AVA - Drum Builds
- Thread starter AVA
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AVA
Active Member
Bubinga shell with Bubinga re-rings
Stable-stave model.
Both the shell and the re-rings are stave construction with a perpendicular piece of flat maple glued in between.
Custom billet CNC’d AVA self aligning lugs anodized clear.
Trick 3 step throw off.
3/16 to 30 degree bearing edges.
Die-cast hoops
High build satin finish.
Stable-stave model.
Both the shell and the re-rings are stave construction with a perpendicular piece of flat maple glued in between.
Custom billet CNC’d AVA self aligning lugs anodized clear.
Trick 3 step throw off.
3/16 to 30 degree bearing edges.
Die-cast hoops
High build satin finish.
AVA
Active Member
Hi all. Just finished this set recently. Took a while for the 26" bass drum heads to arrive.
12x8, 13x9, 16x15, 18x17, 26x13 and a 14x8 snare drum.
Hickory is quite difficult to work with, tools need to be super sharp.
You can possibly see the skin seat area where the faceted shape becomes a round?
That in particular can get blown out..
The finish is a high build with a satin finish.
Silly amount of work trying to retain the faceted shapes and fill all that grain..
All shell thicknesses are relative to their diameter, from 8mm up to 12.
Below you can really see the thin piece of perpendicular maple sandwiched between the stave shell and the stave re-ring.
This is the stable-stave model. All the bearing edges are done with this profile on my kit builds
Custom made tooling profiles made to my spec, no off the shelf cutters used.
This bearing edge makes the drum super easy to tune.
It takes what people regard as the "sweet spot" and magnifies it to include all the other areas too...!
Every drum sounds incredible without any fuss.
Thanks
Craig
Bunch more pics on my website...
avadrums.com
12x8, 13x9, 16x15, 18x17, 26x13 and a 14x8 snare drum.
Hickory is quite difficult to work with, tools need to be super sharp.
You can possibly see the skin seat area where the faceted shape becomes a round?
That in particular can get blown out..
The finish is a high build with a satin finish.
Silly amount of work trying to retain the faceted shapes and fill all that grain..
All shell thicknesses are relative to their diameter, from 8mm up to 12.
Below you can really see the thin piece of perpendicular maple sandwiched between the stave shell and the stave re-ring.
This is the stable-stave model. All the bearing edges are done with this profile on my kit builds
Custom made tooling profiles made to my spec, no off the shelf cutters used.
This bearing edge makes the drum super easy to tune.
It takes what people regard as the "sweet spot" and magnifies it to include all the other areas too...!
Every drum sounds incredible without any fuss.
Thanks
Craig
Bunch more pics on my website...
AVA DRUMS HICKORY KIT- 26″ BD – AVA Drums
avadrums.com
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davezedlee
Senior Member
Really is a stunning bit of work there, AVA
Have/do you make a lot of kits?
Have/do you make a lot of kits?
AVA
Active Member
Last edited:
AVA
Active Member
Fresh out of my basement is this beast.
14x8 Walnut / Sycamore
Slim-stave model
5mm thick tongue and grooved shell.
White oak re-rings with perpendicular Maple center piece.
Horizontal flat maple running the circumference of the shell between the re-rings and the outer shell.
This complex drum has a complex sound.!
Has the dexterity and sensitivity of a thin shell but also the throw and projection of a thicker shell.
I don't build normal drums.
This finish is as high a sheen I can get before I'm into high gloss.
I think this will be standard issue going forward.
Means the shape can be easily seen but I don't have the polishing procedure to endure.
14x8 Walnut / Sycamore
Slim-stave model
5mm thick tongue and grooved shell.
White oak re-rings with perpendicular Maple center piece.
Horizontal flat maple running the circumference of the shell between the re-rings and the outer shell.
This complex drum has a complex sound.!
Has the dexterity and sensitivity of a thin shell but also the throw and projection of a thicker shell.
I don't build normal drums.
This finish is as high a sheen I can get before I'm into high gloss.
I think this will be standard issue going forward.
Means the shape can be easily seen but I don't have the polishing procedure to endure.
Last edited:
AVA
Active Member
14 x 6.5 Yellowheart and Tigerwood SLIM-STAVE 5mm thick shell with tongue and grooved joints.
3 piece re-rings- Maple outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.
Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.
This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .
High build 50% gloss finish.
Custom CNC'd AVA lugs with self aligning stainless steel inserts.
This Is snare number 200 so I wanted to fit AVA lugs, I don't normally use single ended lugs on the slim-stave model due to tension distribution. So I made some stainless steel inner support plates to deflect any unwanted stress away from the thin shell.
I don't build normal drums!
3 piece re-rings- Maple outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.
Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.
This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .
High build 50% gloss finish.
Custom CNC'd AVA lugs with self aligning stainless steel inserts.
This Is snare number 200 so I wanted to fit AVA lugs, I don't normally use single ended lugs on the slim-stave model due to tension distribution. So I made some stainless steel inner support plates to deflect any unwanted stress away from the thin shell.
I don't build normal drums!
green glass drum
Well-known Member
Nice. Great work.
Can you explain the 2 vent holes side by side.
The only time I would do that..... is when I drilled the butte plate on the wrong side.
Oh...I better fill those holes with vent grommets.
The lug design and machining is fantastic.
Can you explain the 2 vent holes side by side.
The only time I would do that..... is when I drilled the butte plate on the wrong side.
Oh...I better fill those holes with vent grommets.
The lug design and machining is fantastic.
AVA
Active Member
Haha Ive seen that done! Ive even seen someone drill for tube lugs that were too long that didn't allow for the head to tension proper and then said the outer holes were vents. I'd just scrap it lol...
