New Tools for Drummers Featured at NAMM

I usually go on a quest at every NAMM show for the answer to the question "What more in the world can you do to a cymbal?" It's not that innovation for drummers doesn't appear at this orgy of new toys; just that sometimes you have to look a little harder at this show where the guitar is the most prominently displayed product. As usual, drummers get the short end of the stick, but we are here to give due justice to the creators of the beat, and some of the new products that will be breaking rental agreements in the near future.

Sometimes companies can quietly ply their trade away from the media spotlight while creating quality products. Always on the look out for these cool innovative companies, my NAMM travels led me to Spaun Drums. This company has created quality percussion that in my opinion stack up well with the best drums on the market. What makes Spaun so different in the market is their attention to detail and several features unique to the industry. First on the list is a simple, yet often overlooked part of the drum: the lug. The Spaun lug is made of solid brass, providing an indestructible foundation that will last forever. In a recent phone conversation with Spaun president Brian Spaun, I asked him what benefits the brass lug provides to the sound. His reply? "Well you don't see to many trumpets made out of die-cast aluminum now do you? Brass lugs, in combination with the other features of our drums, provides better attack because die-cast lugs have little air pockets that act as sound absorbers, where our lugs are solid and provide for no absorption of sound."

Spaun's drums feature a double 45° bearing edge to keep the edge on the flat part of the drum head. Many drums only have a single 45° cut that leaves the edge on the curved collar.

Brass lugs not withstanding, Spaun shells are made entirely of maple, and are cut in double 45-degree bearing edges, instead of the traditional single edge. Brian says that it definitely takes more time to create drums in this fashion, but it provides Spaun drums with more flexibility in tuning and proper head alignment. A new feature for Spaun is an expansion in the number of finishes the company offers. Spaun now offers 41 different finishes (14 standard stain finishes and 27 standard covered finishes), and can create custom ones upon request. The company also offers a suspended bass drum, timbales, and their unique "flat tom" drum.

Spaun truly does build incredible sounding drums with a clarity of tone that stacks up with the best, however the quality that the company puts into their drums doesn't necessarily come at a high cost. Compared with Noble & Cooley, Sonar, and DW, Spaun drums are sometimes as much as 45 percent less. When asked what drummers need to know about Spaun drums when deciding to purchase their next set or snare, Brian's words were clear, just like his drums. "Any size, finish, or configuration. Absolutely whatever the customer wants. Top-end drums at a great price". If your looking for great custom drums without the custom price...Kit sez check it out. You can visit Spaun Drums at home.inreach.com/spaun.

Rocket Road Series Snare

Another a great find at the NAMM show, and a company that you might not be familiar with, was the 6-year-old drum manufacturer Rocket Shells. Using patented technology, Rocket Shell drums are made from carbon fiber. Flying the flag of "Lighter, Stronger, Louder", Rocket shells are made in stages and come in a variety of finishes including some dazzling sparkle finishes that made me think I was in Vegas, without the tackiness. While always on the lookout for innovation, I think drums are the hardest instrument to integrate innovation while keeping the basic properties of the instrument that makes it a drum. Rocket Shells have certainly put a new spin on drums without creating an instrument that feels so "new" that you can't trust the feel of the product to be unfamiliar. The drums come in any size that the customer wishes, and all feature a painstaking attention to detail that was apparent in the ones I saw on the show floor.

Their Road Series Snares had an attack and resonance similar to the most distinctive drums that I have heard. The one that I got my hands on at the show had a tone that was reminiscent of those 80's Outfield recordings (lets all sing along...Josie's on a vacation far away...) Rocket Shells founder, Paul Hewitt described his drums as "punchy, with excellent tunability and stiffness of the shell." He also relayed a short story of a session drummer who recently did a studio session and needed a "floppy" sound without being so loose that it degraded the sound quality. From what I saw at NAMM, the carbon fiber shell did produce a drum that easily sounded good in a variety of tunings, while keeping the definition of tone.

Rocket Shells also come in a variety of sizes. The company sorts these different sizes into three different categories: fast, standard, and power. All Rocket Shells are backed by a lifetime warranty, and with over 500 drums produced last year alone, Rocket Shells should be a company to look at for your next kit purchase. You can visit Rocket Shells's web site at www.cwia.com/rocket.

A drum set modified with Drumspan's Rainbow print.

While not being a drum, or anything that makes noise for that matter, Drumspan deserves a mention for it's creativity in the image department. With Drumspan you can change the appearance of that old, worn drum set in minutes. Drumspan is a poly-lycra covering that comes in 6" through 24" sizes that can be put on your drums without removing lugs or using any adhesive, and it is very easy to install. The company takes orders for special size drums, and fits over both short and long lugs. Visit Drumspan at www.drumspan.com.

Made of "oriented polymer", EMMite Drumsticks are made to last long while having the same feel as wood sticks. The sticks have a definite wood "feel" both in hand and in the way they strike the drum. The response was as close as I have come to a wood stick from a poly-material, but with a little more stiffness. EMMite can be reached by calling 519-823-1089

Also at NAMM, Drumtech introduced a new electronic drum set called Kit Number Three. It's compatible with most sound modules and controllers, and features pads that are sensitive and responsive. Drumtech's attention to quality is apparent when you strike the pads, with a feel as good as a lot of electronic pads costing twice as much. All components are available separately, and include cable tie-downs to keep all of those pesky cords out of the way. Kit Number Three includes: Rack #2, four Flat Pads, one Flat Pad 2-Zone Snare, two Flat Pad 2-Zone Cymbals, two Pole Pads, one Kick Pad, one Hat Pedal, two Mounting Arms w/ clamps, and eleven Cables with tie downs Visit Drumtech at www.drumtech.com.

Kit Benge (kit@harmony-central.com) has written for BAM, The Rocket, The Chicago Reader, and gobs more. He has been a sound engineer, tour manager, booking agent, and personal manager for dozens of acts since 1978. Kit currently operates a public relations/event-planning firm, plays with lots of gear, and is rarely seen outside of an island near Seattle ... except for conventions. This year's NAMM show was his 31st.

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