|
Frequently Asked Questions
Drum Shells
| Q: What type of shells do you use? |
A: Mapleworks uses Keller all maple ply shells.
We can also get solid and stave maple shells made by various custom
builders. Keller Birch shells are also available by special request. |
| Q: What is the thickness of the shells you use? |
A: Our standard shell thickness is
now 10ply (7mm) for snares, 6ply toms, and 8ply bass. Other ply
configurations are available by request. |
| Q: How does the depth and diameter of a drum affect the
sound? |
A: A short drum will have increased attack, a higher
pitch, and a short decay. These are great for snare drums and 'fast'
toms. A deep drum will have great resonance and sustain, and a lower
pitch. Deep drums are usually for floor toms and mounted toms for
the drummer who hits with lots of "power."
The larger the diameter of the drum, the lower the note. Although
depth and diameter play a large role in a drums sound, tuning is equally
as important.
|
| Q: Do you offer reinforcement rings? |
A: Mapleworks offers reinforcement rings. There is an
additional charge for rings, since they are becoming less popular, and
often unnecessary, on
modern drums. |
| Q: I didn't see a certain size drum on your website, do you
offer it? |
A: Mapleworks can make just about any size drum you
wish. The sizes on our site are the most common sizes we
offer. Please call or email [email protected]
for a custom quote. |
Bearing Edges
| Q: What is a bearing edge? |
A: A bearing edge is a cut at the
edge of a drum-shell that the drum-head rests on.
A
properly cut bearing edge is crucial to a drum's sound. A sharp edge will
give a drum more attack and make tuning a breeze. A rounded edge gives a
fatter sound with less over-tones. Regardless of the shape of the cut, for
the best results a bearing edge must be of equal height across the entire circumference
of the shell.
|
| Q: What edge do you use? |
A: Mapleworks offers many cuts of
bearing edges.
The most
popular cut we use is a double 45� cut, an example of this is on the repairs
page. After it is cut, the edge is hand sanded to smooth off
any slight imperfections, and to provide a clean sharp edge to rest the drum
head on.
Other cuts available are a Round-Over Edge, which resembles a
half circle, a single cut, 30�cut, or you can specify which ply(s) of the shell you want
the head to rest on (example: having the 3rd ply from the outer edge on an 8 ply
shell be the peak of the bearing edge).
|
| Q: What is a snare bed? |
A: A snare bed consists of a
dip or cut on the bottom edge of a snare drum near the throw-off and butt-plate. |
| Q: Why do I need a snare bed? |
A: A poorly cut, or
non-existent, snare bed can cause the drum to buzz from nearby vibrations,
even when it is not being played. A properly cut snare bed will
decrease unwanted snare buzz in most playing conditions. |
Finish Options
| Q: I didn't see a specific wrap finish I want on your
site. Do you offer it? |
A: Mapleworks can wrap your drums in almost any finish
available; satin flames, marbles, and sparkles. Checkout www.sambarnard.net
or www.drummaker.com for a wide
variety of wrap finishes. If you can find it on either of these
sites (or anywhere else for that matter) we will use it on your kit. |
| Q: What type of stains do you use? |
A: Mapleworks uses fade resistant, water-soluble
stains. The drum
is then sealed with 4-6 coats of Tung-Oil to protect it from
moisture.
We can custom mix a stain to match a sample you provide us with. |
| Q: Do you offer Lacquer Finishes? |
A: Mapleworks now offers a wide selection of Lacquer
Finishes. These can be anywhere from a glossy clear-coat over a
stain finish, to automotive finishes, to iridescent sparkles.
Note: Sparkle Lacquer finishes are extremely labor intensive. As
a result, there is an additional 10% charge for Sparkle Lacquer finishes. |
| Q: Can I get powder coated hardware? |
A: Yes, we offer powder-coating in any available
color. There is an additional charge for this option, based on the
size of the drum. |
| Q: I want a certain type of lug used on my kit, but I
didn't see it offered. Can I get this option? |
A: Depending on what lug you are looking for we can
probably accommodate your request. If you can locate the specific
lug you want, we will use it. This can add an additional cost to the
drums, since some "hard to find" lugs can be expensive. |
Endorsements
| Q: I really like your drums. How can I go about
being endorsed by Mapleworks? |
A: Mapleworks is periodically looking for artists to endorse
our drums. To help keep our prices reasonable, we cannot give out endorsements to everyone that we would like
to.
We will gladly review your press kit, and get in contact with
you if we can work out a deal.
|
| Q: Where can I submit a press kit? |
Mapleworks USA Endorsement
Submission
1043 St. Margarets Dr.
Annapolis, MD 21401
|
Ordering Info
| Q: How do I place an order? |
A: You can either place an order online, by phone, or
fax. We will work with you when you place an order, to make sure you
get all of the kit options you want. |
| Q: What types of payment do you accept? |
A: Mapleworks accepts credit card payments through PayPal,
money order, and certified check. A 50% deposit is required when
ordering. The remainder is due when the drums are ready for
shipment. Maryland Residents must add 5% sales tax to the price of
the drums, but they have the option of picking up their kit in Annapolis
to avoid shipping costs. |
| Q: How much is shipping? |
A: Actual shipping costs depends on the item and where
it is going. We use UPS for all of our shipments. A 5
piece drum-kit can be shipped to almost any part of the U.S. for under
$150; east-coast shipments are much less. |
| Q: How long will it take until I get my new kit? |
A: After you place an order (and your deposit is
received), we will begin on your kit. The average lead time on drums
is 6-8weeks. Special order and lacquer drums can take up to
12weeks. We will provide you with our best estimate when you place
your order. At your request, we can periodically update you of the
progress of your kit. |
Shop Location
Mapleworks is not
a retail shop setup for tours. For safety reasons we cannot allow visitors when we are operating
any of the crafting machinery. If
you would like a demonstration of a Mapleworks drum-kit before you buy, please stop by
one of our retail dealers. If you live near Annapolis, you are more than
welcome to stop by Zipper Bros. Studio
and try out a Mapleworks drum-kit by appointment.
|
