This is the big brother to the 5A, "the worlds most popular drum stick!"
Useful info:
5A = 14.4 mm diametre
5B = 15.1 mm diametre
2B = 16mm diameter +1/4" length
7A = 13.7 mm diametre - 1/2" length
Standard length 16"
For my old hands the 5Bs give me that extra grip without too much weight. In the good old days I had a multitude of sticks, now I am down to two. I use 2Bs for rudiments and warming up then straight onto the 5Bs. Then I used 7As for playing for that blistering speed. Now I don't play as much and I try not to overplay so the 5Bs are perfect.
Quality is as you would expect, totally consistent. In the past I would get the occasional bent stick and half would break quickly, whereas the other half would last for years. This is to be expected with wood, so now I am amazed that the consistency has increased. This means that finally Vic Firth have started to season the wood better, test the quality of the timber and throw away any bent sticks. However I still think that they make a ridiculous profit on what is essentially a dowel rod, but good luck to them. For us the player, they provide what we need.