Canadian stick manufacturer Los Cabos, the first to introduce a complete line of red hickory wood, will introduce new models at the Winter NAMM 2012 show next week in Anaheim, California. Los Cabos will present a nylon tip version of their 5A and 5B sized models.
Red hickory, also known as heartwood, is found in the center of the tree and is thus, the oldest portion of the plant. It has long been over-looked in the drumstick business because of its natural inconsistent colouring, a direct result of the soil's mineral content.
As a result, red hickory drumsticks range in colour from a light tan to a deep beautiful brown.
The wood's natural strength makes it perfect material for drum sticks in terms of durability and feel. After significant testing by the Wood Science and Technology Centre (WSTC) of the University of New Brunswick, Los Cabos' red hickory proved to surpass the regular white (sapwood) hickory in both modulus of or rupture and of elasticity.
It also allows Los Cabos to use a greater portion of the wood from each tree harvested than any other manufacturer. No wonder their red hickory line of sticks was nominated for a 2011 MIPA Award at the Music Messe in Frankfurt, Germany.
According to Los Cabos, their line of red hickory drumsticks boast a bit more weight than the average hickory stick, making it the ideal choice for hard-hitters and drummers looking for that extra bit of "umph" without having to compromise the comfort of their favorite stick size.
