Rick’s Sticks

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Welcome to my custom drumstick page. Please check back often as I update this page on a regular basis. The first section of the page is dedicated to availability on a bimonthly basis. I also usually post a YouTube video about what is available on my YouTube channel which is here rickdior – YouTube. There is a playlist called Ricks Sticks that has all of the stick videos that I have produced.

My Stick Origin Story

I started making drumsticks for myself in 1998 because I was somewhat unhappy with what was commercially available at the time. I began selling the sticks to others in the early 2000’s and over time I have developed several models of sticks. I divide the sticks I make into three different categories, Warm-Up/Chop Building Sticks, Concert/Rudimental Sticks and Drum Set Sticks. I use many kinds of exotic hardwoods and some common North American woods to make my sticks. They all have different weight and feel characteristics that lend themselves to different types of playing. You can see them all below. I am always experimenting and adding something new so please check back often. The sticks tend to sell out fast when I have time to make them so if you see something you like in the announcements you might want to jump on it right away. You can visit my YouTube channel here to see these sticks in action. rickdior – YouTube

Announcements and Availability

This is where I will post all of the new creations and availability of the sticks. Check back often since I update a few times a month. You can always email me at rickdior@gmail.com with any questions about the sticks and availability.

Sticks Available March/April 2025

Sticks Available January 2025 (Sold Out)

Sticks Available September 2024 (Sold Out)

Sticks Available August 2024 (Sold Out)

Sticks Available for July 2024 (Sold Out)

Sticks Available June 2024 (Sold Out)

Sticks Available Mid-May 2024 (Sold Out)

Drumsticks Available May 2024 (Sold Out)

Drumsticks Available April 2024 (Sold Out)

Drumsticks available March 2024 (Sold Out)

Bloodwood and Zebrawood Sticks 1/2024 (Sold Out)

Drumsticks Available January 2024 Sold Out!

Drumsticks Available Nov./Dec. 2023 – Sold Out

Drumsticks Available October 2023 – Sold Out

Drumsticks Available September 2023 (Sold Out)

Drumsticks Available July-August 2023 (Sold Out)

June 2023: I have sticks in all the woods in both reverse and barrel tips. First come first serve. Sold out…more in July.

May 2023: Cocobolo sticks are available as in the picture below. These are now SOLD OUT. More in a month or so. maybe…………….. If you would like to order in advance for the next batch, contact me at rickdior@gmail.com

Summer 2024 Update Marblewood Sticks

I will be producing a short run of Marblewood sticks. This beautiful South American hardwood is golden brown in color and features dark irregular streaks giving it a marble-like appearance. It has a wide weight range, from 70 to 90 grams. Marblewood makes a great concert, rudimental and technique building stick.

April 2023… Available Now for a Very Short Time…Purpleheart heartwood drumsticks. Heavy…75 to 100 grams.

They will sell out fast (the last batch sold out in a day) So if you want some you may want to place your order now.

I am producing a short run of heartwood purpleheart sticks in both barrel tip and reverse tip models. This is very high-quality wood, the best purpleheart I have ever used. There is no vibration as is common in lesser quality purpleheart sapwood. Here are some pictures.

11/2022 New!!! Cocobolo Rosewood Sticks

For a limited time, I will be offering beautiful Cocobolo Rosewood sticks in my barrel tip and reverse tip models. These are heavy sticks with a range of 75 to 100 grams. The sticks start at $125 a pair for sapwood. Heartwood Cocobolo is rare and is a bit darker and heavier and also stunning in its figuring and detail. When I have it these in stock heartwood cocobolo sticks are $150 a pair. Here are some pictures.

New Stick Sleeves

I have designed a new stick sleeve that will come with all of my custom sticks (except my Vic Firth signature drum set sticks). This sleeve is nice and tight to keep the pair from separating and has information about the wood used, length, weight and diameter. It also has some fun information about the wood used on the back of the sleeve.

