My shells were maple, manufactured by ddrum and everything done on them was horrible quality. I removed the wrap which had 3 thick glue strips on each shell, I used a heat gun to safely remove the glue strips with out scratching the surface of the wood. Sanded everything down to remove all the filler I had to put in because the shells were not well put together. There were huge gaps between the seems of the shell, opened up the pores and then wiped clean all the debris.

This time around on my set instead of staining I wanted to paint. I used an automotive grade primer and paint. The automotive grade paint was amazing covered great and super easy to use shooting it out of a hvlp gun (if anyone is going this route make sure you have done your research, because you will need the right air compressor and tools to get the best finishes.)

I added a very cool touch by getting a 5 meter strip of led lights which had an adhesive side that glued to the inside of my bass drum, i ran the plug out of the air vent and added a very cool touch. You can find these on ebay for $30 comes with a remote to change colors… All in All looks very professional so I’m happy

Kevin Penner
RevKev customs

Advanced Funk Studies Contemporary Drumset Techniques DVD

I have purchased about 40-50 DVD’s on drum technique. Some were excellent, others were just OK.

The one that helped me the most (along with 2 others) was Rick Latham’s Advanced Funk Studies DVD.

When I purchased it way back when it was actually a VHS recording. And I had to keep rewinding and rewinding to get the techniques nailed down as I practiced on my practice pad set.

Several years later he made it into a DVD and bought that one. Then he updated it again, and it comes with all kinds of other material that I wasn’t able to get at the time.

But overall, this DVD had the most immediate and long term impact on my drumming. The exercises are fun and challenging. I highly recommend you get this DVD, even if you are not into the funk or rock drumming. You’ll see!

I.E. Made all the veneers and glued them all up. (easier said than done!) Got all the hardware from drummaker.com.

For the finish I started with DEFT brush on sanding sealer. About 3-4 coats. Then used some DEFT satin spray lacquer over that. I lost track of how many coats it took till all the pores were filled in, but I’d say approximately 9-10, sanding between every coat back to bare wood.

A guitar builder friend told me you want as thin a final coat as possible (for guitars anyway, but figured the same idea would apply for a drum) because too thick a finish will deaden the tone.

I sanded up to 1,200 grit, then used some “Meguiar’s scratch X2.0″ fine scratch and blemish remover (get at auto parts store) for the final buffing. NICE! The photo doesn’t really do it justice!
Aloha from Maui!
Eric House

Koa Wood Snare Drum (Custom)

The kit is from Keller shells that were originally purchased and never used by another guy in 1992.  The rims are older Sonor rims (2.3mm) from a kit that had been flooded. Lugs and lug screws are new from John Ricolo at AMDrumParts.  Kit finish is a tung oil base–3 coats–with a polyester resin top coat.

Snare is a Keller shell with another old Sonor rim.  Finish is water based lacquer with underlying 3-color, airbrushed burst, water based wood dye.
James Rader
Austin, Texas

Custom Made Keller Shell Drum Kit

Custom Keller Shell Snare Drum

All parts sourced from different drum companies. The brass plate badge was brought at hardware shop and engraved . The wood hoops and inside of the shell I gave three coates of yaht varnish for a hard as tough wearing gloss finish. It was hard to rub down but worth it. And the outside of the shell is 10 coates of thinned out varnish.

The most important factor in this build was nothing new but very important. A dust free enviroment. There was a lot of rubbing down and in turn a lot of airborne dust particals which will ruin your finish and make life very hard. The only way I could deal with this was time out after each rub down before coating it. This was time consuming but a necessity. It’s a great sounding drum with the yaht varnish everlasting wood hoops.

Chris Bence, Somerset England.

Victor Roy Maple Snare Drum

Victor Roy Drum Badge

Snare Drum Interior

I’ve built a few drums since the last pics I sent your way and the build process has become easier and easier…

I am sending you this for two reasons:

1. To remind you that your step-by-step guide is still helping people overcome the obstacles that come with building drums the first year.
2. To encourage anyone reading this, who may be thinking of purchasing your book for a guide to building, to do so and follow your dream of having your own “Custom Drum Kit or Snare”.

Thanks for your time.

Jeremy Wolfe
J Wolfe Custom Drum Co.
Huntington, WV

14x6 "Burberry" snare drum by Jeremy Wolfe

Brian,

My name is Jody Hasty, I am 37 years old and have been playing drums since I was a little kid.

I used a Transtint dye that I custom mixed myself then pulled a lacquer job using deft spray can satin lacquer (it is a nitrocellulose lacquer) .

The first pictures shows the first 3 coats.  The second pictures of the bass drum is what it looks like after 15 coats.  The third picture shows entire set after 18 coats total.

A lot of time is required to do a decent lacquer job.  You mentioned the Gretsch look.  That’s what I was going after, the old Gretsch lacquer jobs from the 70′s.

The raw shells were provided by the owner of C&C custom drums from his Gladstone shell factory.

I did put the “voodoo” on these.  If you will notice the Bose radio in the first picture along with Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys in the background.  I vibrated the wood exclusively with Pet Sounds, Brian Eno’s Music For Airports, and The Verve’s A Storm In Heaven as they were drying or just sitting each night.  It does make a difference, but that is another story all together.  If you have any other questions, feel free to write.
Jody

First Three Coats

Custom Bass Drum after 15 coats

Final Drum Kit Assembly After 18 coats

The dimensions are a 22×14 bass, 12×8 tom, and a 14×14 floor tom.

I gave the maple shells a natural satin lacquer finish. The drum kit sounds like everything I ever wanted from a kit and I also saved a lot of money making it myself.

Thanks for all of the help I couldn’t have done it without your book!

Corbin Cansler.

4 Piece Custom Maple Drum Set

Brian: I hope all is well with you and thank you for taking the time to not only document step by step tips to building drums, but for being interested in if I got anything out of it. It has definitely helped. From the steps to wrapping, drilling the lug layout, shell prep, etc.

I’m sure you’ve built many kits and snares in your day considering the book I bought from you, lol lol, but think back to your first build. Think back to taking on the daunting task of building your first, second, third  kit or snare and really having only a small bit of experience.

That’s where I am right now. Ha ha! So yes the book was very helpful in every aspect of building.

You know one of the things that has really stayed fresh in my mind, even still, was the interview with Bill Cardwell of C&C Custom Drums. He said “There’s a difference in Home made and Custom”… That was motivation for me to take my time, pay attention to every little detail, and try not to make something that looks cheap or “thrown together”.

I want to comment on you including all of the interviews in your book and the fact that it was $7.00!!!!!!! What???? Thats crazy considering the items I had came across before buying from you were anywhere from $25-$35 plus tax.

In summary. Thank you for taking the time to document a “step by step” outline that helps me do what I love to do. Take care

PS: Attached are pictures of my build using tips from the book, please feel free to use them in any marketing venture you wish.

Jeremy Wolfe

John Ledingham's Custom Built Drum Kit

John A. Ledingham sent us a picture of the drum kit he built using Drum Building Secrets guide. Here’s what he had to say:

14″ (diameter) X 24″ kick
10″ X 13″ mounted tom
14″ X 9.34″ floor tom.

Finish is Burnt Orange, which matches my Gretsch drums.

They play beautifully with Aquarian heads on the kick and mounted tom and an Evans head on the batter side  of the floor tom.  I prefer to mount the tom alone on a cymbal stand…great mobility.

Very lightweight kit.

John A. Ledingham