Help me decide how to make my 'DIY' Keller piccolo

[Blaker]

I put 'DIY' in brackets because I live in an apartment, don't have any access to woodworking tools, and will therefore be getting the shell pre-drilled.

I have pretty much already decided that I am getting all brass-plated hardware to give it that classy 'gold' look. I am probably getting 2 1/2" vents. Also, I am pretty much dead set on getting die-cast hoops on the batter side.

Also, I probably will want to order most stuff from the same site, so far drumgearonline.com has seemed the cheapest, although they might not have the lugs or throwoff I want.

Here are the things I am trying to decide between:


1. 3" or 3.5"? I am leaning towards 3".

2. 10-ply or 30-ply? Going to 30 ply increases my cost by $120...

3. Die-cast or triple-flanged hoops on the snare side?

4. Lug preferences (they need to be small and brass obviously)?

5. Throwoff? (my good snare has a Trick right now, but I am not getting it because it doesn't come in brass)



Also, there is a good chance I will just go for a natural finish lacquer but if you have any relatively easy finish ideas you would like to share, I would appreciate them!

PDF, give me your opinions and advice!


MAJOR EDIT: I just found http://www.unixdrums.com and now I feel maybe I should get a stave shell!!!

[Big Bad Drum Lad]

Cheapest for this type of stuff is amdrumparts.com. They don't have a very wide selection, but if you buy the shell and the lugs, strainer, and trowoff from them, they will drill for you for free and do the bearing edges to your specs, as well as snare beds. They use Keller shells but the snares shells only come in 10 ply. If you want to go thicker, I'd go with Drumfoundry.com. They have 15 ply snare shells and are relatively cheap as well.

That being said, I would reconsider the 2 1/2" vents. If you are going with that big of a vent, with die cast as well, and the snare being a piccolo, will sound like a coke can. Which could be cool as a side snare effect. If that's what you are going for than that's fine. I think it would be a great build, not sure if I would use it as my main snare though. As for die cast on the snare side, I've heard mixed things. Many people that use only one die cast hoop, usually put it on the batter to get nice rimshots etc. But I have seen Bob Gatzen talk about using die cast on the bottom and triple flange on top. Never experimented with that, but supposedly it is suppose to make better snare to head contact, lessen the symphonic buzz, and take out the unwanted overtones.

I'd go 3.5. It will give it a little extra depth and ring to it. As for lugs check ego lugs. They are expensive, but they are great quality.

The finish is very easy. I would go to drumfoundry.com for that no doubt. They have step-by-step tutorials on how to apply the finishes they sell, as well as stains. They have water solvent stains that work very well and are easy to apply. If you go with a natural finish (which I think would look best with gold hardware) they have a very handy gloss or semi-gloss professional spray in an aerosol can. I've used this before and it works great. If you follow their tutorial you will have no problem at all with this build. Hope all this helps a bit.

[Big Bad Drum Lad]

Originally Posted by Blaker

MAJOR EDIT: I just found http://www.unixdrums.com and now I feel maybe I should get a stave shell!!!

Staves are awesome man. Unix makes great snares too. I'd check Joshua Tree Percussion as well. He has an ebay store as well and has cheap shells on there. Just search jtpco in ebay and you'll get all his items. Also the website is http://www.jtpercussion.com/

[Blaker]

Originally Posted by Big Bad Drum Lad

Cheapest for this type of stuff is amdrumparts.com. They don't have a very wide selection, but if you buy the shell and the lugs, strainer, and trowoff from them, they will drill for you for free and do the bearing edges to your specs, as well as snare beds. They use Keller shells but the snares shells only come in 10 ply. If you want to go thicker, I'd go with Drumfoundry.com. They have 15 ply snare shells and are relatively cheap as well.

Thanks, I will check them out!

That being said, I would reconsider the 2 1/2" vents. If you are going with that big of a vent, with die cast as well, and the snare being a piccolo, will sound like a coke can. Which could be cool as a side snare effect. If that's what you are going for than that's fine. I think it would be a great build, not sure if I would use it as my main snare though. As for die cast on the snare side, I've heard mixed things. Many people that use only one die cast hoop, usually put it on the batter to get nice rimshots etc. But I have seen Bob Gatzen talk about using die cast on the bottom and triple flange on top. Never experimented with that, but supposedly it is suppose to make better snare to head contact, lessen the symphonic buzz, and take out the unwanted overtones.

Man I must look like an idiot for saying that, haha. What a really meant to say what that I want two 1/2" vents. My gosh if I had 2.5inch vents that would be ridiculous! Hah, that must have really weirded you out.

That's interesting about the hoops, I had never really thought of TF on top and DC on bottom.

I'd go 3.5. It will give it a little extra depth and ring to it. As for lugs check ego lugs. They are expensive, but they are great quality.

The finish is very easy. I would go to drumfoundry.com for that no doubt. They have step-by-step tutorials on how to apply the finishes they sell as well as stains. They have water solvent stains that work very well and are easy to apply. If you go with a natural finish (which I think would look best with gold hardware) they have a very handy gloss or semi-gloss professional spray in an aerosol can. I've used this before and it works great. If you follow their tutorial you will have no problem at all with this build. Hope all this helps a bit.

Thanks a lot, I will check out the finishes. I was most worried about this because of the fact that I haven't done much for crafty-ish stuff in a long time.

Really nice post, very much appreciated.

[Big Bad Drum Lad]

Originally Posted by Blaker

Man I must look like an idiot for saying that, haha. What a really meant to say what that I want two 1/2" vents. My gosh if I had 2.5inch vents that would be ridiculous! Hah, that must have really weirded you out.

Oh man...well I'm glad to hear that. Well there a lot of younger guys, that like those huge vents like on the Orange County snares. If you go with 1/2" all you would need is one man. No real need for two.

Originally Posted by Blaker

Thanks a lot, I will check out the finishes. I was most worried about this because of the fact that I haven't done much for crafty-ish stuff in a long time.

Really nice post, very much appreciated.

Yeah the good thing about using the natural spray, if you screw it up you just sand it down and start it over. It's not hard man. Very easy for a beginner.

[Blaker]

I am almost ready to order. I still considering the 3.5 over the 3 depth, but on amdrumparts' website 3.5 is not listed, so I am checking if he even has it. As things stand, I got:

13x3 10 ply maple shell

Brass Piccolo Strainer + butt

Two 1/2" Brass Vents 90 degrees from the butt and vent

Brass snare wires, snare straps

Die-cast Batter Hoop, Triple-Flanged Snare Hoop

Eight 1" Brass vintage tube lugs

35mm Brass tension rods (16)

All screws and stuff

Natural Gloss Finish

The bearing edges are going to be 45 degree with a roundover. I wanted 30x30 but he said they only do the former.

[Big Bad Drum Lad]

Yeah he only has limited sizes. I've asked in the past and he doesn't usually do other sizes than listed.

Well it sound like it will be pretty cool man. You need to post pics once it is done and maybe a audio clip. I'm interested in seeing the die cast over triple flange.

Cheers man.

[uyayi]

can i ask what shop has the cheapest price for hardware parts?

[fezzasus]

Originally Posted by uyayi

can i ask what shop has the cheapest price for hardware parts?

Didn't you bother to read?

Originally Posted by Big Bad Drum Lad

Cheapest for this type of stuff is amdrumparts.com.

[Big Bad Drum Lad]

Originally Posted by uyayi

can i ask what shop has the cheapest price for hardware parts?

Originally Posted by Big Bad Drum Lad

Cheapest for this type of stuff is amdrumparts.com.

^^ I know it was a long post....but come on. The first sentence? ^^