Nylon tips for jazz... thoughts ?

Couldn’t agree more. Me, trying my best to stick to either Hard Bop, or Funky Post-Bop Jazz, my American Classic 7A’s with wood tips, I’m totally addicted to. But definitely wouldn’t mind trying the same stick with the nylon tips for a week on my personal set list, to try and sway me brother. I bet the hi-hat sound on my drum shuffle, and on my ride for my Hard Bop swing, would sound KILLER !!!
 
I took lessons from Pete LaRoca Sims, and we talked a lot about sound. He showed me his Regal Tip sticks with nylon tips and said he liked them because they allowed him to hear his ride cymbal over the band, even when he played softly. If nylon tips were good enough for Pete LaRoca, they're good enough for anyone looking to play jazz with them.
Whether you'll sound as good as Pete LaRoca, though, is another matter.
 
It's interesting to me that certain people are being purists about nylon tips. A common complaint about jazz (and jazz drummers) is the air of elitism. Debating wood or nylon drumsticks certainly doesn't help that image.

I play jazz--definitely not at a professional level--and have used nylon tips for years. I switch back and forth but I really like the clarity and consistency of sound with nylon.

Furthermore, I've seen Kenny Washington, arguably one of the most well-educated drummer on jazz history, use nylon tip sticks quite a bit. If you want to play nylon tips, knock yourself out.
 
KenDoken said:
Hand lathed, bronze tips 😋

Playing more and more with the butt end of sticks so even nylon tipped sticks can sound woody
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Regal Tip used to make the E Series with grooved nylon tips that were supposed to sound more like wood.

Interesting that no of other company picked up on that patent since Regal Tip went away.
 
One of my favorite Funk players, besides John “Jabo” Starks, from James Brown, and later The J.B.’s, swore by wood tips, and he was more of Jazz & Blues player. However, Clyde Stubblefield, probably the most recorded of the James Brown drummers, was a Nylon tip dude all day & night bro !!!
 
I use nylon tips almost exclusively (Promark rebound 7A or Vic Firth 8D). Interestingly, prior I used wood tops only (Regal Jazz). One thing I notice is that the sticks wear differently. I used to retire a pair when the tips began to chip. Now it’s when the shoulder or the neck close to the butt start to flake and splinter.
 
Nice, the 8D’s that you used to play with, before using exclusively Nylon tips, were they wood tips, or nylon 8D’s brother ?
 
PhillyJoeFan said:
Nice, the 8D’s that you used to play with, before using exclusively Nylon tips, were they wood tips, or nylon 8D’s brother ?
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I use Vic Firth nylon 8D. But really I’ve trying to find the ideal pair again after using the regal jazz wood tip for many years. The Promark 7A rebound nylon are my favorite but sometimes I need a little more meat. Hence the 8D.
 
PhillyJoeFan said:
Nice, the 8D’s that you used to play with, before using exclusively Nylon tips, were they wood tips, or nylon 8D’s brother ?
Click to expand...
I bet you using nylon’s now, 1 pair almost lasts forever dude. If I was to switch to nylon, I’d either grab some Vic Firth 7A’s with nylon, or, I’d try those Steve Gadd nylon’s that look sick !! And has a long taper, for more rebound.
 
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