Hi Rick. Thanks for the info. I experimented with cleaning my 3-year old wires using a liquid auto cleaner-wax that contains petroleum distillates that I got at Wal-Mart. I wanted to remove that old black tarnish/grime and it worked pretty well. It did not get them looking exactly like new, but they are now very slick again like they were new. With the wires extended, I held them down on a piece of white paper as if pressing them into a drum head and with some wax applied to an old small cotton T-shirt rag, I rubbed them in one direction only from handle out towards the wire ends so as to not bend the wires. The black came off on the rag. Again, don't rub the wires back and forth but only outward. I also tried just applying the wax to the wires directly and then wiping with the rag and that seemed to work just as well. It takes a few minutes to work them clean. Just be careful. BTW, I have been using Vater, wire tap sweeps. There is no external rod. Well balanced and nice for mallet cymbal rolls from the butt ends. You can also take them apart to cut bent wires very easily. However, I just got a new pair today and found that they had changed the internal design. The new ones rattle inside because they changed the piston material from a felt tape to a kind rubber that leaves play inside the handle/cylinder. I am going to try and improve it if I can by adding my own felt on the internal piston. Don't know why they had to change perfection?
Original and useful video. I had those black Regal Tip long years ago. Now i use their "Sutter" model by Calato. I have very old ones with wood hands, non retractable, unfortunately the wires are too damaged. Thanks to you i'll test silicone maintenance.
Rick, Have you looked at Headhunters Drumsticks from Canada? Many moons ago Barry @ Drummers World turned me on to this company when I was looking for very light sticks for jazz trio work. Headhunters makes a model called 'B Bop Maple' that suited the task. They also make several brush options including the Jazz Brush. It's a detented retractable version with light weight flexible wire like the Regal Tips you're using. Another favorite of mine are the Sweepers. They're a pull out style with maple handles that are a little nose heavy but are indispensable when playing Bossa Nova or anything where you might need to play sidestick with one hand and brush with the other.
I use the Jeff Hamilton Regal Tip brushes, which you might not be a fan of, but they of course aren’t available any longer either. I haven’t tried them yet but Innovative Percussion, Inc. is now making the Hamilton signature brush. They have their standard medium gauge wire brush but I don’t have any idea how it compares to the Regal Tip model you use.
Great video. Curious - is there a reason that you cut off the offending wires as opposed to pulling them out of the brush entirely? Does this compromise the integrity of the remaining wires?
Depending on brand of brush if you yank them out you risk ruining the crimp which will make the brush fall apart. I learned this the hard way when I was a kid.
I must be doing something wrong. Within a few months, my brushes' wires completely move out of the nice flat fan shape they were in when new. Is there a way to get the wires straight again?
Thanks Rick, very good information..
Hi Rick. Thanks for the info. I experimented with cleaning my 3-year old wires using a liquid auto cleaner-wax that contains petroleum distillates that I got at Wal-Mart. I wanted to remove that old black tarnish/grime and it worked pretty well. It did not get them looking exactly like new, but they are now very slick again like they were new. With the wires extended, I held them down on a piece of white paper as if pressing them into a drum head and with some wax applied to an old small cotton T-shirt rag, I rubbed them in one direction only from handle out towards the wire ends so as to not bend the wires. The black came off on the rag. Again, don't rub the wires back and forth but only outward. I also tried just applying the wax to the wires directly and then wiping with the rag and that seemed to work just as well. It takes a few minutes to work them clean. Just be careful. BTW, I have been using Vater, wire tap sweeps. There is no external rod. Well balanced and nice for mallet cymbal rolls from the butt ends. You can also take them apart to cut bent wires very easily. However, I just got a new pair today and found that they had changed the internal design. The new ones rattle inside because they changed the piston material from a felt tape to a kind rubber that leaves play inside the handle/cylinder. I am going to try and improve it if I can by adding my own felt on the internal piston. Don't know why they had to change perfection?
Regal Tips are back! I'll have to try them out sometime
Original and useful video. I had those black Regal Tip long years ago. Now i use their "Sutter" model by Calato. I have very old ones with wood hands, non retractable, unfortunately the wires are too damaged. Thanks to you i'll test silicone maintenance.
Rick,
Have you looked at Headhunters Drumsticks from Canada? Many moons ago Barry @ Drummers World turned me on to this company when I was looking for very light sticks for jazz trio work. Headhunters makes a model called 'B Bop Maple' that suited the task. They also make several brush options including the Jazz Brush. It's a detented retractable version with light weight flexible wire like the Regal Tips you're using. Another favorite of mine are the Sweepers. They're a pull out style with maple handles that are a little nose heavy but are indispensable when playing Bossa Nova or anything where you might need to play sidestick with one hand and brush with the other.
I will send you an email about sticks. I’ve been nervous about regal disappearing. Great video sir!
I use the Jeff Hamilton Regal Tip brushes, which you might not be a fan of, but they of course aren’t available any longer either. I haven’t tried them yet but Innovative Percussion, Inc. is now making the Hamilton signature brush. They have their standard medium gauge wire brush but I don’t have any idea how it compares to the Regal Tip model you use.
Grazie !!!
Great video. Curious - is there a reason that you cut off the offending wires as opposed to pulling them out of the brush entirely? Does this compromise the integrity of the remaining wires?
Depending on brand of brush if you yank them out you risk ruining the crimp which will make the brush fall apart. I learned this the hard way when I was a kid.
I must be doing something wrong. Within a few months, my brushes' wires completely move out of the nice flat fan shape they were in when new. Is there a way to get the wires straight again?
Ludwig L191 (love the rattle) or Vaters (if you don't)