Drum Craft drums discussion

[itchie]

here's a cool thread everyone can post in

feel free to post any questions about drum craft in here..i personally will do my best to follow up any questions

if you just want to simply show off your dc drums you can do that too

[itchie]

Drum Craft series 8 acrylic 2010 build

Shell sizes*
"rock"
24”x 20” Kick 16x14 and 14x12 floor toms 12x9 and 10x8 rack Toms 14x6,5 Snare

Head config live -
snare- remo coated dot
toms-remo clear pinstripes,stock ambos on every res res
kick- evans eq3 batter ,remo ps3 res

bought in mid 2011 this became my gigging machine

[Russ]

I really like that kit on the checkered floor! The pinstripes even match the hardware accenting, very nice. Did you ever make any recordings of it?

[BigFatDrummer]

I don't know much about Drum Craft but there is something reassuringly sturdy about these kits.

[BigFatDrummer]

Also, did anyone miss this custom drum kit built for Brian Fraser-Moore displayed at a recent drum show (I think it was the most recent NAMM).

[Pearl MCX Man]

Wow love the rack.

[Russ]

What on earth is that endpiece in the front? It looks like some kind of a customized hoop, can't imagine what you'd need or use it for.. It doesn't appear to be supporting anything, just connecting a second tier, but that could be done in other ways.

[BigFatDrummer]

What on earth is that endpiece in the front? It looks like some kind of a customized hoop, can't imagine what you'd need or use it for.. It doesn't appear to be supporting anything, just connecting a second tier, but that could be done in other ways.

I don't think it serves any purpose than to stand out. And, I'd say, the designers accomplished that!

[itchie]

The snares drum craft make are killer ... Pro stuff

[Russ]

I don't know much about Drum Craft but there is something reassuringly sturdy about these kits.

It's probably the brushed look of the hardware. Tends to make it look a lot more tough and armored, but when you mix a brushed/satin drumshell with brushed hardware it tends to look like a toy(think of the newer Yamaha Rock Tours).

[Drumbledore]

Nice looking kit you got there Itch. Dunno if I could gig a 24" kick drum, that'd make the toms almost level with my head just about (only joking, I'm short but not that short!). If you're ever in Sydney way, I'll have to introduce you to my mate Nick, he's been making a bunch of clear acrylic and opaque drums for quite a while now. But it's nice to know that there are a bunch of different manufacturers both big and small that are making acrylic drums, that give a viable sound that is a little bit different from metal or wood drums.

[itchie]

you can buy "22" acrylic kits now

14x5 snare 10,12 toms ,14x14 floor tom and 22 kick ...pritty neat sizes

[Drumbledore]

^That'd be not too bad to try. Or maybe with an 18" bass drum with those same tom and snare sizes. And turn up with them on a jazz gig. I'm wondering if anyone's done that? Do you find acrylic drums have a different touch about them, in comparison to wood drums, when it comes to playing them lightly, itchie?

[itchie]

this is a great finish ...series 8 maple

[Russ]

^Beautiful! They didn't go too bright with the reds, a nice darker vibe.

[noreastbob]

Drumbledore, I have an early 70's vintage set of Fibes acrylics. They don't feel any different than any other drum, shell wise. Heads make a difference of course. It's the sound that's different. Acrylic drums have a synthetic or metallic sound if you will. There is no warmth at all. I've come to the conclusion that they sound their best when played hard and loud. I bought some dw collectors exotics about a year ago to get the warmth, sustain, tone and dynamic range that Id come to be missing. Was gonna sell the Fibes but then I realized they were the perfect compliment to the state of the art precious wooden organic drums... totally synthetic, impervious to the elements and environment. Good to have on hand to play outdoors, in the cold, even rain.

[itchie]

these drum craft acrylics have warmth ...dont know how they do it ..but they really do sing like no other acrylic

[Russ]

these drum craft acrylics have warmth ...dont know how they do it ..but they really do sing like no other acrylic

That's strange indeed, i'd be interested to know what type of shells they use(how their acrylic shells are made). Normally when I hear acrylic my first thought is the sound of birch with a new look to it. From what my research tells me they are similar sounds in terms of their frequency balance. I'm just curious what they changed from a standard recipe of an acrylic shell, and what i'm used to hearing.

[noreastbob]

The only thing I can come up with is that they may be extruded, no seams like the old Fibes had, and less shell thickness to enhance sustain and thus a warmth of tone. We've probably all seen the dw videos of JG holding the open shell from the inside and hitting it with the heel of his other hand getting a nice low subtle note. I was detailing the fibes not long ago (long neglected and overdue) and tried that and all I got was the slap/whap of my hand on the plastic. Plexiglass just doesn't resonate like hardwood. But they have their place and sound good with decent heads....just not like good wooden drums.
This is, of course, in my experience, with acrylic drums of the early 70's.

[noreastbob]

Oh yeah...and they're LOUD. I think they have more mids and highs. The sound isn't as ...um...round? I'd like to try some new DC's and see if they're more "organic" sounding than the early acrylics.

[itchie]

taken from drum drumcraft.com

"Chosen in first place on the stunning appearance Acrylic drum shells offer much more than just looks.
The 7mm extruded seamless transparent Acrylic shells of DrumCraft bring back the good old times of Rock’n’Roll how it was meant to be.
Rough, powerful, untamed.
These drums are loud with a boomy low end."

[truckerdrummer]

i've been thinking seriously about an acrylic kit... my drums have been gigged hard and gotten wet and been exposed to the elements way too often as of late and i'm thinking the acrylics might be able to stand up to it a little better. and as far as that goes, i'm thinking if it happens, it'll be drum craft.

[kay-gee]

If I lived on the mainland, I'd probably be into those. I just like the over all vibe of them. More than likely go with Fibes or Ludwigs. Not familiar with Drum Craft brand at all.

all the best...

[Russ]

i've been thinking seriously about an acrylic kit... my drums have been gigged hard and gotten wet and been exposed to the elements way too often as of late and i'm thinking the acrylics might be able to stand up to it a little better. and as far as that goes, i'm thinking if it happens, it'll be drum craft.

I would think acrylic would be a little less 'tough' than say a wood shell kit of at least a medium thickness. Sure there's no plies to seperate, but acrylic can not be very close to open sources of heat and aren't armored in the same way a thick shell with a wrap on it is.

[noreastbob]

Actually Russ, the acrylic drums are very tough. I'm a plastics engineer so I can tell you that the acrylic, or plexiglass matl. doesn't begin to react to heat until nearly 400F. It isn't too likely they'd be exposed to anything remotely near that range. Sunlight or even a space heater won't affect them unless maybe the latter was on ultra high and touching the drum. But UL doesn't allow those temps.
I've wondered why no one has tried polycarbonate or PET drum shells. These are more expensive matl's but PC is extremely hard/tough (ie bulletproof windows and ****pit canopies) and has more resonant properties. PET at shell thickness would be an interesting experiment. Again very expensive but when processed properly (difficult!) it would be very hard and I think may have good accoustic response. I'd go woth PC which is a beautifull resin which takes colors exquisitely. You could even swirl them.

They do, however, scratch of course, and show it.