Vic FirthHeritage Brushe - Retractable - Steel Wire - Purple Handle

I recently bought a pair of inexpensive generic brushes from Amazon that started to fall apart within a week (not Vic Firth I hasten to add) and I got a refund and purchased these Jazz wire brushes instead.Having owned some other Vic Firth Heritage brushes for some time (and loving them) I should have done this from the start and realised that cheaper Chinese branded brushes are a false economy.These Jazz Wire brushes are still retractable which makes them easy to carry in a stick bag without snagging, but the handle is made of a sturdy white plastic and the brush wires are stiffer than on the Heritage models.I think the Heritage brushes are best suited to new players as they are more flexible and able to be used across more genres, but I actually really like the stiffness of the wires on these Jazz Brushes and can feel the drumhead and practice pad through them a little more.The handles have a knurling embossed into the plastic which makes the grip better and they are comfortable to play for a long time.I really like these brushes and can happily recommend them and if you are considering a cheaper alternative from a generic brand then I can only offer my advice from experience and say save your time and get something like this instead, they'll play nicer and last longer.

These are good quality but very, very lightweight. Probably best used for very quiet music.If like me, you like the sound of brushes but you still like a bit of a bang then go for something a bit heavier.

Ok so I have to say these are a really nice set of brushes whether you be a regular gigging musician or a newbie...These brushes are made to last FOREVER, with a comfortable purple rubber coating that helps with grip and a nice weight / length.You will find two notches in the metal retractor / extender end which allows the brushes to be used in a more fanned position or a closer and dense position BUT I have to say that on my set the retractor / extender was stiff enough to allow me a greater variety of positions than just these two options and never slipped whilst playing.The sound of these brushes are exactly what you would expect from a decent pair of brushes and I have to say that if I had a choice of only thanking out one pair of brushes it would either be these or the Steve Gadd vic firths depending on the gig.If you are after a second pair of brushes that are completely different from these I would try a pair the live wires BUT please note they are like MARMITE! You either love them or hate them as they are a world apart from traditional brushes given you other sounds / volumes that would not normally be possible.

Pleasantly surprised by these brushes. Was suspicious they seemed a bit gimmicky but the tiny metal ball ends to each wire don't produce the scratchy over defined sound I expected. They are however just as advertised. An increased slap / tap stroke volume is clear but not over pronounced. When you need your fly swatters to cut through just a tad more they're ideal. Excellent for fiery uptempo accompaniment and soloing. Outstanding in fact. Would help give big band players that bit more definition when forced to control tempo with brushes during ballads. They really come into their own when playing more tappy grooves and rhythmic swishes in contemporary Latin or funk styles. Having purchased a pair of dreadlock rakes and found them interesting but of limited general use I'm delighted with this set and recommend them for all but slow ballad and discrete low volume singer backing. Top tools. When you need to create some heat these are perfect.

The first thing you notice about these Vic Firth brushes is their weight! I bought these specifically because I wanted something a bit heaver than the traditional brushes, and I sure wasn't disappointed. However, if anything the wire gauge might be a little too heavy, I'm now a little concerned for the well-being of the drum surfaces!These brushes are weighty and made from heavy duty steel. They retract nicely, but you may need a little WD40 eventually because after a few months they were becoming more difficult to extend out. They produce a nice sound, but different from the traditional light-weight jazz brushes - stronger and more pronounced tones, but way off those of a stick. I also get a nice sound off of the cymbals as well. I am continuously checking the surfaces of the drums for signs of wear and scratching though...

Bought these brushes after a friend recommended them, and I can't say that I'm regretting buying them. The build quality is good, and they're slightly stiff, so they won't come out and bend in the bag. My only criticism would be that the wires seem to come off fairly quickly. I used them for about fifteen minutes, and then counted four wires that had come off (one of which came off pretty violently and hit me in the eye!). I was playing properly and not especially violently, so I'm not sure what is happening there. They seem to snap, not bend, which I like (bent wires are irritating as hell).They haven't damaged my heads as another review said they might.

If you are playing brushes and struggling to be heard, these are the tool for you.Pro's:Greater volume from the drums.Almost stick like definition from cymbals.They're robust (outliving any and all of the many brushes I have tried).Notched for differing degrees of splay.Casing is not brittle (like some) and can take a knock/rimshot.Cons:If you're playing very softly, the sound off the skin is "raspier" than a normal brush and not so nice.

Great quality, made to last unlike cheap versions. 100% reccommend spending a bit extra to buy a good brand like these. Cant fault them.