Re: hey tom!
reco said:
I after looking at the web page want to build my next kit.
But I have a question for Tom.
how hard is it to put the drum together, I mean you have to put in the renforcment rings right? is that tough how about covering the drum, basicly is it easier then it looks?
Well, If you want reinforcement rings, you buy the shells with the rings in them (they cost about $10 more per shell)
I will suggest getting thin shells. I bought 8-ply toms, and probably should have gotten 6-plys, just for the extra sustain.
For a Kick, I will always suggest a Thick Shell without rings in it-but for toms, I find that a thin shell with rings seems to mic a little better.
Also, stay away from "Power Toms", go with the tried and true DW "Fast" sizes.
if you get an 18" floor, get a 14"x18" instead of a 16"x 18". You would think that a 14"x18" wouldn't be as deep in pitch as a 16"x18". BUT, because there is "less shell" for the sound to bounce around in, the drum has a well defined note that can't be beat.
I was always dis-satisfied with my 16"x18" toms, because I could never get a solid Note out of it-it was just low pitched.
So, when I built this kit-I went with a 14"x18", and man, that is the most awesome 18" tom I've ever heard!
That's why I think if I had gone with thinner shell, it would have been even more awesome.
A Thinner Shell has a lower Pitch.
On the Kick though, the Thicker Shell seems to give you more "Thump" and a bit less boom.
Also, It might be worth it for you to just have DSH drill the shells, it's not really that expensive, and then you don't have to worry about messing it up.
I'm getting ready to build a 14" x 14" Snare with 10 Lugs per head, and Floor Tom Legs!
hahaha
(for thopse who think this sounds crazy, Mutt Lange uses huge drums when recording, and on Shania Twains last CD-they used a 32"-diameter Kick drum, because Lange has stated several times that "little drums translate into little drumsounds" on tape.)
Also for the finish, if you want them wrapped in plastic, DSH does it now-they didn't offer that When I bought my drums. Heck, Andy wasn't even online then.
I went with a Minwax wipe-On Poly, and the drums have a beautiful Natural finish. They look like the Maple Ayotte set that you see in drum ads every once in awhile.
Tim