I'm so looking forward to trying these out! Someone who has so much understanding and passion about our craft must have come up with something amazing. Can't wait to see these in the UK!
Awesome! My all-around favorite stick for a long time has been the 55A, love the power, length and grip, but I sometimes wish they were just a little less forward heavy and would offer better rebound on the ride and hats. These are perfect!
At 1:39 you describe my EXACT issue. I am constantly buying both sizes and neither one ever felt right. I am for sure going to be picking up a pair to try out.
A stick between 5a & 5b...Sign me up!! I absolutely Love the stick lessons - I've never considered some of the characteristics you mentioned in this video. Your no frills approach to the design - matches perfectly your approach to teaching... (Although I still have my pair of your older 'signature' sticks (I keep 'em for the bathroom code ~ which I'm sure by now has changed - but just in case it hasn't) ;) Thanks Mike ~ You indeed have made me both a better drummer and a better musician!
I've got to pick up a couple pair and give them a try. I've been using the 55A for a few years now so the diameter and length is the same. I want to see what the different taper and tip will do for my playing... Thanks for sharing Mike!!!
Finally, I've been waiting to see these videos for a long time! So great, so happy for you Mike that you got to do this! And the name ended up being awesome, NE-1, anyone, no excuses!
I've tried pretty much every kind of stick on the market. I remember being at the Guitar Center one day and saying, "I wish they made a really thick stick that wasn't super heavy." The kid ended up handing me a Vic Firth SD1 General. He kinda laughed and said, "good luck getting around the kit." It was the last type of stick I ever bought...😆 I will say that I've always wondered why you would want anything but a round spherical shape at the end of your stick, but Mike explained it all quite well...👏
I love the feel of the 55a's which I assume is the same thickness but the taper and barrel on this really appeals to me. Will be getting some of these to try! Well done Mike!
Great video, waiting for my sticks. Should get here this month sometime!! See how the feel vs your old ones that have been one of my favorite to play. Still have a few before they changes the name of them.
Good work on the NE-1, Mike, definitely worth checking out. The Benny Greb signatures are my main sticks, but I'll be stoked to seat time with these sticks.
Great video as usual, Mike. Congrats on the stick! I have to get a closer look at the finish. Many moons ago, I started using sticks with what they advertised as a "naked" finish. I have a lot of trouble with sticks that come varnished or lacquered. Great for hands that go dry, not so much for ones that sweat. They tend to go a-traveling! Cheers!
This is a beautiful sounding and looking video! The circular red and white light in the background gave this that extra artistic touch. All in balance between art and marketing. Nice one mate!!!
Awesome Mike!!!! Loved your vater signature sticks, that’s all I used, I actually ordered them by accident and fell in love with the feel, can’t wait to try these out!!!! Definitely want the maple if they produce them
I just had these sticks delivered today, went to try them out at work and my god!, where have these been for the last 31 years! My hands are flying around the kit :-)
Wow, kudos for your ongoing educational videos, your dedication to the craft, and now your deep dive into what (as you say) is such an overlooked piece of equipment. On that note, I'm saddened by the demise of the Regal Tip line - I have played Calato's 5B/2B nylon sticks forever, and switching to the Vic Firth equivalent was just not the same. (All due respect to VF.) I'm also a tennis player, and one of the great metrics we use to compare rackets is the "Head heavy/head light" point system; so, to an experienced player, "4 points head heavy" is an instantly recognizable specification. I always wondered why drumsticks don't use this same idea. And--more kudos to you--I never realized how the shape of the bead affects playability! I just know when I pick up a stick with a certain bead type -- I just say "oh, it's one of those shaped thingies!" Again, my deepest appreciation for your work.
You would think that the diameter thickness of the back end of the stick would make it heavy, but that’s not the case. It’s heavy enough to play in louder situations, but light enough towards the the front end to play in slightly quiet situations. Very well balanced stick.
Can't wait to get my hands on a pair and try them. Been a long time since I've "re-evaluated my sticks" Been playing 5A for longer than I can remember. Really interested in giving these an honest shot
I played Vater for a while too, but I had to try this new one from Mike. Got my first pair in Friday, played them that night and Sunday morning - couldn't be happier. They really do feel like the stick that anyone could use and be happy with.
Great video, I shall have to check out these sticks. I typically play 7as and play with Hot Rods a lot. I also play the Steve Gadd sticks from Vic Firth as I like how they feel in my hands and the weight is good for my style of playing which is a combination of various genres of music.
