Ahead users.......

C. Dave Run said:
Like I said, I check mine constantly and havent had one come off in years. I dont use glue.

Yes I would imagine constant contact would loosen the tip. It doesn't really spin loosely though. Playing a few hours wont cause them to come off as long as they are tight.
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Thank you. I really want to use them for my next gig. I will go for it and report back.
 
C. Dave Run said:
I dont use any glue, but do check the tips constantly. Havent had one come off in years.
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This.
I’ve been using Ahead sticks since the mid 00s (a time when I had no technique and boatloads of aggression). Any issues and I’d throw the stick over my right shoulder for good luck and move on with a new one. I’ve damaged my fair share of Ahead sticks but never recall them causing any damage to my gear. Now that I’m older, wiser, and a technique geek, I have had absolutely zero issues with my sticks. I actually have a set I feel like I should have replaced the sleeves by now but they look and feel fine. I’ve saved a ton of money and cleaning.
 
NackAttack said:
Now that I’m older, wiser, and a technique geek, I have had absolutely zero issues with my sticks.
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This for me as well. With the price of wood going out the roof, my 2 pairs of different sizes (7a/5a/5b) have lasted me over 3 years now. I can only imagine what that would've costed in wood.
 
I bought a pair of 5B Light Rock, and use grip tape with them for additional shock absorption. Dose anyone here play them without grip tape? All in all I like them, and I'm getting used to them.
 
Supraman5x14 said:
I bought a pair of 5B Light Rock, and use grip tape with them for additional shock absorption. Dose anyone here play them without grip tape? All in all I like them, and I'm getting used to them.
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I put grip tape on a pair for the first time a few months ago. I can’t decide if I like it or not. The only thing I don’t like about no grip is when the sticks and my hands are cold, but that’s remedied after a little warm up.

I could definitely see people not liking the metal feel, but it doesn’t bother me. I played them without tape for well over a decade.
 
Supraman5x14 said:
Dose anyone here play them without grip tape?
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Me. I hate tape, gloves, etc. Just my hands and the stick. Everything for me is based around what stuff feels like.

This last pair I bought is leaving a dark stain on my hands. This is a first for me.

Some more thoughts about AHEAD:

It's not a problem, but I drop AHEAD more than wood. Wood sticks (lol), metal slips, they both have their pluses and minuses as far as hand/stick contact goes.

I dont like AHEAD on the pad. It feels clunky compared to drums. Probably something to do with an oscillating membrane under tension vs bouncy hard surface. I use VF Gadd sticks and can feel the vibrations easily.

With wood I feel like I 100% am doing all the work. Every single up/down, and all the movements between objects. So as I move laterally, I must both move laterally AND continue to operate the stick. With AHEAD, I start and stop the stick. As I move laterally, the stick helps by continuing to operate itself. I feel much more in control with AHEAD than wood.

You know the "rubber pencil" trick? When done correctly, the pencil basically just floats in your fingers. AHEAD feels just like that to me.

And finally, AHEAD will keep me playing longer. Knowing now that I have a degenerative joint issue, less vibration means less wear. I would be willing to bet AHEAD could get an endorsement from the Arthritis Foundation or some other joint issue group.
 
My only issue keeping me from trying them is that I've been advised I'll never get as good a cross-stick sound with them, not even with the Crossroads models, as with wood sticks. Anyone here tried the Crossroads?
 
timmdrum said:
My only issue keeping me from trying them is that I've been advised I'll never get as good a cross-stick sound with them, not even with the Crossroads models, as with wood sticks. Anyone here tried the Crossroads?
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I'm no expert, but it's my understanding that the Crossroads models are simply wood colored plastic sleeves, made of the same (or similar) plastic as the black ones. They're just wood-looking for those that don't want such a "heavy metal" look to their sticks.
My guess is that they would sound the same as any of the Ahead sticks in a cross-stick application.
 
WuHan Solo said:
I'm no expert, but it's my understanding that the Crossroads models are simply wood colored plastic sleeves, made of the same (or similar) plastic as the black ones. They're just wood-looking for those that don't want such a "heavy metal" look to their sticks.
My guess is that they would sound the same as any of the Ahead sticks in a cross-stick application.
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This is correct.
 
I didn't realize the Crossroads model was simply a different color. I thought they were a bit more rigid. I don't know where I got that from. 🤷‍♂️ So, not a great cross-stick sound, then, so I'm sticking with wood for now.
 
Supraman5x14 said:
I bought a pair of 5B Light Rock, and use grip tape with them for additional shock absorption. Dose anyone here play them without grip tape? All in all I like them, and I'm getting used to them.
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No grip tape for me either. Makes the handle too thick to my liking. I dip them in that PlastiDip stuff up to the joint where the sleeve meets the handle. Been working great for a long time.
 
