Custom Steel Snares

[jamesmellon]

Hi All,

I've been talking with a buddy of mine who's a sheet metal worker and he reckons that he could turn me a 3mil thick stainless steel shell without too much difficulty. My initial idea was to get a 14X3.5 shell made as a sort of hybrid between the old Gretsch Max Roach model and a 90s Kepplinger 2 (the depth of the former for punch/focus and the shell material of the latter for volume/attack/tuning range/general awesomeness). I've never built a drum before but would I be right in assuming that the 3.5" depth would help keep the fundamental tone of the Keppy while minimizing the ring/high frequency overtones? Also, what sort of lugs would you guys suggest putting on such a beast (Aesthetically I'm leaning towards tubes but I'm open to suggestion)? Are die-cast hoops on a piccolo going to kill the resonance too much? Does any of this sound crazy to you? I've always thought of Drummerworld as a beacon of sense in a vast sea of confusion so any response is definitely welcome.

Happy playing,

James

[Evilbagua]

Is he going to cut bearing edges and snare beds too? I know a local drummer who fabricated a 14x8 steel shell 3-4mm (can't remember). He hand grinded the edges/beds and they didn't turn out that good. Are you getting this shell for free or really cheap? Unless it was done well I wouldn't bother. Steel snares are really cheap I've seen the tama 3mm steel lars ulrich for like 200ish on GC used. New die cast Hoops/lugs/wires/heads are going to add up.

I have a custom brass 14x3-2/3 and it's a nice little drum a "power piccollo". It has triple flanged hoops, but I have put a die cast as a batter before. It's not as high pitched or tinny sounding as a lot of normal piccolo 13x3s I have played. Also it's about as small a drum that i'd run as a main snare. If it was steel, and 3mm thick i'd opt for die cast hoops and a 2ply batter.