Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand Birch
- Write a Review
- Product #447066
-
- MSRP:
- $32.00
-
- Your Savings:
- - $13.01
-
- Your Price:
- $1899
- Top Rated
- Top Seller
- Price Match
- Satisfaction Guarantee
- Ships Worldwide
-
res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
-
res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
-
res13052521673646745120010Sound Percussion PDM2016M-R Tambourine with Calfskin Head 1... $13.99 - $14.99
res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
-
res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
-
res13052521673646745120010Vic Firth 3-Pair American Classic Hickory Drumsticks Wood 5A $22.99 - $23.99
res13052521673646745120010
-
res13052521673646745120010Vic Firth 6-Pair American Classic Hickory Drumsticks Wood 5A $44.99 - $46.99
res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
- res13052521673646745120010
Keep the intensity while lowering the volume!
The Steve Smith Tala Wands were conceived when Steve began playing with drummers from India and needed a way to blend with their sounds and be sensitive to lower volume levels. Other bundles worked as far as volume was concerned but they lacked the rebound he preferred. As a result, Steve helped develop two unique and tremendous tools now among the Vic Firth line of Rute and brushes:
The bamboo Tala Wand (TW11), with the purple handle, has a foam center surrounded with 11 bamboo dowels that are wrapped in thin PVC. The wands have great balance while naturally producing a lower volume with great rebound. The purple TW11 feels slightly smaller than the yellow TW12, yet the TW11 tends to have a little more weight because bamboo is heavier than birch. The bamboo is extremely durable. Steve uses this Tala Wand more for lower volume groove playing. 15-15/16" long, .585" diameter.
The birch Tala Wand (TW12), with the yellow handle, has a foam center surrounded with 12 birch dowels that are wrapped in thin PVC. This stick has outstanding rebound and sound. While the shaft of the yellow TW12 is thicker than the purple TW11, the weight of the 12 birch dowels on the TW12 actually has a lighter feel and helps create a lower volume than the bamboo Tala Wand. The 12 dowels have a very nice feel in your hands and the sound on the drums and cymbals has a lot of clarity and definition. Steve uses the TW12 for light and very detailed, fast playing. 16" long, .625" diameter.
Steve chose the name "Tala Wand" because "Tala" is a Sanskrit word meaning "to clap" or "to mark time"--one of the two main components of Indian classical music: raga (melody) and tala (rhythm). But Tala Wands feel great and naturally help to play softer--in all settings!
Features
TW11 (purple)
- Wood: 11 bamboo dowels
- Dimensions: 15-15/16" long, .585" diameter
TW12 (yellow)
- Wood: 12 birch dowels
-
Stevesmith 06 Vicfirth Tala Wands
Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 14 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
67%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Most Liked Positive Review
Awesome! Just don't expect long life
I absolutely love these. I've only owned the birch ones so far, so this review is relevant to those only. The feel of these is better than any other multi-rods I've tried, and ...Read complete review
I absolutely love these. I've only owned the birch ones so far, so this review is relevant to those only. The feel of these is better than any other multi-rods I've tried, and I've tried nearly all of them. I can play as fast and as articulate with these as I can with regular sticks. Ghost strokes, buzz rolls, double strokes, etc. are no problem and feel entirely natural. I've even found that rim shots are easier with these than with sticks due to the slight give upon impact, which makes the sound more reliable and consistent. These rods do exactly what they were designed to do - reduce volume and sacrifice nothing in playability.The Downside: These are built more like a finely-tuned sports car than a tractor. Even though I play light to moderate (I am not a cymbal chopper), I have found the lifespan of these to be about 15-20 hours of actual playing. First the ends begin to flare, which makes the sound slightly less precise, and then the first dowel breaks. When that happens you might as well throw them away because when you play, the foam core protrudes through the gap, at which point you begin to sound like a beginning drum student. I'm going to try the bamboo model next. Hopefully the added durability will not significantly reduce the other great features of these rods.Flawless performanceShort lifespan Seem a bit pricey
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Almost A Good Stick ...
I was very excited to try the new Tala Wands. I am a studio drummer and look for sticks that I can practice with at low volume levels and maintain a high level of control...Read complete review
I was very excited to try the new Tala Wands. I am a studio drummer and look for sticks that I can practice with at low volume levels and maintain a high level of control with. I usually use Pro-Mark Hot Rods, but after shredding several pairs I opted for something diffrent. The Talas have a much better feel and balance, but sadly disintegrated even quicker than the Pro-Marks! The dowels slid out of the sleeve and the foam core found its way out into the open within the first 10 minutes of (seriously) moderate use. These proved to be the flimsiest sticks I have ever played with - EVER. Save the cash and buy the Pro-Mark Hot Rods. These are a terrible buy.
