Here are the other pics to the Premier 2000 shell I applied the Wrap myself, I have access to a wrap press. the vent holes are from the removed flowbeam.

There are various qualifications for what constitutes a manufacturer, builder, etc. I think we all have different ideas. For just about every major company, there is still a certain amount of outsourcing, I think perhaps someone like Taye may be in the severe minority of companies who actually make their shells, hoops, lugs, heads, sticks, stands, etc. Of course they do all that by way of being an oem source for several other companies and independents.

For me, if a company makes their own wood shell, that's a huge plus. In the US, that means Ludwig, DW, Craviotto, and C&C (using his own Gladstone shells.) Vaughncraft and Cooperman do shells, but they oem for others.

So yeah, that means Gretsch, Spaun, Pork Pie, GMS et al are at another level in my book. Doesn't mean they make bad drums, it just means they're not a manufacturer in the way the above companies are.

But there are also the "Keller shellers" who literally source already prepped shells from either Keller, or prepped/wrapped Keller shells from Precision (et al,) slap WorldMax lugs, hoops and mounts on it, and call themselves a drum company. Again, it doesn't mean they make bad drums, although some are certainly better than others for different reasons. But assembling druims like that puts them much further down the list from a real manufacturer.

But there are a lot of blurred lines. I have a much simpler way to differentiate companies. Having their own hardware/lugs also shows an extra commitment to the product, and the brand. Companies/builders/whatever that do that are already in a higher class for me.

Bermuda

I would say a real drum builder does just that and makes their own shells and hardware. Anything else is custom assembly, restoration or repair.

Bermuda, your definition and mine are the very same, especially having Ludwig not that far from my house I hold them in very high regard, also being a total Ludwig guy, I think what I was more heading at are all the Boutique Builders that call themselves Builders when in alot of respects they are just assemblers not actually building their own shells especially or even doing most of the actual shell work?

For me, a real drum builder designs builds and fabricates every single nut and bolt on their drums -everything.

Scott Carothers was a drum builder when he had Joyous Lake. But he was an artisan and wasn't cut out to do the business-business. Other than that, Olaf Handshuh is the only other guy who really stepped up to the challenge and met the criteria for being called a drum builder, imo.

And Spizziccino was a drum builder, too! R.I.P.

Mapex makes it all. They would be builders. HUGE freekin' facility.

True, but like Taye, KHS - Mapex' parent - is an oem manufacturer. I don't know of anyone in the US who does everything for themselves.

Bermuda

Vintagemore,

Wow! Nice work on that "Ludwig" snare!

Like you I remain a vintage drum lover. I have dabbled though in a few custom builds and I hope to "assemble" as the definition is in process of fleshing out here, a full kit someday.

Two years ago, I found some Vaughncraft solid wood steam bent shells locally. Vaughncraft makes some excellent shells! One is Redheart, the other Cocobolo and the other is Maple. The pictured snare is a one-ply Redheart (tropical) steam bent, Vaughncraft shell with Maple re-rings. I hand-cut the bearing edges with my router to 45 degrees and the snare beds I hand chiseled. The shell holes were drilled by myself as well. The finish is oiled rubbed. I used a Ludwig "Classic" strainer butt plate, tube lugs and die-cast hoops. The snare sounds and plays up to expectations...

The unfinished shell is a 6.5" solid shell, steam bent Cocobolo (Zebrawood) by Vaughncraft, totally uncut just awaiting the router, chisel and drill...I may not be a true drum builder but its fun putting one of these together.

I had a lot of fun crafting the wood and assembling everything after. I was nervous with each cut on this $300 shell! I gigged this snare a few times but mostly it sits in my IKEA display case because its so pretty Clapping Happy2

-kellyj

Very nice looking for sure, I was able to play one of Arnie Langs Cocobolo Gladstone drums he had just introduced them. He was at the Atlanta vintage drums show the man is just the cats meow. I wished I would have bought one back then this was in 2000