This was a challenging project which was also very rewarding. I was contacted by a gentleman whose jazz musician son was graduating high school in a few months, and asked whether I might be able to build a snare drum to commemorate the occasion. The family had been storing a large slab of Desert Ironwood which had been cut down in Costa Rica by the grandfather some 60 years earlier. I had never worked with this timber before, but it looked very similar to Lignum Vitae and Verawood, so I eagerly agreed to try.

 

The slab which arrived weighed close to 70 pounds, and the dimensions seemed generous enough to yield a drum and hoops with plenty of stock left over. As I opened it up however, I discovered that much of the interior had been spoiled by splits, insect damage and bark inclusions. With virtually nothing usable left, I managed to salvage enough wood for a 14 by 5.5 inch, thin shell drum with matching hoops.

 

The result is a wonderful, sensitive, one of a kind instrument with a great back story. Thanks to Rod and Andrew for the opportunity to work with them on this terrific project.