I have built a lot of instruments in which the primary shell wood has been Walnut, and they all share the same fundamental warmth and smooth character of voice. Walnut drums feature a darker sound without one dominant shell tone. I find that these drums tend to open up and become sweeter as they spend a little time in the field.
Gorgeous in either satin oil or our high gloss finish, Walnut also makes a wonderful visual counterpoint to many of the more fiery figured exotic or domestic woods I work with.
One of my favourite combinations for small ensemble jazz or any primarily acoustic music is a thin Walnut shell with Pau Ferro hoops and a set of Puresound 12 strand Custom wires. This is a set-up which absolutely purrs when played with brushes or light sticks, but has the ability to project and fill a room when you lay into it.
A Selection of Walnut Drums