Types of Sticks

Warm-Up/Chop Building Sticks

A heavier stick will give you more rebound (bounce) and aid in muscle development in the hands and forearms. These sticks are heavier in weight than a normal concert stick. They range in weight from 80 to 100 grams. The shafts of the sticks average 11/16″ which is very close in diameter to a standard 5A. I can also make a special-order stick with a 3/4″ diameter. The length ranges from 16 1/4″ to 17″. I get the extra weight from the heavier woods I use. These include Cocobolo Rosewood, Leopardwood, Bloodwood, Black Wenge (rarely), Bubinga, Tigerwood, Yellowheart, Pecan, Purpleheart and Hickory. I use the heartwood (center of the tree) from these species to give the stick more weight and density. You can also use these sticks for marching band and drum corps playing. These are the most expensive sticks I make since the heartwood is scarce in these species. They are available with barrel tips (large and medium), and reverse tips. See below for pictures of the different tips. The price for these sticks is $65 to $150 per pair depending on the wood species. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see pricing and other ordering information.

Concert Sticks

These are performance sticks meant for playing orchestral and rudimental snare drum although many of my customers prefer the heavier sticks above for rudimental work. The concert sticks range in weight from 60 to 75 grams. They are available with barrel tips (small, medium and large) reverse tips and custom teardrop tips (Scroll down to see some different tips). The length ranges from 16 to 17 inches and the diameter ranges from 1/2″ to 5/8. I use many wood species for making these sticks. You can see the list of woods available below. Prices range from $50 to $80 depending on the tip and wood species. Scroll to the bottom of this page to view pricing and ordering information.

Drum Set Sticks

Vic Firth makes me a signature stick that I designed around 30 years ago. I experimented for many years trying to find the perfect sticks for my set work but was never fully satisfied. I finally decided to design a stick made up of the most desirable parts of several of the models I was fond of. The result was a stick that has a great cymbal sound, a solid weight, the perfect length (for me) and a comfortable diameter. They are not available to the general public from Vic Firth but you can purchase them from me. They are available in Hickory at $16 (weight is 63 -69 grams) as well as Maple at $14 (weight is 55-62 grams). They are 16 1/4″ long, 5/8″ in diameter with a slightly elongated bead tip and a short taper. The sticks were designed to have great articulation on thinner darker cymbals (such as the old K’s). Scroll to the bottom of this page to view more pricing and ordering information.

You can see a Youtube video about these sticks here

Display Sticks

I make display sticks in all of the woods listed below. Display sticks are beautiful to look at but are not necessarily pitch or weight matched although the pairs look identical. I generally sell this type of stick at a much cheaper price. If you are interested in a display pair, please contact me and I will let you know what I have in stock. Below is a display stick video.

The CITES List

CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. I am always paying close attention to this list and over the years a few woods that I was using have been added to this list, so I do not use them any longer. I do have lots of older stock wood including Cocobolo Rosewood and Black Wenge which I acquired before they were placed on the list so once these woods are gone sticks will no longer be available in those woods. I am always experimenting with different exotic hardwoods so check back here from time to time to see what is new.

Pricing

Currently the sticks I make range from $65 a pair to $150 a pair. The price may seem high but that is because the woods I use are very expensive. Woods like Cocobolo Rosewood, Black Wenge, Leopardwood, Zebrawood and White Wenge are some of the priciest woods in the world. I am also a one-man operation and I make one stick at a time by hand, the old-fashioned way. This takes lots of time and I am also very much still a full-time performing musician. If you want a one-of-a-kind stick that is not available anywhere else, then you are in the right place. If you want a drum set stick that is disposable, you can go to your local music store or you can check out my custom Vic Firth signature stick which I designed and is mass produced out of cheaper woods like maple and hickory. Those sticks are $16-$18 a pair.

