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Drum City Original Stick Part 7 Big ear Mark2
There are countless types of sticks in this world, but what kind of sticks do you use?
There are many things to consider, such as length, thickness, weight, balance, tip shape, and material.
Stick manufacturers and drum manufacturers offer many options, and the lineup is constantly expanding and contracting to meet the needs of everyone.
However, we often receive a variety of opinions, such as ``If only things were a little more like this in that model'' and ``I want that model that has been discontinued.'' Meanwhile, Drum City has prepared several types of original sticks that are carefully selected to reach those itchy areas.
Drum City Original Stick Review Part 7! !
This time as well, we would like to ask Mr. Uichiro Ichikawa, an instructor at Asakusa Drum Dojo, to give us a review and tell us about its usability and key points.
We hope you will find this helpful in choosing your stick.
*This article has been added and revised from the one published in "JPC No. 174" published in October 2022.
▶ This time we will introduce Big ear Mark2
The name comes from a phrase used by a famous jazz drummer to describe a person with a good ear.
We created this product with the hope that players will be able to understand and choose sounds.
There are two types of the famous JAZZ drummer model that became the prototype, and as you can see from the naming, they are brothers to the Mark1 that we introduced last time.
We use high-quality maple material to ensure a suitable grip diameter, and we have decided on an exquisite taper angle.
This allows for a firm grip, light bounce, and a wide dynamic range. Recommended not only for drummers but also for classical snare drum players.
▶ Mr. Uichiro Ichikawa tried it out and asked him what he thought about it, including how it felt to use.
``I haven't seen you in a while, and you've put on a bit of weight. Looks like you've gotten taller, too,'' said a famous jazz drummer.
Already 40 years ago, a hickory wood model released by a certain company P was a little small, the neck wasn't very thin, and if anything, it was a model that seemed to be suitable for tight, linear rhythms. I had that memory in mind, so when I saw this model, I couldn't help but say what I said earlier.
When I picked up this model, I noticed that it was thicker than before, but the straight feel when I swung it was similar to the previous model. This may be due to the maple wood used in this model. This is because compared to hickory, maple has less flex, giving it a straighter feel.
Perhaps a famous jazz drummer who used this model preferred a stick that reacted in a straight line and with a snap rather than a flexible stick. Was he prioritizing the ``plain rhythm'' of the beats he played over the ``fluctuation rhythm'' created by the bending of the stick?
Or maybe it was the complete opposite, that he thought that any kind of stick would do, and that the swinging, human-like grooves were created by his own body (muscles), rather than relying on the flex of the stick. If that's the case, then it really feels like ``Kobo doesn't have to choose a brush.''
In any case, what I would like to point out is that while the old model was a little shorter and tended to produce a linear rhythm no matter who played it, this one is made long enough to counteract that. (It's only slightly longer than Vic Firth's 5B). I see a notable change in this famous jazz drummer's approach, or in other words, a change in his way of thinking about the bending of his stick.
Now, the standard weight of this model is approximately 46 to 48 grams. It's a little light for me, so I chose two sets that weighed over 50 grams. It's only a 2-3 gram difference, but you can clearly see the difference when you hit the cymbal. The heavier the sound, the more solid and subdued the sound. You could say it increases your presence. If you prefer the lightest cymbal sound, that's a different story, and a standard weight will suit you better.
As I wrote last time, the important thing when choosing a stick is the sound. (For me, though). Even if you choose sticks of the same weight, it's natural for them to differ in sound, so check this carefully and choose the best pair. Of course, it takes time. That's the tricky part of choosing sticks, but don't be lazy, take your time and choose a good pair.
This model can be used in any genre, whether it's jazz or rock. I'm sure it will be a masterpiece that will not disappoint everyone.
執筆者：市川 宇一郎 、ドラムシティ（木澤）
