Hello fellow Forumites

,

I thought that I would share a rare modern day snare drum with you. I ordered this drum from Johnny Craviotto (with the help of Joe Kenney) at the 2005 Chicago Vintage Drum Show. Thanks also goes to Steve Maxwell for some additional information.

2005 CRAVIOTTO DRUMS 6.5 x 14 SOLID MAPLE ABALONE/GOLD PLATED SPECIAL ORDER

The SHELL:

The 6.5 x 14 solid maple shell is finished in real (un-endangered) abalone shells. Johnny Craviotto used another builder that supplied the abalone finish. The abalone shells are glued to the shell, sanded to a smooth, shiny finish and then sealed. I was told that during the sanding stage you have to wear a respirator in order to protect your lungs from all of that calcium flying around. Only a few snare drums were made because Johnny and the abalone supplier were consumed with other projects as their businesses grew.

The HARDWARE:

The hardware was to be offered in nickel or chrome plating but I asked Johnny if I could special order gold plating as I felt gold plating would match up better with the abalone finish. Johnny agreed to the special order gold plating and he told me as he gave me the drum that he agreed with my request as “the gold plating really picked up the gold in the abalone”.

I put Evans heads and 24 strand Puresound wires on this drum.

I use this drum regularly in my drum studio.

No need to ask... It’s a Craviotto... It sounds great.

Enjoy!

Mike Curotto