Ill have to give these a try😁:.. I’ve been using the pro mark naturals with the green label because every other stick would slip out of my hands because the finish felt so smooth/waxy… I really hope these feel as good because they defiantly look cool and that size sounds perfect
This is very cool, definitely will buy one if they ship to my country. But I can’t help but notice that your old stick was virtually the exact same with the barrel tip and width right between a 5a and a 5b, right? Even the “just black writing on natural wood” appearance :D
Yes sir! Shockingly enough, my hands haven’t changed much in the past few years, LOL. The main difference is the taper. My old stick had the taper of a 5A which gave it a bit of a dead rebound. This taper really increases the feel and touch you get from surfaces, especially the cymbals. Hope that helps my friend
@@mikeslessons thanks for the response! That’s great news actually, because I used the mjc1 from vic firth which had more or less the same width as your 2451 but had a longer taper. I wasn’t super happy with the tip of mjc1 though, so I’ll be sure to get my hands on a pair!
Bought a pair. Really liked it. Although I have a theory that until you reach a certain stage - and that is somewhere in the Advanced realm - every new pair of sticks is going to feel better than the last one. Not because it’s actually better, but because you yourself are getting better all the time, fast 😃😃
Hey Mike, I love the idea of this stick and would love to try them. My only reservation is that it doesn't come in a nylon tip. What are your thoughts on this? Wood tips chip away too easy for me, making the sound and feel deteriorate quickly.
Glad you dig it. It was my choice. I feel like this needed to be "our" stick and not my stick. If my name is on it, it will always be my stick. Now it's NE-1's (AnyOne's) stick. Hope that helps
Looking forward to trying out the sticks, great video. Your voice sounded different to usual though Mike. Is Eddy’s accent rubbing off on you or something…?!! lol
Hi Mike This promo and stick looks great! Are the dimensions of the NE-1 approximately the dimensions of your previous endorsed signature stick? (yeah, I still have some)
Mike, I bought a couple pairs of these sticks. I've been using Vic Firth Extreme 5A'a for decades. They feel like lead compare to NE-1's. At first I thought they were too light. But then I felt your sticks were like a vacation for my wrists. And they sound really good. Ride definition is night and day better. Snare and toms speak more. I'm getting used to them and it feels like more of an extension of my brain to the drums. Ummm. Anyone wanna buy a dozen pairs of brand new 5A'a?
YES!!! This just made my night. Do you mind if I share this with VF? They would love to hear feedback like this. Oh, and thanks for taking a chance on me.
Vic Firth has never changed the artwork before... Benny Greb coughs somewhere. Jokes aside I was a big fan of Mike's Vater signature and used it exclusively when I played Vater. Can't wait to get my hands on the NE-1.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I meant that they hadn't gone with this design before. But I think they actually do have a few symphonic sticks that don't use the red either. Benny is still welcome to cough though, LOL
To be fully transparent… I deleted it because it felt like made it just to make it. I was disappointed in myself for not teaching with pure passion so, it had to go.
Sticks generally aren't measured by weight since the weight can vary from dowel to dowel. Instead the weight is given by the size of the grip. This stick sits right between a 5A and 5B at 0.580. Hope that helps.
@@mikeslessons Thanks Mike for your reply. The reason I say that weight is most important to me is I learned to drum with the sticks that came with Rock band, they are extremely light and anything else now gives me problems. Unfortunately I can not buy those sticks and nobody is willing to duplicate them. The original ones were made by ProMark and the ones I have are getting kind of ratty. Although I did get a pair of unopened sticks at a yard sale, but one shaft was bent, they were light but they weren't ProMarks, however they were branded Rock Band.
My only concerns are these: 1. With the longer, thinning taper, how long will these last? They seem like they’ll wear out/break quickly. 2. The tiny tip looks like it would chip quickly.. rendering them useless is no time. :( I am sooooo intrigued and will definitely be trying these! But want to know from those who have played them for any length of time how long they can be expected to hold up? Thanks!
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
So cool to see Vic Firth putting big money behind a man that truly deserves it. Uncle Vic would be proud. Well done bru. 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Nice, Mike. This is the first time I've heard anyone explain the characteristics of stick profiles
That's awesome to hear Kev! Thanks a ton for watching the whole thing 🙏🍵🍵🙏
Thought the same. Those 4:40 minutes were really educational.