Wood Characteristics

Since wood is a natural material, it varies widely from species to species in its characteristics. Some woods do not work well for making a good drumstick. They can have the undesirable qualities of being too light, too heavy, too rigid, vibration prone, too brittle, etc. I have worked with many different woods over the years and have zeroed in on the following woods for the positive qualities when used for making sticks. That being said even the good stick woods all have different characteristics. Here are some of my observations that might help you make your purchasing decisions.

Black Wenge– Price – $85 Pair, Heartwood Only.

This gorgeous African hardwood can be excellent for drumsticks as long as the heartwood is used. The sapwood tends to be too light and uneven in quality for matching pairs of sticks. It is a difficult wood to work with on the lathe because of the wide, coarse grain involved. It typically takes a longer time for me to make a pair of Black Wenge sticks since there is a lot of sanding involved. Thats why you don’t see anyone else doing it. This wood is on the verge of being listed as endangered so I will not be purchasing any more of it. The Wenge I use now is 25 years old and was purchased before the wood was listed as endangered. Typical stick weight is 65 to 80 grams. Makes a great concert stick.

Bloodwood–Price – $85 Pair, Heartwood Only. I only have this wood occasionally.

This very dense South American hardwood is an attractive dark red in color (especially the heartwood). If not made to a very specific diameter vs. length equation the stick will tend to vibrate and hum (have a pitch when played on a practice pad). The Bloodwood sticks I make are a little bit thicker than some of the other species I use. I don’t always have it in stock so please ask before ordering. Typical stick weight is 65 to 90 grams. Makes a great concert stick/warmup stick but will be slightly thicker.

Bubinga– Price – $85 Pair, Heartwood Only. I only have this wood occasionally.

This African hardwood is easy to work with and the heartwood can make a great heavy stick. The sapwood tends to be unpredictable and uneven, so I do not use it. The reddish streaks in the heartwood are very attractive. This is a special-order stick and while I keep the heartwood in stock, I do not keep any completed Bubinga sticks in stock so allow extra time for delivery. Currently sold out. Please inquire for availability.

Cocobolo Rosewood– Price – $125 Sapwood $150 Heartwood

This is one of the most beautiful woods on the planet and I will be offering it for a limited time. It is now on the CITES list, but I purchased a large quantity of this wood a while back from a legal source and it should last for a while. It is heavy and dense at 75 to 100+ grams per stick. I use sapwood and heartwood with the heartwood being especially dense and heavy. The colors range from browns, yellows, golds, blacks and purples, sometimes all occurring in one stick as seen below. No two sticks are alike in color, so each is a little piece of art. It is swirly wood grain magnificence at its best! Cocobolo has become one of my favorite woods for making drumsticks, but it is also one of the most expensive woods in the world. Typical stick weight is 75 to 100+ grams. Makes a great heavy concert/rudimental stick, warmup stick and chop building stick.

Hickory– Price – $18 Pair, Vic Firth Signature stick only

North American Hickory is a great wood for drumsticks. Not particularly attractive, Hickory has all the other characteristics that make it a good wood for sticks. It’s relatively inexpensive, durable and readily available. It also has a very wide weight range from 60 to 90 grams, (the heartwood can be very heavy). Typical stick weight is 60 to 75 grams. Makes a great all-round stick.

Leopardwood–Price – $85 Pair, Sapwood and Heartwood

One of my favorite woods for making drumsticks, this South American hardwood is beautiful with flecks of figuring that resemble the spots of a Leopard and really show when the wood is quartersawn. Leopardwood ranges in weight from 65 to 85 grams with the heartwood being the heaviest and darkest in color. The sapwood is a bit lighter in color and weight and makes a great concert stick. Since it is such a wide grained wood, the tips need to be maintained regularly or they will grind down faster than other types of wood (see my stick maintenance tips below). Typical stick weight is 65 to 80 grams. Makes a great concert/rudimental stick and warmup stick.

