Vic Firth is the world's largest manufacturer of drumsticks and mallets, and is an extension of the larger than life personality of its founder, Vic Firth. Firth was a percussionist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and when asked to perform particularly difficult pieces, he arrived at the conclusion that the consistency and quality of the available mallets were not as good they could be. He hand whittled the SD1 and SD2 prototypes and the rest, as they say, is history. Vic Firth now manufactures and distributes more than 30 different products and sells over three million sticks annually. They are one of the most respected stick manufacturers, and enjoy a staunch brand loyalty among many of the world's greatest percussionists.