I'm so looking forward to trying these out! Someone who has so much understanding and passion about our craft must have come up with something amazing. Can't wait to see these in the UK!
Awesome! My all-around favorite stick for a long time has been the 55A, love the power, length and grip, but I sometimes wish they were just a little less forward heavy and would offer better rebound on the ride and hats. These are perfect!
"When's the last time you re-evaluated your Drum stick?"
... Me with 10 tabs open of sticks I'm looking to try out.
Ok yeah I'll try these
LOL! Absolutely epic
At 1:39 you describe my EXACT issue. I am constantly buying both sizes and neither one ever felt right. I am for sure going to be picking up a pair to try out.
That’s awesome to hear Matthew!
A stick between 5a & 5b...Sign me up!! I absolutely Love the stick lessons - I've never considered some of the characteristics you mentioned in this video. Your no frills approach to the design - matches perfectly your approach to teaching... (Although I still have my pair of your older 'signature' sticks (I keep 'em for the bathroom code ~ which I'm sure by now has changed - but just in case it hasn't) ;)
Thanks Mike ~ You indeed have made me both a better drummer and a better musician!
Congrats on the new stick bud! Very cool.
I’m definitely gonna check them out! You had me at the size between 5a and 5b.
Leave it to Mike “ Humble Pie “ Johnston to create a signature stick and not even put his name on it. Just a motivational “NO EXCUSES”
LOVE THIS MAN!!
Awe brother, thank you for the kind words. I promise, I'm a jerk in real life. LOL
@@mikeslessons 😆 Unbelievable!
I've using this sticks and they are exactly what I was looking for, thank you for having the same questions as me and create the perfect pair!!
I've got to pick up a couple pair and give them a try. I've been using the 55A for a few years now so the diameter and length is the same. I want to see what the different taper and tip will do for my playing... Thanks for sharing Mike!!!
Finally, I've been waiting to see these videos for a long time! So great, so happy for you Mike that you got to do this! And the name ended up being awesome, NE-1, anyone, no excuses!
An advert that is truthful! Very refreshing.✊
Ive been playing Virgil Assault for 15years, but somehow these are calling my name and will definitely give them a try.
Congrats Mike! Great video as usual! Definitely going to try this one out :)
I loved your previous Vater signature stick and I’m glad to see this one is almost exactly the same! Will be ordering soon.
The 9A is available in Hickory and Sugar Maple :) these NE1 are Hickory only...
I've tried pretty much every kind of stick on the market. I remember being at the Guitar Center one day and saying, "I wish they made a really thick stick that wasn't super heavy." The kid ended up handing me a Vic Firth SD1 General. He kinda laughed and said, "good luck getting around the kit." It was the last type of stick I ever bought...😆 I will say that I've always wondered why you would want anything but a round spherical shape at the end of your stick, but Mike explained it all quite well...👏
excited about the size of these. Great video man!
I love the feel of the 55a's which I assume is the same thickness but the taper and barrel on this really appeals to me. Will be getting some of these to try! Well done Mike!
Very cool Mike! Definitely looking forward to giving these a try!
Great video, waiting for my sticks. Should get here this month sometime!! See how the feel vs your old ones that have been one of my favorite to play. Still have a few before they changes the name of them.
Good work on the NE-1, Mike, definitely worth checking out.
The Benny Greb signatures are my main sticks, but I'll be stoked to seat time with these sticks.
Great video as usual, Mike. Congrats on the stick! I have to get a closer look at the finish. Many moons ago, I started using sticks with what they advertised as a "naked" finish. I have a lot of trouble with sticks that come varnished or lacquered. Great for hands that go dry, not so much for ones that sweat. They tend to go a-traveling! Cheers!
This is a beautiful sounding and looking video! The circular red and white light in the background gave this that extra artistic touch. All in balance between art and marketing. Nice one mate!!!
