PA Lovetone – True Solid Drums PA Lovetone – True Solid Drums

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Tiger Striped Marri 14″ × 8″ Gloss

From the maker

“Bleeding Gums”

Marri (Corymbia calophylla) is more commonly known as Red Gum due to the rich red blood-like substance that it “bleeds” in response to damage from insects. It is generally a sign that the tree is sick but for our drums, as long as there’s just the right amount in the right places to ensure the drum remains stable, it can also provide gorgeous gum vein features on our shells which we refer to as “tiger striping”. This single piece of 11mm Tiger Striped Marri produces a rich, warm attack with a fundamentally lower note and a pronounced mid range. With 2.3mm Triple Flanged Hoops and a 45 degree slight round over bearing edge, this deep monster can range from a low creamy thud, to ear splitting highs with surprising warmth to the crack.

Tiger Striped Marri 14″ × 8″ Gloss

Hear this drum

Don’t take our word for it.

Provenance

The tree behind this drum.

A Marri tree

Marri · Honey gold

Corymbia calophylla

Honey-coloured heartwood – sometimes tiger-striped, sometimes fiddle-backed – with an explosive, “nuked” midrange: rich, organic, and like none other.

The full story →

No shortcuts

Years in the making.

01 – Salvage

The log is rescued

Salvaged, never felled – recorded with its GPS coordinates before the first cut.

Chainsawing a salvaged log
02 – Season

The wood learns patience

At least three years of natural air drying – sometimes far longer. Just time and patience.

Freshly cut River Red Gum log at the start of its seasoning years
03 – Carve

The shell emerges whole

Hollowed from the very fibres of the tree – nothing between the tree and the tone.

A one-piece Tuart shell blank, hollowed whole

The whole story, from tree to drum →

One of one, made for you

This drum is gone.
Its wood isn’t.

Tell Paul what spoke to you about this one – he’ll carve a sibling from the same species, to your size and finish, from a log that has already waited years.

Start a commission

New logs, fresh carves and drums finding their drummers – follow the workshop as it happens.