StaggerLee
Silver Member
So just read this over at the pearl drummers forum, thoughts?
PYRRHO
There is no such thing as 'tonewood'. Wood is chosen based on availability, cost, workability, and finish properties. Only after the shell has been designed, the target demographic identified, and projected returns analyzed... is there any consideration given to the perceived sound of a drum... and that is the role of marketing...not engineering.
While wood does matter a little...say very dense bubinga vs very porous luan...it's about the hardness, density, thickness, and rigidity of the shell... not the specific species of wood used. Thickness, glue, and ply layup has a far greater influence on tone than the specific wood used. There is no such thing as the "warmth of maple" or the "projection of birch"... utter drivel. The variety and quality of maple and birch used in drum making is such that the specific hardness, density, and porosity of the varieties overlap considerably.
PYRRHO
There is no such thing as 'tonewood'. Wood is chosen based on availability, cost, workability, and finish properties. Only after the shell has been designed, the target demographic identified, and projected returns analyzed... is there any consideration given to the perceived sound of a drum... and that is the role of marketing...not engineering.
While wood does matter a little...say very dense bubinga vs very porous luan...it's about the hardness, density, thickness, and rigidity of the shell... not the specific species of wood used. Thickness, glue, and ply layup has a far greater influence on tone than the specific wood used. There is no such thing as the "warmth of maple" or the "projection of birch"... utter drivel. The variety and quality of maple and birch used in drum making is such that the specific hardness, density, and porosity of the varieties overlap considerably.