I put 2 vents on every (30 stave) snare as there are 2 flat sections between the lugs.
The first few I ever built only had one vent. It looked kinda lopsided so 2 it is..!
You'll see my shells are faceted in shape. this throws many a curveball to fitting hardware.
Me and a friend wanted to design a self aligning lug to avoid rod splay, this is it..
Its basically NASA level machining/engineering. I won't tell ya what they cost to have made.. haha
You'll kinda see how they work on my website if ya wanna check it out.
About – AVA Drums
avadrums.com
AVA
Active Member
Peruvian Walnut SLIM-STAVE 5mm thick shell.
3 piece re-rings- White oak outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.
Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.
This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .
High build 50% gloss finish.
3 step Trick throw
This drum has an Aquarian New Orleans Special drum head fitted.
I thought I’d try one as its got a clear outer edge so you can see the re-rings from above.
Sounds pretty neat too!
I don’t build normal drums!
3 piece re-rings- White oak outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.
Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.
This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .
High build 50% gloss finish.
3 step Trick throw
This drum has an Aquarian New Orleans Special drum head fitted.
I thought I’d try one as its got a clear outer edge so you can see the re-rings from above.
Sounds pretty neat too!
I don’t build normal drums!
AVA
Active Member
Hey. Got this one done.
This is part of a set. The set is also the same super-stave construction through out. It's a stunner. I used rustic grade walnut so there is loads of nice contrast within the staves.
This is part of a set. The set is also the same super-stave construction through out. It's a stunner. I used rustic grade walnut so there is loads of nice contrast within the staves.
Attachments
AVA
Active Member
Finished this recently
It was a custom order that sadly the customer backed out of.
But that's life and it's heading to a shop in Vancouver now.
I ordered rustic grade walnut to make this. Has way more knots etc vs the prime I buy for making railing etc. I cut the nasty knots away but what's close to knots? The good stuff!! Nice swirls and loads of character. The tight knots I filled with epoxy so it's super smooth and flat.
This kit it is super-stave construction.
3 piece tongue and groove staves with perpendicular Maple inner core.
The bass drum has a kinda combo of super-stave and stable-stave. It has stave re-rings with a flat piece of horizontal maple glued between the rings and shell around the circumference.
Full round over bearing edges.
High build satin finish
It was a custom order that sadly the customer backed out of.
But that's life and it's heading to a shop in Vancouver now.
I ordered rustic grade walnut to make this. Has way more knots etc vs the prime I buy for making railing etc. I cut the nasty knots away but what's close to knots? The good stuff!! Nice swirls and loads of character. The tight knots I filled with epoxy so it's super smooth and flat.
This kit it is super-stave construction.
3 piece tongue and groove staves with perpendicular Maple inner core.
The bass drum has a kinda combo of super-stave and stable-stave. It has stave re-rings with a flat piece of horizontal maple glued between the rings and shell around the circumference.
Full round over bearing edges.
High build satin finish
Larry
"Uncle Larry"
Hi Craig,
I have a question that I've never got any definitive answer to, so I'll ask you
If you wanted to make the most toneful drum...Would you select an ultra straight grained piece of wood? Or a highly figured piece of wood? Or does it matter?
I'm trying to determine if high figuring is better, neutral or worse than ultra straight grained wood as far as rich tone goes.
My brain says straight grain, but my eye hopes figured wood is superior.
Does it matter?
Also...would you entertain a horizontal segmented construction?
Thanks,
Larry
I have a question that I've never got any definitive answer to, so I'll ask you
If you wanted to make the most toneful drum...Would you select an ultra straight grained piece of wood? Or a highly figured piece of wood? Or does it matter?
I'm trying to determine if high figuring is better, neutral or worse than ultra straight grained wood as far as rich tone goes.
My brain says straight grain, but my eye hopes figured wood is superior.
Does it matter?
Also...would you entertain a horizontal segmented construction?
Thanks,
Larry
AVA
Active Member
I find figured wood is way more dense than a straight grained piece of the same species. I just built a white oak snare from a real nice figured piece I found. That drum turned out very beautiful but it was crazy heavy compared to other white oaks I've built. It also had a quite a ping to its sound, i find this with all the super hard exotic woods I use.
If you wanted a rich sound I'd build a slim-stave model out of cherry. Being a softer wood it's got more focus on the lower end, coupled with my 5mm shell design it's a game changer. The rerings on this design give it stability and projection.
Hard to really answer your question.
Figured wood adds a massive helping to the aesthetics and if you really like how it looks does that make you wanna play it even more.? If so that's a good thing, right?!
Imo a well made drum from any wood will have its merits.
My whole method is based around a tongue and grooved construction so a horizontal segmented construction doesn't really fit. But sure I could make a few jigs and do it but the way I approach it is different enough for me to gain a little notoriety.
Whoa whoa whoa..im serious here..what..are..YOU..doing that everyone should follow. Do you have any idea who I am?.. 
. I'm the just TRY and impress me guy which doesn't happen. I've gone over your snaredrums again and I've been super impressed with the Sonor 5x13 tieno? 27 ply drum big time but go back over your drums and am putting my Sonor breaks on. I've not heard snaredrums like yours in decades. I'll be back. WOW!.
. I'm the just TRY and impress me guy which doesn't happen. I've gone over your snaredrums again and I've been super impressed with the Sonor 5x13 tieno? 27 ply drum big time but go back over your drums and am putting my Sonor breaks on. I've not heard snaredrums like yours in decades. I'll be back. WOW!.