RockenWraps

RockenWraps are the brainchild of Scott Rockenfield, a founding member of  prog band Queensrÿche. Scott wanted his kit to stand out, so he created  laminated designs on a plastic material that could be applied to his kit to  customize the look. Scott's designs became popular with other drummers who saw  his kit, and those drummers expressed interest in getting some for  themselves.

Along with his own designs, Scott is branching out with designs by other  artists, including David Bollt. Customer photos or artwork can also be turned  into unique finishes for a small setup fee. And whether you order a stock finish  or a custom one, the plastic material is cut to match the sizes of your drums  when the order is received.

The concept behind RockenWraps is very simple. You remove all the hardware  from your drum, including the air vent grommet. (RockenWraps offers polished  chrome replacement air vents with threads on both halves.) You then wrap the new  material around the shell. A built-in adhesive strip keeps it in place at the  overlap. Once the material is secure, you drill out the existing holes, put the  hardware back on, and you're done.

I applied a wrap to a snare drum that belongs to my son. RockenWrap's  instructions are very clear, including recommending the use of sharp tools for  cutting and drilling. The instructions also stress the need for a light touch  when drilling, so that nothing is forced. The most important instruction,  however, is the need to exercise patience. You don't want to rush a job like  this. It's much better to take the time to do it right while you have the  chance. In my case it definitely paid off: The drum looked great and my son was  thrilled with the results.

One of the best things about RockenWraps is that you get almost instant  gratification. Their wraps go right over your existing finish, causing no damage  to that finish should you want to return to it in the future. The company also  offers RockenHedZ graphic bass drum heads. These heads can match your kit  covering, or can be created from custom artwork that you supply.

The visual aspect of a RockenWraps finish knocks you out when the hardware is  replaced and the drums are put together. This is not your father's White Marine  Pearl. If you want to walk on the wild side with designer-style finishes,  RockenWraps certainly deserve a look. They are available in many large music  stores, or you can order factory-direct. Pricing ranges from $25.99 for 6" and  8" drum sizes to $79.99 for a 20x26 bass drum. Stock-design RockenHedZ range  from $59.99 (18") to $89.99 (24").

(425) 485-3527, www.rockenwraps.com