Drumsticks are the most important tools you have as a drummer. They need to become an extension of your hands, and the best way to achieve that is to get a pair that you love.
While the most common sizes for sticks are 5A and 7A, it’s a good idea to branch out and test sticks with varied qualities to see if you may prefer them. A good way to do that is to try out signature sticks.
Signature sticks are sticks that have been made with specific designs in mind by a famous drummer. They deviate a bit from standard sizes to suit the preferences of that drummer. When one drummer likes how they feel, it’s generally a thing of many drummers liking them as well.
In this review, we’re going to look at Neil Peart’s signature sticks from Promark.
The main feature of these sticks is the fact that they’re made from Shira Kashi Oak. It’s their defining feature.
They have wood tips that are oval-shaped, which is another significant feature that affects how they feel when playing drums and cymbals.
In terms of size, they’re 16” and a quarter long, with that extra quarter making them slightly longer than most pairs of sticks. They’re also noticeably heavier, having a thickness of 0.551”.
The best way to describe these sticks is that they’re 5As with a few alterations. Neil Peart used them, and they have his signature on the shafts of the sticks. He was the drummer for Rush, and he sadly passed away in 2020.
Before getting into the specifics of the sticks, it’s worth mentioning Promark as a brand. They’re one of the top drumstick brands in the world, along with Vic Firth and Vater. So, most Promark sticks are known to be high-quality. It’s good to have that assurance.
With regards to these PW747W sticks, they tend to be a lot more durable than most other sticks. They’re a bit heavier than standard 5As, which is one of the biggest contributing factors to durability.
They feel great in your hands, and they sound natural on the drums. If you’ve never played with oak sticks before, you should give these a go.
Since these sticks are heavier, they give louder output volume from the drums. This makes them ideal for styles like country, rock, metal, and pop. Neil Peart was the drummer for Rush, which is a world-famous rock band. So, you can imagine how he needed volume when playing for a crowd of thousands.
This means that they may not be the best option for soft indie gigs. They’re definitely not good for jazz playing, as lighter sticks are always preferable.
The sticks feel very balanced, making them comfortable to play with. Some sticks are heavier on one side, and that affects how you need to hold them to get the best leverage. You don’t need to worry about that with these.
Since these are signature drumsticks, they’re a bit more expensive than standard 5As or 7As. However, drumsticks aren’t very expensive to begin with. You can pick up a pair for less than $20, so the price-to-value ratio isn’t the most important feature to look at when buying sticks.
While these are durable, understand that they will break over time, and you’ll need to get new ones. They’re more durable than most, though, making their value quite high.
If you’re happy to spend a few more dollars on these signature sticks, it won’t affect your budget too much. The price will add up over time, though. Keep that in mind.
While drumsticks are very important, they’re tools that come and go fairly often. You break some, you lose some, and you hold onto some for way too many years. When thinking about them like this, it makes it easier to spend a bit of money and test pairs out.
Many drummers get comfortable with using specific pairs, thinking that no other pair would fit them better. They don’t realize that they could be missing out on the most comfortable pair of drumsticks ever for them. So, it’s good to try sticks out, and these Neil Peart signatures are a good option, considering how similar they are to standard 5As.
All drumsticks are great for studio playing, and these P747Ws are no different. If you love how they feel, then you should use them to do recordings.
You can even use them to make recordings for softer styles of music, considering how easy it is for editing to be done when mixing.
The sticks are a lot better suited for live playing than they are for studio settings, though. This is mainly thanks to their heaviness and volume output. They’re drumsticks intended for energetic playing.
They’ll help you play loudly on the drums, which brings plenty of energy to the stage. If you’re playing in large venues with pumping music, these sticks are perfect. They’re louder than standard 5As, which is why many drummers love them.
Neil Peart was an incredible drummer who impacted the drumming industry quite significantly. His legacy will stand strong over the years, and these sticks are one of the avenues for that to happen.
While they’re a great pair of sticks to use normally, they’re also a great option to get to celebrate the life of Neil Peart.
We highly suggest you try these sticks out. You may find that their heavier weight and slightly longer shafts suit your playing very well. If you don’t like how they feel, you can always move on, thanks to drumsticks not being a big expense.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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