Maple– Price – $16 Pair, only available in my Vic Firth Signature Drum Set Sticks

While I do not currently make my own sticks from maple my Vic Firth Signature sticks are made from this wood (as well as Hickory). Maple is readily available and inexpensive. I consider it a disposable wood and that’s why it is mainly used for less expensive sticks like set sticks. I use it for all of my prototypes since it is cost effective. It makes a great drum set stick (see my custom Vic Firth drum set sticks).

Pecan–Price – $85 Pair, Heartwood $65 Pair Sapwood

Similar to Hickory but much more attractive Pecan is a great wood for drumsticks. It is dense and a bit heavier than Hickory (even the sapwood) as well as more iridescent and lighter in color. I have a large quantity of this since my yard is filled with these trees and limbs tend to fall off during late summer storms. I have saved these limbs for many years, and I cut them up as needed. Typical stick weight is 60 to 100 grams. Makes a great heavy concert/rudimental stick, warmup stick and chop building stick.

Persimmon– Price – $65 Pair

Considered by many stick afficionados to be the best wood for a concert drumstick Persimmon has a great feel and good consistency but also has a very limited weight range. There is barely any heartwood in this tree since the trunks are usually small in diameter. The weight ranges from 64 to 72 grams. Several years ago, I was lucky enough to find a dead persimmon tree that was the largest one I had ever seen. I bought the tree, cut it down and as a result I have a large supply of this wood and it’s of great quality. Persimmon ranges in color from a light tan to a golden yellow (heartwood). Below is a picture of the Persimmon slabs from that tree and some reverse tip persimmon sticks I have made from it. The wood takes a very long time to dry, and you must dry it slowly to avoid checking. After I cut it into slabs, I dry the persimmon for a minimum of 2 years to get it to the optimum 5% water content. Typical stick weight is 64 to 72 grams. Makes a great concert/rudimental stick.

Purpleheart– Price – $100 Pair, Heartwood Only.

The heartwood of this stick makes a beautiful, heavy practice stick. Working with this Central/South American wood is tricky as it burns quite easily when turning and dulls blades severely. It is gorgeous though and becomes more purple with age. After I make a pair of purpleheart sticks I leave them unfinished for a few weeks so they will turn a deep shade of purple. If you look at a few of the pictures above, you will see some very purple sticks. That is Purpleheart. Typical stick weight is 72 to 100 grams. Makes a great heavy concert/rudimental stick, warmup stick and chop building stick.

Tigerwood– Price – $65 Pair, Heartwood and Sapwood

Also known as Goncalo Alves this Brazilian wood is great for making drumsticks. It is dark brown in color and sometimes contains decorative streaks. It has a large weight range, from 60 to 85 grams. The sapwood is much lighter than the heartwood which can make a stick as heavy as 90 grams. This wood is not too expensive, so it is the cheapest warm up stick that I create. Typical stick weight is 60 to 90 grams. Tigerwood makes a great concert stick as well as a heavy rudimental stick, warmup stick and chop building stick.

Yellowheart Price – $65 Pair, Heartwood Only

Another Brazilian hardwood, Yellowheart is similar in properties to Tigerwood. The wood will turn dark yellow with age and makes a good practice stick because of its density. If your favorite color is yellow than this is the stick for you. Typical stick weight is 60 to 85 grams. Makes a great heavy concert/rudimental stick, warmup stick and chop building stick.

Zebrawood- Price – $100 a pair

Zebrawood is a West African hardwood that is beautiful to look at but hard to work with because of its interlocking open grain. It tends to tear out easily and smells pretty bad when it’s still green and being cut up. At one point I had lots of Zebrawood heartwood which made an incredibly beautiful stick, but I ran out and have not been able to find any more of sufficient quality in several years. If any of you have any Zebrawood heartwood let me know. I do have some light sapwood left which makes a lighter stick that is around 55 to 65 grams. Update 2023: I found a source and should be producing this stick again soon.

