Drumstick and mallet manufacturer Vic Firth recently revealed two new marching drumsticks: the Ralph Hardimon Corpsmaster Tenor Stick and the Roger Carter Corpsmaster Signature Snare Stick.
Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member Ralph Hardimon wanted to create a new tenor stick that could move more easily around the drum. “We wanted to keep that big, bold sound, but make it work for the way today’s tenor drummers play,” said Hardimon in a press release.
Features of the new tenor stick include an injection-molded nylon barrel tip, which will create a brighter sound when used on high-tuned Mylar drumheads. At 16-3⁄4 inches, this stick is also longer than its last model, which was 15-15⁄16 inches. The length allows for “greater comfort and speed when playing on modern multi-tenor setups, which tend to be farther away from the player’s body,” according to Vic Firth’s April press release.
For the Roger Carter Corpsmaster Signature Snare Stick, the goal was to create “a marching stick that had the feel of a drumset stick,” said Carter in a press release.
The Roger Carter stick “features a long, sloping taper, which pushes mass to the back for remarkable response and flow,” according to the release. “The taper flanges back out slightly at the neck for added durability and focused power at the tip.”
In addition, a round tip helps the articulation at every dynamic level.
