The Slapstik company has developed a new stick that’s said to revolutionize drumming. The stick has a flexible tip that – I guess it’s the drumstick equivalent of the double bass pedal. According to the site, “The Slapstik® opens up a wide range of drumming methods that are simply impossible to execute with a traditional stick.”
I usually get wary when a company comes along and proclaims something as “revolutionary.” Since drums are the oldest musical instruments (in one form or another), it takes a lot of gall to proclaim that a single factor will change them entirely.
Some purists are also accusing the Slapstik of being a cheater-item, that it will negate high-quality technique in favor of convenience. Personally, I don’t agree of these accusations. You can’t hear whether a musician is using a specialized stick on a recording, and expert drummers will be able to find new ways to incorporate the stick into making new sounds.
However, do I think it will replace old sticks? Hardly. The whole thing sounds too gimmicky, and (if the video is any evidence) people look silly when they play with the Slapstik – a little like playing with a wet noodle.
I like to hit stuff 