Vic Firth Jazz Brush – plastic handle

I play brushes often in the two bands I'm in. One is an "acoustic" three piece dinner band. I say "acoustic" because the bass and guitar are acoustic instruments, but they are mic'd through a Bose PA. Thus the sound is too loud for my acoustic brushwork on a cocktail kit, and, ironically, I actually have to mic my snare drum! A drummer acquaintance mentioned that the Vic Firth Live Wires would boost the volume, so I took a chance. These brushes are ridiculously cool! They offer a crisper sound on the snare and the volume is significantly increased. I was able to eliminate the snare mic at a recent show. Accent on the cymbals is much, much stronger than with standard brushes. (I also use sizzle chains for a long sustain.) Note that a couple of reviews claim that the beads on the end make a "screeching" sound, but I don't find this to be the case. To me, the brushes offer the same sound and feel of standard wires, but with a significant volume increase when "stirring the pot" on the snare, and more definition and volume on the cymbals.

I’m 73 and these brushes really handle and feel so good. Great crispness with the correct motions…creates some good cymbals sounds…👍 best ones I have owned in 50 years…. Am old school.👍

My favorite brushes. My last ones developed a leak of oil or whatever is on the inside. That made a huge mess that was really hard to clean. So I worry a bit, but these are doing great for now. They don't get bent like cheaper brushes. They glide in and out well (probably due to the oil that leaked on the old ones)

Just couple of months use so: Net effect, very similar in volume ( drum and cymbal) and rebound to the Russ Miller brushes especially if using 2 “ Ride” R Millers. Tiny beaded tips durability can’t say. These take good bit of effort to open and close. May use more often as they loosen up. I also have purchased 2 sets of Russ Millers and at present use the 2 Rides, or 1 sweep and 1 ride most in acoustic jazz quartet. I find either of these 3 these easier to use given the rebound. Either brush set provide more volume and rebound than other thinner softer brushes typically associated with jazz.

The telescoping wire has bends that allow brush density and wire fan size to be adjusted. The wire bends keep the fan size in place until you change from on to another, Excellent sounding and quality manufacturing.

These have been hard to find in any of the.Regular music or percussion stores, so I was delighted to find them here. Unique in a style of brushes in that they are retractable, and the handles are made of wood. It just gives the authentic feel of a drumstick with the advantages of adjustability for a brush...fantastic.

These brushes are just what you expect. They sound good, are comfortable to use, and are easy to store with the extendo-cover-thing.

I struggle to get regular brushes to cut through in live situations, even when mic'd but I still need a brush sound. These are brushes made of slightly thicker wire that have had the ends melted or welded to form a tiny dot of metal at the end of each wire. The result is more projection on drum heads and cymbals while maintaining a brush sound and feel. If anything, some people may need a little something more to get really loud. I have had none of the tips come off and I don't see how that would ever happen. It seems like they have maybe touched the ends to a welder or heated in some way to make it molten and form a little dot at the end. It is not a separate piece of metal added to the end so it can never separate.