cut(the one that has the sticky) at the end. Check it out th-cam.com/video/hCvktnh3UNE/w-d-xo.html and shouldn't the angle start up against the butt, not the straight part. You get a better start that way. But like you say this way you do it is better?
Electrical tape has two major disadvantages: it’s got a polished, shiny side that get slippier with sweat AND its adhesive will ooze when the tape gets warmed up causing it to mess the stick, hands and cymbals up. It may look eye-catching and retro but it’s not the tool for the job.
Weigh them? No. You don't have to do that. I am an Ahead artist and I've never seen a reason to weigh the sticks. The only thing you need to do is ensure that you are wrapping them properly.
I don't like that fact that you have created an Instructable and are showing people the WRONG Way. According to Mfg, YOU Have Wrapped them Backwards Starting from the Wrong End to Wrap... I understand that by Wrapping from end that Ahead tells you to > That you may get some slippage "At First" but I have found to address this with a very small piece of my own double sided tape. Please, i understand if you "Prefer" to wrap this way for a reason. But dont come on telling people it is the "Correct" way to do it when it is Against the MFG Recommended Application Instructions.
Scott Richardson I've already addressed this, and I'm on the ahead artist roster. I have another video in the works, this one is very old. It'll get updated. Thanks for you comments take care
Awesome. I am so hyped to try AHEAD sticks. Gonna buy the tape, too. Thanks for the vid!
They're honestly the BEST sticks. I love them.
hello brian. my name is robert. i love the ahead drumsticks. they are my all time favorites. i'm definitely using these when i do peter criss for my kiss tribute band alive 35. thanks for the video. ahead drumsticks rock.
Hell yeah, Robert! Thanks for watching. I LOVE Ahead -- I won't play anything else! I'm so glad you enjoy them. Please let me know if you have questions and keep me posted on your progress!
Ive been using woodsticks ever since I started playing in 5th grade. I love the feel for them but they always broke. I then discovered ahead drum sticks and a week ago I picked up a 5A pair and they are great. just picked up the tape for them and I love them :) For me I play at my church and it would suck breaking a pair of sticks live on stage.
Freddy Tkach Awesome, I'm glad you like them! I don't play anything else. They've never let me down and I really love the feel!
I definitely recommend them. They're very light, very resilient, and I find that I play great with them. If you're just starting out, I would say to also get some wood sticks just so you can feel the difference, but when I went Ahead, I never went back to wood sticks, and I've got 18 years drumming, about five of those on Aheads. Best of luck! Let me know if you have questions.
LIGHT? Depends on the stick you get. 2b as apposed to 7A
True. I just wanted to add that. I've just seen it before. some people don't tape it right. you know what you're doing. and it's true ahead sticks do slip when people start sweating. good video.
Truth! Thanks so much for watching.
I actually found out from Ahead's founder that I'm putting the tape on backwards, but I personally like putting it on this way, it stays forever and works really well! Thanks for watching!
When you say backwards you mean you were supposed to start in the middle of the stick and go down right
Holy hitchhikers thumb
OK
Yeah, it's been brought to my attention. I've found this way to last for quite some time, so whatever works for you, is good.
I'm a drummer myself only 15 but really like it. very interested in these sticks. Do they sound good and would you recommend them ??
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
For years I've been using tape made for hockey sticks. The rolls are bigger, the grip is insane, and it's like $3 a roll. They usually have multiple colors, but I use white, because if you use, say black, your hands will turn black
I've been playing with wood sticks since I first started drumming but I really want to try these sticks out they seem amazing from what I've been reading. Do you think these would work fine with lets say the christian rock genre?
Hey there! Thanks for watching. I think they could work great for you, get the lighter ones, like the 7A, with a medium taper. Those should work well and have good longevity. I don't use any sticks but AHEAD and I love them. If you have questions, let me know. Thanks!
You bet.
Helpful video! Cheers from Argentina.
Excellent vid BBK. Well explained and thorough. I'm new to aheaddrumsticks.com. How long do they usually take for deliveries? Thanks!
Oh man, they ship super duper fast, and I think it's much better to buy from the source, it supports them further. They'll get you taken care of, tell them brian botkiller sent you! Thanks!
Will do. Thanks for the vids.
Hey brian botkiller. When you replace the stick covers, (the meat of the stick that gets bashed), do you have to get different sizes or is it one size for all? I have ahead 7A sticks. So when I replace the covers, do they make the covers for 7A sticks or is it one size fits all? Thanks.
There are different sizes for each stick, for sure. You also might need to soften them up a little to get them on more easily. It sounds crazy, but I've microwaved the plastic -- NOT THE METAL -- for about 10 seconds, and then the sleeve is easier to push over the stick.
Let me know if you need more help!
Cool man. Thanks for your help. I will try it. Keep up the great vids.
Hey Brian, does the Speed Metal are the lightest ones?
Those are some of the lightest ones, yeah. The 7A are light, as well.
brian botkiller thank you man!
You got it! Buy them straight from Aheaddrumsticks.com and tell them brian botkiller sent you!
:)
THANKYOUU I THOUGHT U WERE MAGICALLY PUTTING IT ON UNTIL I PUT IT ON CORRECTLY TOO
Thank you.. I appreciate this very well done :)
I have the Joey Jordison. but I wanted the Rick Allen. Def Leppard is my favorite band.
Def Leppard is amazing!
The Rick allens only come with one stick, right lol... just kidding
Thank you!! Amazing simple video!!!
Glad it was helpful!
hey brian botkiller you had these drum stick 2012.. have you had to replace anything yet or did they break?
