Who the hell are SpiritDrums anyway?
"Too Easy"
Spirit Drums is a small custom drum making company based in Cairns in Queensland, Australia. It is run by Matthew Bowden and Jim Hall.
Spirit Drums’ drums are unique worldwide because of two factors, firstly because they make their drums out of Ironwood, one of the most dense & therefore heaviest woods on the planet. but most importantly, they are, as far as I am aware, one of only two manufacturers in the world to carve each snare drum from a single solid log and the only manufacturer to make full kits this way.
This manufacturing methodology is unique in the world of drum-building, most drum companies construct shells using thin layers of laminate steamed and bent around a mould; or by using one single piece of wood steamed & bent into shape; or by using vertical staves glued together in a barrel-like manner. The Spirit process involves turning the log on a huge lathe, carefully removing the inner material until what is left is a drum shell. Out of a 20” log also comes a 14” and a 10” tom. This is even more remarkable given the density of the wood which is twice as dense as maple and more dense than African Ebony. The bare shell sinks in water - I have tried it.
With this true solid-shell construction, using such a dense wood, the sound of the drums is incredible, punchy and lots of body. It is loud. In my opinion, it has more of everything that any drummer could want than is available from any other drum manufacturer anywhere in the world.
Jan 2007
I have had my drums now for exactly seven years and they continue to delight me. I have had no structural defects appear and the wood has mellowed to the rich dark red/brown you see on the front page and throughout the site. I still love my Spirits.
My Spirit 14" djembe (I also have a 12) is my main drum BTW, it has travelled the world with me, The shell has ovalled slightly, I suspect the Malaluca (tea tree) is a little soft structurally although I do have a deerskin head very tight on it. The drum sounds amazing. You can see it in the video to the right. It takes a while...
"Too Easy" is Jim's Phrase.
Lliving in paradise, making drums for a living? "Too Easy mate"
Paul
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