Building a drum kit

Ok,

I already asked one stupid question for the day, so I'm almost at my limit...

I have sold some gear I don't use anymore, and decided to build my own kit. I was thinking about Keller shells. But there's a lot I need to know so those of you who have done it, please educate me on what I need to know before I jump on this project. I can only imagine the joy I will get out of playing an instrument I built myself, exactly to the specs I want. Any and all info would be appreciated.

www.ghostnote.net

THAT's the place you wanna ask ?s.

I have built a kit and a few snares. Yes it is very rewarding. My advice is to look into kits you like the sound of and look at the specs. Listen to Maple and Birch.

Here is a great site for supplies and the best part is tutorials

http://www.drumfoundry.com/t-dftutorialindex.aspx

Here is a good place for shells

http://aitwood.com/

Take your time and do your homework here are a few drum building forums. Hang out in them and learn.

http://ghostnote.net/vbforum/index.php

http://www.drumsmith.com/

The biggest single piece of advice I would give is "measure 3 times, drill once"

Don't be in a hurry, if you really take your time you will be surprised how great of a job you can really do.

I am restoring 2 + very large early / mid 80s TAMA Superstar kits right now.

Thanks for the links guys, I'm doing my research now, I wont jump until I know what I'm getting into. I like that first link DW, they do bearing edges for ya and everything. I don't mind drilling for hardware but cutting edges is probably beyond my ability to not ruin a good piece of wood.

I'm thinking of just doing 1 drum at a time. So if I'm bad at it, or it doesn't sound as good as I hoped I'm not out a whole kit worth of material.

I know I like Maple. I don't care for birch, it's too bright sounding to me. I'm thinking about a deep 20" kick for lots of attack and plenty of low boom from the depth maybe 20 diam x 24 depth, but maybe a super deep 18" will get the same results.

Natural finish, darker hoops, w/ gold hardware.

Just thinking/day dreaming out loud...

BOR...

Most important advice: DO NOT UNDER ESTIMATE THE ACTUAL COST INVOLVED...nor the amount of time it takes to do it right.

Unless you are scavenging hardware from another kit, a average 5-piece kit will cost you about $600-$1000 for the hardware alone to simply make a playable shell pack. I.e., lugs, rims, heads, legs, brackets, mounting system, snare hardware, screws, washers etc.

It is not cheap to build your own kit. Having just done it, make sure you know what you want (and why) before you get into it. But, if you know what you want and have the patience to execute the plan, it can be very rewarding.

And, as mentioned, go sign up at Ghostnote. Really great builders over there with alot of info and help.

Good luck, Bob

You can buy all the hardware to make a 3 piece shell pack for $400. Add shells, dye and oil to finish. Spend $150 and set yourself up a router table to do the edges yourself. You'll learn something valuable to yourself, and the next kit or snare you build is that much easier and custom.

The edges are not hard to to nor is a snare bed, again do your homework. If you want to do one drum to see what it is all about I would build a snare. It involves every step that the rest of the kit does plus the bed. If you decide to stop there at least you have a drum you will use.

Also I agree with the cost, it is not cheap to build a kit but if you do it right you will save big time compared to a custom kit from a custom shop.

when I did my kit I put it all down on paper so I knew what I was in for. There are small things that add up as well, sand paper, polishing compound, wax, etc..

I am not trying to scare you away just want to be sure you are informed.

Build the snare first.

Then, if liked the experience, build the rest of the set.

This is good advice. Life is too short. Let the drum manufacturers do all the work, so that you can play.

amdrumparts.com

if you buy the parts from John he cuts the bearing edges (will do custom cuts) and drills the holes. I'm back to looking at a kit from him. I don't want to cut my own edges and drill all the holes. But I want to know where the shells come from and want specific sizes. He uses Keller shells and quality parts.

I saw a kit this weekend that a guy had put together from amdrumparts and not only was it beautiful, it sounded killer!

Also, I agree with Thingfish, build the snare first and see how it goes.

As others have said - it's not a money saving effort to build your own kit. Build it cheap, and you'll have a cheap set that you could have bought for cheap dollars. Build it nice, and you probably could have bought it.

Having said that - I'm a builder because either way you'll have EXACTLY what you want. As mentioned, THE place to hang is http://ghostnote.net/vbforum/ !

Here's a pic of my bubinga stave piccolo snare (13 x 4.25) I just finished last weekend - has Slingerland lugs to match my main set.

As other have said - build the snare first!

A bit of original advice, if you're staining or painting your kit then DO build it all at once so the color matches. Only if you're doing a wrap would I consider doing it "one piece at a time" (Johny Cash song title there! )

Enjoy!!!

kestrou