Welcome to Artisan Drumworks

…makers of Handcrafted, Heirloom Quality, Custom Drums. We are a custom drum company located in Memphis, TN offering truly hand-crafted, custom drums with superior sound and quality, catering to the discerning drummer. Our custom snare drums and drum sets produce unparalleled, pure tone, sensitivity, and a unique voice within each species of wood.  Only stave drum shell design can truly capture and  differentiate the full, distinct tonal properties from one wood species to another, due in part to the minimal amount of glue used in the manufacturing process.  Our drums are the choice of many professional players and sound engineers for recording and live performance the world over.

Artisan Drumworks is the authority in stave design and construction, specializing in stave snare drums and stave drumsets,  including symphonic snare drums and custom wood hoops for snare drums, toms, and bass drums.   We offer our unique, custom snare drums, drum sets, and custom wood hoops in a huge selection of domestic and exotic woods,  all proudly made in our shop, not overseas.  Check out our exclusive  Lifetime Warranty!

  

MADE IN U.S.A.!

FREE SHIPPING IN CONTINENTAL U.S.A.!

 

 

 

Spring/Summer Feature 2008

 

7×14 Granadillo

(click here for details)

 

What People are Saying About Our Drums

Honduran Rosewood Drum Set (14×18,14×14,8×12,6.5×14)

“I received the drums on Nov. 30th as expected.   The drums are just gorgeous.  Wow!  The color and grain are really beautiful and you did such a great job at maintaining uniformity between the staves.  There are no radical color or shading changes as I’ve seen on stave kits from other makers and the lines where the staves meet are barely detectable.  So it truly looks like a solid shell.  I love the single point lugs.  And the snare drum is just amazing-looking.  The wood hoops are so nice.  I love the way they are constructed- very tasteful.  The bearing edges and snare beds were also done really well.  As a result, all the drums tune evenly with incredible ease.  And they just sing!  I compared them to my Keller shell kit, my 70’s era Gretsch kit and my 60’s era Gretsch kit.  The Rosewood kit clearly had more body and a cleaner, purer tone.  These are amazing instruments!”

4 months later…

“ I hope this email finds you well.  I’m enjoying my Honduran rosewood kit so much.  It is just an amazing, beautiful sounding instrument with a singing musical resonance that’s hard to describe in words.
 
Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend and we were in the room that has my drums.  We were standing on the other side of the room so we weren’t very close to the drums, and we were talking at a pretty normal volume, certainly not loud at all.  As we were talking, I kept hearing some kind of echo or tone.  When we stopped talking, the echo stopped as well.
 
We finally realized that it was the drums resonating ever so slightly as we spoke even though we were across the room!  I couldn’t believe it.  It’s amazing how sensitive they are.  My other drums don’t exhibit this behavior unless I’m standing close to them and speaking somewhat loudly.  Anyway, that was a really cool and interesting discovery.  To me, that’s a testament to both the stave-shell construction method as well as your craftsmanship.”
 

          Rick Rivera

Freelance Jazz Musician

Pacifica, California

  Jatoba Snare Drum (7 x 14)   

“I really love the way this drum sounds.  It is absolutely beautiful also.  Great work.  I’ve recently recorded with it and the engineer told me that this is the best snare drum sound he has ever recorded.”

8 months later…

“…this snare is bad to the bone.  perfect tone.  i wish i could afford a whole kit.  do you do any endorsement deals.  yeah right, lol.  just kidding.  you deserve every penny you get for these drums.  they sound good bro!!”

Mike Huffman

Freelance Musician

Lubbock, Texas

 

   13″ Kingwood Snare Drum hoops

  “I got them today.BEAUTIFUL :)))!!

It was worth the wait and money. Will take a picture of it and send you soon.  The sound became somewhat 3 dimensional if you know what I mean.  It was great before, but now the hoops added earthiness and depth to it, not to mention the cross stick sound and playing on the hoop itself.  Thanks again and wish you all the best.” 

Dimitar Semov

Freelance Musician

Bulagaria 

Jatoba (5 1/2 x 14)

 “I have bought and sold a lot of snare drums in my search for that perfect recording drum. I will definitely be keeping this one! My Artisan has the most even tonal balance of any snare I’ve owned. It’s natural EQ is perfect!”

Kevin Paige (Producer/Songwriter)
Paige Productions Kevin’s Website Memphis, TN

10″ x 15″ Granadillo Symphonic Snare Drum

“I received my drum today.  It is great!  Fantastic! I am very happy with your work.”

