Vic Firth Terry Bozzio Signature drumstick review: the short-taper speed stick behind his 26-piece tuned-percussion kit
Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 drumstick (SKU STB1): hickory, 16.25 inch length, .550 inch diameter, short taper, reverse tear drop wood tip. Bozzio's real namesake Vic Firth signature stick, built for speed and response.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
The Vic Firth Signature Series Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 (SKU STB1) is a hickory drumstick built for speed: 16.25 inches long, .550 inch diameter, a short taper, and a reverse tear drop wood tip Vic Firth calls a 'helmet shape.' It's Bozzio's real namesake signature stick, thinner and shorter-tapered than most rock sticks, matching the fast, controlled playing his 26-plus-piece tuned-percussion kit demands. Priced at $14.99, the same as a standard hickory pair.
Signature Series - Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 (STB1)
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What it is, in one paragraph
The Vic Firth Signature Series Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 (SKU: STB1) is a hickory drumstick built for speed: 16.25 inches long, .550 inch diameter, a short taper, and a wood tip Vic Firth's spec sheet calls "reverse tear drop" and its marketing copy calls "helmet shaped." It's a genuine namesake signature stick, listed under Bozzio's own name in Vic Firth's current Signature Series lineup, not a shared catalog model with his name attached after the fact. Terry Bozzio has drummed for Frank Zappa, co-founded Missing Persons, and built a four-decade solo career around the world's largest tuned-percussion drum kit.
Who Terry Bozzio is, briefly
Terry John Bozzio, born December 27, 1950, in San Francisco, California, drummed for Frank Zappa from 1975 to 1978, co-founded Missing Persons in 1980, and replaced Bill Bruford in U.K. for Danger Money (1979). He's the drummer Zappa wrote "The Black Page" for, one of the most-studied rock drum compositions in conservatory and private-instruction contexts; the piece is featured on the live album Zappa in New York (recorded 1976, released 1978). His solo career since the late 1980s has built around the world's largest tuned-percussion drum kit, a custom setup with 26-plus tuned drums played as a melodic instrument. Full profile at /drummers/terry-bozzio.
Spec sheet
Vic Firth STB1 spec
- Wood
- Hickory.
- Length
- 16.25 inches (16 1/4 inches).
- Diameter
- .550 inches, thinner than a standard 5A.
- Taper
- Short, for a front-heavy feel with more power and durability.
- Tip
- Wood, reverse tear drop shape, marketed as "helmet shaped" for boldness on toms and brilliance on cymbals.
- Family
- Signature Series, officially named "Terry Bozzio, Phase 1."
Where it sits next to Vic Firth's Keith Moon signature stick
| Vic Firth Terry Bozzio Signature (STB1) | Vic Firth Keith Moon Signature (SKM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Hickory | Hickory |
| Length | 16.25" | 15.813" |
| Diameter | .550" | .56" |
| Taper | Short | Medium |
| Tip | Wood, reverse tear drop ("helmet shaped") | Wood, oval |
| Best for | A front-heavy, durable feel built for fast, controlled playing | A lighter, quicker feel with more flex and rebound |
Both are Vic Firth Signature Series hickory sticks at a close diameter, but the taper tells the real story. The Bozzio STB1's short taper shifts weight toward the tip, trading flex for power and durability, useful across a 26-plus-piece tuned-percussion kit that needs consistent, controlled hits. The Keith Moon SKM's medium taper stays lighter and quicker, suited to Moon's constant-fill, cymbal-heavy style. Pick the Bozzio stick for more front-end weight; pick the Moon stick for extra rebound.
The Vic Firth partnership
Vic Firth artist roster · Current
Bozzio's Vic Firth relationship
Vic Firth's own site lists Terry Bozzio among its current artists, with a dedicated Signature Series stick sold under his name rather than a shared catalog model he happens to endorse.
Source: Vic Firth, Terry Bozzio artist page.
SKU STB1 · Signature Series
The stick itself
16.25 inches, .550 inch diameter, hickory, short taper, reverse tear drop wood tip. Officially named "Terry Bozzio, Phase 1" in Vic Firth's current catalog, priced at $14.99.
Source: Vic Firth product page; Steve Weiss Music.
Vic Firth's own copy
Built for speed
Vic Firth's product description in full: "Long and thin for speed and response. Helmet shaped tip provides boldness on toms, brilliance on cymbals." The short taper and thin .550 inch diameter back up that description with a front-heavy, quick-moving spec.
Source: Vic Firth product page.
What the stick is built for
- A front-heavy, durable feel. The short taper puts more weight toward the tip, trading some flex for power and durability, useful across Bozzio's 26-plus-piece tuned-percussion kit.
- A focused, bold attack on toms and cymbals. The reverse tear drop ("helmet shaped") wood tip is built to read clearly on both surfaces, per Vic Firth's own product copy.
- A thin .550 inch diameter. Thinner than most standard 5A or 5B rock sticks, built for speed and fast response rather than raw mass.
- Not for players who want a soft, back-heavy feel. The short taper is the opposite of a long-taper jazz stick; players chasing more flex and rebound should look elsewhere in Vic Firth's Signature Series, such as the Keith Moon SKM's medium taper.
Verdict and the affiliate hook
If you want the real, current Vic Firth stick built under Terry Bozzio's own name, the STB1 is it: thin, short-taper hickory built for speed, not a fabricated model number or a catalog stick with his name attached after the fact. For a lighter, quicker-feeling alternative at a similar diameter, see the Vic Firth Keith Moon Signature.
Signature Series - Terry Bozzio, Phase 1 (STB1)
Why this one: Terry Bozzio's real namesake Vic Firth signature stick: thin .550 inch hickory, short taper, reverse tear drop wood tip, built for speed and response.
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.