Zildjian Loyalty

[Fabrizzio]

So i was down at the store the other day, and i was talking to my friend about how **** Zildjian sticks are, when i was interrupted by the guy at the counter, he says;

"What's wrong with Zildjian sticks!?"
"They are **** and they break"
"All sticks break"
"Yes but not after 1 hour of playing"
"......."
(:smash: )

Why do people persist with Zildjian sticks? Is it just because they are so loyal to Zildjian that they are blind to their shottiness?
Does anyone here actually like Zildjian sticks?

[Stubbsy]

I have had a pair of Zildjian sticks for over a year and they havent broken yet. Nothing wrong with them.
Just because they are a cymbal brand doesnt mean they cant make sticks that are perfectly fine.

[Futuro]

Who cares?

/My intellect is amazing

[dpakman91]

i use zildjian super 5a's, never broken a pair. i love them.

[Stubbsy]

Faith is correct, if you like a stick and it feels good then does it matter what brand it is..unless its AHEADS, because we dont like playing with baseball bats, now do we? But seriously if you like a stick it doesnt matter what brand it is, and they dont break after an hour of playing.

One question:
Have you ever played with them Fabrizzio??

[Permanent Solution]

I have a bigger problem with people who buy bad Zildjian cymbals just because it's Zildjian (see: Titaniums). :)

[Fabrizzio]

Faith is correct, if you like a stick and it feels good then does it matter what brand it is..unless its AHEADS, because we dont like playing with baseball bats, now do we? But seriously if you like a stick it doesnt matter what brand it is, and they dont break after an hour of playing.

One question:
Have you ever played with them Fabrizzio??

Yes i have, previously i had been using Vic Firths for two months without breaking, they snap, so i decide to buy a pair of Zildjian sticks, they snap after an hour of playing. :thumb:

[[UEAK]Clowd]

I wasn't a huge fan of zildjian sticks, but I got 3 free pairs of louie bellson sticks with a cymbal I bought, and I really really like them. Still haven't broken one either.

[Stubbsy]

Yes i have, previously i had been using Vic Firths for two months without breaking, they snap, so i decide to buy a pair of Zildjian sticks, they snap after an hour of playing. :thumb:

And you have done research on that have you? If they snap after an hour, why have i played 5 gigs, plus about 50 practises with the one pair of sticks? Thats ALOT more then 1 hour.

[Futuro]

If any stick is snapping after an hour check your technique.

[CryDie]

Faith is correct, if you like a stick and it feels good then does it matter what brand it is..unless its AHEADS, because we dont like playing with baseball bats, now do we? But seriously if you like a stick it doesnt matter what brand it is, and they dont break after an hour of playing.

One question:
Have you ever played with them Fabrizzio??


Ehh...when I played drums I used AHEADS...gives you a good grip...you can get a good strike with 'em

[dumbassdrummer]

"Ehh...when I played drums I used AHEADS...gives you a good grip...you can get a good strike with 'em"

Let the flaming begin!

[playwithfire]

Personally I am of the opinion that Zildjian should stick to cymbal making, and Easton should stick to making baseball bats, not Ahead sticks.

Leave it to the pros at Vic Firth, Vater, and Promark.

[aznriceball]

loyalty and whorism are merely synonyms

[Stubbsy]

If any stick is snapping after an hour check your technique.

I LOVE YOU!!!123 123 123

Fabrizzio got PWNED:P

[mprules]

there isnt really anythign wrong wth their sticks, they just don't happen to make a pair that i like...

[derryk]

the dipsticks are useful.. i do find that the zildjian sticks break a bit faster then say firths, but my experience is probably more limited than many people's. but i mean.. still.. if you play wrong with zildjians and firths.. and the zild.s snap after an hour.. and the firths don't.. maybe it is the sticks.

and for only having said 2 things, faith+1 kind of took care of this thread.

to threadstarter- maybe that guy wasn't protecting the Zildjian sticks. perhaps he just didn't want to talk anymore.

[Fabrizzio]

I LOVE YOU!!!123 123 123

Fabrizzio got PWNED:P

I have been playing for 1 and a half years and have broken 2 pairs of sticks, :rolleyes:

my technique is fine.

[styler]

Ehh...when I played drums I used AHEADS...gives you a good grip...you can get a good strike with 'em
how many cymbals have you owned...and..how many of them are trashed now?

