New Snare Time: Custom Stave

[Ozzy Biz]

So I've finally decided to bite the bullet and go all out with a new snare. I've been talking to a custom builder here in Aus and it seems a nice stave drum is just what the doctor ordered (aside from the prescription for more cowbell, of course).
I'm after something versatile that can be cranked up ala Steve Jordan or tuned low and fat Don Henley style. As far as sizes go, I'm thinking 14x5.5 or a 14x6.5 for a little more depth, or even a 13x7", but that might not work as well in as many styles as the 14"s.
For timber I'm tossing up between Jarrah (native Aus wood, very very hard. Brady uses it), Rosegum (softer than Jarrah, fat sound, in between Jarrah and Blackwood), or Tasmanian Blackwood (softer again, very warm few more overtones, more of a vintage feel).
I'll use 2.3mm triple flange hoops as die-cast add an extra $140AUD or so and solid jarrah (finger groove pieces of wood) add just under $200AUD

Here's the myspace page, which has sound samples recorded flat (i.e. not EQ'd at all). myspace.com/metrodrums

if anyone has experience with stave drums and recomendations/opinions in regards to timber and sizes I'd love to hear it.

Here's a few pics of their work so you can get an idea of what it will end up like.

[hateplow]

I have a 6.5 Brady Jarrah Block snare. I think it sounds fantastic. You get a much broader tuning range with stave shells, so the bigger you go the more versatility you will have. Very sensitive, too, even in deeper sizes.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

I'd go for the 14x6.5 Jarrah with the wooden hoops in your situation. Seems like the best combination of sensitivity, versatility and musicality and on top of that it will look utterly stunning.

[Ozzy Biz]

I'd go for the 14x6.5 Jarrah with the wooden hoops in your situation. Seems like the best combination of sensitivity, versatility and musicality and on top of that it will look utterly stunning.

I don't think I'll get the wood hoops, at least t straight away. They add an extra $200 to the price tag so I'd rather start with the 2.3mm steel and then if i want the wood I can get them later.

It looks like (from the survey size of 2 people) that a 14x6.5" Jarrah is the go. Does the 6.5" depth still give the sensitivity for some syncopated funk stuff? I'm no David Garibaldi, but I love my ghost notes, which is why I was initially thinking about the 5.5" depth.
Also, for those who haven't heard it, Jarrah is quite dry, low pitched, with a lot of bite. The Blackwood is a mellower, warmer, less dry timber. Paul Warry (the builder) said he thought it was a bit more versatile.

Any more thoughts people?

Oh yeah, the Rosegum Stave kit on the myspace page has a 14x6.5" snare, so you can sort of hear that. Supposedly, Rosegum is sort of middle ground between Jarrah and Blackwood.

[Deathmetalconga]

(*donk* sound of jaw hitting floor)

The block kit has to be the most outrageous looking set I've EVAR seen. That ain't a wrap, folks - that's the SHELL!. Flamboyant, classy and buttloads of attitude in that kit.

Those are all great snares. The third one from the top looks like a wild animal hide and the one below it looks pissed-off and brooding. I'd get either one of those because things often sound like they look.

Great drum porn. Thanks.

[Ozzy Biz]

(*donk* sound of jaw hitting floor)

The block kit has to be the most outrageous looking set I've EVAR seen. That ain't a wrap, folks - that's the SHELL!. Flamboyant, classy and buttloads of attitude in that kit.

Those are all great snares. The third one from the top looks like a wild animal hide and the one below it looks pissed-off and brooding. I'd get either one of those because things often sound like they look.

Great drum porn. Thanks.

The third one from the top is Blackwood ply with Brushbox hoops, while the one below it is a 13x8 Jarrah ply with a matte Ebano veneer owned by Ben Hall of The Butterfly Effect.
The block kit is Jarrah and Maple with bass-drum-style jarrah hoops with claws on all drums.
I'm getting a stave, but I posted those to give an idea of the look of the timber as well as the quality of the drums.

[dom]

dude it sucks you guys get the best looking wood, and we can't get most of that stuff here in the states! I would go with the more versatile one. witch ever you choose will be great. good luck

[Unix]

Dom that is where you are wrong. I'm in Canada and I can have almost everything disponible on earth.

[Ozzy Biz]

Dom that is where you are wrong. I'm in Canada and I can have almost everything disponible on earth.

