Type Private Owners Alan and Ron Vater | Founder Clarence Vater Founded 1956 | |
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Industry Manufacturer of percussion sticks and mallets, Number of locations Holbrook, Massachusetts Website Vater Percussion company web site | ||
Vater percussion marching sticks
Vater Percussion is an American drumstick and percussion accessory manufacturing company. It was founded by Jack Adams, and is now run by his two grandsons Alan and Ron Vater. Although the company began producing sticks in 1956, it did not officially become Vater Percussion until much later.
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History
The first sticks made by Vater were made by Jack Adams and Ron and Alan's godfather Fred Michaeli in Jacks Drum Shop in Boston, Massachusetts. Jacks was one of the first shops to offer custom models, and began producing custom models for Buddy Rich, Philly Joe Jones and Elvin Jones. In the early to mid-1980s what would become Vater began manufacturing drumsticks for Vic Firth percussion and Zildjian Cymbals. On 22 October, 1988, Vater moved their factory to Holbrook, Massachusetts. Three years later the first Vater drumsticks were introduced at a Percussive Arts Society show.
Vater guarantees their sticks to be "straighter, more consistent and of higher quality than all other leading drumstick manufacturers". Vater sticks typically have a higher moisture content than other drumsticks, which is intended to create more durable drumsticks, though this does result in a slightly heavier stick.
Besides drum sticks, Vater also manufactures a variety of timpani mallets, marimba mallets, vibraphone mallets, brushes, specialty sticks, silence mutes, stick bags, drink holders and other accessories.