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!

Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand Features:

• TW11 (purple)
• Wood: 11 bamboo dowels
• Dimensions: 15-15/16" long, .585" diameter
  
  TW12 (yellow)
• Wood: 12 birch dowels
• Dimensions: 16" long, .625" diameter

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Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand

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Average of 8 User Ratings

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Great for those very low volume performances

Posted by Pencilshaded from Seattle on Jan 17, 2010

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Alternative, Fusion

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.

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Good and Bad

Posted by Greezy from Largo, FL on Feb 12, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: A lot of different styles

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!

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Tala Wands: Best of the rest

Posted by Wetasafish from Santa Clarita, CA on Nov 9, 2008

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Alternative, Worship, Jazz, Blues

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.

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Good For What They're Made For

Posted by JJessup2010 from Dexter,GA on Mar 24, 2008

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Contemporary Christian,Christian Rock

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.

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good untill the foam breaks

Posted by persnickity drumstick guy from tallahassee, fl on May 25, 2007

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: active musician

Reviewer's Play Style: alternative, jazz, blues

Inside each of these tala wands is a small foam tube. When the foam breaks the wands are completely useless. If you ask me, buy the Pro Mark Hot Rods instead. There's no foam to break.

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Vic Firth Steve Smith Tala Wand

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