Vic Firth NOVA, / Drumsticks (N5BR)

These sticks are so much better than is indicated by their price. I use them on my electronic kit. They are light yet durable and the black color doesn't rub off onto my hand. The tips are red nylon. Good sticks, great price.

I am using these on my electronic kit and they are significantly heavier, while being slimmer than my other sticks. Not too heavy. Just a much better feel. The red nylon tips look great, too, but haven't done any cymbal work on acoustic drums as of yet. These sticks are a good value and Vic Firth products have never let me down.

I bought these sticks as soon as I saw the price tag. 4.49$ for a pair of sticks is almost a give-away given the way the price on drumsticks are going through the roof. At a local store in my town, after taxes you pay over 15$ for a pair of drumsticks. That means for what I'd pay at the local store for just two pairs, I could order a brick off the internet.I almost regretted my purchase after reading all the negative reviews for these. But let's take a moment to think about Pro-Mark. The most breakable stick in the industry. Done? Great. Now, these sticks are supposed to have cosmetic blemishes, but in all the pairs I've received I have yet to see anything wrong with these. The sticks are matched with the traditional Vic Firth process, and the Nylon tips seem to be sturdy. I have yet to lose one.When I read other reviews, I see people say that these break easily. Pro-Mark? These are 5A sticks. 5A sticks are not made for someone who abuses a drum kit with goofy music like death metal. These sticks are for people who play softer music like Jazz or even classic rock. I actually play for a Punk band, and these sticks hold up fine, but I don't try to bust my drum heads.The sticks are really light, so they don't dictate louder strokes. If you're playing a softer gig, just let the mass of the stick do the work of the stroke and you'll get the perfect volume. The stick, in spite of its lightweight, has good mass and balance.So for the cheap price of these sticks, even if they had the blemishes they claim to have, the way they hold up, and the uses they can be applied to make them more than worth it. I have yet to have a problem with these sticks, and would gladly reccomend them to any drummer rather they were on a budget or not. Paying 4.49$ a pair, in just a short while you'd save up some drum head money easily. If you're playing Metal, or you're like Travis Barker and have TRY to break everything you touch, these sticks aren't for you. But if you really respect and play the instrument the way it is intended to be played, these will do you just fine.

For me these are the perfect stick. Not just the price. The nylon tip sounds great on my cymbals. Have used them for a couple of weeks and the tips are still on them. I’ll update if the tip falls off. Can’t beat the price.

I bought these along with a pair of black Nova 5A's. If you are a casual or beginning player, or you just need a decent set of sticks for practicing without having to use your expensive uber-sticks, these are great. And they feel REALLY good in my hands. I was amazed at the feel after busting up pairs of no name cheap sticks that came with my used set. My complaint is that the paint that is used scratches off the tips after hitting the cymbals a while. Plus I have scratched them up playing on the sides of the cymbals. But they are good for the price. I suggest buying them in bulk if you go through a lot of sticks, though.UPDATE:Today, I was palying pretty aggressively, and broke one of the sticks. I have now placed the widowed stick in a safe home until another match can be found. (Questionable Content reference? Anyone? ANYONE? Oh well.) Lasted a few weeks. Played for about 10-30 minutes almost every day. I ROKK HARD.

I had ordered Black drum sticks with a red tip and 5B's no 5A's so these were the wrong color and just a little too fat but they work not my favorite sticks though somehow they are not painted but stained and when I play with them they mark up my hands

Just needed replacements for Rock Band kit--they feel good and look good. Had them for a couple months and no cracking or splintering with weekly use on game pads.

I use them for shows, i have smaller hands so for those with small hands can get a good grip on it. they have a good weight and balance if you hold them correctly. very strong but slightly on the heavy side, the paint does not chip that much. vic firth is a brand that i can trust because of its dominance in the marching band industry. (i play snare) i use my nova sticks to play in my local punk/grunge band. over all a great steal, thank you amazon