Dom Famularo’s Pad Sticks are back!

Dom Famularo, a beloved drummer and teacher who passed away in 2023, designed a specialty Pad Stick that was manufactured by a series of companies, including Vic Firth, Promark and Vater.

Shortly after his death, production of his sticks was halted while his estate was sorted out. Multiple requests for a reissue of his Pad Sticks have finally been answered by Vater, which have begun manufacturing the model again.

I’ve had a pair of the older Vic Firth version for many years. I bought mine used from another drummer, and they already showed some wear when I received them. I went ahead and bought two pairs of the Vater reissue just now. Available from multiple online retailers, including Sweetwater (where shipping is free).

These sticks are highly reminiscent of Vic Firth’s earliest Thunder Rock sticks, which themselves were based on Bunken’s 3S design. (Interestingly, Dom admitted that his Pad Sticks were also based on the Bunken 3S sticks.) 

Promark briefly made Dom’s Pad Sticks, with their ActiveGrip coating. I tried a pair and didn’t like the feel. I tend to stay away from synthetic anti-slip coatings on my drum sticks as a general rule.

Another variation of this ball-tip design can be found in the Tom Gauger #12 model, slightly longer and later made by Vic Firth. Other Pad sticks are still produced by Rohema and Agner, in maple and a heavier Hornbeam, respectively. (I have those models as well, and each has its own slightly different feel.)

Cooperman’s #22 Parley model echoes the same design, but is made of heavier hickory and has rope drum applications rather than pad-specific application.

If you haven’t tried pad-specific sticks, Vater’s reissue of Dom’s Pad Stick is a very affordable way to get into them.