Vic Firth WB Jazz: Almost Perfect… Except for One
"The Vic Firth WB Jazz brushes have a lot of good qualities: medium gauge, balanced wire spread, proper weight, and a controlled rebound that makes them comfortable for long passages. In acoustic styles and jazz, their dynamics and response are solid. However, there’s one major drawback: the plastic handle. It doesn’t just feel less natural in the hand — the real issue is that it changes the cymbal tone, adding a harsher, less musical character. For that reason, many drummer friends and I don’t use them. In our experience, the plastic handle makes the cymbals sound “ugly” and lose the warmth you can get with rubber or coated handles. In short: if you’re looking for medium-gauge brushes with good response, the WB Jazz do the job… but the plastic handle holds them back. If Vic Firth offered them with a rubber handle, they’d be an almost perfect option."
