I finally received my 12x8 Oriollo tom shell to start experimenting with the Page Drums free-floating cable-tensioned hardware. If all goes well, I'll order a 22x14, and 15x12-13 (haven't decided on depth yet). Here's an indoor, and outdoor pic of the bare shell... Not even a badge.
Oriollo/Page Frankenkit... The beginning
- Thread starter cutaway79
- Start date
Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
Cool! Could you message me when you have a video and some results? I’m afraid I’ll miss it because I don’t check this subforum much.
Sure... Not sure how good the sound on a video will turn out. All I have is my phone, and its tiny phone mic.
Here's the (very dusty) box of Page parts too...
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Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
I can tell a heck of a lot from just a phone video, especially smaller toms and snares. And I can trust your ears to tell me how the larger drums sound with this system.
The system worked great with the original maple shells. The sizes just weren't my cup of tea. My main concern with the Page system on these shells is the fact that the top and bottom bearing edges are different from each other. So I'm hoping both heads still tune up well together. Which is why I just ordered the one tom shell to start. If it works, these drums will be insanely lightweight.
Fingers crossed.
Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
If your results are good, I’d be curious to see how they work with a copper Oriollo kit, and a spun fiberglass kit. And a hollow log kit. Etc. lol
Totally. I have enough lugs for two 5-piece kits, or one huge kit (2 10-lug bass drums, 4 6-lug toms, 2 8-lug floor toms, 1 10-lug snare, and 1 8-lug snare). The first one is obviously going to be Oriollo aluminum. Still deciding what I want to do for the second one... Either fiberglass, stave (not sure what wood species), carbon fiber, solid wood (species?)... Yeah, so basically, I have no idea. The steel, and copper Oriollo shells will be in the running too, if the aluminum works out.
Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
I have a hollow log ash wood kit, and I’ve got a walnut hollow log kit on order from Antonio drums that I’d like to use this system with, if I can get the hardware. How hard would it be to get some more of the hardware?
I'm actually not sure. I bought my two kits from David Page, years after Page Drums was done. His partner took over and started Hudson Drums, which use a similar system, but it looks like the new lugs rest against the shell (though not attached), whereas the old lugs floated off the shell, so the only contact was between the heads and the bearing edges.
Good news is... A guy in the thread linked below was able to replicate the Page system using lugs from champagnedrum.com. You can get the cable, and connectors at the hardware store.
https://www.gearslutz.com/board/drums-/936955-anyone-ever-try-page-hudson-drums.html
Also, you may be able to get similar lugs made by these folks: https://www.allstardrum.com. They make nice custom stuff.
This is just a test, using some existing parts I had in my garage. I didn't even clean off the dust. The finished product will have a Gauger RIMS mount, and new heads, and will be clean.
I tested it against my Mapex Orion - both are 12x8, with worn-in clear Emperors over Ambassadors (smooth white for the Mapex, clear for the Oriollo) - and the Oriollo sounds just as good, but with a bit more "bite". I may experiment with porting the reso head just for gits and shiggles, since the Oriollo shell has no air vent. So far, I'm very pleased.
I tested it against my Mapex Orion - both are 12x8, with worn-in clear Emperors over Ambassadors (smooth white for the Mapex, clear for the Oriollo) - and the Oriollo sounds just as good, but with a bit more "bite". I may experiment with porting the reso head just for gits and shiggles, since the Oriollo shell has no air vent. So far, I'm very pleased.
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And here's a short comparison video, by request. The Oriollo seems to be making my garage door rattle and hum, U2 style. It's a phone camera, so the audio is kinda crap.
https://youtu.be/a07NMr0-elw
https://youtu.be/a07NMr0-elw
Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
Sounds pretty good, how about a higher tuning?
MrInsanePolack
Platinum Member
This is really cool, and quite esthetically pleasing. When tuning with the Page lugs, does tuning one head change the other since the lugs are all connected by the cable? Also, does the cable connect/terminate to itself or something else?
Yep, you can turn any tension rod, and both heads tension evenly all the way around. The cable runs through channels in the lugs, and isn't actually connected to the drum/lugs at all. The cable connects to itself at the ends (pictured).
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Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
Sounds good at all tunings to me. I’d like to hear how it does on the larger drums.
MrInsanePolack
Platinum Member
So free floating shell, simplified tuning, and it looks cool too. Why hasn't this caught on?
Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
People like tuning their heads to different pitches. And changing heads is harder. But combining this with aluminum shells will really make a kit ridiculously light.
MrInsanePolack
Platinum Member
Okay I can see that. For a hobbiest like myself, I would love it. I don't have to change heads too often, and it just looks so cool. I'm starting to get a bit envious actually.
Changing heads on these is actually easier, and takes way less time.