Jeff,

I am glad that work is picking up in both the drum department and cabinets. It is seriously tough being self-employed. I just wrote a check for my third quarter estimated taxes. That will put any drum fun on the back burner.

John,

Just curious: Are the bass hoops you're going to use the original satin black with inlay (if so, what inlay would you use), or are you going with something else like natural maple without inlay? Maybe you mentioned this and I missed it.

Jeff made these shells look like fine pieces of furniture. I'd be afraid to put a cymbal stand anywhere near this beautiful finish.

Congrats to both you and Jeff for this creation.

Mike C.

Mike - I'm leaving the bass drum a virgin, no mounts, period. The rack tom will sit in a snare stand. The hoops are going to be natural maple with stained mahogany inlay strips that Jeff made for me when he stained the shells. I wanted that accent of maple/light wood against the dark wood of the shells. I think it's going to look killer when they're all assembled.

Jeff just PM'd me that the shells are on the way back to me! More photos soon!

John

Darn right, those maple hoops with the mahogany inlay will be just beautiful! Too bad I forgot to put them in the box! Dang-it!

Just kidding, they are taped to the inside of the bass drum along with the badge from the 13. Now be very careful with them, they will break very easily!

> they will break very easily!

I'm an experienced hand, Jeff. No worries.

Not my first rodeo! :)

Thanx again for everything, brother-man,

John

Me too, checking account is at like 50.00 now! My drum spending will be on the back burner for a very long time.

Hey Jeff,

You never answered me... let me know if you want the Mahogany Pioneer shell! I'll pack it in the same box that I will be sending the Jazzfest shell in.

Let me know...

John

Sure! I want it. Is there room for veneer?

Yours are supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Cant wait to hear your thoughts.

> Is there room for veneer?

Actually, no! LOL Doesn't matter... Aquarian and others make slightly over-sized heads for vintage shells. It'll be no problem finding heads that fit with the veneer added.

I'll pack the Pioneer shell with the J-fest (still waiting for that one to arrive) and send them out together. Once you set it up for 8 lugs instead of 6, the drum is going to sound killer. That's aged 3-ply mahogany/poplar/mahogany in that shell. A Classic.

John

Sounds great! Thank you very very much, I sure hope you like what you find in the box tomorrow.

I have some 60's Ludwigs that I bought from Bill H and your shell will fit in perfect, it will just be a challenge finding the hardware for it. As far as the oversized heads go, good thing because you will need one for your 13". I tried an Evans head on it and it did go over the veneer but it was really tight, would not spin. I did not have head sizes to test the other drums. I need to think about what wood species I want for my project, if I ever get to them, lol!