Vic Firth Vinnie Paul Signature drumstick review: built for groove-metal power
Review of the Vic Firth Signature Series Vinnie Paul drumstick (SKU: SVP): hickory, 16-7/8 inch length, 0.630 inch diameter, full-sized shaft, teardrop wood tip. Built with the late Pantera and Damageplan drummer, released through his official online store.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
The Vic Firth Signature Series Vinnie Paul drumstick (SKU: SVP) is a hickory pair built with the late Pantera and Damageplan drummer: 16-7/8 inches long, 0.630 inch diameter, full-sized shaft, enlarged teardrop wood tip. Noticeably thicker than a standard 5B (0.595 inches), built for power over finesse. Released through the official Vinnie Paul online store in August 2020, two years after Paul's 2018 death. He's also documented playing the sticks backwards.
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What it is, in one paragraph
The Vic Firth Signature Series Vinnie Paul (SKU: SVP) is a hickory drumstick built with the late Pantera and Damageplan drummer: 16-7/8 inches long, 0.630 inch diameter, full-sized shaft, enlarged teardrop wood tip, lacquer finish. At 0.630 inches it's noticeably thicker than a standard 5B (0.595 inches), built for raw power rather than finesse. Vic Firth released it through the official Vinnie Paul online store in August 2020, two years after Paul's 2018 death. Independent gear-catalog sourcing also documents him usually playing the sticks backwards.
Who Vinnie Paul was, briefly
Vincent Paul Abbott (born March 11, 1964; died June 22, 2018) drummed for Pantera from the band's 1981 formation through 2003, then Damageplan (2003 to 2004) and Hellyeah (2006 to 2018). Pearl and Sabian endorsements across his career, plus this Vic Firth signature stick. Brother of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Full profile at /drummers/vinnie-paul.
Spec sheet
Vic Firth SVP spec
- Wood
- Hickory.
- Length
- 16-7/8 inches (42.86cm).
- Diameter
- 0.630 inches (1.6cm), noticeably thicker than a standard 5B (0.595 inches).
- Shaft
- Full-sized: holds its diameter through more of the stick's length instead of tapering it away early.
- Tip
- Wood, enlarged teardrop shape, for maximum contact and projection.
- Finish
- Lacquer.
Where it sits next to another Vic Firth signature stick
| Vic Firth Vinnie Paul (SVP) | Vic Firth Keith Moon (SKM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | Hickory | Hickory |
| Length | 16-7/8" | 15.813" (~16") |
| Diameter | 0.630" | 0.56" |
| Tip | Wood, teardrop | Wood, oval |
| Best for | Maximum diameter and mass for hard-hitting groove-metal power | A lighter, quicker feel for constant-fill classic-rock playing |
Both are Vic Firth Signature Series hickory sticks released after the artist's death, but they land at opposite ends of the weight spectrum. The Vinnie Paul SVP is the heavier, thicker pair: a full-sized shaft and enlarged teardrop tip built for raw impact. The Keith Moon SKM is slimmer with a medium taper, built for the fast, constant-fill playing Moon was known for. Pick the SVP for groove-metal weight, the SKM for a lighter classic-rock feel.
The Vic Firth partnership
Sabian cymbals + Vic Firth sticks · Historical
The documented endorsements
Vinnie Paul played Sabian cymbals across his career alongside this Vic Firth signature stick. Independent gear-catalog sourcing also credits him with using Vic Firth's stock American Classic Rock model, and documents him usually playing the sticks backwards.
Released August 2020 · SKU SVP
The Signature Series stick
Pantera's own site announced the stick as available through the official Vinnie Paul online store. Full-sized shaft, enlarged teardrop tip, built for power. It's the documented, purpose-built pair rather than a generic rock stick with his name licensed onto it.
Source: Pantera, official announcement.
What the stick is built for
- Thick-diameter groove-metal power. At 0.630 inches, noticeably thicker than a standard 5B (0.595 inches), built for the heavy backbeat Pantera and Damageplan's catalog demanded.
- Full-sized shaft, teardrop tip for high-impact contact. The shaft holds its diameter through more of the stick's length than a tapered model, and the enlarged tip adds more surface contact on drums and cymbals.
- Pantera and Damageplan fans who want the documented spec. A purpose-built signature pair released through Vinnie Paul's own store, not a generic rock stick with his name added after the fact.
- Not for players chasing a light, fast-feeling stick. The mass that makes the SVP hit hard also makes it slower to move than a standard 5A or 7A; players who prioritize finger control or quiet ghost notes should look elsewhere.
Verdict and the affiliate hook
If you want the documented stick behind Vinnie Paul's Pantera and Damageplan drumming, the Vic Firth SVP is it: a full-sized, thick-diameter hickory pair with an enlarged teardrop tip, built for maximum power. Priced like a standard Signature Series stick, not a collector's item.
Signature Series - Vinnie Paul (SVP)
Why this one: The documented Vic Firth Signature Series stick built for Vinnie Paul: a thick, full-sized shaft and enlarged teardrop tip for maximum groove-metal power.
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.