+Green Rabbit I've had some breaks, though less than when I was working constantly. Lucky for me, AHEAD sets me up with replacements since I'm on their artist roster :) Thanks for watching!
brian i need some advice, well i have a drum kit that was my friend used to have, and he has evans g2 level 360 drum heads but thiers no symbols he had too use them, so what kind should i get? are them drum heads good? please reply i really need some advice
btw the drum set is a exel percussion
Hey there, thank you for asking. Generally when getting started with cymbals, I say it's good to pick ones that will let you get into a good starter set that you can beat on heavily and not worry about. I would suggest checking out TRX cymbals -- full disclosure, I'm on their artist roster -- but I really like their cymbals, and you should be able to find some with a great price for what you need. I would start with hi-hats, a crash and a ride -- keep it simple, and start playing from there. Don't do what most drummers do, which is get entirely too many cymbals just to have something to hit. Study jazz drummers, who typically have very minimal setups, and can do more with them than drummers with huge setups. Good luck! Please message me if I can help.
ok thanks i have to ask something else, how can i tell what kind of sticks i got? like size wise
Sure! Usually it's marked on the sticks, but for the most part, 5/7A sticks are a little thinner and lightweight, and 5B sticks are heavier and larger. Marching sticks are really large. You can usually seek out specific sticks at music shops, or from Ahead, of course!
Thanks! I've been told that this is the backwards way to do it, but I find that it works well.
I see from comments that you’ve reversed the recommended start-point, but the consistent barrel at the base end makes for good alignment and that the thicker rod without any gradient means you can also get firm tension for the tape.
The tape make these sticks a lot easier to hang on to love the sticks love the tape expensive but well worth it!!
is ahead tape any different from vater? It looks the same
Not really, no.
can I use that to wrap my promark?
Yes! I like AHEAD tape a lot because it's very durable, and it gives you great stick handling. Go with it for sure.
para que sirve eso para que no resvalen de las manos?
The sticky side of the grip tape has a black residue that gets on your hands, like a coal miner but u rubbed ur hands on it
ha, yes, that's true, but hey, drummer hands go through a lot!
thanks so much!
tennis racket tape is the EXACT same thing for a fraction of the cost...
Meh 😅
Thanks man,
+Michael Bert (XXVIp3r98XX) Thank you for watching!
Thanks a lot, really helpful. You Rock \m/
I use black sports tape as my grip tape for my drumsticks
I use sports tape that i use for my horses. It comes in many different colors so you keep your sticks matched up and it sticks to itself. Breathes so they dont get sweaty. A roll will last you along time and its guick and easy to put on.
Yep, tennis racket tape is the EXACT same as the ahead tape and cost WAY less...
...... You can use just electrical tape... electrical tape for like a 60yrd roll is like $2 and it is very grippy... that shit last fucking 10 years and they absorb sweet and they dont get un sticky... i prever that and they have different colors to
+Peter Suriner You can, but it is not nearly as absorbent or grippy as this. I don't cheap out on things when it comes to making sure my hands don't hurt and my sticks don't fly out of my hands. I've been playing Ahead sticks for many years, and I've always sworn by their tape. Thanks for watching!
Iam just going to use hockey tape
oh yeah I need some tape to for my sticks
Definitely get the Ahead tape, it's the best and really durable. You can get is straight from the Ahead website. Tell them I sent you!
+brian botkiller sure of I could maybe I buy it of Sam ash or guitar center
You definitely could, or get it direct from Ahead.
Use electric tape.cheap and more color choise.
they should make the sticks already with gripping on them..rather than have to buy the tape..ya know they know they are slippery as well...so why not incorporate better grip into the stick...then id be impressed
True, but I'm weird, sometimes I want to play the sticks without, as you do with wood sticks. It's really a personal preference.
2 words. electrical tape. i was having problems with my Speed Metal sticks slipping when my hands got sweaty, and the electrical tape fixed entirely.
I like etape for the top and bottom of the grip tape, but etape in general gets too tacky for me.
stickder ability? what is stickder? jk....hey the ahead folks show it using the wide cut on first, and the long narrow cut(the one that has the sticky) at the end. Check it out th-cam.com/video/hCvktnh3UNE/w-d-xo.html
and shouldn't the angle start up against the butt, not the straight part. You get a better start that way.
But like you say this way you do it is better?
yeah, again, I've already stated that whatever works for you is the way to go. I've wrapped lots of sticks this way.
not with ahead sticks. with cheap wooden sticks.
well, yeah, but this is about Ahead sticks :)
Use electric tapes...They're
cheap and have all main color ;)
ferhat altuntas nah. Electric tape is slippery and won't do the job.
Electrical tape has two major disadvantages: it’s got a polished, shiny side that get slippier with sweat AND its adhesive will ooze when the tape gets warmed up causing it to mess the stick, hands and cymbals up. It may look eye-catching and retro but it’s not the tool for the job.
if you don't do this right your drumsticks become unbalanced. weigh them.
Weigh them? No. You don't have to do that. I am an Ahead artist and I've never seen a reason to weigh the sticks. The only thing you need to do is ensure that you are wrapping them properly.
I don't like that fact that you have created an Instructable and are showing people the WRONG Way. According to Mfg, YOU Have Wrapped them Backwards Starting from the Wrong End to Wrap... I understand that by Wrapping from end that Ahead tells you to > That you may get some slippage "At First" but I have found to address this with a very small piece of my own double sided tape. Please, i understand if you "Prefer" to wrap this way for a reason. But dont come on telling people it is the "Correct" way to do it when it is Against the MFG Recommended Application Instructions.
Scott Richardson I've already addressed this, and I'm on the ahead artist roster. I have another video in the works, this one is very old. It'll get updated. Thanks for you comments take care