jeffreylamoureux
Member
Hi,
I'm an economist by trade, so I'm naturally interested in the supply chains behind the drums we buy.
Making shells is seemingly difficult and takes a lot of upfront investment, so not all that many companies do it. Keller seemingly makes a huge percent of US-made drum shells, for Gretsch and nearly all of the smaller drum brands. (DW, Craviotto, C&C, Noble & Cooley are the big exceptions I'm aware of.)
But most of the big US and Japanese drum brands also produce lines of less-expensive drums, mostly seemingly in Taiwan (and maybe some in mainland China?).
What I'm unclear on is whether or not these brands - Gretsch, DW, Tama, Yamaha, etc. - are setting up their own factories and making everything themselves there, or are there a few firms that specialize in making shells/assembling drums that do it for them? As in, could it be that Mapex or someone else lesser known is producing shells for the Gretsch Renown and Catalina lines?
Does anyone have any info on this?
Thanks!
I'm an economist by trade, so I'm naturally interested in the supply chains behind the drums we buy.
Making shells is seemingly difficult and takes a lot of upfront investment, so not all that many companies do it. Keller seemingly makes a huge percent of US-made drum shells, for Gretsch and nearly all of the smaller drum brands. (DW, Craviotto, C&C, Noble & Cooley are the big exceptions I'm aware of.)
But most of the big US and Japanese drum brands also produce lines of less-expensive drums, mostly seemingly in Taiwan (and maybe some in mainland China?).
What I'm unclear on is whether or not these brands - Gretsch, DW, Tama, Yamaha, etc. - are setting up their own factories and making everything themselves there, or are there a few firms that specialize in making shells/assembling drums that do it for them? As in, could it be that Mapex or someone else lesser known is producing shells for the Gretsch Renown and Catalina lines?
Does anyone have any info on this?
Thanks!