All-Purpose Sticks That Shine on Stage and in Studio Steve Gadd has been a mainstay in the drumming world, having recorded drums on some of the greatest hits of the last century. He's also been seen on stage with everyone from Eric Clapton to Chick Corea. Spanning a huge range of music requires a stick that can roll with all that variety. The SSG signature stick is built for every setting. It's got a medium-light build that feels comfortable in the hand. The long taper ensures you get plenty of rebound and a perfectly balanced stick. The barrel-shaped tip gives you full, bold tones across the kit, and the black finish just looks as cool as can be. The company's humble origins start with Boston Symphony Orchestra percussionist Vic Firth making sticks for his own personal use, but eventually, colleagues and students asked Vic to make sticks for them, too. Firth started the company to produce better sticks than commercially available, and the company continues to be known for manufacturing excellence today. Vic Firth has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of drumsticks and mallets and merged with the world's largest cymbal manufacturer, Avedis Zildjian Company, in 2010.