Custom Snare by Raven

6x14 maple shell with curly maple and walnut veneer. Hoops by Pacific and all brass hardware. This beauty was custom built for me by Dan von Gartzen of Raven Custom Drums in Oviedo, Florida. Dan's work is first rate and his prices are more than reasonable. He has an outstanding reputation for his veneer work and his approach to doing bearing edges.

Original configuration:

Now

David & Goliath

Thought I'd set up my little bop kit next to my DW big band style kit to contrast them.

DW Buddy Rich Kit (14x24, 9x13, 16x16 w/5.5x14 solid snare). 24" K Constantinople Light Ride & 14" A. Zildjian & Cie "Vintage" hats:


Tama Stagestar FX bop kit (14x18, 8x12, 12x14 + Gretsch 5x14 snare drum). 8x10 tom that came with the kit is never used. 20" K Custom Session Ride with 3-rivet cluster & 14" K Custom Session hats:


A few side-by-side shots:

And cymbals too!

By Family. Note, while I don't use crash or splash cymbals, I own some that go with the families.

A. Zildjian & Cie "Vintage" family
14" Hats
20" Ride
14" & 16" crashes

Zildjian K and K Custom Dry/Special Dry
14" Special Dry Hats
20" Dry Ride with 3-rivet cluster
21" Special Dry Ride
14" Special Dry Crash

Zildjian K Custom Session
14" Hats
18" Ride
20" Ride with 3-rivet cluster
16" Crash

Zildjian Armand
14" Hats
19" Beautiful Baby Ride
21" Ride
16" Crash

Dream Bliss Type III
14" Hats
22" Crash/Ride
18" Crash/Ride

Loose Ends
Zildjian 24" K Constantinople Light Ride
Zildjian 24" Avedis Special Orchestral Ride
Zildjian 22" Avedis Ride circa early 1960s
Zildjian 20" A. Zildjian & Cie "Constantinople" Ride with single rivet
Zildjian 20" Avedis Mini Cup Ride
Zildjian 18" Sizzle with 6 rivet pattern
Zildjian 18" Crash/Ride circa early 1950s
Unknown 18" Crash/Ride
Zildjian 10" Avedis Splash
Wuhan 12" Splash

---

Evolution of my new kit

1/25/08 While this blog is mainly about snare drums, I'll be chronicling my new kit, which is being built by Tim McKenzie of McKenzie Drums. The foundation of the kit will be a set of Keller Vintage Mahogany shells that I've ordered from Precision Drum Company (14x20, 8x12 & 14x14, plus maple bass drum hoops), with the snare drum based on a 5.5x14 steambent mahogany shell by the wizards at Vaughncraft Persussion. The finishing touch for the foundation will be shaped hoops from Stellar Drum. Jody there does amazing work. I have pre-ordered a set of maple shaped hoops for the snare drum and toms.

On the hardware side I originally wanted a rail mount on the bass drum, but, frankly, the modern rails by DW and Gibraltar don't meet my needs. First, both are [in my opinion] over-engineered and ugly. Second, neither of them seem to hold a tom in place any better than the W&A rails from back in the day, and finally, if I were to go with one it would be the DW which is pretty elusive these days. I do have a spare Gibraltar rail, but would have to devote an entire page to cite the reasons why I hate the thing. So - for now - I am going with a center post, single L-rod tom mount. It may not have that 'cool' vintage vibe, but it is a helluva lot more suited to my needs than any rail mount currently on the market.

Lugs will be beavertail style on all drums. Worldmax makes a nice replica and it is one of my favorite lug designs. I am also going to use the Worldmax Slingerland-style bass drum claws and T-handle rods.

I've ordered a Leedy three point strainer and Leedy extended butt for the snare drum, which will round out that Slingerland Radio King look for the entire kit (save for the centerpost bass drum mount, but one must make compromises.)

The finish will be a natural oil on the drums. Since all of the shells are mahogany the kit will have that mahogany red look, which I love. The wood hoops are going to be a natural finish, which will impart a nice contrast to the mahogany shells since all of the hoops are maple.

As I write this I am planning to use Remo Fiberskyn Diplomats top and bottom, front and back on all of the drums, except for the snare where the bottom head will be a clear Diplomat.

As the saga unfolds I will add updates (and photos when possible.) Stay tuned.

UPDATE: