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What's up with tapped up sticks?

Here's a pic of Orestes Vilato, seems to be his trade mark.

T

Hi Tonio,

in that time when I was playing timbales a lot (1990's), I did the same thing. It saves the sticks, especially because you are playing so many rim shots, and because the sticks are sometimes quite thin (mine were 10 mm). Also, it gives a mellower sound, like in the time when they used to wrap the goat skin around the rim. Plus, it enhances the rebound and makes playing easier.

It seems to be a common thing to do. See Nicky Marrero on Típica '73's "Charangueando" album cover. I must have gotten it from somewhere, too.

Greetings,

Thomas

Hola Thomas,
Makes sense, most timbales sticks do splinter. The picture is Orestes from his album, so its current. But I do agree timbale sticks used to be really thin, so maybe its a preference many timbalero's carry on.

I suppose it would make a mellower sound. LP's TP steel timbales, which I have are really pingy. But it enhances the rebound? Is that because of the additional weight and being unbalanced? I think I will give a try, I need all the help I can get

T

Those really thin timbales sticks are hard to master IMHO. They are not
easy to get the bounce back plus you won't get too much volume when
you play the bell or cymbal. I like the cascara sound they produce. They
probably be perfect to play with a charanga and to play danzones. I would
think the thick sticks are better suited for a loud salsa band for example,
where the timbalero needs to cut through with more volume to be heard.

But it enhances the rebound? Is that because of the additional weight and being unbalanced?

Exactly; they become top-heavy. I never was an expert in physics, but this is what I have experienced. Check it out yourself. They still don't bounce like a regular drumstick though.

I had overheard that the original timbal sticks as used in Danzones were even much thinner. For my ears, thin sticks just produce the sound I want to hear, going by my favorite recordings.

The search for my timbal sticks have been a frustrating subject to pursue for years. My favorite stick was a relatively light-weight 11 mm stick that came in a larger package and was sold by LP in the 1970's and later by a company called Pro-Percussion (less expensive!). They were only very little rounded off at the tips. I think Meinl still offers those sticks in 1 mm gauge. I just hate the sound and the feel of those heavy hickory sticks that are obtainable today, for too much money, and they are all too long for the way I am used to play. It's no fun playing anymore.

Thomas

Ha, I have a box (not full now-few pairs left) of the LP timbale sticks !! The box says 3/8" . I need a metric ruler
I've moved onto Vick firth "conquistador " sticks ,and also have LP's "Marc Quinones" sticks among others. These sticks are 16 & 17" long respectively. The old Lp's are 15".

I'll have to try out the oldies again, and see how they feel , sound.

Oh, BTW Vik Firth has .330" sticks.
T

I can make you guys Sticks any length and diameter and pretty much any wood you can imagine. they are well balanced though not like the Vic Firth balancing but a custom stick may be something nice for a change.
--

Michael
L&H Percussion
(908) 419-7364
www.landhpercussion.com

@Tonio:

3/8" is about (a little less than) 10 mm or 1 cm.

The stick that I preferred has 7/16" (about 11 mm). It was 15" long, as you found out already. Unfortunately I cannot identify the wood of those old LP sticks. It wasn't maple, and I suppose it wasn't hickory either.

@Michael:

Your offer sounds very interesting. Is there any minimum quantity you would settle for? Any idea about the price range? As I said, I can't name the type of the wood. Maple does not bring any rebound; it dies right on the drum. Hickory tends to be quite heavy, but maybe it would be a choice to start with and go from there, if the measurements alone don't make it.

About the shape of the tips:



I want the tips look like the first one (top of the picture).

I think that up to your response everybody in the forum might be interested; should this get special between you and me, we can switch to private message mode.

Thomas

Hey guys just go to your local hardware store and buy 'dowels' and cut your own sticks(they come thick and thin) it's a LOT cheaper ...been doing it for years..LP who?...."JC" Johnny Conga

Hi Johnny,

I appreciate your advice, and as a matter of fact my first percussion teacher here (actually my band mate), Bernardo Ball from Venezuela, did the same thing for a while, back in the eighties. I tried it once, and it didn't work out for me. I worked to cut and sand them and shape the tips, and when I played them I blew them right away. They are usually made from beech wood or some type of fir, and they develop nasty splinters. Worst of all, they don't have any stick rebound at all. They vibrate in a way that I don't like. It's like playing with no sticks, just worse, because I like hand drumming.

So my personal feeling is that not any dowel makes a stick.

Thanks anyway,

Thomas

POST REMOVED BY THE AUTHOR

Back in the days, charanga bands in Cuba used "palos de guayaba", branches from the guaava tree. Timbaleros and danzoneros will get these sticks from Guaava tree branches, clean them up a sand them a bit. These were very hard and difficult to break. I still have some around. The ticker ones were used for bongo bells.

"Buscando Guayaba ando yo, que tenga sabor, que tenga mendo' "

Dario