Every Eames drum I've ever seen has been absolutely gorgeous and every one I'd ever messed around with sounded and felt great.

In fact, a co worker has an Eames snare I've been begging him to bring in for a show and tell.

If he does, I'll grab some photos.

Also, if it's any indication of the company's level of customer service, Joe MacSweeney could very well be one of the nicest people I've ever met...in or out of "Drum World"

Kev, top notch shell !

Back in my Nashville days (mid-'80's), I had an 8" deep 12-ply Eames snare in the stash. We used to call it "The Love Snare" because it worked so well for ballads. It was also one of the few that I had that sounded great in every studio I worked at. Wonderful drum.

I also echo Richie's sentiments about Joe McSweeney.

I saw Buddy the last time he came through Columbus, Oh. It was the first and last time I got to hear BR's Radio Kings in the flesh. I've owned quite a few sets of those and heard many more and I'm here to tell ya, that kit of his was magic.

I'd heard that Joe McSweeney at Eames had refurbed that kit to get it ready for Buddy to use. I also thought to myself, "Guy runs a drum company. A busy man. I'll just stick my nose in for a 30-second call to thank him and tell him what a magnificent set he'd put together for Buddy."

Do you know, we talked for half an hour? It was an amazing conversation. I heard so much Buddy trivia for one thing, and he went into detail about what he had to do to put together that kit and later maintenance. He kept asking, "I'm not hanging you up, am I?" Are you kiddin'? For him to spend so much time on the phone with somebody he'd never even met?...I can't say enough good stuff about Joe McSweeney

As you can see by my username I am a fan.

Joe uses a lot of the equipment that came from the George Stone Drum Company to handcraft his shells.

+ 1 on the previous posts about Joe and his products.

I have attempted to post a pic of my kit, 9 ply 8" 10" 12 tt14 ft,12 ply 16" FT 22 "" with a 15 ply 6.75 x14 snare.

Joe is a class act,and a very honest man IMO.Very easy to work with and cares about what the customer wants.

My kit has terrific rich tone,very musical,and the small toms sound huge,esp in the high tuning ranges.

I noticed some of your 9 ply drum shells appear to have re-rings. Does he install re-rings on birch Naturaltone 9ply ,3/8" thick shells? and on the Finetone 6ply, 1/4" shells?

My only experience is a 10 x 14 Snare at a drum shop I fill in at occasionally. I think it was a converted tom. Sounded absolutely killer.

Actually I bought these shells 10 years ago,they are all unobstructed shells,must be a trick of the lighting.

As far as I know Joe reintroduced the re ringed shells around three years ago,and I believe they are offered on the 6 ply shells,although since Joe makes his own shells he may put re rings in a thicker shell upon request.

I said reintroduced because when Joe bought the Company in 1977 he was making a 3 ply birch shell with a maple re ring,but then he could not source the maple anymore and went to a 100 per cent birch unobstucted shell.