Sugar Maple brings out a mature, soft and sweet voice from drums and cymbals. Drummers can enjoy the feel of a big stick but without the weight of a Hickory model. The "Sugar Maple Series" of models is perfect for drummers who often find themselves having to play in smaller venues where low-volume is key. Why Sugar Maple? Because of the Sugar Maple wood species" short growth season in the Northern regions of America, it is the most solid and dense of all Maple species. In fact, Sugar Maple is one of the strongest hardwoods in the world. These Sugar Maple properties combined with Vater"s unique quick vacuum drying process, makes for a drumstick that is lightweight yet durable and exceptionally responsive. Unlike the commonly used heated kiln drying process that can take up to 4 weeks at temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, Vater"s vacuum drying takes no more than 24 hours. Vacuum drying is a much more uniform and stable procedure, which results in a much whiter and more durable wood because of the lack of heat used to dry the wood.