# Pro-Mark Drumsticks — Metal Drummer Endorsers

Pro-Mark is a Houston, Texas drumstick maker founded in 1957 by Herb Brochstein, and the first US stick brand to bring Japanese Shira Kashi white oak to market. Now owned by D'Addario (since 2011), Pro-Mark runs one of the largest stick catalogs in the industry, with a signature roster spanning thrash, groove, death, and progressive metal.

## Metal Drummers Who Use Pro-Mark

- Dave Lombardo (Slayer) — TX2BXN Signature 2Bx
- Joey Jordison (Slipknot) — TX515W Signature 515 (5A-class)
- Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs) — TXMP420XW-AG ActiveGrip 420X (oversized 5A)
- Chris Adler (Lamb of God) — TX5AXW Signature (slightly longer 5A)
- Eloy Casagrande (Slipknot, ex-Sepultura) — TXECW Signature
- Gene Hoglan (Death, Testament, Dethklok) — TX2BN Classic Forward 2B
- Matt Halpern (Periphery) — TXMHW Signature (2B weight, plays like 5B)
- Aquiles Priester (ex-Angra, Hangar) — TX419W Autograph 419 (2B-class)
- Jason Bittner (Overkill, Shadows Fall) — TX5BXN Jason Bittner Signature 5BX

## Key Pro-Mark Product Lines for Metal

- Model 2B — extra-heavy weight and extra-wide diameter, built for the hardest of hitters
- Shira Kashi White Oak Series — dense Japanese white oak sticks, an alternative to hickory for extra durability
- Signature Series — artist-specific models spanning thrash, groove, death, and progressive metal
- TX/Autograph lines — the core signature-model numbering system covering most of Pro-Mark's metal roster

## FAQ

Q: What drumsticks does Dave Lombardo use?
A: Dave Lombardo (Slayer) plays the Pro-Mark TX2BXN, his Signature 2Bx model, made from American hickory with an oval nylon tip.

Q: What sticks does Joey Jordison use?
A: Joey Jordison (Slipknot) played the Pro-Mark TX515W, his Signature 515 model in the 5A weight class — noted as having limited availability since his departure from Slipknot.

Q: Is Pro-Mark good for metal?
A: Yes. Pro-Mark's broad catalog spans a wide range of weights and materials, and its Shira Kashi white oak sticks and extra-heavy 2B model give hard-hitting metal drummers durable, road-tested options.

Q: Who owns Pro-Mark now?
A: D'Addario & Company purchased Pro-Mark from the Brochstein family in 2011. The company's factory and offices remain in Houston, Texas, where Herb Brochstein founded it in 1957.

Q: What drumsticks does Chris Adler use?
A: Chris Adler (Lamb of God) plays the Pro-Mark TX5AXW, his signature model — a slightly longer 5A made from American hickory.

## History

Founded **1957** in Houston, Texas, USA, by Herb Brochstein.

Pro-Mark traces back to a chance encounter in 1950s Houston: drummer and shop owner Herb Brochstein was sold six pairs of Japanese-made drumsticks by a passing salesman, and found them better made than the domestic sticks he'd been selling.

Brochstein tracked down the Japanese factory through contact Tatsuo Kosaka, and in 1957 founded Pro-Mark — its name derived from "The Mark of a Professional" — to import and sell the sticks in the United States. Pro-Mark became the first stick maker to bring Japanese Shira Kashi white oak to the US market.

The company remained a family business for over five decades, passing from Herb Brochstein to his son Maury Brochstein, until D'Addario & Company purchased Pro-Mark in 2011.

**Milestones:**
- **1957** — Herb Brochstein founds Pro-Mark in Houston, Texas, to import Japanese-made drumsticks.
- **2011** — D'Addario & Company purchases Pro-Mark from the Brochstein family.
- **2013** — Founder Herb Brochstein passes away at age 85, having led Pro-Mark for over five decades.

**Metal era:** Pro-Mark's broad, durable catalog has made it a common choice for hard-hitting metal drummers across every subgenre, with signature models for Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Joey Jordison (Slipknot), Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Gene Hoglan (Death, Testament), and Jason Bittner (Overkill).

**Source:** [D'Addario / Pro-Mark](https://www.daddario.com/pages/promark-find-your-drumstick) · [Pro-Mark — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-Mark)

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**Brand page:** [/brands/pro-mark](https://metalforge.io/brands/pro-mark) · **Drumstick guide:** [/drumsticks/brands/pro-mark](https://metalforge.io/drumsticks/brands/pro-mark)

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*Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*