AVA Drum builds

[JohnTheBob]

When the rubber hits the road though. Ive never made a drum for anyone and not have them say, this is the best drum I have ever heard. My reson for making drums in the begining was affordability of a stave kit. I can now safely say stave is by far, better sounding than any other method of building, nothing comes close. This has been the resounding opinion from anyone that plays them.

 

[AVA]

Nice fun one for the weekend!
14x6.5 White Oak

14×6.5 WHITE OAK STABLE-STAVE – AVA Drums

avadrums.com

 

[AVA]

Upgrade in the painting department.
Will get loads of stair components done in there!

 

[AVA]

13x7 Bubinga
Bubinga shell with Bubinga re-rings
Stable-stave model.
Both the shell and the re-rings are stave construction with a perpendicular piece of flat maple glued in between.
Custom billet CNC’d AVA self aligning lugs anodized clear.
Trick 3 step throw off.
3/16 to 30 degree bearing edges.
Die-cast hoops
High build satin finish.

 

[AVA]

Hi all. Just finished this set recently. Took a while for the 26" bass drum heads to arrive.

12x8, 13x9, 16x15, 18x17, 26x13 and a 14x8 snare drum.

Hickory is quite difficult to work with, tools need to be super sharp.
You can possibly see the skin seat area where the faceted shape becomes a round?
That in particular can get blown out..
The finish is a high build with a satin finish.
Silly amount of work trying to retain the faceted shapes and fill all that grain..
All shell thicknesses are relative to their diameter, from 8mm up to 12.
Below you can really see the thin piece of perpendicular maple sandwiched between the stave shell and the stave re-ring.
This is the stable-stave model.
All the bearing edges are done with this custom profile on my kit builds
Custom made tooling profiles made to my spec, no off the shelf cutters used.
This bearing edge makes the drum super easy to tune.
It takes what people regard as the "sweet spot" and magnifies it to include all the other areas too...!
Every drum sounds incredible without any fuss.

Thanks

Craig

Bunch more pics on my website...

AVA DRUMS HICKORY KIT- 26″ BD – AVA Drums

avadrums.com

 

[AVA]

Fresh out of my basement is this beast.

14x8 walnut / Sycamore

Slim-stave model

5mm thick tongue and grooved shell.

White oak re-rings with perpendicular Maple center piece.

Horizontal flat maple running the circumference of the shell between the re-rings and the outer shell.

This complex drum has a complex sound.!

Has the dexterity and sensitivity of a thin shell but also the throw and projection of a thicker shell.

I don't build normal drums.

This finish is as high a sheen I can get before I'm into high gloss.

I think this will be standard issue going forward.

Means the shape can be easily seen but I don't have the polishing procedure to endure.

14 X 8 WALNUT / SYCAMORE SLIM-STAVE – AVA Drums

avadrums.com



 

[AVA]

14 x 6.5 Yellowheart and Tigerwood SLIM-STAVE 5mm thick shell with tongue and grooved joints.

3 piece re-rings- Maple outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.

Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.

This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .

High build 50% gloss finish.

Custom CNC'd AVA lugs with self aligning stainless steel inserts.

This Is snare number 200 so I wanted to fit AVA lugs, I don't normally use single ended lugs on the slim-stave model due to tension distribution. So I made some stainless steel inner support plates to deflect any unwanted stress away from the thin shell.

I don't build normal drums!

 

[AVA]

Peruvian Walnut SLIM-STAVE 5mm thick shell.



3 piece re-rings- White oak outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.



Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.



This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .



High build 50% gloss finish.



3 step Trick throw



This drum has an Aquarian New Orleans Special drum head fitted.

I thought I’d try one as its got a clear outer edge so you can see the re-rings from above

.

Sounds pretty neat too!





 

[EthylOH]

Your attention to detail is second to none.

Those are some really nice drums.

 

[AVA]

Your attention to detail is second to none.

Those are some really nice drums.

Thanks!! Very kind words!

 

[DrummBumm89]

Can I ask why you use maple / not necessarily the same wood as the rest of the drum in the slim stave?
I feel like some (me) are purists when dealing with staves, not wanting 2 different woods mixed and just want the tone of the main wood species.

 

[AVA]

Great question.
The rings use a lot of material to make. I probably eat through enough wood to make several snares just in the rings.
They are made up of 3 pieces that are machine milled. The center lamination is a time consuming piece.
I have to make 3' long 2" wide strips with the grain going the short way.
They are all glued together and are fed though a moulder to profile them. I can't put short pieces through the moulder, so they have to be about 3 feet long. I make dozens of feet when the moulder is set up.
I keep it for making slimstave snares.

Maple machines decent on the end grain too as its closed grain.. I've done some others in different species and the tearout was unavoidable and unacceptable, theres approximately 25-28mm of end grain to mill, pretty hard to cut without it wanting to take off. I could try and make it all the same species but the added expense is hard to justify for a stock item.
If someone was willing to pay, sure, no problem, I'll build whatever you desire.

The slim stave is actually more focused on its construction format for it's sonic characteristics vs the wood used, if that makes sense.... It has a really high resonant note when tapped. Kind of like a really thick (1+") shell. But a thick shell needs a punch with your fist to make an audible note. This just takes a light tap to make it sing.
It truly is a unique shell.
I also like the contrast between the woods as it shows the build details moreso.
These drums are super sensitive but also have phenomenal projection.
Won't choke if you give it the beans and I hit silly hard too when hyped up!

