If you're buying a first pair or replacing one without a strong preference, start with the 5A.
5A vs 5B vs 7A Drumsticks: Choose a Size Without Guessing
The letters and numbers on a stick pair invite guessing. In the Vic Firth American Classic family, 5A and 5B are both 16 inches long, but 5B has a thicker .595-inch shaft; 7A is thinner at .540 inches and half an inch shorter. If you’re buying a first pair or replacing one without a strong preference, start with the 5A. If you want more shaft diameter with the same length, try 5B. If you want a thinner and shorter stick, try 7A. Use the measurements below before the label decides for you.
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Diameter is the thickness across the shaft. Taper is the way the stick narrows from the shoulder toward the tip, and Vic Firth’s spec labels say taper affects feel and balance. These are the current Vic Firth American Classic specs we checked on October 20, 2026. Millimeter values are our conversions from the published inch figures (1 inch = 25.4 mm), rounded to two decimal places.
Product photos are not shown to a common scale. Use the listed dimensions for comparison.
Compare size and tip.
The 5AN is not a fourth size. Vic Firth's American Classic 5AN publishes the same .565-inch diameter and 16-inch length as the 5A.
Both sticks have the same listed 16-inch length and medium-taper label. Choose 5B if your hand feels more secure or relaxed with a thicker shaft, or if you've used a 5A and kept wishing for a fuller grip.
Its diameter is .540 inches, which is .025 inches (.64 mm) thinner than the 5A. Its length is 15.5 inches, which is .5 inch (12.7 mm) shorter.
The 5AN is not a fourth size. Vic Firth's American Classic 5AN publishes the same .565-inch diameter and 16-inch length as the 5A. The tip is nylon instead of wood, and the remaining compared specifications match the 5A: hickory, medium taper, lacquer.
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| Model | Diameter (in / mm) | Length (in / mm) | Tip | Critical difference vs 5A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vic Firth American Classic 5A | .565 / 14.35 | 16 / 406.4 | Wood teardrop | Baseline |
| Vic Firth American Classic 5B | .595 / 15.11 | 16 / 406.4 | Wood teardrop | +.030 in diameter, same length |
| Vic Firth American Classic 7A | .540 / 13.72 | 15.5 / 393.7 | Wood teardrop | -.025 in diameter and .5 in shorter |
| Vic Firth American Classic 5AN (nylon-tip example) | .565 / 14.35 | 16 / 406.4 | Nylon teardrop | Same 5A dimensions, tip material changes |
The comparison stays clean because all four share the same published material and taper labels: hickory, medium taper, lacquer. The 5A, 5B, and 7A all use a wood teardrop tip.
5A vs 5B: thickness without extra reach
The .030-inch difference between the 5A and 5B looks small, but it is the main published difference. Both sticks have the same listed 16-inch length and medium-taper label. That gives the 5B a thicker shaft at the same length, which can give your hand more surface to close around. There is no published weight, mass, or volume in these specs, so don’t convert a thicker shaft into a promise about more volume, power, or durability.
Choose 5B if your hand feels more secure or relaxed with a thicker shaft, or if you’ve used a 5A and kept wishing for a fuller grip. Skip it if that extra .030 inches makes you squeeze, or if you want the smaller-diameter 5A at the same length. This is a hand-fit choice.
5A vs 7A: thinner and shorter
The 7A changes two published dimensions. Its diameter is .540 inches, which is .025 inches (.64 mm) thinner than the 5A. Its length is 15.5 inches, which is .5 inch (12.7 mm) shorter. The shorter length changes the reach, but that depends on your kit layout and hand position, so check it at your own pad or drum.
Choose 7A if the smaller shaft and shorter reach help you stay relaxed at your kit. Skip it if the thinner shaft makes your grip tense or the shorter length feels like the stick disappears in your hand.
5AN: same 5A size, different tip
The 5AN is not a fourth size. Vic Firth’s American Classic 5AN publishes the same .565-inch diameter and 16-inch length as the 5A. The tip is nylon instead of wood, and the remaining compared specifications match the 5A: hickory, medium taper, lacquer. That makes the 5AN a tip option at 5A dimensions rather than a smaller stick. Whether nylon and wood share identical weight, balance, or rebound is not covered by these published specs.
Treat 5AN as a tip-material choice. If you want to hear how nylon responds on your cymbals or pads, compare it against the wood-tip pair on the same setup. If you use mesh heads, check your electronic kit’s manual before assuming nylon is safe.
The label is not an industry standard
One current product page is enough to show why the letter isn’t a universal engineering code. Vic Firth lists its American Classic 5A at 16 inches and .565 inches in diameter. Collision’s current 5A product page lists a length of 16.5 inches and a diameter of .570 inches. Both are called 5A, but the exact dimensions differ.
That matters when you’re buying a replacement or comparing across brands. Before you buy any stick, check the manufacturer’s exact diameter and length for that model. If an older guide says 5A is always 16 inches, that’s outdated for at least one current brand. Use the current product page as your source.
How to compare two pairs without relying on the letter
Here is a repeatable way to compare two pairs on your own setup:
- Use the same pad or kit, the same exercise, and a comfortable tempo.
- Hold each pair and compare the grip diameter in your palm, not just the label.
- Play the same pad or cymbal and note how much reach each length gives you.
- Switch only one variable at a time when you can. Compare wood tip to wood tip before wood to nylon.
- Check the exact model, diameter, and length on the manufacturer page before buying.
This is a procedure for your own observation, not a test we performed. If you already have a stick pair that works, keep it. A comparison guide doesn’t mean you have to switch.
Where electronic pads, practice pads, and acoustic kits fit
On electronic kits, stick size still matters, but your kit’s manual is the authority on tip and compatibility requirements. Our electronic drumstick guide covers those kit-specific factors.
On a practice pad, use the same pad for both pairs. Keep the same exercise and tempo so the surface and conditions stay consistent while you compare grip thickness and reach. The pad won’t tell you everything about a kit, but it still lets you make that comparison. If you need help picking a pad, see our practice pad guide.
For acoustic cymbals, tip material and shaft size can affect what you hear and feel, but none of the published specs here support calling one size automatically better. Use the comparison procedure on your own cymbals and kit before deciding.
Method, date, and limits
The comparison uses current Vic Firth American Classic product pages checked October 20, 2026. We converted published inch figures to millimeters using 1 inch = 25.4 mm and rounded to two decimal places. We did not perform physical measurements of weight, balance, rebound, loudness, speed, or durability. Published labels such as “medium taper” are reproduced as manufacturer statements, not independently tested results. The cross-brand counterexample uses Collision’s current 5A product page, checked the same day. We describe how we verify a spec in this method page.