We offer 4 classes of finishes in tons of Colors. Waxes, Wraps, "Lacquers," and Canopy. Hardware options vary too which change the overall appearance of your kit, but more on that in the details link. There s really a lot that goes into your finishes. First is the color. Each type of material we use, (dyes, inks, stains, paints, natural pigments, etc) affect how the wood looks. The finish that follows makes a huge difference to the outcome as well.
ColorsColors are fun! We have lots of ways to color your drums. Primarily, we use hand-mixed aniline wood dyes directly on the prepared wood shells. This material is very colorfast and made to order. We mix your colors by hand, offering you options/samples as we go, then keep your "recipe" on file so you can get add-on drums in the future that match. Paints and stains thinned, oversanded, and multi-layered make up lots of cool options. If you want the natural look (which can fade quickly), try boiled berries, steeped teas, and percolated ground up nut shells for something different.
Waxes
We've developed a series of wax and oil + wax applications that finish nicely. You can end up with a matte, satin, or even semi-gloss finish over your color. Maintenance? A bit of buffing once a year does wonders. What's cool about these finishes is that if you really gouge your drum, the finish can be repaired to a like-new appearance (but with the physical scratch or trough you created still present). This can be done quickly, easily, and cheaply. "Lacquers" are nasty about refinishing--more on that later.
Wraps
Here you find all the typical wraps such as white marine pearl, blue onyx, red sparkle, etc. A few crazy ones, but nothing too far out of the ordinary. These are great for a classic look with rugged durability. Maintenance? Pledge or Endust. If you really gouge them, you've got problems...Y'see, we don't just tack down a strip of double stick tape at the seam and call it good. The entire drum and entire wrap surfaces are coated with a no-nonsense contact cement (that doesn't shrink). There's no safe and complete removal techniques that won't damage the wood underneath, so rewrapping just isn't an option.
(Lacquers)
Parentheses here because almost no one uses real lacquer anymore (though we can!). What folks really mean here is a variety of high-gloss polyurethane clearcoats which are like you see everywhere. Great depth of wood grain in the end result! Maintenance? Pledge or Endust. Occasional rebuffing a nice idea & we'd do it for a fee. Nice looking stuff, but scratch magnets. Y'ever been blown away by how much auto body repairs are for little dings and scratches? Same here. To repair a slice through the lacquer is very involved and expensive. Basically, you have to remove (sand off) lots of the material around the boo-boo, repaint/restain, then blend in new finish. It can result in a patch seam where the repair took place...often better to start over.
CanopyThis is the truly custom stuff. We've done some of these ourselves, and we outsource work too. We're talking airbrushed artwork, chisel-lined stains that don't bleed into each other, decoupage pictures, sparkle-imbedded "lacquers," new UV-reactive clearcoating that sparkles like crazy, and the list goes on. What can you imagine?
We do things just a little differently than everyone else. We take time. We pay attention. We have preferences and recommendations, but are willing to do it how you want it done. This isn’t about we’re right and they're wrong—it’s just our way.
Shells
We use outsourced shells. 6-, 8-, and 10 ply shells made of North American maple are most common. We can also use plied birch, Acousticon, and carbon fiber (if you really want to pay for it!). We also have available some great solid wood options. Your 13 or 14 snare can be 4”-7” deep made of one-ply, steam bent solid Blackwood, Cocobolo, Bubinga, Zebrawood, Rosewood, Myrtlewood, White Ash, Red Oak, Black Cherry, Walnut, Maple, and Bird’s Eye Maple. Your snares and even your entire drumset can be made of stave-constructed solid woods such as Austrailian Lacewood, South American Yellowheart, Macassar Ebony, Douglas Fir, and many more.
LogoWe don t have a badge. We commissioned a superfly branding iron and torch it up red hot and scorch a wee logo right into the wood. We've routed through the carbon, painted the impression a complimenting color, been asked about gold filigree (--that order fell through, but we can do it!), but usually just leave the black burn and impression alone. We can do it pre-color or post-color. Wrapped drums usually look best with the logo etched and painted black.
Serialization
We hand serialize and sign the interior of every drum before it ships. We're very hands-on and only approve drums for sale to the public that meet our high standards--the signature is the last thing before we install heads! We keep a record of every serial number including who the drum was made for, when it was made, and how much it sold for. We track how it was made including wood, harware, size, number of plies, color recipe, finish, etc. This way we can add a drum to your kit years later that will match perfectly.
Bearing EdgeOur most requested edge is a 45 degree incut with an 1/8th inch rounded backcut. This gives a bit more meat of the head on the wood for a noticeably woodier sound. Double 45, 30-30 centered, 60-30, just knocked off with sandpaper to look like the top of a baseball bat; whatever you want.
Sizes
Depth doesn't change price on toms and snares. Since we use outsourced shell stock, we're limited to 18" depth on 8", 10" and 13" diameters and 24" depths on 12", 13", 14", 16", 18", 20", 22", 24", 26", and 28" diameters. Bass drums deeper than 20" face a surcharge; consider if you're case is big enough and if your van door opens wide enough. (Your 24x28 bass drum with 2" hoops is calling...)
HardwareWe start with good stuff. There is no chump version of TreeHouse Custom Drums using inferior hardware. Our standard includes diecast bass drum claws and lugs, Dunnett strainers, threaded blowholes (if you want blowholes at all they're optional too!), and all mounted toms come standard with suspension hardware which is included in the price. Most hardware options are available in chrome, black, and brass.
Check out our GALLERY for more photos of AWESOME custom drumsets and snares!
Tune in to KCUR 89.3FM out of Kansas City on Saturdays at midnight.
12 O'Clock Jump is a Live Jazz Variety Show featuring TreeHouse Drums!