Awesome Mike!!!! Loved your vater signature sticks, that’s all I used, I actually ordered them by accident and fell in love with the feel, can’t wait to try these out!!!! Definitely want the maple if they produce them
Wow what a promo video! Well done to all involved! Also looking forward to trying this stick :)
I just had these sticks delivered today, went to try them out at work and my god!, where have these been for the last 31 years! My hands are flying around the kit :-)
Wow, kudos for your ongoing educational videos, your dedication to the craft, and now your deep dive into what (as you say) is such an overlooked piece of equipment. On that note, I'm saddened by the demise of the Regal Tip line - I have played Calato's 5B/2B nylon sticks forever, and switching to the Vic Firth equivalent was just not the same. (All due respect to VF.) I'm also a tennis player, and one of the great metrics we use to compare rackets is the "Head heavy/head light" point system; so, to an experienced player, "4 points head heavy" is an instantly recognizable specification. I always wondered why drumsticks don't use this same idea. And--more kudos to you--I never realized how the shape of the bead affects playability! I just know when I pick up a stick with a certain bead type -- I just say "oh, it's one of those shaped thingies!"
Again, my deepest appreciation for your work.
I'm really excited for this!
You would think that the diameter thickness of the back end of the stick would make it heavy, but that’s not the case. It’s heavy enough to play in louder situations, but light enough towards the the front end to play in slightly quiet situations. Very well balanced stick.
Can't wait to get my hands on a pair and try them. Been a long time since I've "re-evaluated my sticks" Been playing 5A for longer than I can remember. Really interested in giving these an honest shot
Me too. 5A forever. Regal tip rocks in the 70s,lol
Congrats Mike and great work here! 🔥
These are cool, might buy this for my backbeat playing
Man, I've been playing Los Angeles Vater 5A's for 20 years! I think I'm about to bust a Mike Johnston and Switch to Vic Firth!
I played Vater for a while too, but I had to try this new one from Mike.
Got my first pair in Friday, played them that night and Sunday morning - couldn't be happier. They really do feel like the stick that anyone could use and be happy with.
Try Vater 5a Classics,better than Los Angeles 👍
Great video, I shall have to check out these sticks. I typically play 7as and play with Hot Rods a lot. I also play the Steve Gadd sticks from Vic Firth as I like how they feel in my hands and the weight is good for my style of playing which is a combination of various genres of music.
Saw the video and had to give ‘em a try. Really liking theses sticks. They ain’t one nice. They too nice!!!
for sure gonna go to my shop and try those out
Awesome to hear my friend!
i wonder how these will compare to the buddy rich sticks, my understanding is they were designed with a very similar approach. can't wait to try
Ill have to give these a try😁:.. I’ve been using the pro mark naturals with the green label because every other stick would slip out of my hands because the finish felt so smooth/waxy… I really hope these feel as good because they defiantly look cool and that size sounds perfect
This is amazing! I hope they might ship some to Singapore!!
Thanks so much. Any Vic Firth Dealer in the world can get them. I hope to be back in Singapore soon
Definitely giving these shot!
Amazing job Mike
Love these sticks Brotha, reminds of a beefier sd4 combo
Mike your the best mate
Shaun.
This is very cool, definitely will buy one if they ship to my country. But I can’t help but notice that your old stick was virtually the exact same with the barrel tip and width right between a 5a and a 5b, right? Even the “just black writing on natural wood” appearance :D
Yes sir! Shockingly enough, my hands haven’t changed much in the past few years, LOL. The main difference is the taper. My old stick had the taper of a 5A which gave it a bit of a dead rebound. This taper really increases the feel and touch you get from surfaces, especially the cymbals. Hope that helps my friend
@@mikeslessons thanks for the response! That’s great news actually, because I used the mjc1 from vic firth which had more or less the same width as your 2451 but had a longer taper. I wasn’t super happy with the tip of mjc1 though, so I’ll be sure to get my hands on a pair!
@@ChocoDrum03 100%. The taper of the MJC1 with the other dimensions of my old signature stick. 🙏🍵🙏
Bought a pair. Really liked it. Although I have a theory that until you reach a certain stage - and that is somewhere in the Advanced realm - every new pair of sticks is going to feel better than the last one. Not because it’s actually better, but because you yourself are getting better all the time, fast 😃😃
Let's go Mike!!🔥🔥
Hey Mike, I love the idea of this stick and would love to try them. My only reservation is that it doesn't come in a nylon tip. What are your thoughts on this? Wood tips chip away too easy for me, making the sound and feel deteriorate quickly.
Love it! NE-1...
Putting a 2 on the 1st part, making it..
2NE1. Lol kpop style!
Kidding aside, hope they'd ship it the soonest here in Manila, PH
Are they available in maple?
They aren't at the moment but maybe in the future :)
This looks fantastic! Just curious, why is this not a "signature" stick from Vic Firth?
