[Cymbals & Snares]

I'm really up in the air about "custom" or boutique drum companies. Yes indeed they will make kits to your specs. But do some research it seems to me about 95% of the companies use the same basic materials. Keller shells, hardware from several distributors. Some are clearly just drum assemblers. Not that's an easy thing. But if your looking for a truly custom made kit, your gonna need to do your homework. Make sure the company is financially viable. Find out to they use keller shells and stock hardware. or do they make there own shells. Alot of bigger name companies now have "custom" lines of drums built to your specifications. I am a big fan of supporting the up and comming companies, Just make sure they are what they say they are. My Freind put a deposit down on a "custom" kit from a boutique drum company. He recieved his snare which was absolutely horrible. The finish has drips down the side of the snare and 2 of the lugs nuts were literally crooked. How this pass inspection was beyond me. He requested his money back and was refused " claiming it was non-refundable" and they had three quarters of his kit finished. This after 7 months. Eventually his phone calls stopped being returned, just getting an answering machine and them the dreaded " this nuber has been disconnected" He got beat for $1700.00 he doesn't even have his sub par snare drum because he sent it back to get refinished. So Just treat carefully. Go with one of the more established boutique companies. If your heart is set on a brand new or little known company just do your homework first. I mean everyone started out small at one time. Just make sure they are a viable drum company. T