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Ahead Classic Series Drumsticks - 5A

Aluminum-core Drumstick Pair with Vibration Reduction System and Replaceable Shaft Cover/Tips - Length: 16", Diameter: 0.540", Weight: 53g
$34.99
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Ahead Classic Series Drumsticks - 5A
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$34.99
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This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

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More Durable and Comfortable Than Wood

Broken sticks are a bummer - especially in the middle of a recorded take or live set. And Sweetwater knows replacing those wood drumsticks gets expensive. That's why we're pleased to carry Ahead drumsticks. These aluminum-core sticks are the perfect option for many drummers out there. They last 6-10 times longer than wood and are claimed to be safer on the wrists, safer on cymbals, and harder hitting with less effort. Ahead 5A drumsticks have a familiar size and weight that's a good fit for most styles: rock, pop, funk, and more.

Ahead drumsticks: ahead of their time

Drummer and engineer Rick Grossman recognized a trend in sporting goods in the early 1990s. Traditional wood baseball bats and hockey sticks were being replaced with light and durable aluminum ones. Grossman wondered if the same technology could be applied to drumsticks. Grossman developed a prototype that his company eventually sold to Bob Kasha, and thus, the Ahead company was born. Ahead drumsticks have found favor among metal artists and heavy hitters across the globe, and today they can be seen in the hands of Lars Ulrich, Mick Fleetwood, and Tommy Lee, just to name a few.

Ahead 5A Classic Series Drumsticks Features:
  • The only drumsticks with a 60-day warranty!
  • Lasts 6-10 times longer than traditional wood sticks
  • Lightweight, durable aerospace 7075 aluminum tube core
  • Vibration Reduction System (VRS) provides 50% less shock and 5% more rebound than wood
  • Safer on the wrists - great for carpal tunnel and arthritis sufferers
  • Provides harder strokes with less effort
  • Powder coated finish feels nice in the hands
  • Polyurethane shaft covers are easy to replace and recycle
  • Replaceable tips vary cymbal response instantly
  • Won't damage your equipment or void cymbal warranty
  • Manufactured to exact tolerances (+/- 1g) for the perfect pair every time
Extend the life of your sticks and joints with Ahead 5A Classic Series Drumsticks!
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Tech Specs

  • Type: Sticks
  • Model: Classic Series
  • Material: Aluminum core with polyurethane sleeve
  • Size: 5A
  • Length: 16"
  • Diameter: .540"
  • Taper: Medium
  • Tip Material: Nylon
  • Tip Shape: Oval
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 5A

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

awesome just because my rims are not full of sawdust

This is my second pair,other pair are 5b rock,good sticks if you're a heavy hitter.I wanted something with more "feel".Sound great on cymbals,has a harder tip material than the 5b's.As alway's thanks Derrick,He's the man!
Music background: when a double pedal meant you had 2 bass drums
Rated 3/5

Glue Those Tips

Agree with another reviewer about tips not staying on. I have to use these sticks with my Low Volume Zildian cymbals, which shred wooden sticks like nobody's business. The plastic is high quality and doesn't get shredded, but I have to keep a close eye on the tips, which I have glued, but still come off from time to time. Now on my second set because one stick's tip comes off, but the other one doesn't.
Rated 2.5/5

Tips don’t last.

I got tired of breaking sticks, so thought I'd try these out. Second song in the set in front 1,000+ people, the tip unscrewed and went flying. Of course I didn't notice until after the song. After I noticed the tip was off, I look down and it had punctured a hole in my snare. Wasn't too happy. They are however lightweight and not much sound difference while playing live. Wouldn't recommend for studio recording, but OK for practice and live gigs. Just be sure to either glue or tighten the hell out of the tips.
Music background: Drums 25 years, guitar 15 years bass 10 years piano 10 years
Rated 2/5

Expensive sticks for no durability

When I bought my first pair of these sticks, I was like a kid in a candy store! The felt great in my hands, very light weight...just a totally different feel from wood sticks! However, they do not last very long because they are made of aluminum! If your a hard hitter, you had better be prepared because they will snap very easily right between the base and the shaft! My first pair lasted maybe 3 months, so I ended up purchasing another pair...same thing again, 3 months and done..... I spent $60 for 2 pair of sticks that broke in no time!! If you have the money to throw away, then I would say for the way these sticks feel you will be pleased, but to those who dont have the money to just throw away, steer clear of these!!
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