AzHeat said:
Gave the Ahead sticks a good couple of hours. There’s definitely less shock, but I wear out faster. Not sure, maybe the speed metal model isn’t the right fit mor me. I do miss the extra length of the VF X5A at this point. Not sure if the SM was the wrong choice, I’m okay with going to a thinner stick for the most part, but at this point they remind me of the Vater Recording sticks. There’s just not a ton of attack with the SM. Great for low volume playing and I’m actually pretty pleased with how they sound…certainly better than I thought. The tips and shank sound nice against cymbals. Even the L80s sound less harsh.

They may end up being an expensive experiment, but we’ll see. May have to try another size. The no saw dust thing will be a huge plus, but will have to see how much and how fast the tips get shredded by the L80s.
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Cmdr. Ross said:
Stick with them (no pun intended) & I'm sure you'll find ones that work well. As for the "expensive experiment", I felt that way with wood sticks @$10/pair searching for "The One".
Dropped mass coin & never did find it.

With Ahead, I've found 5a's, 5b's, 7a's as well as marching sticks for pad work & they're all the same as their wood counterparts (minus the vibration).
I'll never go back to wood.
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Well, I think I found "the pair". The 5As were definitely better than the SM model, but the Maxx5A is perfect. I could have gone to them first, but really was trying to get comfortable with a standard 16" stick. I guess 16.5 is my thing and no way around it. I feel at home with that length. They are a touch heavier and louder than the 5A, but no way around the at home feeling. Will now be buying a second pair as backups. Really like the rebound on them too an their heir balance is perfect for where I hold my sticks. Even better than the VF X5As.
 
I stopped at G C to try out some other models but they only had 2 pair 5B and Speed Metal. I took my 5A Ahead sticks with me to compare them
I really wanted to check out the hybrid and maxx 5 A. Mine feel pretty good just sleight noodley but it's the ride sound that's a deal breaker for me and that is with the optional tips that are suppose to sound more like wood. They sound like metal tips to my ear very bright and harsh, not good at all
 
lefty2 said:
I stopped at G C to try out some other models but they only had 2 pair 5B and Speed Metal. I took my 5A Ahead sticks with me to compare them
I really wanted to check out the hybrid and maxx 5 A. Mine feel pretty good just sleight noodley but it's the ride sound that's a deal breaker for me and that is with the optional tips that are suppose to sound more like wood. They sound like metal tips to my ear very bright and harsh, not good at all
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Hmmm. Interesting. I haven’t played my HHX Evos with them, but on the L80s, they are very woody sounding. Both EAD10 mics and external no longer pick up the harsh tone. I do feel A bit of that noodley fee, but I also feel the less shock will hopefully extend my years of playing. The noodley feeing isn’t as bad with the Maxx5As, as I was feeling with the SM and 5A. Maybe it’s the touch extra weight and length, but I can pretty much play the same way as before, however wrong that is. Just saying I’m not thinking about the stick anymore, which is my test for any of the contact points. Pedals, thrones and now sticks. Just playing without constantly thinking about how to adjust something or try something different.

I may cry a different tune over time, but for now, the Maxx5A is a winner for me. I used to swear by Vater Fusions, then Los Angele, but more pad time forced too much vibration into my wrists. The longer sticks solved that, but now both Fusion and LA seem too short. Part of it is what we get used to also….
 
Ok you got me. I ordered some 5B rock sticks with grip tape to try out for long home practice sessions and see how they feel.
 
Is there more than one alloy for Ahead sticks? For some reason I was thinking that the classic versions of Ahead sticks are a different alloy than the Maxx versions but after searching for it I think they are all the same. Most of the time Ahead says it's a " high precision alloy" or "aerospace grade aluminum tubing" but they don't give a specific alloy. This is from a Sweetwater add about the maxx 5A sticks "Thicker-walled aerospace 7075 aluminum tube cores" Do any of you guys know anything about more than one alloy?
 
lefty2 said:
Is there more than one alloy for Ahead sticks? For some reason I was thinking that the classic versions of Ahead sticks are a different alloy than the Maxx versions but after searching for it I think they are all the same. Most of the time Ahead says it's a " high precision alloy" or "aerospace grade aluminum tubing" but they don't give a specific alloy. This is from a Sweetwater add about the maxx 5A sticks "Thicker-walled aerospace 7075 aluminum tube cores" Do any of you guys know anything about more than one alloy?
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As far as I know it's all the same. The cores are manufactured by Easton and shipped to Ahead for cutting and assembly.
 
You are probably one is in the know of such things, I am not sure where I got that idea from. I'm thinking about ordering a pair of 5A Maxx or fat beats and trying various tips. Some tips are nylon and others are a softer type of plastic (kinda sorta lol.) I can't remember what it's called right now.
I looked it up, it's Delrin
 
Comparing my Maxx5A to Speed Metal, they have the exact same tip and sleeves, except gray on the Maxx5A, but the visible aluminum section is thinner and shorter. Side sticking they both sound about the same, so pretty much the same thickness and hardness from what I can tell.
 
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