I made a single tension kit from scratch!

[Mr. Compactness]

I've been working on this since March. It started out as refinishing a kit I had but that didn't work out so I started over.

Nordic Mahogany/Poplar shells
Stellar Maple Hoops
12x22, 8x14, 16x16

I had no clue what I was doing as this is the first kit (or drum really) I've ever made and started over more than I care to think about lol

I made the wood grommets with a drill press and power drill. I've never made anything from scratch with wood so that was an interesting process.

I used Gibraltar swivel nuts for the tension rod receivers. On the bass drum they're pressed into the rod guide on the claw. The only single tension tension rods long enough for the floor tom & bass drum are vintage t-rods. The bass drum rods are WFL rods I had, but I didn't want to use t-rods on the floor tom. So I had the idea of cutting and threading two tension rods and joining them with M5 coupling nuts. I used red loctite to keep them from backing out.

I used Canopus bolt tight washers and heat shrink to try and stop any rattling that these kinds of kits are known for.

The bass drum head is one my dad painted for me years ago. The floor tom brackets & legs are from INDe and the bass drum spurs are DW clamp-on.

This has taken over my life for 6 months (yay ADD!) and I never thought I'd get it done. Now that it's done it'll be a long time before I ever do a kit again, if ever lol

 

[roncadillac]

Wow, great job! I bet the sound is very warm. Nice kit.

 

[harryconway]

Wow. Stunning looking kit.

 

[caddywumpus]

Looks great! Got any videos of playing it yet?

 

[Mr. Compactness]

Looks great! Got any videos of playing it yet?

No that probably won't be for a while. I have to do other things around here I've been neglecting lol

 

[toddbishop]

That's great, beautiful instrument there.

 

[end Goat]

Very, very cool! I just played a an improvised music festival and Philly-based drummer Tracy Lisk was there with her single tension kit - had a hard time taking my eyes off it! Here's a pic:



Hers has serious vintage import but yours is positively gorgeous and it's new!!! Inspiring stuff, thanks for sharing!

 

[Drumolator]

It looks great! May it give you years of musical joy. Peace and goodwill.

 

[Bozozoid]

You had no clue what you were doing??? If you say so I believe you but from this side of the kit it looks like something you purchased from Steve Maxwell. Get a new phone number because you'll get calls day and night for custom snaredrums. You've got some talent drummer!.

 

[BobC]

Naturally rustic. They look great, and have that organic, vintage Levon Helm vibe that remind me of old marching drums.

 

[GetAgrippa]

That's a beautiful work of love- I like your ingenuity. So how would you describe the single tension in achieving a good drum sound-tunings more difficult or easier?