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Innovative Percussion The company shtick: Innovative Percussion is a manufacturer of drumsticks, keyboard mallets, and many other percussion implements. Innovative Percussion, Inc. is dedicated to providing the percussion world with professional products of an unequaled quality. Each item is carefully crafted to ensure product integrity and the quality needed to achieve the highest standards of today’s percussion excellence. We at Innovative Percussion, Inc. feel that the attention given to detail and design of quality percussion instruments deserves sticks and mallets parallel in quality. Sample tested: IP7AN Length index: 98 Weight index: 92 Playability: This white hickory stick is part of a new combo line and one of the few offerings with nylon tips – although the company does make an innovative rubber practice tip that slips over the stick to create a softer solution. The samples were lighter than most other 7As and also had a fulcrum closer to the tip. They had a good feel and excellent rebound on all play surfaces, but especially on hard rubber pads where the timber absorbed the impact very well. Less impressive were the tips themselves. The oval nylon ends were smaller and fatter than most others, but unfortunately were also quite rough. One, in fact, had a sharp protrusion that might, over time, damage mesh heads. Of course, this is easily fixed with a quick rub of an emery board, but not the kind of finish one would expect on a quality stick. In contrast, the wooden tips of a number of other samples provided by IP were smooth as silk.
Los Cabos The company shtick: Los Cabos Drumsticks are a Canadian company located in the province of New Brunswick on the country’s east coast. Making a good pair of sticks begins by selecting the best wood possible. We manufacture many different models of sticks using Canadian maple and American hickory. Our maple is considered to be the best in the business and our hickory from the southern USA is known the world over as the top choice for stick manufacturing. We also use red hickory which comes from the heart of the tree, making it stronger and more durable for those who need a bit “more” from their sticks. With nearly two dozen models to choose from, Los Cabos Drumsticks offers something for every drummer. Sample tested: 5A Hickory (Nylon Tip) Length index: 100 Weight index: 100 Playability: As a smaller and relatively new player, Los Cabos doesn’t have an enormous range, and there aren’t a lot of nylon-tipped models to choose from. That said, the 5As weigh little more than some other 7As, but they are slightly thicker and have less of a taper, so some people might not find them comfortable in the hand. The fulcrum is surprisingly central, given the short shoulder, and the sticks feel well-balanced. The tips are oval shaped and generously sized, although one did have a blob of exposed glue. Performance-wise, the sticks had a good solid feel and fine rebounds, especially on mesh heads. There was little impact back to the hand, even from the hardest hits to solid rubber pads. 20
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