I have been using a generic 5A nylon tip stick. I bought a couple 10 pair bags . I teach one day a week at guitar center and get them for $7 a bag. I think it rediculous that pairs of name brand sticks are $7 to $10 a pair. I use VF 5B for rock and R&B.

I play mostly jazz, and I am also a stick nerd of the highest order, so I consider myself fairly knowledgeable in the way of jazz sticks.

I really like several of the Bopworks models. The Birdland is probably the best and is their flagship model. They have some that have a little more beef to them, but overall, all these models are great and I can't recommend them highly enough. I also dig the Mel Lewis, West Coast, and Memphis R & B models. Their brushes are also outstanding. Direct copies of old Slingerland brushes, if I remember correctly.

Link goes to model comparison, just click on "Home" in the upper left.

http://www.bopworks.net/model-comparison/

Another stick company not a lot of people know about is LA Backbeat.

https://www.labackbeat.com/

I met this guy at the Chicago Drum show last year and we talked for at least 30 minutes. He turns every single model himself from start to finish. I really dig the J 520 and J 535 models for jazz. The J 535 is probably my favorite drumstick of all time. Definitely worth checking out...5 stars all the way!

Both of those companies use exact specifications of 50's and 60's models for their sticks.

As far as mainstream companies go, I really like the Vic Firth AJ6, which has a very thin taper. It's impossible to overplay with that stick, even on a thin cymbal.

http://vicfirth.com/products/drum-sticks/american-jazz/aj6/

Pro Mark makes a very similar stick to the AJ6 in their Jazz Cafe series in Maple, and that is the MJZ-7, for an even lighter touch.

http://daddario.com/pmProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3917&productid=97&productname=Maple_MJZ7__Jazz_Caf___Wood_Tip&sid=42e730fa-8137-499e-b814-a7e382cf7cd4

I also like the Zildjian Hal Blaine Signature (which is exactly like the now discontinued Bopworks Shelley Manne Signature).

https://zildjian.com/sticks/artist-series/hal-blaine-artist-series-drumstick

I also like the Vater BeBop 500 or 525 (stick diameter). They are available in both hickory and maple. They are essentially thinner and lighter versions of the Peter Erskine Ride Stick.

https://www.vater.com/#!/product/370

I use one (well, a pair) of sticks for everything-

The pre-D'Addario buy-out Shira Kashi Oak 5A Nylon tip. The "new" one is totally different- totally dead and heavy feeling.

These have a good weight for me, excellent bounce and clean strike on all surfaces that does not "mush out" as wood tips do. I went to nylon tips some time in the 70's (Bunken were my stick of choice back then) and never wanted an inconsistent tip again after that.

I bought up all these sticks I could find once I realized they completely ruined them. I should have enough to last until I die now.

Inspired by the thread I decided to play rehearsal with Vic Firth 5a’s tonight. I felt good, a little quicker on the kit with maybe a less heavy handed approach than the good ol’2b’s. :)

For the blues rock band I'm in I either play with 7A's or my rods ( depending on the room ) For my hard rock / metal bands I use 5A's. Personally I think the prices of sticks are reasonable and haven't changed all that much in my 20 years of playing. Lately I've been using Vic Firth, but I have moods where I prefer Pro mark or Vater. Also a local stick maker from the New England area Igen Drumsticks. Few dollars less per pair and they are great.

http://signaturedrumsticks.tripod.com/index//home.html

Thanks for the great responses folks. I'm going to print the thread for future reference.

Big Band:

Zildjian Louie Bellson

Jazz:

Zildijian Louie Bellson

Promark Joe Morello (wood tip)

Regal Tip Jeff Procaro (wood tip)

Any other drumset stuff:

Vater Fusion

Vater Power Fusion

Vater LA 5A

Orchestral/Concert

Custom Made Cooperman #1

Custom Made Cooperman #9

Custom Made Cooperman #24

+1 on the Erskine ride stick

The tip on the Vic Firth American Jazz Series is somethin' else, man. I guess it's what they call the "acorn," but whatever, it makes my vintage Zildjians sound outta sight!

My most-used all-around stick is the Vic Firth AJ4. I keep my kit set up in my studio, so it's used by friends in jams, recording, etc., and I keep a variety of sticks in my stick bag.

No matter how I tried to bury my AJ4's in the danged bag, my friends always wound up digging them up, so I just put out a guest pair that are a little more "broken in" for folks to use. Good testimonial to their feel and sound, though.

In general, I think Vic sticks are a notch better in quality than their competition. Fewer warped ones and I like that the pairs are matched in pitch as well as weight.

For rudiments on a marching-type snare (old school), I like VF 5A or X5A. For rock on my Ludwig kit, VF 5A. For most other, VF 5A Barrell tip or Erskine Ride. At a local shop, they have buckets of VF "seconds" that are not marked for $3 a pair. They're all mixed together, but if you take the time, you can get good matched pairs that are straight, and weighted and pitched pretty close. I got several pairs of the Steve Gadd sticks like that, without the black paint.