Glad you dig it. It was my choice. I feel like this needed to be "our" stick and not my stick. If my name is on it, it will always be my stick. Now it's NE-1's (AnyOne's) stick. Hope that helps
@@mikeslessons Love it. You rock, Mike!
Looking forward to trying out the sticks, great video. Your voice sounded different to usual though Mike. Is Eddy’s accent rubbing off on you or something…?!! lol
The size seems perfect, but what if I'm used to a teardrop tip of a 5B?
Hi Mike This promo and stick looks great! Are the dimensions of the NE-1 approximately the dimensions of your previous endorsed signature stick? (yeah, I still have some)
They’re same length and width as the Vater ones, just longer taper.
@@richardpine8011 🙏🍵🙏🍵
What Richard said :)
@@mikeslessons thanks Mike and congratulations!
Mike, I bought a couple pairs of these sticks. I've been using Vic Firth Extreme 5A'a for decades. They feel like lead compare to NE-1's. At first I thought they were too light. But then I felt your sticks were like a vacation for my wrists. And they sound really good. Ride definition is night and day better. Snare and toms speak more. I'm getting used to them and it feels like more of an extension of my brain to the drums.
Ummm. Anyone wanna buy a dozen pairs of brand new 5A'a?
YES!!! This just made my night. Do you mind if I share this with VF? They would love to hear feedback like this. Oh, and thanks for taking a chance on me.
Just discovered, that if you say NE-1 just a tad bit quicker, it sounds like Anyone. The Anyone Stick 👍
That was the plan. It was originally called the NE stick, then when we put a 1 at the end it became the stick for "AnyOne"
@@mikeslessons Good Work! 😀👍
Vic Firth has never changed the artwork before... Benny Greb coughs somewhere.
Jokes aside I was a big fan of Mike's Vater signature and used it exclusively when I played Vater. Can't wait to get my hands on the NE-1.
Sorry, I should have been more clear. I meant that they hadn't gone with this design before. But I think they actually do have a few symphonic sticks that don't use the red either. Benny is still welcome to cough though, LOL
@@mikeslessons I do like the design and how NE-1 is also a homophone for anyone :)
Where did the "20 snares groove" video go?
To be fully transparent… I deleted it because it felt like made it just to make it. I was disappointed in myself for not teaching with pure passion so, it had to go.
Where did you get that track
Sweeeeeet!
I use tree trunks
What about the length, Mike? I like 16.25" because 16 is too short and 16.5 is too long. My current sticks are Jack DeJohnette signatures.
It’s a 16” stick
Then you are all set my friend! The Jack sticks are epic :)
You should give out some free sticks for comments /shares or likes! Do some giveaways!! Or holler at ya boy.
Left out the most important aspect for me anyway, the weight.
Sticks generally aren't measured by weight since the weight can vary from dowel to dowel. Instead the weight is given by the size of the grip. This stick sits right between a 5A and 5B at 0.580. Hope that helps.
@@mikeslessons Thanks Mike for your reply. The reason I say that weight is most important to me is I learned to drum with the sticks that came with Rock band, they are extremely light and anything else now gives me problems. Unfortunately I can not buy those sticks and nobody is willing to duplicate them. The original ones were made by ProMark and the ones I have are getting kind of ratty. Although I did get a pair of unopened sticks at a yard sale, but one shaft was bent, they were light but they weren't ProMarks, however they were branded Rock Band.
We’ll done, Maestro!
Much appreciated my friend 🙏🍵🍵🙏
Mike J
My only concerns are these:
1. With the longer, thinning taper, how long will these last? They seem like they’ll wear out/break quickly.
2. The tiny tip looks like it would chip quickly.. rendering them useless is no time. :(
I am sooooo intrigued and will definitely be trying these! But want to know from those who have played them for any length of time how long they can be expected to hold up?
Thanks!
RIP 2-4-5-1
It unfortunately passed almost 2 years ago, lol.
@@mikeslessons 2 yeeeeaaaarrrsss?
@@TotalEvo7 Yep, I moved to Vic Firth about 2 years ago, lol
@@mikeslessons oh, didn't know about it at the time, I've been a Vic Firth guy for as long as I can remember
@@mikeslessons That was the Best Bathroom Code hahaha
Get real Mike. You just gave the Vic Firth developers your former Vater signiture stick (awesome stick) now called the 9A, and told them to copy it.
first