Juan Antonio Minana Osca

Orquesta Sinfonica de Tenerife

Espana

Ash Drum Set “The drums tune up immediately! I didn’t have to fight the drums. I just had to play them. Solid craftsmanship and solid sound.”

Jason Cooper
Memphis Drum Shop, Studio Drum Tech/ Drummer

Memphis, TN

African Mahogany (6 1/2 x 13) “This is by far the most versatile snare drum I have ever played or heard. The 13″ diameter gives you plenty of high-end crack, while the 6.5″ depth provides a punchy low end. The mahogany shell gives me tons of volume but with very musical warmth at the same time. Tuned high or low, the drum has such a pure fundamental tone. The tuning range seems endless! Recording in the studio, you get to really appreciate instruments that can adapt with the needs of the song. My Artisan will be the snare I reach for first. Now if I only had a full kit…”

Jim Barnes
Recording Engineer/Producer
Freelance Drummer
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Ash (6 x 13) “This drum is world class! The clarity and sensitivity are unparalleled. An absolute joy to play and record.”

Jason Cooper
Memphis Drum Shop, Studio Drum Tech/Drummer
Memphis, Tennessee

“This is one of the best, if not the best, snare drums I have ever played! Tons of crack and tons of bottom -end! The entire band commented on how great it sounded.”

John Michel
Session Ace, John Oates (Take the Wheel, and Hall & Oates)

Aspen, Colorado Take the Wheel Website

 

African Bubinga (6.5 x 14)

“I received my drum today and it is wonderful!  It’s a dream.  I love the feel of it.  Playing it is effortless.  The sticks seem to sink into the drum like butter and the rimshot is just right.  Not too aggressive and beautifully woody.  The sound of this drum has breadth and isn’t too dry.  It’s warm and earthy.   This is a beautiful drum and the response is pretty much exactly what I had in mind. The whole thing is a thrill!  I have a few high end metal and wood snares that I should think I will not have to use anymore.  Again, thank you and well done!”

Anonymous 

Newport Victoria, Australia

Artisan’s  “on Vinyl”

(when asked to use his recordings)

“Absolutely!!!!! Please do!!! By the way your drums sound amazing! I love
 great instruments. You guys got a good thing going. God bless you man.”

 Jeremy Horn

Recording Artist

Memphis, TN

Koa (7 x 13) “I played this drum at a rock gig recently. I have played and own the best, including Sonor. This is a sensitive drum. And the rim shot is as good as any I have ever played!”

Russell Scarborough

Free-lance drummer
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Lacewood (6 x 13) “The workmanship is flawless! Truly a unique snare sound.”

Ron Hotchkiss

Free-lance drummer, drum collector
Memphis, Tennessee

Vintage Cherry Drum Set “I play a set of Artisan Drumworks drums made from Cherry. Not only are they great looking, they sound unreal! I’ve also had the pleasure of trying out several snares by Artisan. Each one is incredibly distinctive and original. If you want to be an individual, Artisan Drumworks is the way to go.”

Timmy Jones
Free-lance drummer

Memphis, TN

“The Artisan drums were custom built for our church. I am the Instrumental Music Minister of a 55- piece orchestra. In my over 22 years with Bellevue, this is the finest set of drums we have ever had! Everyone has been more than pleased with the look and sound of these drums. They are truly instruments worthy of praising the King of Kings, Jesus Christ! “Praise him with the cymbals… let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150)”

Rev. Carter Threlkeld
Minister of Instrumental Music

Bellevue Baptist Church
Memphis, Tennessee

Jatoba (5 1/2 x 14)

I’ve played several custom made drum sets over the years, and Artisan Drums are by far the best I’ve seen. These drums sound as good or better than any high-end drums on the market today. As far as looks go, the Artisans are absolutely stunning. Curt is a true artist and a meticulous craftsman. Anyone looking to own a serious set of drums must check out a set of Artisan drums.”

Steve Crady
Drummer/Percussionist
U.S. Navy Music Program 

Chicago, Illinois

                                                                             

 ”…It is a beautiful piece of art.  The sound is immediately magnificent, and promises to only improve over time.  The definition is excellent.  All ghost notes are discernable.  The snare seems to intuitively adapt to different styles of music.”

Brian Aret

Queens College, New York

African Bubinga Drum Set “… the toms are warm and centered. And that bass drum is massive! Unbelievably huge!”

Edward Dickenson
Drum student

Bahalia, Mississippi

7  Sampled Snare Drums on “Sounds” Page

“…man I thought we’d get one or two, but they all sound great!”

Rob Crockett
Sound Engineer/Producer, Puddin Truck Studio
Shelby Forest, Tennessee
7 recorded Snare Drums