Ok, time for some clarification here;
First off, I notice we're not included in this list. As the world's only maker of steam bent, stave, & segmented drums in all sizes. that's a shame. An additional niggle is that, despite our omission, the article includes those who don't even make their own shells, & in one case, a company that has bought their shells from us, but here is described as making those same shells themselves. Now that really is annoying, and one reason why we no longer supply solid shells to assemblers.
Ok, that out of he way, DW have certainly brought something new in terms of manufacturing processes to the snare drum market. The super solid shell making process involves super high pressure steam injection and massive forces to break down the timber's natural structure. This allows the wood to be bent with ease, and as the wood's original structure has been broken down, it doesn't try to spring back to it's original shape. This has big finished strength & production cost benefits.
What you end up with is a dense version of the original timber in the form of a very stable shell. This gives (as Brundlefly confirms), a very focussed sound with great sensitivity. Actually, pretty much identical to a hardwood species segmented shell, & a world away from a thinner steam bent shell. Although I very much prefer shells made from unmolested timber, the DW offering is a very valid shell construction choice that brings a controlled sound & structural stability to the market.
So, has John brought something new to the drum market? Short answer = yes. Is it a different & valid addition to the market = yes. Is it a "better" version of traditional steam bent shells already out there = no. Sonically it's closer to segmented than steam bent. The biggest benefits brought by using this construction method are significantly reduced production cost, & improved stability/reliability/repeatability, and that makes the drum more affordable. It's also got a distinctive voice that adds to the mix of drum voices available out there, & that's a good consumer choice thing too. I say good on John for thinking outside of the box & bringing a process into the drum building industry from an unrelated industry. That's innovation right there, & he should be applauded for it. John's also careful not to ride roughshot over traditional constructions in his presentation, and acknowledges the quality that is out there. On balance I'd say, a job well done John.
