Still in one piece and a good feel, though I did have to sand them down lightly, there were some crumbs in the finish, no biggie.

My favorite drum sticks ever. They’re what I’m used to but they have the perfect feel and balance to them and are very durable. Vater sticks are simply made better than the competition. I do miss when these were painted white. I’m not sure what gospel music has to do with the stick design but the extra length is excellent.

These sticks feel great! Not to thin, not to thick! Will definitely be purchasing more.

Love these sticks

Love these sticks! Unlike another reviewer, I have had no problems with paint chipping at all. I uses these and the Vic Firth Buddy Rich sticks, which are also finished in white paint. No flaking. (I think he might have gotten some of the "seconds" or irregulars available for about $4 a pair--less than half the sell price--which are offered at such deep discounts because they have issues with the finish. For the record, I even have a few pairs of those "irregular" sticks I bought at a deep discount and have had no problems with paint chips flying.) The sticks are dense and heavy, which I happen to like, and the thick taper from shoulder to the round tip provides great bounce for double-strokes and nice rebound. The stick length is also to my liking (16.5") and provides great reach. These are terrific sticks for rock and heavier-hitting Gospel. If you like a heavier and longer stick than a standard 5B, check them out. For a slightly lighter, less dense version of this stick, the Gospel Fusions and 5As are good alternatives in a longer stick. These have become my go-to sticks.