There are many stave builders, all pretty much doing the same thing. I would rather not.
Everything has to have a twist in my world!

 

[DrummBumm89]

I en

Great question.
The rings use a lot of material to make. I probably eat through enough wood to make several snares just in the rings.
They are made up of 3 pieces that are machine milled. The center lamination is a time consuming piece.
I have to make 3' long 2" wide strips with the grain going the short way.
They are all glued together and are fed though a moulder to profile them. I can't put short pieces through the moulder, so they have to be about 3 feet long. I make dozens of feet when the moulder is set up.
I keep it for making slimstave snares.

Maple machines decent on the end grain too as its closed grain.. I've done some others in different species and the tearout was unavoidable and unacceptable, theres approximately 25-28mm of end grain to mill, pretty hard to cut without it wanting to take off. I could try and make it all the same species but the added expense is hard to justify for a stock item.
If someone was willing to pay, sure, no problem, I'll build whatever you desire.

The slim stave is actually more focused on its construction format for it's sonic characteristics vs the wood used, if that makes sense.... It has a really high resonant note when tapped. Kind of like a really thick (1+") shell. But a thick shell needs a punch with your fist to make an audible note. This just takes a light tap to make it sing.
It truly is a unique shell.
I also like the contrast between the woods as it shows the build details moreso.
These drums are super sensitive but also have phenomenal projection.
Won't choke if you give it the beans and I hit silly hard too when hyped up!

There are many stave builders, all pretty much doing the same thing. I would rather not.
Everything has to have a twist in my world!

I enjoy all of your art and appreciate your response. Your 12" Walnut appears to have sold but I'm sure a future purchase is in the cards from me. Thanks!

 

[AVA]

Sounds good! I have quite a few 12" hoops for snares ready to go.
Cheers!!

 

[Quai34]

14 x 6.5 Yellowheart and Tigerwood SLIM-STAVE 5mm thick shell with tongue and grooved joints.

3 piece re-rings- Maple outer stave pieces with a thin maple perpendicular core.

Housed between the shell and reinforcement ring is a thin piece of horizontal maple running the circumference of the shell.

This complex shell has a very complex sound. It has the dexterity of a thin shell and the projection and throw of a thick shell .

High build 50% gloss finish.

Custom CNC'd AVA lugs with self aligning stainless steel inserts.

This Is snare number 200 so I wanted to fit AVA lugs, I don't normally use single ended lugs on the slim-stave model due to tension distribution. So I made some stainless steel inner support plates to deflect any unwanted stress away from the thin shell.

I don't build normal drums!


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It's beauty (You wrote number 200 in the text on your post but inside, it's number 1200). That sucks because i start to fall in love with AVA Drums like I fell in love with Summit few Months ago...Not good for the budget, I already have 5 Summit and 3 AVA!! Should I try to keep up with Summit? And bring them to the same number, at 5? Well, it's just two snares, a Slim to try and a Cast Cooper for example.

Question for you Craig: Is the Aluminium plate inside won't affect the sound? Like vibrations, weirdo things? It's still some metal, and way more than the screw, inside a wood drums and not small piece of metal, let me know?

 

[Quai34]

Nice fun one for the weekend!
14x6.5 White Oak

14×6.5 WHITE OAK STABLE-STAVE – AVA Drums

avadrums.com

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Of all the new ones presented, with the Slim stave Yellowheart bicolour and this one, I'm really close to say "You must have it, too beautiful"...Maybe with the Ava Lugs in gold anodization?? Ham, shoot, I have no inheritance coming in 2023 and no cheque form insurance, ok, still 3k/4k from taxes return!!!But I'm supposed to pay off the property tax! GRRR

 

[AVA]

Hey. It says 1200 because no. 1 was 101. The 1 at the start is actually me. AVA drums is just a solo act. I think if I ever have an employee that number will change, not sure what but if it has a 1 at the start, I selected the piece of wood right through to packaging it in its box for shipping. The mrs will sometimes drop it off at UPS counter for me. Gotta ask nicely though...!

 

[AVA]

The inner stainless steel braces are just support. I usually only put double ended tubes on the thin-staves to distribute any tension load evenly.
But being snare #200 I thought I'd go the extra and put AVA lugs on there. They have a decent enough foot print to probably avoid doing any damage, even under high tension but being an over thinking loon I put the braces in there. It's a badass snare drum. Built to be played, not an ornament.

 

[AVA]

Done 5 over the weekend.

Another one of the white oak with red stain. High gloss this time with a trick throw off.
Cheers!!

 

[AVA]

Finished this recently

It was a custom order that sadly the customer backed out of.

But that's life and it's heading to a shop in Vancouver now.

I ordered rustic grade walnut to make this. Has way more knots etc vs the prime I buy for making railing etc. I cut the nasty knots away but what's close to knots? The good stuff!! Nice swirls and loads of character. The tight knots I filled with epoxy so it's super smooth and flat.

This kit it is super-stave construction.

3 piece tongue and groove staves with perpendicular Maple inner core.

The bass drum has a kinda combo of super-stave and stable-stave. It has stave re-rings with a flat piece of horizontal maple glued between the rings and shell around the circumference.

Full round over bearing edges.

High build satin finish.