Pork Pie Lugs

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Hello!

I recently picked up a walnut/maple (7 ply walnut, 1 ply curly maple) USA Pork Pie 14x6 snare (satin finish). I believe it's from 07'. It showed up pretty grimy, so I have it all apart and giving it a deep cleaning. New heads are on the way, and I have some new Puresound wires to throw on it. Stripping a drum down all the way is always interesting, as you get a real good look at the quality, both parts and build. I've played a number of PP drums over the years, but this is the first one I've bought. I have to say, all the hype over Bill's edges and finishing work are accurate. Those alone were worth the cost. The shell is very nice, from that time period I'm guessing Keller?

My only con would be the snare strainer, it's pretty generic. I mean, it does "the job" but a higher quality strainer for the USA snares would be warranted, imo. That being said, I see online that new USA PP snares generally list at affordable prices. Good on Bill for providing high quality snares for an accessible price point.

Out of habit I put a magnet on hoops and lugs when I buy an unknown drum. Of course it stuck on the hoops, but not on the PP hour glass lugs. They have some weight to them, anyone know what they're made of? I'm guessing brass, but who knows. I looked online but couldn't find anything.

Cheers!

 

[Sequimite]

Before Bill got his contract with Guitar Center in 1996 or 1997 his lugs were machined from brass. The little lugs changed over quickly but perhaps he had a supply of the long ones for the snare drum or maybe he had a box he came upon years later.

My 1996 PP kit has all brass lugs.

 

[Rhyma Hop]

.
I doubt they are brass because that is a major marketing point IMO.. and he does not mention anything about brass. He only states "Pork Pie hourglass proprietary lugs" on the right side of the page. https://porkpiedrums.com/products/drums/usa-custom/

whereas his snares with the generic lugs he immediately states they are brass on the right side of the page : "Chrome Plated Brass Tube Lugs". https://porkpiedrums.com/prod/6-5x14-patina-brass-usa-custom-specialty-snare/

 

[bellbrass]

I can't say enough good things about Bill Detamore-made drums. I have a custom kit he made for me last year, and everything about it, including the edges, is top-shelf.
The hourglass lugs on my kit are chrome-plated brass.

 

[Sequimite]

I can't say enough good things about Bill Detamore-made drums. I have a custom kit he made for me last year, and everything about it, including the edges, is top-shelf.
The hourglass lugs on my kit are chrome-plated brass.

Does he offer brass as an option?

When I talked to him before buying the '96 kit in 2013, he indicated that it was a problem of scale. For a long time his level of production kept him with machined brass. But when he got the Guitar Center deal, it was worth the investment to buy cast lugs in the quantity needed to offset the start up cost for a custom lug.

 

[Sequimite]

You could recognize the old small brass lugs by the inset disk on the side opposite the tension rod:

 

[bellbrass]

Does he offer brass as an option?

When I talked to him before buying the '96 kit in 2013, he indicated that it was a problem of scale. For a long time his level of production kept him with machined brass. But when he got the Guitar Center deal, it was worth the investment to buy cast lugs in the quantity needed to offset the start up cost for a custom lug.

I'm not sure about brass as an option; he told me my lugs were brass. That's all I needed to hear. My kit was built in 2023.

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

I'm not sure about brass as an option; he told me my lugs were brass. That's all I needed to hear. My kit was built in 2023.

I tried a bunch of different magnets on the lugs, and nothing will remotely stick. Not even a little. You can get MIT/MIC COB tube lugs, it wouldn't surprise me if these were COB. Whatever they are, they're well built. I was just dissecting them while cleaning.

Also, I did message PP asking about this. Will update if/when I get a reply.

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Does he offer brass as an option?

When I talked to him before buying the '96 kit in 2013, he indicated that it was a problem of scale. For a long time his level of production kept him with machined brass. But when he got the Guitar Center deal, it was worth the investment to buy cast lugs in the quantity needed to offset the start up cost for a custom lug.

Maybe the early ones were machined locally? Having someone like Reliance in Taiwan make them would bring the costs way down.

 

[Rich K.]

I tried a bunch of different magnets on the lugs, and nothing will remotely stick. Not even a little. You can get MIT/MIC COB tube lugs, it wouldn't surprise me if these were COB. Whatever they are, they're well built. I was just dissecting them while cleaning.

Also, I did message PP asking about this. Will update if/when I get a reply.

Magnets won't stick to lots of metals...

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

.
I doubt they are brass because that is a major marketing point IMO.. and he does not mention anything about brass. He only states "Pork Pie hourglass proprietary lugs" on the right side of the page. https://porkpiedrums.com/products/drums/usa-custom/

whereas his snares with the generic lugs he immediately states they are brass on the right side of the page : "Chrome Plated Brass Tube Lugs". https://porkpiedrums.com/prod/6-5x14-patina-brass-usa-custom-specialty-snare/

I agree, but maybe just an oversight on PP's website? Assuming they're actually brass. As a business owner myself you'd be surprised how such a detail can get lost in the scheme of things. I messaged PP, asking. If they reply, and are in fact brass, I'll certainly encourage them to update their website. Definitely an added selling point, imo.

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Magnets won't stick to lots of metals...

Right, but that's not what we're really talking about here. Yes, maybe they're something else, but I'm making an educated guess they're brass, based on the weight of them. There's only so many metals used on lugs by OEM suppliers.

 

[Rich K.]

Right, but that's not what we're really talking about here. Yes, maybe they're something else, but I'm making an educated guess they're brass, based on the weight of them. There's only so many metals used on lugs by OEM suppliers.

Pretty sure most of the imported from China lugs aren't brass.

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Pretty sure most of the imported from China lugs aren't brass.

I never said most China made lugs were brass.

 

[iclug]

Speaking from experience, anyone in here thinking a small shop/boutique builder has an up to date website or even accurate traceable specs is living in dreamland. Who knows how many iterations of materials and suppliers could have happened over the years that would never be documented or reflected anywhere with public info.

 

[Glenfish]

I bought a used Big Black Brass snare through Musicians friend, and went to change heads top and bottom and I found that the last owner
strip out one of the tube Lugs and had put a long tension rod in and it was bent, I had a hard time removing the tension rod using an slow in out until I was able to back it out.
I searched and searched for a replacement tube lug and the proper tension rods to no avail I finally contacted Zach Detamore at zachdetamore@porkpiedrums.com at Pork Pie and they were the best, they shipped out a new Tube lug to me that afternoon. I'm sure they would answer any questions you had about their products.

 

[LizH]

I recently picked up a 12x6 African mahogany. My first PP snare also. It could absolutely hold its weight as a primary snare for sure, but I bought it for a side snare. Sounds amazing.

 

[drumming4iam]

Also picked up my 1st PP snare this year locally. Only prob was it was missing the rubber twist knob to throw-off. Think they didnt carry those any longer so still looking for one but still a Cool drum!

 

[drumming4iam]

Also picked up my 1st PP snare this year locally. Only prob was it was missing the rubber twist knob to throw-off. Think they didnt carry those any longer so still looking for one but still a Cool drum!

Make that LAST year! Ha