Wood Drum
Wood Drum
What Types of Wood Make the Best Drums?
Many different types of wood are used to make drums and experts generally agree that they type of wood used can make a significant difference in the sound generated. Opinions differ on precisely what woods create the best sounds, but there are general standards that most professional drummers and drum experts agree on. Not surprisingly, these general conclusions also significantly impact the price of the drums, with drums made of more desirable woods being more expensive.
On the high end, most drummers tend to agree that the best sounds come from Birch, Maple, or Mahogany. Birch is preferred by recording studios because it has a sharper, brighter sound than is found with many other woods. Maple is by far the most popular wood for making high quality drums and has a well balanced sound that drummers commonly prefer. Mahogany also generates a well balanced sound, but is said to have a more traditional, or “vintage” feel than Maple. Oak is also included with the higher end woods although it sounds similar to Maple.
On the less expensive side, there are a number of woods that are seen as comparable with the high end ones, including Basswood, Falkata, Lauan, and Poplar. Basswood is fairly common and is frequently used as a low cost substitute for Maple or Birch. Falkata is usually considered an excellent substitute for Maple, sharing the same sound characteristics, but at a lower price. Lauan, also known as “Select Hardwood”, is usually considered a suitable substitute for Birch. Poplar can substitute for Birch or Mahogany, but is much less expensive.
Although only professionals can really tell the difference in sounds coming from different woods, the wood used has a direct bearing on the drum’s initial price and resale value. If you can not really tell the difference in sounds, you should probably use one of the less expensive substitute woods, although this will also undermine the resale value of your drums. Buying top of the line drums with high quality wood is really overkill for most hobbyists and non-professionals.
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Which is the best sounding and most durable type of wood used in drum shells today?
well the three most common shell woods are:
maple
mahogany
Birch.
the best sounding is all personal opinion.
Maple is most commonly used among the three, and tends to have a warm sound with some attack.
Mahogany is very warm and tends to be used among jazz musicians.
Birch has a lot of attack with a very bright sound.
in terms of durability, they are all softer woods and probably pretty equal in durability.
there are other options out there but these are the most common among drum manufacturing.
Wood Drum
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Wood kpanlogo drum, 'Nyamedua' (Ghana) $279.95 Richly-veined tweneboa wood showcases Ghanaian symbols, carved by hand. The merging symbols nyame dua signify worship and veneration. Hewn from a solid block of wood, this exquisite drum is as beautiful as it is sonorous. The kpanlogo drum is a revered element in the music and culture of the Ga tribe in Ghana's Greater Accra region, marking the rhythm for the traditional kpanlogo dance. However, its characteristic deep, loud sound makes it a popular instrument throughout West Africa. Samuel Coleman crafts and carves the drum by hand, affixing its calfskin drum head to wooden pegs with stout ropes and finishing it with brown and mansion polish. Exalting African rhythms, this exquisite drum makes a delightful addition to any collection. |
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Wood djembe drum, 'Abokobi' (Ghana) $134.95 A town in Ghana's greater Accra area gives its name to this handsome djembe. The drum is a favorite among the Ga community. Eric Darko sculpts the drum from tweneboa wood, depicting geometric motifs on the base. The goatskin head is affixed by nylon cords, and a macram� strap can be slung over the shoulder. |
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Wood sculpture, 'Drum Song' (Thailand) $142.95 Handsome and graceful, a young musician plays his drum. Dressed in golden clothing, the serene being is radiant. Ning Charoensri gilds the rain tree wood sculpture and adorns it with colorful glass inlay. |
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Wood ashiko drum, 'In The Wilderness' (Ghana) $179.95 Colorful geometric motifs ring this ashiko drum by Samuel Coleman. Crafted by hand from tweneboa wood, the drum actually belongs to the djembe family and is tuned in the same way. Its goatskin head is firmly attached with cotton-covered iron rings and nylon rope in an attractive interwoven pattern. The body of the drum is finished with oil paints and mansion polish. It can be slung over the shoulder with a hand-woven kente cloth cord and carried to the next jam session. |
Drum Tips - Dealing with Bass Drum "Creep"
Bass drum creep does NOT refer to the scary guy with the bass drum, it's the term used to describe the frustrating situation when your kick drum starts sliding further and further away from you with each stroke of your bass drum pedal.
Setting up your kit on a good thick rug or a carpet that the spikes at the end of your bass drum legs can sink their teeth into will generally help keep bass drum creep at bay. (If your bass drum legs don't have spikes, replace them with ones that do. Any decent drum shop will carry replacement bass drum legs at a reasonable price.)
Make sure your carpet is large enough to fit your whole kit, including your throne. The weight of your body on the throne will help keep the bass drum from sliding away with the whole carpet.
Adjust the bass drum legs so that the front of the drum is an inch or two off the ground and the drum is resting at a slight angle. This shifts more of the drums weight onto the legs themselves and helps the spikes dig in more effectively, which should put an end to most bass drum creep problems.
Sometimes, especially for those of us kicking the drum pretty hard in loud situations, setting up on a carpet is just not enough!
Here is an additional little trick that will END bass drum creep problems.
Take a three foot long 2"x4" piece of wood. I have some nice fabric glued around it to make it look pretty, provide some protection to the drums, and prevent splinters. Now mark your carpet where you want the front of your bass drum to sit. Drill three quarter inch diameter holes through the wood – one hole in the middle and one near each end.
Using some nice, big, 2 inch washers and 1/4 inch thick bolts – actually bolt the wood to your carpet at the front edge of your bass drum. Make sure to put the flattest part of the bolt on the under side of the carpet so that your carpet still lays pretty flat. I also like to put a layer or two of gaffer's tape over the end of the bolt so that it does not scratch up any nice wooden floors that happen to be underneath the carpet.
Now when you set up just slide the front of the bass drum right up against the piece of wood you have bolted to the carpet, and it will not slide any further!
It works best if you get the wood wide enough that the legs themselves actually bump up against the wood block although it will work fine with the rim of the drum against the wood block - just be sure to cover the wood with foam or thick fabric to prevent the wood from damaging the rim and lugs of your drum!
Let me know how well it works for you.
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Wood Drum