Favourite Boutique Drum maker

RickP

Gold Member
What is your favourite current boutique drum maker these days. I know people's opinions change and let's limit it to one choice only.

My personal choice is Noble and Cooley and for the following reasons :
Family owned
Excellent quality
Superb sound
Superior Customer Service
Beautiful lacquer finishes
Great reputation
Solid shell snares
Brass hardware
Excellent lug design
Cool mounts are ingenious
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    125.1 KB · Views: 942
I've got two favorites, so I'll bow out of this round.
 
I don't now and never will own a boutique set so I have no favorite.,
 
I don't now and never will own a boutique set so I have no favorite.,

Doesn't mean you can't Favour one, I personally recommend the Shitstorm Fusion Elitist, comes from the factory pre tuned and pre rusted. Cool!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I haven't played, inspected, been around any, so I can't make any evaluation. If I had the money it would be spent on a top of the line major brand drum set.
 
I haven't played, inspected, been around any, so I can't make any evaluation. If I had the money it would be spent on a top of the line major brand drum set.

No need these are the best drums ever.
 
I have a favorite traditional (wood) shell small builder - Pork Pie. It's easy to say that he's big because they're in GC and have some drums mass-produced in Asia, but Bill's shop is small and he's fairly hands-on with everything (he's personally done some edges for me.)

But I also have a favorite small builder that's very niche, Jenkins-Martin, who manufactures faithful Blaemire fiberglass shells by hand. They have proprietary lugs and a bass drum claw, and finishing and edges are done by hand. And they sound great!

Bermuda
 
Well... I do like Keller shells. And I know how to finish shells or wrap them... but I would prefer to have the drilling left to someone who is proficient and has the proper tooling to accomplish the task.

Other than that... I guess I like good drum drillers.
 
AD Custom Drums.They look and sound absolutely gorgeous. When I get my retirement cheque I will be investing in at least a snare and possibly a full kit. One of the best things about AD?.... they are located about half a mile from my house so I can nip in and check on progress.
 
Well... I do like Keller shells. And I know how to finish shells or wrap them... but I would prefer to have the drilling left to someone who is proficient and has the proper tooling to accomplish the task.

Other than that... I guess I like good drum drillers.

If you use AMDrumparts.com, buy the shells and the hardware from them, they will drill the holes for free. They sell Keller shells.
 
I'm a fan of Metro Drums in Queensland, Australia.

Paul can make anything you want, but specialises in Australian hardwoods.
I have a Jarrah stave 13 x 6.5 which is beautifully made. He also makes his own ply shells from exotic woods.

https://www.facebook.com/metrodrums/
 

Attachments

  • Metro Snare shells.jpg
    Metro Snare shells.jpg
    235.9 KB · Views: 799
  • Metro Kit 2.jpg
    Metro Kit 2.jpg
    50.1 KB · Views: 805
  • Metro Kit.jpg
    Metro Kit.jpg
    90.1 KB · Views: 882
  • Metro Snare.jpg
    Metro Snare.jpg
    160.5 KB · Views: 839
Very Nice joe, joe...... And one reason I like ply, so that the grain can be seen the entire outside of the drum.
 
Always had a soft spot for Richmos by the late Alan Gilby. Got my degree on one which is still my baby to this day, the toms are beautiful on it.

My mate was endorsed and used to sell off the kits cheap. I have two, wish I'd have had one I played once which was just cool it was a 28/10/14 it was like a big band fusion kit if I had to describe it.
 
I've tried too few to know. I guess my Longo walnut is the only one I'm really familiar with, but having tried a few Craviottos and N&Cs I know they have stuff I want.

There will never be a favourite. They all do things differently and to my own personal taste I prefer different wood options from each.
 
I'm not even sure what's considered boutique.

Never played one, never even saw one in the flesh - ha ha.

I like the looks of some of the Craviotto stuff though, and the sound (from videos) of some of the Q drums - if those count.
 
I love Pork Pie as well. The set I have is from 1999, which is before the "Little Squealer" line came out. After them being played a few times a week for 17 years, they've got an amazing tone.

I've never played a Brady set, but I've always wanted to.
 
But I also have a favorite small builder that's very niche, Jenkins-Martin, who manufactures faithful Blaemire fiberglass shells by hand. They have proprietary lugs and a bass drum claw, and finishing and edges are done by hand. And they sound great!

Bermuda

I agree with Bermuda about the J-M drums..........but, I am a little biased. ;-)

Edit: See my link below.
 
Doesn't mean you can't Favour one, I personally recommend the Shitstorm Fusion Elitist, comes from the factory pre tuned and pre rusted. Cool!

I second that. Unless I pay more than $1000 per drum, how could they be any good? pfffft
 
Starting to hate the "boutique" designation. A rose by any other name? Custom is custom is custom! Calling a drum boutique and then delivering me a Keller shell that I spec'd does not warrant the moniker "boutique". By most definitions DW is a boutique company so deal with that. I guess that's my answer. DW is the best "boutique" drum maker.
 
Back
Top