White Wenge – Price – $100 Pair, Heartwood and Sapwood

This rare and gorgeous hardwood is also called Lati and hails from Africa. It makes a great concert and rudimental stick. I was unfamiliar with this wood and found some of it one day at a woodworking show. I took a gamble and purchased a few blanks and was blown away by the sticks that came out of it. I only have this occasionally as it is becoming very hard to find. Typical stick weight is 65 to 80 grams. Makes a great concert stick.

Stick Tips (Beads)

I can make any type of tip, but my favorites are barrel tips and reverse tips. I like the barrel tip for its articulation and the reverse tip for its great roll sound and rebound. A custom teardrop tip as you see below adds $15 to the price of the stick.

Stick Length and Weight

I can make a stick any length up to 17.5 inches (although in my opinion that is too long). Keep in mind that the longer the stick is the more it will flex unless it is very thick in diameter. The sticks I normally stock are 16 to 17″ long. I can make a stick with weights from 50 to 100+ grams depending on what wood species I am using. The heartwood of all the species will always be heavier. I have done a lot of experimentation with length, weight and diameter formulas for different species of woods. I can make a recommendation for you if you are unsure about what might work best for your application.

Finish

Unlike some manufacturers I do not stain my sticks preferring to keep them in as natural a state as possible. The only finish is a clear protective polyurethane mixed with a little beeswax which improves the grip. I use 4 coats on the sticks and 6 coats on the tips.

Matching Sticks

I match my sticks in pairs by weight, pitch and color. The weight will be consistent within 3 grams (a difference which cannot be felt by the human hand) and the sticks are pitch matched on a pad with a real drumhead such as the old Ludwig Ensemble tunable pads (my favorite pad of all time). I also check the sticks on a very solid piece of metal to assure they are perfectly pitched as a pair. When you check the pitch of a stick you must use the same hand since each of your hands will sound different and this is how I test them. Also, I do not check them on rubber since that surface can be very deceiving as far as where the stick is hitting the surface. Depending on the wood, color matching is employed to get them as close to a similar appearance as possible. Woods like cocobolo rosewood, zebrawood, and black wenge will vary greatly in color so it is just about impossible to get them to look exactly the same in some cases.

Stick Care

If you want your sticks to last, you should take care of them. This involves refinishing the tips every so often. Woods with an open grain such as Black Wenge, White Wenge and Leopardwood will tend to wear faster because of the wider grain.

I include a care sheet with each pair of sticks I send out. Here is what it says:

“Thank you for purchasing my drumsticks. 

There are a few things you can do that will help the sticks last for many years. 

1. If you play on a coated head (pad or real snare drum) lightly sand the beating spot with 400 grit sandpaper. This will keep the tips from being sanded down by the drumhead. Do not use sticks such as Black Wenge, Leopardwood and White Wenge on marching heads, mesh heads or textured practice pads, they will wear out very quickly on these surfaces.

2. Every 6 months or so dip the tips in a good quality polyurethane. Flooring Polyurethane works best. You can also use a foam brush.

3. No heavy rim shots please. The wood used for these sticks is very hard, much harder than the usual maple or hickory. Heavy rim shots can cause the sticks to split in very rare instances. “

Here are some videos about the sticks I currently make.

Reviews and Pictures from Happy Customers

Here are some customer comments and pictures that I have received.

Sticks well received in the mailbox today, Rick. Wow! Both the purpleheart and persimmon are stunning wood and more impressive in person than photos can show. Thank you again.

William R. Shaner PA, USA

Hey Rick,

Received the Leopardwood drumsticks. So, so happy about these.

Very well-balanced and zero vibrations. They play much smoother than expected and after 2-3 min, the finger muscles start to work harder, definitely see these working as a nice warm-up/rudimental practice stick. 

Also followed your suggestion on the retrofitted Tama pad, used a smooth emperor on top (along with the yoga mat) and the combination is lovely.

Such a step up on my practice routine, both sticks and pad!

