Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

How hard are you hitting the pads? Are you relaxing your arms while 
playing, or are you cramping up? I agree with taking lessons, have your 
teacher examine your posture and stick technique, that will, along with 
the Aheads, help a lot.

The replacement covers and tips are sold seperately, and aren't that 
expensive, much less than a pair of regular sticks. The cover is the 
plastic sheath between the tip and the metal ring which separates the 
striking area from the grip. You shouldn' t play without those, since 
it's an aluminium core beneath, which can damage an acoustic cymbal. 
You don't have to remove the covers.
I don't find the "ridges" annoying at all, I hold my thumb and 
forefinger in that area, and it helps me keep the stick in the same 
position. I usually have problems with sticks slipping due to my hand 
sweat, so much that I use powder at gigs.

Hope that helps,
Stuart McConaghy

On Nov 27, 2004, at 10:48 AM, john@... wrote:

>
> Hi
>
> On everyone's recommendation I bought some Ahead 5As yesterday, they
> were delivered today (thanks <www.giggear.co.uk>). I had a play this
> lunchtime and can't say I'm noticing much difference now. My wrists
> still ache. Maybe they're supposed to.
>
> I'm going to get some lessons so I get my posture and the way I hold
> my sticks correct, then I'll be back to y'all.
>
> Unless there are other things I should be trying?
>
> Oh, and on the subject of the Aheads, I don't understand the
> instructions. It talks about 'cover' replacement, but doesn't say what
> they mean by the 'cover'. It sounds like the almost ten inches of
> stick between the tip and the back end. Why would I want to replace
> that? Surely it's the tip that will break first.
>
> If that's the 'cover', what's underneath it?
>
> I should be playing with the 'cover' on shouldn't I? I mean, it's not
> something to protect the stick during travel that I should remove
> before playing. Considering they cost just shy of £30 I don't want to
> push and pull the things too much.
>
> Do they sell replacement covers and tips then?
>
> Also, the bit between the 'cover' and the rear part of the stick forms
> a couple of hard ridges which I'd have thought would irritate after a
> while because that's where you grip the stick. Smooth wood has no
> ridges.
>
> Am I missing something? This feels like the day I bought a Crass lp
> and played it for ages at the wrong speed. I quite liked it that way
> too.
>
> Cheers
> J
>
>> I've experienced more vibrations being transfered to the wrists with
>> Anti-Vibe sticks than with Aheads. In fact, I couldn't tell any
>> difference between Anti-Vibes and regular wood sticks. I haven't tried
>> Carbosticks, but when experimenting with older carbon-fiber sticks I
>> found those vibrated like a puppy dog's tail...
>>
>> On Nov 25, 2004, at 12:52 PM, Keith wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, Stuart McConaghy <stuart@s...>
>>> wrote:
>>>> Gloves won't help at all. Try some Ahead sticks, those are
>>>> shock-absorbent, and really help alleviate stress from the wrists.
>>> And,
>>>> as opposed to the Zildjian Anti-Vibe sticks, these actually do what
>>> it
>>>> says on the package.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have to disagree about the Zildjian Anti-Vibe sticks - I think
>>> they
>>> do a great job of cutting down vibrations, as do the Carbosticks.  I
>>> haven't tried the Ahead ones.
>>>
>>> Keith.
>
>
>
>
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