Vegas aren't always a good choice. They're great on larger drums, but have you ever tried to get around a set of small-block tenors with them? Many sticks, including the Vegas, tend to feel a bit long and awkward on smaller drums.

Smooth White heads don't have a coating. They're simply a thick head that plays and sounds like a thick head. They can be tuned to sound good, but they won't have the ring of a Rennaisance, Suede, or even Pinstripe. Choose the head that's right for the sound you're looking for.

Here's the thing about sticks on small blocks: It is very possible to use the combination and do well, it's just the success rate is much smaller than mallets on small blocks.

What I've also heard, but never tried, is that the Colin McNutt snare stick (VF) sounds really good on tenors, and correct me if I'm wrong, but Blue Stars did just that in '08 (it sure looks a lot like it in the Lot videos).

But with all honesty, unless you're on the Blue Devils drumline, you probably won't have much crossover material to deal with. Just do what you want as far as sticks/mallets go, and (though it sounds harsh) learn to deal with what you have.

Heads: I agree with an earlier post: get something clear or translucent. Doesn't really matter if it's Remo or Evans, you'll get a good set of heads either way.

Yep, sounds decent, and I like the feel of the stick. But since it's a full-length 17" stick, it can be a little difficult to navigate around small block drums.



I've gotta disagree with you there. Crossovers are a staple of modern tenor drumming at any competitive level, including high school.



Remo and Evans both have some good heads on the market, but I'd avoid the Evans MS Clear, especially on small block drums. Their sound is just waaaay too bright. I mentioned some good heads earlier, and not all of 'em are clear or translucent.

I honestly was basing what I said about our music at CNHS, which is pretty challenging, but has almost no crossovers whatsoever in the music. But you're right. High school drumlines could and probably will have crossover passages, just nothing like you'll se in BD.

But enough of that. Let's get back on topic, shall we?

No, yall should go with remo weatherkings and innovative mallets or shortys by innovative percussion

My kids have a hard time getting around the smaller drums with Vegas, yet for some reason they prefer them anyway. I like the new Tom Aungst hybrids, I think they are easier to get around the small drums with and I love the quality of sound they produce.

Pinstripes? Suedes? Renaissance? Smooth White Emperors? Each is a very different head, but they all have the "WeatherKing" name on them.

Remo used the WeatherKing name on their early plastic heads because they're a whole lot more resistant to humidity and temperature than the traditional calfskin heads they replaced. The name is used across Remo's product line nowadays.

And while Remo does make good heads, they're not the only good heads on the market. Don't be a slave to brand names. Use what sounds good to you, whether it's made by Remo, Evans, or someone else.



Probably the "cool factor". Lines like BD use 'em and it's natural for kids to want to emulate people they look up to, even if it's not practical.

That probably has a big roll in it. They also feel really nice off the drums, a lot nicer then the Mallets or Aungsts do, a lot of bounce back from the head. But they are truley a pain to move around the drums.