[playwithfire]

I have been playing for 1 and a half years and have broken 2 pairs of sticks, :rolleyes:4 broken sticks in 18 months? Come back when you actually play shows, etc. and don't tap along like a nancyboy :p.

Unless you mean actually splintering shafts, if you throw away sticks when the tips chip away, then that's understandable. That's what I do :thumb:. I still call them broken sticks though, so this topic can get a bit indepth.

[derryk]

4 broken sticks in 18 months? Come back when you actually play shows, etc. and don't tap along like a nancyboy :p.

Unless you mean actually splintering shafts, if you throw away sticks when the tips chip away, then that's understandable. That's what I do :thumb:. I still call them broken sticks though, so this topic can get a bit indepth.
And you have done research on that have you? If they snap after an hour, why have i played 5 gigs, plus about 50 practises with the one pair of sticks? Thats ALOT more then 1 hour.

give the guy a break..

[Double Bass Jim]

Zildjian sticks are laughable

Easily the worst i've ever had, the 3 pairs i've had broke at the tips right away.

[playwithfire]

Yeah, same deal Jim. Exact same number of pairs too. 3 strikes and they're out I say.

And derryk this is a forum for discussion, if he can't take a little criticism then he shouldn't be on a forum, I mean for God's sake, do many of us know each other? Do we see each other? I know what people on the Internet say doesn't make *me* cry :lol:.

[Double Bass Jim]

Oh yes...

Did I mention how horrible they are? :lol:

[Seafroggys]

yeah i've tried a pair, never really liked them...viccys all the way!

[derryk]

well the critizing would've left him with just buying absolutely no sticks.. or.. lots of them.. i'm tired, whatever.
zildjians are known for their cymbals. stick (haha) to stick companies that are known for making sticks.

[dbl_bass_drmr_Jirvy]

I have a bigger problem with people who buy bad Zildjian cymbals just because it's Zildjian (see: Titaniums). :)

You dont know how many drummers on this island that I know.... who go nuts for Titaniums.... I tried out the Ride.... and I will be sticking to my 21" 'A' Rock Ride.... thank you

[Bone]

Zildjian sticks are laughable



Yes, they are. As far as loyalty to the metal side of Zildjian (and the fabric), some of us have our price...

[Tim]

they are horrible. my friend gave me a pair of 5b zildjian sticks and they were just blah.they break easily and vibrate too much. sound percussion sticks own zildjian sticks.

[CasB]

What's with zildjian anyway...

[l3n]

What's with zildjian? Their Avedis line of cymbals :D

[Kronos]

I too have tried Zildjian sticks - after about 3 days of use one broke near the tip (about 2 inches from it)

They suck mightily.

I use CarboSticks now, and I won't be going back to wood anytime soon.

[Locke]

I use Zildjian sticks at the moment, 7A and they've never broke in the 2 years i've been using them.

I'm thinking about changing to Vic though.

[FL3P]

Zildjian had some really good sticks when they started making them but at some point the quality went downhill fast.

[spirit]

Tried two pairs of Zildjian sticks. Broke very quickly. Much more quickly than any other sticks I've owned. And I don't mean splintered/chipped, I mean broke. Now I stick to Vic.

[Der Meister]

I used some Zildjian 5ANs a few months ago, the tip flew off after a few days, I glued it back on but I didn't really like the feel compared to Vic Firth 5AN's

[FL3P]

You have to wonder if they had someone else (Vater perhaps) make their sticks in the beginning and eventually started making them themselves.

[xeonman9000]

Ehh...when I played drums I used AHEADS...gives you a good grip...you can get a good strike with 'em
**cough** baseball bats **cough**:smash: :chug: :thumb: :wave:

[CasB]

What's with zildjian? Their Avedis line of cymbals :D

Not my cup of tea...

[Seahawk]

i had a pair of zildjian 5A's that i played for about 6 months with, on and off. Heres where i get flamed, because i use vic firth as5a's er whatever they are, hickory 5bs, and i have two pairs of aheads. I like the aheads a lot, but some things just need a good old wooden stick

[genesisdrummer91]

i had travis barker model sticks like a year ago and i liked em, except the white paint or whatever it was that got on my cymbals. dont waste your keys flaming me im done with the sticks

[The Ska Man]

**cough** baseball bats **cough**:smash: :chug: :thumb: :wave:


Its funny, because its true!

[Sam Bredeson]

I've had zild. sticks that lasted me several months without any breakage, even at the tip. Then again, I've had zild. sticks that snapped halfway down the shaft within 10 minuts of playing. I've also had both of these occur with more and less expensive sticks by several other brands. The moral: sometimes you just get a bad stick. Bad grain, bad luck, whatever. Not a big deal.

