Vic Firth X5A American Classic® Extreme 5A Wood Tip
The American Classic® line combines tradition and Vic Firth style. With bold designs, the Classics are turned from select hickory — a dense wood with little flex for a more pronounced sound. Hickory is also capable of withstanding a great deal of shock, making it highly durable. The tips are deeply back-cut for intensified cymbal response.
For over 30 years, the American Classic® drumstick series has been the popular choice of countless drummers. As successful as the American Classic® series has been, players throughout the world continue to request longer versions of some popular models. “Extreme” models within the American Classic® series each feature an extra 1/2″ of length, providing extra reach and power!
Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and is today the world's largest manufacturer of first quality drumsticks and mallets.
The company began when Mr. Firth, who had been performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 12 years, was asked to perform pieces which he felt required a higher-quality drumstick than those that were currently being manufactured. So, Vic decided to design a set of his own sticks.
Vic hand-whittled the first sticks himself from bulkier sticks and sent these prototypes to a wood turner in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The two prototypes that he sent would become the SD1 and SD2, the first two models of sticks manufactured by Vic Firth, Inc.
Vic said, "It came out of necessity, not of imagination or my ability to start a company." Although the sticks were initially intended for Vic's personal use, they gained popularity among his students and were eventually carried by retailers.