USA Custom Shop ddrums
The Revolution is evolving.
In continuing our nearly 30-year legacy for innovation and ground-breaking percussive vision, Ddrum’s newly-expanded acoustic drum line is on the rise. Utilizing the know-how of a small group of artisans with over four decades of drum crafting experience, our USA Custom Shop in Portland, OR. has redefined the meaning of the word Custom. These are not merely pre-cut shells put together in someone’s garage, or cookie-cutter kits passing through an assembly line. This is the ultimate percussion instrument; custom built to your specs by one craftsman, with an unlimited number of possible finishes, sizes, and hardware options.
Now, in cooperation with Keller Wood Products Inc., and the creative input of Dashboard Confessional drummer Mike Marsh, the Ddrum USA Custom shop is proud to unveil the next level in heirloom-quality drums. From a select cache of ultra-rare Kevazingo Bubinga logs felled in West Africa, one of the most eye-catching veneers to grace a set of drums has been created. The waterfall-pattern in the grain of this special wood has an almost three-dimensional appearance, and ads a dark body to the tone of our standard Maple shells.
The Art of True Craftsmanship
- First, the shells in each kit are hand selected to assure grain continuity across the set, and matched for tonal purity.
- Each drum is cut to size and our precision bearing edges are machined.
- The interior and exterior is then sanded by hand with 3 different grits of paper.
- Initial sanding of bearing edges.
- Custom made stain color is hand-rubbed into the exterior – a detailed process that is extremely labor intensive.
- As many as 6 base coats are then applied. Each base coat is allowed to cure for 24 hours.
- Base coats are block sanded by hand with 3 different grits of paper.
- Steps 6 and 7 are repeated if needed (depending on finish.)
- Specialized UV protectant clear coats – as many as 8 per drum – are applied to prevent fading due to weather or time.
- Clear coats are cured (again, 24 hours per coat.)
- Interior finish is applied with the same care and attention as the exterior to assure perfect tonal balance.
- Interior is hand-polished with 4 different types of abrasives.
- Exteriors are block-sanded with water and 3 different grits of paper.
- Exteriors are polished – which involves hand and rotary buffers with as many as 4 different compounds- to achieve one of the industries finest finishes.
- Shells are drilled for hardware and mechanisms with nearly surgical precision.
- Shell hardware is applied and all alignments are double-checked for accuracy.
- Heads are installed and professionally tuned.
- The tuning range and playability of each piece is tested to ensure the a gig ready kit out of the box.