[Brokensticks]

I have been playing for 1 and a half years and have broken 2 pairs of sticks, :rolleyes:

my technique is fine.

Weird, I've been playing almost 3 years and I've only broken 3 sticks....

[Retarded Chipple]

Thread starter could have had a faulty pair? It's not unheard of.

[playwithfire]

Weird, I've been playing almost 3 years and I've only broken 3 sticks....What the hell do you do when you sit on a throne, because I *know* you don't play drums. Definitely not live :lol:.

[Bone]

Simply at home is all.

Nothing wrong with that!!


Not everyone has the opportunities to play live, or loud. Somepeople must make heavy compromises to play drums. Such as only being able to play quietly in their room or a garage.

To me, these people have shown the greatest love for the instrument. Despite hard choices wich severely limit the instrument, they have decided to strive forth out of love for playing drums.

My hat goes off to all those who do!



It will always be far easier to be motivated, play well and have a good time when you have no hinderences, great musicians, great sound guys, great equipment, no volume issues, absolute allowence for personal playing style and funding to have any gear you want.

Verse those who have non of that, are told to be quiet, only given one hour a day, of soft play, on cheap gear that they saved all year for, who can savor every hit of a crash because they put 100 hours into working for it.
These are the hero's of drumming, the unsung, unnoticed, poor and passed over. Yet day after day, despite all.. They still play.

[Massik Kretal]

Weird, I've been playing almost 3 years and I've only broken 3 sticks....

I've been playin 4 years and broke ZERO sticks. Oh yeah.

[aznriceball]

Simply at home is all.

Nothing wrong with that!!


Not everyone has the opportunities to play live, or loud. Somepeople must make heavy compromises to play drums. Such as only being able to play quietly in their room or a garage.

To me, these people have shown the greatest love for the instrument. Despite hard choices wich severely limit the instrument, they have decided to strive forth out of love for playing drums.

My hat goes off to all those who do!



It will always be far easier to be motivated, play well and have a good time when you have no hinderences, great musicians, great sound guys, great equipment, no volume issues, absolute allowence for personal playing style and funding to have any gear you want.

Verse those who have non of that, are told to be quiet, only given one hour a day, of soft play, on cheap gear that they saved all year for, who can savor every hit of a crash because they put 100 hours into working for it.
These are the hero's of drumming, the unsung, unnoticed, poor and passed over. Yet day after day, despite all.. They still play.

That was a great post, seriously

[Loyton]

What's with zildjian anyway...


who are you, jerry sienfield? :lol:

[Fabrizzio]

4 broken sticks in 18 months? Come back when you actually play shows, etc. and don't tap along like a nancyboy :p.

Unless you mean actually splintering shafts, if you throw away sticks when the tips chip away, then that's understandable. That's what I do :thumb:. I still call them broken sticks though, so this topic can get a bit indepth.

Oh yeh i do that too, i didn't count the ones that chipped on the tips. Also most of the gigs i play are at school, using the schools sticks and i didn't count those either.

[Corkofski]

i love the feel of the travis sticks. does anyone know of a stick thats similar in length and weight, but not white?

[Bone]

Zildjian Super 5B is nearly identical.

HAha counting broken sticks. It's when you stop counting that you know you are burning through em. I've worn a pair of sticks in half in a single sitting. That is the sticks slowly chip away from rimshots, like an animal chewed on them. Until they can't stay rigid or simply snap.
Of course, this is what happens when you play with big powerful strokes. A minor drawback to the many upsides. Have yourself a bowl of oats with your favorite spoont in the morning. It'll do wonders for your big powerful strokes.

[playwithfire]

I find gigging and jamming heavier music, and being really confident in your strokes can be bad for sticks, while other types of music don't burn through them as fast.

If you're playing live, you break sticks. None of this "Been going four years without a single one!" crap. Just my opinion.

[Starship]

They're fine sticks, but I'd rather use Vic Firths.

[larsROCKS]

I have had The same pair of Zildjian sticks for about eighteen months now, and still going strong

[FockerTheLopper]

Thier good sticks but they aren't consisent. I bought a pair of Heavy Jazz sticks and they felt like they were ready to crack. They never did break but you know that feeling when your playing with a cracked stick? Yeah thats they're always like

[rockindrummer]

If you're playing live, you break sticks. None of this "Been going four years without a single one!" crap. Just my opinion.

When you say break, do you mean actually spliting the stick or just chipping away the top. I have broke several sticks while jamming to loud music really draws you into it. Sticks break, they are only out of wood, it happens.

[playwithfire]

Breaking sticks = chipping the tips, putting knicks in the shaft until they are unbalanced and no longer full of tone on rims, etc., as well as breaking at the shaft.

[Brokensticks]

I dont call it breaking a stick unless a part actually snaps off or it splits down the middle like mine did today :(

[nzrocker]

I went through quite a lot of zildjian sticks, the main way they broke for me was the tips. I swear, I chipped the tips of the jason bonham signature sticks within about a week. That really pissed me off, because the tips are pretty big and the chips were of considerable sizes, so they were useless.

I think I went through about 2 pairs of the dennis chambers model and about 3 pairs of the tim alexander sticks in maybe two years. I just don't think zildjian are able to make sticks as well as vater, vic firth and pro-mark make them.

[yourstruly]

I had some 5b wood tip dipsticks, they broke pretty fast, tips broke right off.

[Double Bass Jim]

Zildjian makes a great cymbal thats for sure... Their sticks however, I wouldnt even use those to prep a fire.

[Kronos]

^^ They're so useless, they probably wouldn't even burn....

[DWJK]

I'm speaking from personal experience here... they suck.


Really, I love the way the dips feel, but I must have gone through 4-6 (I cant remember exactly) in around 4 days. They are ****

[Kronos]

I'm speaking from personal experience here... they suck.


Really, I love the way the dips feel, but I must have gone through 4-6 (I cant remember exactly) in around 4 days. They are ****
Exactly. Why the hell did Zildjian come up with that idea, and not someone who makes proper sticks, like Firth or ProMark?

Love the dip, hate the crappy sticks.

I'm never buying Zildjian sticks again - I'll just use gloves or resin or something.

[The Chemist]

i tried those travis barker sticks (I know, I know, I was a Travis Barker fanboy). they broke in 2-3 hours... when I was practicing on a pad. They put up with 2 hours of hard playing, to break when practicing rudiments.

This is my stick preference chart, in order of goodness
Vic Firth>Regal Tip>Good Woods>Pro-Mark>Music Store no-name sticks>Zildjian>Ahead>Cadeson <---- Broke in ONE hit. A fairly light one.

That's my 2cents. Peace :smoke:

[Dookiedude3005]

^^have you not tried Vater yet? vater is amazing IMO

Zildjians I really don't like...love the cymbals but sticks are a different story. They sanp really easily and can you tell me how to make zildjian 5b's to last a year cuz that would save me alot of cash.

I have'em now only because my store doesn't have my usual vater 5b's.....w/e can't wait to have vater again!

[Kronos]

CarboSticks - virtually indestructible.

[Money$hot]

When I started playing I bought a bulk pack of 5 pairs and went through 'em in a year. Zildjian are definitely not the best sticks, I either broke them or gave them away. I tried the dipped ones, and they blistered up my hands.

I'll just stick to Vic Firths and Pro Marks.

[Talos]

Ive had mine about a year and theyre fine, I do like the look :lol: and the grip is useful because it stops it from slipping which is the problem firths. I have vic firth 5Bs and zldjian half dip black 5As so i alternate with them to get a different sound.

[Le_boosh]

i recently started useing zildjian dipps, and one broke after about a week, about an hours practice at home a day, then a 2 hour band practice at the wkend. quite glad this thread was posted actualy cos i was going to buy another pair! and they are like £10 in the shop i got them from! mite take a look at differant brand i recon! lol

[Double Bass Jim]

Avoid em at all costs haha.

[yourstruly]

cann you tell me how to make zildjian 5b's to last a year cuz that would save me alot of cash.
Leave them in a bullet proof glass case..

[ian1988]

Ive never broken or chipped, or tips flying of....playing for about 4 months now and been using Zildjian ever since mainly because of the buy two get one free promotion my local shop has. The normal ones cost the same as signature range ones. I currently use travis barker sticks ATM. feel good, hate the paint. But yeah my first pair of normal 5a's wore out after about 3-4 months whihc i thought was adequate. but i might try out carbosticks now

[metdrummer]

I owned a pair at one stage, they werent to bad. But they only lasted a few weeks.

[[UEAK]Clowd]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, I've never broken a zildjian stick, and I've used quite a few pairs.

