Vic Firth
The Vic Firth Brand Journey
PERFORMANCE WITHOUT LIMITATION... BY DESIGN
For nearly 60 years, the Vic Firth Company has focused on developing and manufacturing what has become the world's most popular drumsticks, mallets, alternative implements, and accessories… with the best durability, feel, and sound options, across the widest variety of genres and styles. As drummers, Vic Firth knows that every pair of hands that holds a “Vic” is different, and having the widest spectrum of products to allow you to find that “perfect pair” is just as important to Vic Firth as it is to you. Because Vic Firth knows, having a tool that you can feel confident in lets you be in your zone and unlock a different level of performance. Your way, your style – Vic Firth has what you need to get the job done. After all, that search for perfection is why Vic Firth started his company in the first place.
VIC DIDN'T SETTLE. NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
Vic Firth's journey began in the late 50’s/early 60’s when Vic Firth, a musician himself, was not satisfied with the variety of sticks and mallets he could find in the market. As the Principal Timpanist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he started crafting his own sticks and mallets in his garage, meticulously poring over specs and details until he made exactly what he needed for his own feel and quality of sound. Sometimes he would whittle the sticks by hand, other times he enlisted the help of a wood turner. As word of his implements spread through his students and other percussionists, calls for orders from music stores started coming in. Vic’s idea that each drummer should be able to find their own perfect pair, and not simply settle for what's out there, is at the core of Vic Firth's brand. Vic Firth's catalog now includes over 200 varieties of sticks and mallets that range in length, taper, tip, and material.. all designed to help you find a match for your own feel and your quality of sound.
MADE FOR DRUMMERS, PERCUSSIONISTS, AND YOU
Vic Firth is comprised of drummers, musicians and music lovers. From the factory floor all the way to Vic Firth's global artist family, they create products that are informed, invented, made, and tested by players just like you. And just like you, Vic Firth knows that no two pairs of hands are the same. That’s why Vic Firth's lines of sticks and mallets range from light to heavy, thick to thin, long to short, tacky to smooth, and everything in between. Whether your stage is a rock club, concert hall, football field or the practice room, Vic Firth is focused on delivering the instruments you need and the quality you deserve.
HOW IT'S MADE MATTERS
Throughout the years, Vic Firth has led the way and has set the standard for how drumsticks and mallets are made. From their wood drying process that ensures straightness, to centerless grinding, all the way to how each pair of sticks is weight-matched and pitch-paired, every detail matters. Vic Firth's factory combines the consistency of technology and machines, with the discerning eyes and ears of drummers, percussionists and wood experts. Every step of Vic Firth's process is manned by human hands. It is this attention to detail that yields the perfect blend of durability, feel, and sound.
VIC FIRTH'S COMMITMENT TO THE PLANET
The Vic Firth Factory is located in the heart of Maine. And anyone who has witnessed the beauty this State offers can understand why being environmentally-minded has been part of Vic Firth's DNA since the very beginning. From the factory floor, to Vic Firth's packaging, to how Vic Firth's products arrive at your local music store, they've made efforts to find the most Earth-conscious solutions available. Vic Firth works hard to ensure that they can continue to make the best sticks and mallets possible, without sacrificing the environment. This includes sustainably sourcing their wood to ensure that hickory (which makes 90% of their sticks) and other hardwoods will be around for generations to come. This also includes reclaiming 90% of the water Vic Firth uses in their centerless grinding process, re-using sawdust and waste wood to create a carbon-neutral heat source to keep the plant warm in the winter and keep the kilns running year-round. Vic Firth was also the first company to package paired drumsticks in 100% recyclable paper sleeves, now an industry standard that eliminates millions of plastic bags in landfills each year.
MORE THAN A GLOBAL ARTIST FAMILY
The Vic Firth family spans the Globe. Vic Firth is fortunate to have a long history of partnering with the world’s top drummers, percussionists, and educators. Collaboration with musicians across all countries and genres is a key factor in Vic Firth's success. Together Vic Firth's team continually creates and innovates in new spaces like product and education, and is vital in helping Vic Firth to meet the demands of musicians today and tomorrow.
IN GOOD COMPANY
Vic Firth is now part of the Avedis Zildjian Company’s Family of Brands. In 2010, Vic Firth merged with Zildjian, the world's leading cymbal manufacturer. This decision was part of Vic's vision for the future of his company beyond his lifetime. With a similar family approach to business, longevity, and stability as industries leaders, plus Vic Firth's mutual commitment to excellence, it made combining Vic Firth's two companies a perfect match. In 2018, given the expertise behind Vic’s manufacturing process, Balter Mallets also joined the family to ensure the same quality and consistency they had come to be known for would continue. The Avedis Zildjian Company now represents the top brands in cymbals, drumsticks, and mallets. All of these implements and instruments are made in Vic Firth's factories in Norwell MA, and Newport ME, in the USA.
