I don't care whose name is printed on a stick or head. If a company sells a good product at a good price that makes the sound I'm looking for, I'll buy it. It's no wonder my line currently uses stuff from at least five different stick & mallet companies.



That's already been going on for a while. Jim Casella switched from Vic Firth to Innovative Percussion. Colin McNutt went the other way, from IP to Vic Firth. Dennis DeLucia switched from Vic Firth to Pro-Mark. Just because their endorsements moved from one company to another doesn't mean their preference in stick design changed, so we've seen similar sticks for each guy from multiple companies.

It changes year to year, but I was under the impression that BD only taped their sticks about halfway down the shaft. If it wasn't touched up to get rid of any logo then I stand corrected (and a lucky shot), but that wasn't really the point. It's from an '07 performance and they used VF in '07, then logically they are probably using Scott's VF signature stick even if there is no logo showing. The fact that PM is using a picture of Devs playing with their sticks in an ad that they are competing against is probably a bitter pill to swallow, but that's business.

I'm sure Vic's business is doing just fine, but to think that they are happy about losing one of their biggest corps is crazy talk. BD has been one of the most accomplished names in their marching percussion arsenal over the past 20+ years with specific designs that have been made directly for their staff/corps in general. It's business, both will move on and do their own thing, but they've invested a LOT in BD over the years.

I think, just like seeing them with Dynasty instead of Yamaha, it's going to be different. Wasn't trying to bag on Pro-Mark, it was definately a good business move on their part.

Good point.

I can't speak about the VF McNutt's, but I know that the VF Casella's are nothing like the IP Casella's. Same goes for the Delucia sticks. How many sticks have his name on them now?

The IP McNutt's are nothing like the VF McNutt's. I actually used to think the IP McNutt's looked similar to the Aungst's. kind of ironic..

I really don't care who's name is on the stick, a good product is a good product.

I can't wait to november to see the new stick/mallet VF is putting out. I've seen Surf using it.

I haven't tried Jim's IP stick so I'll defer to you about how it feels, but it's the same diameter as the VF stick with a similar taper and bead. The Delucia sticks aren't quite as similar from Vic Firth to the newer Pro-Mark models, but you can still tell the guy likes some beef to his wood. Even though they're not identical across brands, each endorser's sticks share some design similarities and I'd be a bit surprised if that isn't the case with the Blue Devils' new Pro-Mark sticks, too.



Change happens. For me, it was odd seeing the Blue Devils use Dynasty gear instead of Yamaha because when that swap happened, I hadn't been following the activity long enough to realize that these changes happen every few years: BD from Ludwig to Yamaha to Dynasty, Cadets from Pearl to Yamaha, Blue Knights from Premier to Pearl, Crossmen from Premier to Pearl to Yamaha, Phantom Regiment from Ludwig to Pearl to Dynasty, etc.

What is Vic firth putting out in november? i havent heard anything.

From what I have seen it is version of the swizzle but instead of a felt ball its a puck style nylon head(look liked the size of a MT1A). You won't hear about any prototypes till close to PASIC which is in November. Gives the manufactures time to tweak the product for production.

ok, thanks. sounds cool cant wait to see it

sounds like a good stick to use. i cant wait for it.

and i'm curious to see what the promark Blue Devils sticks will be like.