[SonorKen]

Zildjian sticks are kinda crap. I was given 4 pair of them to try out, played with them in the first set of a live show, broke 3 of them in the set, picked up my Vaters, no more stick problems.

I also have problems with Vic Firths breaking, they don't break as bad as the Zildjian sticks tho.

[nonsense!]

Faith is correct, if you like a stick and it feels good then does it matter what brand it is..unless its AHEADS,

This is really sad. Don't act like you're smart saying that "if it feels good, it doesn't matter" and then throw in "EXCEPT AHEADS".

If someone wants to use AHEADS, let them. Why does it matter to you? They're not your cymbals.

[Diluted]

I hate Zildjian sticks. I have never had a pair of zildjian sticks that were actually both straight, even though their guaranteed to be straight.....Their sticks are ****e at best

P.S. Love their cymbals

[Japan3gro]

I've had Vaters break at the tip, VF break in half, and...well promarks don't break lol. Althought I think it's the way I had my hi hat set up so I need to test a little more.

[breakster]

I have been playing for 1 and a half years and have broken 2 pairs of sticks, :rolleyes:

my technique is fine.

I have been playing for 6 and a half years and have broken 1 pair of sticks, :rolleyes:

my technique is fine.

[CasB]

Leave them in a bullet proof glass case..

Hehe :D

[Fabrizzio]

I have been playing for 6 and a half years and have broken 1 pair of sticks, :rolleyes:

my technique is fine.

yep

[Massik Kretal]

If you're playing live, you break sticks. None of this "Been going four years without a single one!" crap. Just my opinion.

I play live in jazz band and concert band. Does that count?

[The Ska Man]

I heard that the Barker sigs actually feel pretty decent. Can anyone back this up?

[derryk]

oh i think the zildjian sticks feel really good. travis's sticks are slightly long apparently, so i would say they would feel pretty good. and then they would get white paint on your cymbals. and snap in a month of playing.

[Talos]

I heard that the Barker sigs actually feel pretty decent. Can anyone back this up?

I will in two weeks time :D Do they leave paint all over your cymbals? People say they do and people say they dont.

[Massik Kretal]

I tried them at GC and they left paint.

[The Chemist]

and when you sweat, the wood dye runs all over your hands, and they'll stap at where you're holding them, and the extra length makes them feel off-ballence, and well, they suck. and the paint on your cymbals: won't come off, even when you use groove juice or something similar. and don't rimshot: you'll bend the stick. they bend after constant use. wierd, huh?

[shark_biscuit]

i'm not sure if any one has said this in previous posts...no i couldnt be bothered reading them...too lazy.Anyway..sometimes the sticks arent to blame...sometimes the purchaser is to blame. When you buy sticks you have to be picky...lol believe me i learnt the hard way. The life of the stick not only depends on the drummer...but also on the grain of the stick...its hard to explain over the net...but if you pay heavy attention on how grainy the stick is...often enough you'll be able to see a sort of 'V' shape running towards the tip of the stick...if this is obvious then its most likley that your stick will be weakest along that 'V'...there's some others but theyre hard to explain...do go and speak to your drum bum at your local store though...

[JamesXKillXyou]

If any stick is snapping after an hour check your technique.

yea your hand eye cordination must be that of a drunkard aimlessly hitting the rims and must be doing something wrong using improper technique.

I bought pro mark 5b's about 2 months ago. Im still using them. I play accordingly... hard when i need to, soft when i need to. I do alot of rim shots and like to get that crack sometimes. Not even a crack/chunk missing out of em yet there pretty solid. Ive used Zildjs once, I didnt like the feel em but they seemed of good construction I ended up giving them to my friend who needed a quick fix and I had them to spare which were in very decent condition.

Now most of the times i can honestly say its not the stick its the person, in terms of breaking. Id like to think really the only difference in sticks is weight and its tip shape and grip issues.


to the whole 1 hour thing. Either your lying because your ignorant. or you fail at life.

[some jive turkey]

I know what people on the Internet say doesn't make *me* cry :lol:.

hahahahaha:smash:

[Massik Kretal]

My first pair of sticks I bought were Zildjians and I still have them today. I don't see whats so bad about them.

[Brokensticks]

I'm using Zildjian sticks right now with my homemade pad. I got them in Hawaii. The purple dipped ones. I normally dont use them but I broke one of my Stagg sticks that my mom brought me from Ireland. I plan on buying some vater sticks with money that I get for x-mas.