Hi,
I can't think of a better way to end 2012 than by bringing in the New Year with four more snare drums to add to The Curotto Collection. These are modern day snare drums that will be played so I included all four in this article. These snare drums come from master drum builder Gene D'Amico of D'Amico Drums USA. I've known Gene since he was the rep for Noble & Cooley Drums back in the 1980s. After he left N & C he became the drum shop manager at Gelb Music in Redwood City CA. This is where he started D'Amico Drums and since my drum studio is at Gelb Music I was able and privileged to play/test his prototype snare drums and prototype drumset in my teaching studio. Gene and I worked a deal consisting of drum lessons, trade-ins and cash. These four snare drums are the culmination of our deal. Gene purchased the Solid Drum Company many years ago, this run of snare drums are the first four "out of the chute" WITH THE SOLID/SELECT LOGO BADGES and are so new that they have not been named yet.
THE SHELLS:
All of the shells are one-piece steam bent shells. They are as follows: 1. 5.5 x 14 Birds Eye Maple... 2. 7 x 14 dark stained Oak...3. 7 x 14 Maple/Cherry... 4. 7 x 14 Cherry. Two were dated 12-12-12, two were dated 12-23-12 (my birthday) and all four shells are signed by Gene with a personalized internal badge.
THE HARDWARE:
Gene used all of the original Solid Drum Company hardware including the Solid and Select badges. The only difference is that Solid used their badges with a grommet therefore producing an air hole whereas Gene has secured the badges via Allen screws and his air hole is behind the strainer (like a Gladstone snare drum). The original Solid strainer and butt plate were cast metal but Gene preferred the strainer and butt plate to be machined parts per his specifications. Gene knows that I am not a big fan of die cast rims so my drums were outfitted with triple flange rims. Top and bottom heads are Remo Ambassadors with Puresound 20 strand wires.
D'Amico drums are right up there in the upper echelon of custom drum makers anywhere in the world...and these snare drums sound as good as they look!
Happy New Year!
Enjoy!
Mike Curotto