Its true. If I remember correctly, Metro also can use North American Maple, African Mahogany, Mexican Bloodwood, and a couple of other exotic woods from Africa (?).
I built a table last year out of American Cherry. It's not hard to get timber; all I did was find a good timber retailer and pick what I wanted.

[Ozzy Biz]

Hi Campbell,
After reading your email, I think a jarrah stave will be great for you. The 6.5" depth will still have plenty of response, and the slightly drier, focussed tone of the jarrah will help with the clarity of the ghost notes. A 13 or 14 will both sound great....that's really up to you....the 13 will generally be a bit 'tighter' sounding and have a little more 'pop' than the 14. If you're familiar with any of the spin doctors with Aaron Comess, he mainly used a Brady 12 x 7 jarrah stave.....plenty of sensitivity and pop.
The snares come standard with the Dunnett swivel strainer, and I also offer the Trick strainer for $40 more.
Hope this helps,
Paul.

So I'm getting somewhere now. Jarrah it is, and I'm pretty much settled on the 6.5" depth. There are only three questions left really....
13" or 14"?
Dunnet or Trick?
Satin or Gloss?

[Unix]

Damm I'll raise my price and fast. I hope it's with wood hoop at that price. At least it give me an idea where the market is.

[Ozzy Biz]

Damm I'll raise my price and fast. I hope it's with wood hoop at that price. At least it give me an idea where the market is.

These are in Australian Dollars, plus remember that our drum industry isn't nearly as strong as the American and Canadian ones. A Brady ply in that size goes for about $1400, maybe $1000 to $1200 on eBay, and one of those Steve Jordan Yamahas go for about $950.

[Ozzy Biz]

Bump. Any more opinions people?
I'm going the satin and the trick I think. Only decision left is 13" or 14"?
I'm a big Steve Jordan fan, so thats making me think the 13" would be great, but I don't want something thats a bit 'limiting' as far as its application in various genres.
Anyone want to comment?

And now I'm off to do some last minute study for my exam this afternoon.... argh....

EDIT:

OK, after an absolute sh*tload of thinking, I've finally come to a conclusion; 14x6.5" Jarrah stave with 2.3mm hoops, chrome tube lugs, a Trick strainer and a natural satin finish. Pretty similar to Hateplow's really... should have just listened to him and MFB from the start, haha.
I'm getting a bit excited now. Just got to call up Paul and talk the dirty stuff (...money)

[Ozzy Biz]

Just in case anyone is interested, I've finalised what I'm getting and I'm putting down a deposit on Monday

14x6.5" Jarrah stave
solid machined "tube" style lugs
30 degree with a slight radius outercut
Trick Strainer
satin finish
2.3mm triple flange hoops

I'm getting kind of excited now, and I'll have it by christmas. Kind of an early present to myself I figure...

[aydee]

Ozzi, you lucky dog! I would be happy with any one of those... they look so beautiful they have to sound great!

How about the second one down on the left for an opinion?

[Ozzy Biz]

Ozzi, you lucky dog! I would be happy with any one of those... they look so beautiful they have to sound great!

How about the second one down on the left for an opinion?

What do you mean by "second down on the left for an opinion?"
In my browser, the pics are in a single column.

[aydee]

What do you mean by "second down on the left for an opinion?"
In my browser, the pics are in a single column.

lol, sorry! I have a wide screen laptop so I guess the pics open up in 2 coloumns..

I meant this one:the blackwood.15097

This , by the way is a group consensus, as I have two other very fine drummers sitting right here, as I write this.. : )

Funky ghost notes will sound great on this baby..

[Ozzy Biz]

According to the drum builder, Blackwood has more overtones and a softer, wamer sound compared to the jarrah, which has more attack, low end, and sensitivity. A shallower Jarrah or Brushbox (brighter than the jarrah) with wood hoops wood probably be the best for ghost notes.

[aydee]

According to the drum builder, Blackwood has more overtones and a softer, wamer sound compared to the jarrah, which has more attack, low end, and sensitivity. A shallower Jarrah or Brushbox (brighter than the jarrah) with wood hoops wood probably be the best for ghost notes.

Aussie drummer friend of mine, Kim Walker in Sydney ( think he's in Singapore these days ) plays one of my favourite snares ever. And its a blackwood. Its a matter of taste I guess.

Snare depth is also something I've come around to changing my opinion on. Conventional wisdom says shallow snares have a sharper drier crack.

