Who really makes their own shells???

Here is a question sparked from the "overated" thread.

Who makes their own shells??

I know these companies do. Correct me if I am wrong!!

Yamaha

Noble & Cooley

Fibes

Drum Workshop now does

Here are the companies I am not sure, so help us all out if you know.

Pearl

Ayotte

Spaun (here is a well over priced kit)

Maryland Drum Co. ( I think are Keller)??

Trick Drums ( I would hope they do!)

Conaway (Keller)

Mapex

Ludwig

Gretsch

Sonor

Tama

GMS

Brady

Slingerland

Premier

Pacific

Taye

Cravioto

I am sure there are thousands more, but I think this hit most of the majors.

Tama and Pearl do for sure. I'm pretty sure most of the big companies do, just check their web sites.

Most of the custom places us Keller, which is fine. DW used to use them so they can't be all bad, right?

Many companies used to use Keller shells. DW makes their own now ... BUT ... I believe they still use Keller shells for drums larger than 24-inches. That's the last word I heard from DW; maybe that has changed since them.

Gretsch will have to make their own shells, if they haven't started already. They used to use Jasper shells, as did FIBES, until Jasper went out of business about 4 or 5 years ago. Fibes started making their own at that point, and Grestch supposedly had enough Jasper shells in stock to last them around 4 years.

I know for a fact that the high end Sonor kits are NOT made from Keller shells. From what I understand, the shells are handcrafted in Germany. I'm not so sure about their low end kits, though. I'm pretty sure it's the same thing with Brady. I know they use a lot of exotic woods and solid stave shells.

I agree with gcdrummer. Almost all of the big name companies manufacture all of their materials in-house.

Well, last I heard, the high end sonors were being made in Germany, but I know for a fact that the low end sonors are made by the company MUSIX that own and build Mapex.

Mapex build all of their own shells as well. (albeit, in China and Taiwan).

Welcome Bart!!

DJ

Taye makes everything in house - including the shells.

http://www.tayedrums.com/

You forgot Peace Drums...

Though I think they make metal shells....I know that they use Candian Maple but the company is located overseas.

GMS uses Keller shells.

Does it really matter? If you found a kit that sounded good and was priced right would your decision be affected by who built the shells?

-Duardo

I've met people who'd love a custom kit by Conaway or Truth or whomever, but won't buy one becasue it doesn't say Pearl, or DW, or Tama on it.

That's crazy!