Eyeing a lot your Zebrawood and Cocobolo pairs, too. Might get one in the near future. 

Thanks a ton

Manolis Delentas, Greece

The sticks have arrived.
They will be used and cherished.

My collection (so far)

All the best,
Jeff Sipe, Aquarium Rescue Unit

Jeff’s sticks

Hey Rick,

The sticks arrived today, and they look and feel great! I couldn’t resist sending you some photos of the collection!! 

Michael Harding, Bologna, Italy

Mikes Purchased Sticks

Just a note that the 3 pair of sticks you shipped arrived today … Persimmon, Pecan and Purpleheart. 

 Each pair is absolutely beautiful.

I already have a pair of the Persimmon (barrel tip) that you sent before, so I was already familiar with them…. but the Pecan pair is stunning and the Purpleheart pair is .. wow just beautiful. 

I spent some time with each and they are feel so good in my hands. I hear them singing in my hands. Lol

The balance is incredible.  

Thank you so much Rick.

Best wishes,

John Di Raimo

Canada

Hey Rick,

  While I wait for my purpleheart sticks to dry and be shipped, I wanted to drop you a line about the other sticks I have

purchased from you.  I know you don’t need the endorsement of a hobby drummer like me, but I have to say that 

every pair of sticks I have purchased from you, whether for my own use or as a gift, has been a work of art.  Your 

level of craftsmanship is exceptional, and I really enjoy using them.  For what it’s worth, I prefer the reverse tips, but 

there is certainly nothing wrong with the barrels.  No need to reply to this note, just wanted to share my thoughts while I wait for the

purpleheart.  Thanks again!

Howard Shirley

These arrived a couple days ago. They are the heaviest and purplest pair I own and are my new favorite practice sticks. Maybe it’s my imagination, but the most comfortable pivot point is about .5″ forward of where I would have guessed it to be and I really love how this feels.

My compliments on the craftsmanship. 

-Jared

Hi Rick,
    I just wanted to say thank you for the drumsticks.  The feel, bounce and response is amazing not to mention they look beautiful.  My mother was trying them out with some of the Wilcoxon solos and absolutely loves them.  Her history is marching band and playing in rock bands in the 70’s-80’s.
  I’ll hopefully be ordering a pair for myself in the near future.

Thank You,
     Frank

Today the sticks arrived here in Stuttgart. First of all, they are looking beautiful, but this is not all. I have never had sticks with an explosive rebound like those in my fingers!

I will use them for my daily warm up routine, approx. 20 minutes. I just work on the push / pull technique. I am very optimistic that I will be able to get to a good level on this kind of technique with the help of those sticks.

Thank you not only for the excellent qualities of those sticks, but also for all your very helpful videos on YouTube .

All the best, take care, Werner!

“The package with sticks and book arrived yesterday.

Thank you for the quick turnaround. 

The Rosewood sticks are beautiful. You must have put in a default roll. Meaning I can play a clean double stroke roll

one notch faster on the metronome than with other sticks. 

Or maybe I am just stoked about it.

Now I have plenty of stuff to practice. 

Thanks for all you do for the community with your YouTube channel, which is top notch quality.”

Klaus Driesslein, Germany

Thanks for the sticks!!  They arrived last night and they’re beautiful.  Wow, they bounce nicely  (better than the Greg Bissonette’s I’ve been working with… don’t tell Greg that).  I’ll hazard a guess the bounce comes from the tapper between the shaft and tip, which kind of reminds me of the tapper on the now obsolete Zildjian Tony Williams sticks (I wish those were still available for my rock gigs).  The shaft diameters and weights are perfect.  I prefer playing with a heavy stick, and always have.   

I’m reviewing intros and endings for the music I’m playing tonight using the pair on the Quiet Tone pad and having a ball playing them.

