Why Stave?
Superior Sound
One of the most important factors when creating a high quality instrument is the material being used. At Artisan Drumworks we hand select the finest musical grade hardwoods by both appearance and tonal properties for our snare drums and drum sets. By using the very best quality hardwood, optimal sound is assured. We will not compromise the quality of the materials we use. The design of our instruments will always reveal the true content of the drum, unlike ply shells. What you see is what you get. No fillers, just solid timber.
The primary factors affecting drum sound are: shell material (wood type), dimensions (length, diameter, and thickness), bearing edges, drumhead selection, and tuning. Other peripherals are the type and weight of stick being used, hardware, method of mounting and last, but certainly not least, the player’s “touch.”
While the materials being used are a primary consideration, the method of construction is an all- important factor in the sound of a drum, and one we believe is the clincher. Let’s consider the three main types of drum shell construction…
- Ply (mass produced)
- One -Ply (solid)
- Stave
Ply drum shells
A luthier would not think of making a ply body for a high-end acoustic guitar. This would seriously affect the resonating capabilities and tonal quality. Luthiers are also concerned to use as little glue as possible without compromising strength. Ply drum shells use several plies and an enormous amount of glue. Every square inch of every ply has to be covered with glue in order to make a good bond. For example:
6” x 14”Ply Drum Shell (6” x 13.875” actual measurement)
1 ply = 261.60 sq. inches of surface area
6 plys x 261.60= 1,569.60 sq. inches1,569.60 square inches of surface area has to be covered with glue to make the bond!
A ply drum shell can be thin because the lamination of several plies adds strength. This is how plywood is made. The only difference is that cross lamination is done in plywood. Plywood is meant to create strength, not sound. Consider a simple demonstration of this fact. Suspend a piece of plywood, say 4” x 6”, 3/8” thick, and tap it with your finger or a yarn mallet (such as used for marimba) with your ear next to the piece. The sound produced will be “thug”. Now do the same test with a piece of hardwood having the same dimensions. The sound produced will be “bing”, a marked difference. You will actually get a tone from the wood! There is little wonder why manufacturers of mallet instruments use solid pieces of wood, not plywood.
One Ply (solid) drum shells
Another type of construction for consideration is one-ply, also known as “solid” (although not a true solid). This is preferred to many plies because it contains one of the elements (solid hardwood) for which we know from our test lends itself to better tonal quality and resonance. One-ply drum shells use a single piece of hardwood and reinforcement rings on the outer edges. The problem lies in the unnatural bending process, which forces the wood to take on a new configuration. Once the wood is heated to a very high temperature it is bent into a rough cylindrical shape, placed in a form for a period of time, glued, and then machined to produce a cylinder. The bending process imposes stress on the timber, stretching the outer fibers and crushing the inner fibers. Reinforcement rings must be used to maintain roundness, as the wood will want to straighten out and return to the original shape (straight). Using reinforcement rings also raises the fundamental pitch of the drum shell. One-ply drum shells use considerably less glue than ply drum shells. In this regard, they are able to resonate more freely than several plies.
Stave Drum Shells
Stave (segmented) design is the best method of construction. It has many advantages over multi- ply and one-ply shell types. Stave drum shells are made of solid hardwood pieces that are edge-glued. A minimal amount of glue is used. There is no bending or stress imposed on the drum shell. Even the direction of the grain is the same orientation, straight up and down, that trees grow. We will discuss this important factor in greater detail in the following section.
Hardwood produces beautiful tones, as our test above showed. Plywood produces no tone. Stave shell design uses a minimal amount of glue, which enhances the natural resonating and sound properties of the wood. Tone produced from solid wood is superior, unhindered by the large amount of glue found in ply drum shells.
It is also worth noting that edge gluing is very common and known among wood craftsmen to be a very strong joint when the edges are properly prepared. (most tabletops are made this way)
Sensitivity
The “bearing edges” are of great concern regarding response, feel and sensitivity. Wood-workers know that “crosscutting” (against the grain) is much more difficult than “ripping” (cutting with the grain). The same principle applies with sound transmission. Ply drum shells and one- ply drum shells are configured where sound energy travels across the grain. Stave drum shells have the grain of the wood running vertically. Sound energy is traveling with the grain. In addition, there are “sound channels” which run in this vertical orientation. These are the 
actual vessels of the tree that are also known as sap pipelines. They are the “veins” that carry the nutrients and water necessary for growth. These veins produce a wonderful pathway for sound transmission! This is one of the great secrets in the superior sound of stave drum shell design. When the drumhead is struck, these “sound channels” transmit the vibration energy effortlessly. This factor produces a drum that is extremely sensitive.
Finally, a higher level of durability exists because the end grain of the wood is at the bearing edge. Ply and one-ply drum shells do not possess this quality. It is on this superior bearing edge that we put our signature for your sound.
Aesthetic Appeal
Sound, sensitivity, and appearance are important if you are a serious player. Our stave snare drums and drum sets are the most unique and individual appearing drums on the market. When you play Artisan drums, the look and sound is certain to attract the attention of your audience.
Taking all of these factors in consideration, Artisan drums represent the finest snare drums and drum sets on the market offering the musician superior tone and beauty unparalleled in the industry.