>> I’VE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY HOW THE DRUMS ARE MADE, WHAT THE WOOD IS, AND WHY THEY SOUND THE WAY THEY SOUND.
ERIN: IN AN INDUSTRIAL SHOP TUCKED INSIDE THE GONIC MILLS, DALE VIGENT BENDS, SHAPES, AND FINISHES DRUMS THAT HAVE A SOUND OF THEIR OWN.
[DRUMMING] >> IT’S A STEAM-BENT SOLID PIECE OF WOOD, WHICH DIFFERS FROM STAVE AND PLY, AND BECAUSE IT’S SOLID IT RESONATES AS ONE.
AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY’RE STEAM BENT, THAT MAKES IT RING A LITTLE BIT LIKE A BELL.
ERIN: FOR YEARS DALE HAS BEEN FINISHING OTHER PEOPLE’S DRUMS, BUT NOW THE ARTISAN IS MAKING HIS OWN, STARTING IN THE WOODS AND ENDING ON CENTER STAGE.
>> SO FOR ME TO SEE THE WOOD A -- FOR ME TO TAKE THE WOOD AND LOOK AT THE WHAT AND SEE THE TREE -- BECAUSE I BUY THE TREE, THE LOG ACTUALLY, AND HAVE IT CUT FOR ME.
VERY RELAXING TO WALK AROUND OUT THERE AND BE PART OF THAT.
THE TWO BASIC WOODS I LIKE TO USE, MAPLE AND BIRCH.
I CAN DO EXOTIC WOODS, BUT I JUST LOVE WHAT WE HAVE HERE, AND I AM ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND WOODS THAT ARE UNDERAPPRECIATED, AND BECAUSE ALSO I AM A FINISHER AND I CAN MAKE SOMETHING NOT AS
ATTRACTIVE LOOK GOOD.
THE BLING.
THE BLING IS IMPORTANT AMERICAN DRUMS ARE GLOSSY, SO YOU KIND OF NEED TO HAVE THE GLOSS FINISH.
THEY REPRESENT WHO YOU ARE.
PEOPLE WANT A DRUM THAT WILL REPRESENT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE OR HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES.
ERIN: DALE’S DRUMS HAVE THEIR OWN SWAGGER.
>> A WOOD FINISH DOESN’T RESTRICT THE DRUM AS MUCH AS A WRAP, SO ACOUSTICALLY IT’S A BETTER WAY TO GO, BUT I AM ALSO TRYING TO SHOW THERE IS WO UNDER THERE, SO SOME OF MY
SHELLS WILL HAVE SOME FLAKE AND SOME WOOD SHOWING.
ERIN: THE BLING ISN’T THE ONLY THING THAT SETS VIGENT DRUMS APART FROM THE CROWD.
>> RIGHT NOW I HAVE DRUM MAKERS WANTING MY SHELLS.
THEY MAKE OTHER DRUMS, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE A STEAM-BENT SHEL I HAVE A FEW PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, ROCK AND ROLL DRUMMERS, THE DRUM IS LOUD, REALLY ARTICULATE.
SO RIGHT NOW I HAVE ROCK AND ROLL DRUMMERS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME FOR JAZZ.
I AM REALLY FASCINATED WITH JAZZ.
[DRUMMING] ERIN: THAT STEAM BENDING PROCESS -- IT’S TOP SECRET.
>> THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE STEAM BENDING.
IT’S PROPRIETARY.
IT’S TOUGH TO FIGURE OUT.
ERIN BUT DALE HAS FIGURED IT OUT, AND NOW THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.
HIS LATEST VENTURE, AFRICAN DRUMMING.
[DRUMMING] >> DUNUNS, I LOVE.
I PLAY AFRICAN DRUMS.
IT’S A BIG THING IN THE U.S.
LOTS OF DJEMBES HERE.
NOT A LOT OF DUNUNS.
IT IS THE OTHER PART OF THE STORY.
ERIN: WHETHER HE’S SANDING, SAWING, TURNING, OR SPRAYING, DALE IS DOING WHAT HE LOVES AND DOING IT WITH A BANG.
>> I THINK ABOUT IT A LO THEY ARE ALL SORT OF FUN TO PLAY.
IT’S SOMETHING THAT PERFORMS.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING STAGNANT LIKE A PIECE OF FURNITURE, IT’S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN -- IT CREATES JOY.
THEY CREATE JO ERIN: IN A WOOD SHOP IN KINGSTON, ANOTHER DRUM MAKER IS WORKING TO PERFECT THE PERFECT PERCUSSIVE SOUND >> MOST DRUMS YOU GET TODAY ARE
PLY STYLE DRUM ANYTHING YOU GET FROM TAM OR PERL OR LOSE WEIGHT IS ALL GOING TO BE A PLY STYLE DRUMS, WHICH IS GLUE LAYERED IN BETWEEN WOOD.
MY DRUMS ARE SOLID WOOD FROM THE INSIDE TO THE OUTSIDE, AND THERE IS ONLY GLUE WHERE THE STAVES MEET.
ERIN: JEFFREY BECK RECENTLY LEFT A JOB IN THE TECH WORLD TO DO WHAT HE’S PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND SO FAR IT’S HAD SOME REALLY BREATHTAKING RESULTS >> MY THING IS DEFINITELY TO U
EXOTIC WOODS.
I REALLY PREFER TO USE STUFF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOT HEARD IN DRUMS BEFORE AND COMBINATIONS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOT USED BEFORE.
>> THIS ONE IS CARI EUCALYPTUS, PALE MOON EBONY, GREEN HEART TULIP WOOD, AND KING WOOD.
ERIN: THE EXETER DRUM WORKS ARTISAN IS SELF-TAUGHT >> RESEARCHED, YOUTUBE VIDEOS, AND ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS AT PLACES LIKE DRUM CENTER, AND READ A FEW SHORT E-BOOKS WRITTEN
BY OTHER DRUM BUILDERS AS WELL.
AND THEN A LOT OF IT WAS TRIAL AND ERROR AND ASKING OTHER WOODWORKERS ABOUT TECHNIQUES.
ERIN: THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
[DRUMMING]
>> THE SOUND RELIES ON THE DENSITY AND HARDNESS OF THE WOOD YOU CHOOSE AND THE WAY YOU MANIPULATE THE MATERIAL, SO IF
YOU HAVE A THICKER SHELL, YOU’ GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DEADER, CHUNKIER SOUND AND YOU WON’T HEAR AS MUCH OF THE CHARACTER OF THE WOOD BECAUSE IT’S NOT ALLOWED TO RESONATE AS
MUCH.
WHEN YOU THIN THAT OUT, YOU CAN HEAR MORE OF THE RESONATION.
ERIN: HE ALSO DOES CUSTOM ORDERS, LIKE THIS SNARE MADE FROM 175-YEAR-OLD, FRANK JONES’ ESTATE COPPER BEECH TREE, A COMMISSION THE OWNER HOPES WILL HELP THE TREE’S LEGACY LIVE ON.
>> MORE CARE IS TAKEN IN TERMS OF PICKING THE NICEST FIGURED WOODS AND NOT JUST TAKING BOARD THAT SAYS, THIS IS ZERACOT E.
IT’S -- WHERE IS THE NICEST BOARD IN THIS PILE AND HOW DO WE ARRANGE IT ON THE SHELF TO BE THE MOST VISUALLY STUNNING AND SOUND THE BEST