Many Thanks and enjoy your weekend,

Tom B

I became aware of Rick Dior through his YouTube channel. As a professional drummer of 37 years I found the videos very helpful was looking at developing/ the orthodox grip & also have been using the classic book master studies by Joe Morello and he had whole load of stuff about that too & had studied with Joe himself .
As I was using his videos alot I wanted to give something back so decided to invest in some of his custom sticks .
After many very helpful email exchanges I settled on 3 pairs:
Zebra wood barrel tip.
Heavy heartwood Leopard barrel tip.
Black wenge reverse tip.
Also bought 2 pairs of his signature sticks for drum kit use the custom sticks I’ll keep for pad work .
The custom sticks are without doubt the best sticks I’ve ever seen & played .
They feel like musical instruments in themselves , balance , bounce , a very high end piece of work .
Think a drummer friend summed it best :
“they are a work of art “
Worth every penny .
Thanks Rick
Paul Brown,
London

I’ve just purchased a pair of drumsticks handcrafted by Rick Dior and they are fantastic. They are easily the best made sticks I have ever owned, and I have been playing drums for 56 years. I purchased a pair of Persimmon drumsticks with the “reverse tip” design for the bead and was pleasantly surprised at this stick’s versatility.  The stick has enough body and tip for that matter to really allow the snare drum to roar but also to whisper with great articulation. The attention to detail in the making of Rick’s sticks is second to none. The weight of my sticks are an exact 71 grams each. The symmetry of shape between the two sticks is perfect as well as the pitch. These sticks are a real joy to play with. I use these sticks just for pad work and snare drumming, both classical and rudimental; they are simply the best. Truth be told, I now own five different pairs of Rick’s sticks made of different woods like Black Wenge, Leopard Wood and Persimmon with two style of beads reverse tip and barrel shaped. The craftsmanship and attention to detail has a consistency I have never seen before in a handcrafted product and bottom line they just sound great on drums. Rick is great to deal with when ordering and shipping is prompt and carefully packaged. Thanks Rick.

Ron Caruso, Phoenix AZ

“I have been practicing daily on my pad with Rick’s heavy 80-gram barrel-tipped Leopardwood Heartwood sticks since they arrived. When compared to any other sticks I have used to build muscle and sensitivity in the hands, fingers and wrists they are in an altogether different league. Warmly recommended and, together with his two excellent books, I know these will be treasured for many years to come.”

Stephen- São Paulo, Brazil

I’ve bought several pairs from Rick now, in all different woods and tapers/tip customizations. They are all top notch and the workmanship is beyond reproach. Rick’s communication is great and he does exactly what he says he’ll do. The advantage of buying custom sticks from a player is that he knows when the sticks feel good or not, and they do. My 2 cents, if you’re getting your first pair from him: go for the Zebrawood. All my Rick Dior sticks feel great, but those are especially sweet! I’ll be ordering my next pair before long…

Michael Petrosino, Brooklyn, NY

I just received two pairs of Rick’s sticks — the standard model with the barrel tip — in bloodwood and wenge. Despite their girth and mass, they play with a weightless feel. I can detect no difference in tone between the sticks on pad or snare. Never had such a perfect pair. Despite being exactly the same design, the wenge and bloodwood sticks boast a subtly different tone and feel. Both good, just different. Rick responds to email. He ships right away. Easy. The craftsmanship is impressive — and beautiful. I winced when I heard the price, but now I think I underpaid.

Dean Chance

Hi Rick,
Per in Sweden:
The Three Camps and your sticks arrived a week ago.
The book is great, I really like the suggestions on page 44.
About the sticks:
I am a huge fan of flat rides, playing in jazz combos.
I have been searching for years after my “perfect ride cymbal sound”.
My conclusion is that the search is over. The sound that I wanted to hear from my cymbal itself is now not the main purpose which one to use. I now realize that it is your stick that has the biggest impact in producing my favorite sound. The stick definition is superb. I played an old scrappy 20” Ufip flat ride I bought for almost nothing yesterday and it sounded amazing with your sticks. Now I will use my money buying your sticks instead. Thanks!!
Kind regards
Per

I’ve received the pair of 80-gram drumsticks you sent me. They’re
beautiful and feel great in my hands. I look forward to practicing with
these sticks for a long time to come.