Reviews
Reviewed by 14 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-10
Previous | Next »
Pros
- Durable
- Functional
- Good Quality
- Well constructed
Cons
Best Uses
- Practicing
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
Great sticks for warm up at gigs when you don't want to be loud yet can check your kit. Also during rehersals your not blasting everyone out. Have owned several other brands however these have been the best by far. Very durable
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
Love the snappy sound it brings to the snare. Light and responsive with a nice bounce off both cymbals and drumheads. Birch dowels seem brittle on mine, though.
Second time I used it, a dowel snapped right off while playing a high hat pattern. Decidedly less responsive afterwards.
Probably won't chance another set of these in the future.
Pros
- Good Quality
- Good Sound Low Volume
Cons
- Not Free But Worth Cost
Best Uses
- Practicing
- When Drumsticks Are Loud
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
Quieter than drum sticks, and sound better than rods. I didn't like the wooden click and the lack of bounce from the rod stick I bought previously. This was the perfect solution. They are probably the closest sound and feel you can get to a drum stick at lower volume. Great product, I got the bamboo and I am pretty confident they won't break anytime soon (I don't hit super hard)
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
They play like the real thing. but they last about 10 songs.go for it.
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
I absolutely love these. I've only owned the birch ones so far, so this review is relevant to those only. The feel of these is better than any other multi-rods I've tried, and I've tried nearly all of them. I can play as fast and as articulate with these as I can with regular sticks. Ghost strokes, buzz rolls, double strokes, etc. are no problem and feel entirely natural. I've even found that rim shots are easier with these than with sticks due to the slight give upon impact, which makes the sound more reliable and consistent. These rods do exactly what they were designed to do - reduce volume and sacrifice nothing in playability.The Downside: These are built more like a finely-tuned sports car than a tractor. Even though I play light to moderate (I am not a cymbal chopper), I have found the lifespan of these to be about 15-20 hours of actual playing. First the ends begin to flare, which makes the sound slightly less precise, and then the first dowel breaks. When that happens you might as well throw them away because when you play, the foam core protrudes through the gap, at which point you begin to sound like a beginning drum student. I'm going to try the bamboo model next. Hopefully the added durability will not significantly reduce the other great features of these rods.Flawless performanceShort lifespan Seem a bit pricey
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
These dowels offer the best rebound of all the dowel centric sticks. They have a foam center core that really creates a great bounce. They play as good if not better than actual sticks with a much lower volume. These are my favorite specialty sticks and I own many different types. They do wear out quicker than most though.
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
The Vic Firth Tala Wands allow you to play super quiet and still retain the tone of your drums and cymbals. This stick is great if you have a light touch and are looking to play in a quiet setting: small coffee shops, small churches, un-amplified acoustic gigs. Due to the foam core, when you are playing at low-volumes there isn't a "click" from the dowels that overshadows drums when you play lightly and it rebounds more like a regular stick. I use these to practice in my apartment daily and I still have the same set for 2 years.
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
The Good:The foam center works well to make the sound softer and the feel less rigid. Also, it actually helps these wear out more slowly, because each dowel is hitting the foam upon impact rather than another brittle dowel next to it. Also, the grips and feel of these are really good.The Bad:The dowels will flare out and get wider at the top over time/use. This lends to a sloppy feel and sound, as well as the foam center having more "play" in it. I remedied this by wrapping a small rubber band (several times) around the top of the stick, but cymbal sounds and the feel are sacrificed. Also, the dowels do come out/break easily. Let's face it, these tiny dowels are not sticks, so of course they aren't going to be nearly as durable, but for as quick as they wear out, (and the price) they should be more durable. I use these at band rehearsel (to keep volume down) once or twice a week. I'm going through about a pair every 2 months. That gets pricey!
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
I play in a band at my church and have toured with nationally and internationally with name bands. I play loud without flailing my arms, but too loud for church. I've used the Hot Rods, thunder Rods and even the Rute's and the Tala Wands are the best of them all. I've found that they last three to four sessions before the rods begin to break. The bamboo last longer, but the sound is different and louder.
Comments about Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand:
I am a drummer in a Praise and Worship Band,and i was looking for some quieter sticks than my Vic Firth 7ANs.I tried Pro Mark Hot Rods,but they broke quickly.Then,my pastor had a set of these and let me use them.These are great sticks for the quietest situations,but they are not strong enough to stand up to more rigorous situations.A little disappointed in Vic Firth here.
