Addiction Drum Design

I could have added this to the custom maker thread, but I believe Alan Jensen is in a class with but few other makers out there. His thing is segmented shells. He doesn't just lathe straight shell walls. He puts contours on them. Art. He's an artist. I own an Ipe (ironwood) shell that I made a snare out of. I'm not generally a wood snare player, but this drum has become my favorite. Real nice guy, too.

Anyway, if you are into wood and want to see drum candy Alan's site has it.

http://www.addictiondrumdesign.com/

Looks like lots of work.... Personally
I've never been a fan of this look.
Cosmetically the butcher block thing
just doesn't do it for me. Just a personal
thing.

I'd much rather have one of your kits,
Asaph.

Well, Don, I am humbled by such a comment. Thank you.

Actually, making a drum shell out of blocks is not more involved than doing it with multiple plies of sheets, and gluing, and pressurizing, etc. The toughest part of segmented shells is the lathing into round inside and out. But it's fast in speed. It's just articulate handling of the lathe tools. Not hard to explode a shell from what I've read.

The segmented shell look is that 'butcher block' look, I guess. I just love wood in any configuration. Allen does stave shells, too. More traditional looking, but the wrap around of wood grains is the most common because of plywood shells. Of course, I haven't veneered a shell with the long grain around in fifteen years or more now. I like grain going up and down, rather than around the shell. That's another thing the DIY/custom people influenced the big manufacturers of - finish veneers running north and south, and 45 degree angles, etc.

A nice little vid about Alan and his business. Looks like it was on public television.