Thanks again,
Douglas

  The reverse tip persimmon concert snare drums sticks are excellent – in weight, balance, feel, and craftsmanship!

Todd S

Hi Rick,

Today the Sticks arrived. They are nearly too beautiful to play with. Well crafted. 

Andreas

Hi Rick,Just another note of KUDO’s and a big thank you for my NEW pair of Leopard wood sticks.Your craftsmanship, attention to detail, and your passion in everything you do is admired, and respected to the highest degree!
I played them this morning in my WARM UP’S  and RUDIMENTAL practicing regime!Their FEEL, balance, control, are awesome to play with and now one of my favorite Rick Dior Master Piece’s .In fact , their [SO GOOD THEY PLAY THEMSELVES AND MAKES YA WANT TO GIT UP AND DANCE! FO REAL!]Thanks again for once again and every time nailing it and hittin’ it outA D’Paaaaak.Have a great weekend M’friend.
Regards,
Mark Leon

Dear Mr. Dior,

just wanted to let you know that the sticks arrived today. As always, stunning materials and beautiful craftsmanship! Already love them!

Thank you so much and best wishes,

Markus Nickmann, Germany

“I got a pair of leopardwood (heartwood) sticks that are both exactly 65g. They feel great. I’ve used them daily for warmups and rudimental practice. These sticks are probably the highest quality of this kind I’ve come across. I highly recommend them!” 

Timothy Roberts Reverie Drums

“All my Rick Sticks are in service after 2 years or so. These guys played almost every day. Thanks again!”

Edward Chance

Here is a review from Beth Hamon’s Blog Spot Page

drumlove: Rick Dior sticks. Worth every penny.

Please see the wood description list above for more specific prices.

Standard Barrel Tip Sticks (sapwood)
$65 / pair plus shipping (see rates at the bottom of this page)

Standard Barrel Tip Sticks (heartwood)
$85-150 / pair plus shipping (see estimated rates at the bottom of this page)

Cocobolo Rosewood Sticks are $125-$150 a pair as of 4/23. The price depends upon the figuring of the wood and if its heartwood or sapwood.

Below is the information I will send you when you email me. It contains pricing and shipping information.

Ricks Signature Drum Set Sticks

My signature drum set drumsticks are made from Maple and Hickory and are manufactured by the Vic Firth Company.

Signature Drum Set Sticks (see video above)
Maple $16 / pair plus shipping

Hickory $18/pair plus shipping

(Please see shipping rates at the bottom of this page)

Engraving

You can have your name laser engraved on each stick. $20 for first pair / $10 for each additional pair with the same engraving. When ordering engraving, please send me the exact spelling of your name as you want to see it on the stick. If you have a common font that you like, I will try to use or match it. I cannot engrave a very long phrase on the stick so please keep it under 25 letters.

Shipping Rates

Shipping rates vary greatly from place to place and from year to year. The shipping cost depends on the weight of the shipment as well as the size of the package/shipping materials and any insurance that is involved.

	United States (except CA, WA, and Puerto Rico)	California, Washington State, and Puerto Rico	Outside the United States
One set	$15	$18	$35
Two sets	$20	$20	$40
Three sets	$25	$25	$45

From The Shop

It all starts with the wood. Whether it’s from local sources (including my backyard as in the Pecan I use) or ordered from overseas, I use the best wood available. That means purchasing knot free, dried and prime #1 lumber which is expensive and hard to find in the exotic woods I use. When possible, I spend some extra money and purchase the heartwood which is more dense and darker in color than the sapwood.

Thank you for viewing my drumstick page. Remember that you can always contact me at rickdior@gmail.com if you have any questions about the sticks.