Not true IMO, as I have sat on some other kits with snares of deeper depths ( 61/2 maple and steel), that respond much better. they are as sharp as the 5s or 51/2s ,but with wider, warmer bandwidth, if tuned correctly.Especially the woods. So the snare does'nt sound like a chihuahua, but more like a shepard, if you know what I mean ; )

Right now I've got a pretty tight tuned 51/2 depth Pearl Chad Smith, which is much sharper than my 31/2 depth Peace Piccollo.

[Ozzy Biz]

and now we play the waiting game.........

I hate this already.

[Wavelength]

I hate this already.

Yeah, I get you. Getting new snares is always a drag.

[Ozzy Biz]

Yeah, I get you. Getting new snares is always a drag.

Haha.... no, just the waiting part.
And I b*tched out and decided to go with the gloss finish, because I don't want to regret not getting it later. So it'll look like the one in my avatar/the first pic I posted, but deeper and with triple flange hoops.

[aydee]

Haha.... no, just the waiting part.
And I b*tched out and decided to go with the gloss finish, because I don't want to regret not getting it later. So it'll look like the one in my avatar/the first pic I posted, but deeper and with triple flange hoops.

So when do you get it? Do post sound clip/review please, if you can.

[Ozzy Biz]

So when do you get it? Do post sound clip/review please, if you can.

Before Christmas hopefully. I'll see what I can do for sound, and you'll most certainly get a review and lots of pics. Can't wait to set it up with the Bosphorus'.

[katman]

Well done. Sounds like you're getting one hell of a drum. If I had to choose between the drums you posted, I'd go for the first one (the one on your avatar). I think that's a real work of art. Not that the others suck in any way - these guys clearly know how to slap a drum together. Good luck on the wait.

[Gilded]

I don't know what kind of music you play but if I were to choose one I'd go for 13x7 without wood hoops and change the finish, but that is my personal opinion and it's probably way off what your thinking about getting.

Maybe the one in your avatar is the way to go (for you) because I'm guessing you play jazz or fusion or something along the lines of that. Wood hoops be cool.

[Ozzy Biz]

I don't know what kind of music you play but if I were to choose one I'd go for 13x7 without wood hoops and change the finish, but that is my personal opinion and it's probably way off what your thinking about getting.

Maybe the one in your avatar is the way to go (for you) because I'm guessing you play jazz or fusion or something along the lines of that. Wood hoops be cool.

I play rock, funk, blues, folk......

The 14" is going to be more versatile and have more body, while the 13" has a higher pitch (duh) and more 'pop' to its sound. Whats wrong with the finish?

[Gilded]

I play rock, funk, blues, folk......

The 14" is going to be more versatile and have more body, while the 13" has a higher pitch (duh) and more 'pop' to its sound. Whats wrong with the finish?

hmm..then that kinda changes my mind to recommend the 13", maybe seem a bit tighter. And with the finish, if you have the wood hoops yeah the wood finish will look sweet, but if you get metal rim it will look to dull and dodgey so I'd say a dark laquer finish would suit better. But thats my taste, it's honestly up to you.

[Ozzy Biz]

hmm..then that kinda changes my mind to recommend the 13", maybe seem a bit tighter. And with the finish, if you have the wood hoops yeah the wood finish will look sweet, but if you get metal rim it will look to dull and dodgey so I'd say a dark laquer finish would suit better. But thats my taste, it's honestly up to you.

I'm not going to throw a stain over this timber! I'm getting a gloss finish over the natural Jarrah and with standard triple flange hoops. The wood hoops I'll probably order later when I have some more cash.

[Gilded]

I'm not going to throw a stain over this timber! I'm getting a gloss finish over the natural Jarrah and with standard triple flange hoops. The wood hoops I'll probably order later when I have some more cash.

Not completely stain over the wood but darken(if thats possible), or darker wood. And I dunno what kind of kit u have or what kinda finish it is so what can I really suggest that gives a strong opinion.

[Ozzy Biz]

Not completely stain over the wood but darken(if thats possible), or darker wood. And I dunno what kind of kit u have or what kinda finish it is so what can I really suggest that gives a strong opinion.

I think its great just how it is.... just mine will have a silver Trick throw off bolted to the side!

[drozzy]

Good choice on Metro Drums, i've heard good things about them!

Too bad I have little money and big dreams!