WoodsPlies

Portland Drum Co.

Woods and Plies

(a little info)

Warm and full sounding with an even frequency response. Well-suited for all around application.

Bright and punchy for extra presence, shorter sustain. A good choice for recording.

Rich low-end frequencies and reduced highs for more low-end punch.

In general, the thicker the shell, the higher the pitch; the thinner the shell, the lower the pitch. Thicker shells project more drum head sound, while thinner shells have a more full-bodied sound.

6-ply shells will have a warm, rich woody sound with less volume.

8-ply shells are stiffer, resulting in less energy transference from the drum heads to the shell. While not quite as warm sounding as 6-ply, 8-ply shells have more volume (projection) and are well-suited for general application.

10-ply shells are the loudest of these three, due to the fact that the vibrations of the heads are not transferred to the shell and the higher frequencies are promoted. What you’re hearing is mostly drum head, not shell. This is preferred when the desired sound is louder and higher in pitch, as in snare drums. Oddly enough, I find that a 10-ply shell works well for bass drums as well, as it provides a loud, fat, focused tone with plenty of low end, due to the interior volume of the shell, and supports mounted toms with ease.

15-ply snare shells have the most aggressive sound of those listed here. A great choice for playing situations requiring volume and cut. For even more sensitivity and projection, large vent holes can be placed around the shell.

Shallower shells have greater clarity and quicker response, with a cleaner fundamental tone. Deeper shells have a bigger sound because the sound wave has further to travel, resulting in a slower response time, but more headroom, providing you are willing to put out the extra energy needed to move more air. Less likely to distort at high volume (as are thicker shells).

The hardness of the wood also plays a role in the sound of the drum. Maple, for example, is a hardwood, and is considered by many to be the best wood for drum building. This is due to its availability, workability, and finishing properties. There are many harder woods than maple, and several softer ones. Harder woods such as rosewood, jarrah, and ebony may have a brighter, higher pitched sound with increased volume, while softer woods such as poplar and mahogany provide more warmth and low-end to the sound. It really depends on the application.

One-ply (steam bent), stave, and segment shells are generally more resonant than multiple-ply shells. This is attributed to the use of considerably less glue. However, the recent introduction of Keller VSS

(Vibrating Sound Source) shells have raised the bar for ply shell performance. The glue cures harder, bonding the wood plies into a more resonant unit, which results in a shell that has increased projection and tonal capability.

While necessary to keep one-ply shells in round, reinforcing rings are added to other types of shells as an option to alter the sound. The addition of reinforcing rings raises the pitch of the shell slightly because they stiffen the shell and add mass. The resulting effect on snare drum shells is a more focused, higher pitched sound, and when used with thin (6-ply) tom and bass drum shells, the result is a focused sound with enhanced attack, still retaining some of the properties of the thinner shell-warmth and low-end. While there is some controversy over the necessity of reinforcing rings, some find that the more colorful overtones produced are worth the extra expense of having reinforcing rings installed. However, the way shells are constructed today, reinforcing rings are not necessary to get a great sound from 6-ply toms and 8-ply bass and snare shells.

There are many variables to consider when choosing shells, but bear in mind that the bottom line is this: Does it sound good to your ear? A good rule of thumb would be: thin (6 or 8-ply) maple or birch toms; medium (8 or 10-ply) bass drum, birch or maple; and a snare drum that is going to provide you with the sound characteristics needed. For example: A 5.5” x 14” one-ply maple snare for all around versatility; a 6” x 14” 15-ply vented snare for extreme cut; or a 7” x 14” mahogany snare for a deep warm tone. Isn’t it great to have choices?

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