Promuco John Bonham Signature drumstick review: the 1970s 'Trees' stick, reissued
Review of the Promuco John Bonham Signature drumstick (19015JB): hickory, 410mm, acorn tip, built to Bonham's original 1970s Promuco spec. Reissued by Barnes and Mullins in 2020.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
The Promuco John Bonham Signature drumstick (model 19015JB) reissues the custom stick Led Zeppelin's John Bonham commissioned from British manufacturer Promuco in the early 1970s. Premium hickory, 16.1 inch (410mm) length, 15mm diameter, acorn-shaped wood tip, built to the same dimensions and weight as Bonham's originals. Barnes and Mullins, Promuco's current owner, relaunched the model in January 2020. Original 1970s pairs now sell as collectibles for thousands of dollars.
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What it is, in one paragraph
The Promuco John Bonham Signature drumstick (model 19015JB) is a hickory reissue built to the spec of the sticks Led Zeppelin's John Bonham had custom-made by Promuco, a small Yorkshire, England manufacturer, in the early 1970s. 16.1 inches (410mm) long, 15mm (0.59 inch) diameter, acorn-shaped wood tip, premium hickory. Barnes and Mullins, Promuco's current owner, relaunched the model in January 2020 at that year's NAMM Show, building it to the same dimensions and weight as Bonham's originals. It's the current, currently-manufactured way to hold what Bonham actually held.
Who John Bonham was, briefly
John Bonham (born May 31, 1948; died September 25, 1980) anchored Led Zeppelin from the band's 1968 formation through his death in 1980. Ranked #1 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. Ludwig Vistalite kit, Paiste 2002 cymbals, and a Promuco stick commissioned to his own spec, the rig behind the rock-drum vocabulary most working rock drummers still play from. Full profile at /drummers/john-bonham.
Spec sheet
Promuco John Bonham Signature 19015JB spec
- Wood
- Hickory. Standard drumstick hardwood, no exotic import, sourced and machined to Promuco's own tolerances.
- Length
- 16.1 inches (410mm). In line with a standard 5B-family stick.
- Diameter
- 15mm (about 0.59 inch), per Thomann's published spec sheet. Sits close to a Vic Firth 5B's 0.595 inch shaft.
- Tip shape
- Acorn, wood, barrel form. Rounder and fuller-contact than the pointed oval tips common on many modern signature sticks.
- Weight
- 55 grams per stick, per Thomann's product listing. Matched pair sold as a single package.
Where it sits in the rock-stick lineup
| Promuco John Bonham 19015JB | Vic Firth 5B | Zildjian Tré Cool Artist Series | Pro-Mark American Hickory 747 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Hickory | American hickory | American hickory | American hickory |
| Length | 16.1" (410mm) | 16" | 16-1/2" | 16-1/2" |
| Diameter | 0.59" (15mm) | 0.595" | 0.625" | 0.551" |
| Tip shape | Acorn, wood (barrel form) | Barrel (standard) or Oval (Extreme) | Acorn | Tear-drop |
| Best for | Classic-rock feel, warmer cymbal contact | Standard rock baseline | Hard-hitting rock and punk on a wide kit | Faster work, lighter touch |
The Bonham signature sits close to a Vic Firth 5B in overall diameter but trades the 5B's barrel tip for a fuller acorn tip, the tip shape most associated with Bonham's cymbal voice on the Led Zeppelin catalog. Pro-Mark's American Hickory 747 is thinner and faster; the Zildjian Tré Cool Artist Series shares the acorn tip shape but runs longer and considerably thicker. Pick the Bonham stick for the acorn tip's warmer, fuller cymbal contact at a lighter overall weight, plus the direct historical tie to the "Trees" originals.
The Promuco story
Founded 1964 · Yorkshire, England · Buddy Rich's early endorsement
Professional Music Company (Promuco)
Promuco started making drumsticks in Yorkshire, England in 1964. Buddy Rich picked up on the sticks early and helped introduce them to the American market. The brand caught on with a growing roster of influential drummers through the following decade.
Source: Drummer's Review, John Bonham Signature Drumsticks Re-issued for 2020.
Early 1970s · Custom commission · Now a collector's item
Bonham's custom Promuco commission
Bonham had his own sticks commissioned by Promuco during the early 1970s, the "Trees" sticks that became his signature feel. Original pairs are now serious collector's items; even single original sticks have reportedly sold for thousands of dollars, and a pair is on permanent display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Source: Drummer's Review, John Bonham Signature Drumsticks Re-issued for 2020.
Relaunched January 2020 · Barnes and Mullins
The modern reissue (19015JB)
Barnes and Mullins Ltd, Promuco's current owner, announced the re-launch at the January 2020 NAMM Show, with UK and Ireland availability from February 2020 and global rollout shortly after. Built to the same dimensions and weight as the 1970s originals, marketed under the Promuco Percussion range.
Source: Drummer's Review, John Bonham Signature Drumsticks Re-issued for 2020; Modern Drummer store listing.
What the stick is built for
- Classic-rock feel with historical accuracy. If the goal is the closest currently-manufactured match to what Bonham actually held, this is it, built by the same manufacturer to the same dimensions and weight as his 1970s originals.
- Acorn-tip cymbal voice. The rounder, fuller-contact acorn tip reads warmer on cymbals than the barrel or pointed-oval tips common on most modern signature sticks. Suits the Paiste 2002 crash-and-ride vocabulary Bonham played.
- Mid-weight rock diameter. At 15mm (0.59 inch), the shaft sits close to a Vic Firth 5B, a comfortable middle ground for backbeat-heavy rock drumming without the extra mass of a thicker 2B-family stick.
- Collector and tribute appeal. For drummers and Led Zeppelin fans who want the direct lineage to Bonham's original commissioned sticks, not just a same-category rock stick.
Verdict and the affiliate hook
If you want the closest currently-manufactured match to the sticks John Bonham actually played, this is it, built by the same company (now under Barnes and Mullins) to the same 1970s spec. For a classic-rock or blues-rock drummer who wants a mid-weight hickory stick with a fuller acorn-tip cymbal voice, the spec lands well. For players who want the fastest possible rebound or a thinner, lighter-touch stick, Pro-Mark's American Hickory 747 or a standard 5A is a better starting point.
John Bonham Signature (19015JB)
Why this one: The reissue of Bonham's own 1970s Promuco commission, built by the same company to the same dimensions and weight. The direct historical pick for Led Zeppelin's drum vocabulary.
Related
Related
Drummers documented using this drumstick
Each drummer profile cites this product in their stick / head / cymbal / kit frontmatter. Click through for the full editorial profile + sourcing.