This drum is from 2012 It was made for me by the great Adrian Kirchler from Italy. It is 7" x 14" brass with 24k gold plating. The shell is of 2 piece construction with soldered bearing edges like the 1920s Standard or Black Beauty models from Ludwig, although the "triangle" of the bearing edge is smaller in size [profile] than the
1920s drums.
I've included photos of the original Kirchler "spiderweb" snare set up and double tension adjustment strainer AND how it is currently set up. Please forgive me Adrian. The original sound and feel was very orchestral; dry and dark with the snares engaged. I noticed, with the help of my good friend and great drummer Harvey Sorgen, that with the snares disengaged, the drum sound was very open, warm and full. As a jazz player, I liked the dark, but needed the drum to be more open with the snare wires engaged, so I simply took off one of the adjustment parts [for the outter 'spiderweb" set up wires] and replaced the inner wires with an old set of
Slingerland non extended 16 strand wires and voila! It's the best of both worlds for my needs of sound and feel. For anyone who does not know the work of Adrian Kirchler check out his website: https://ak-drums.com/
In my opinion, he is simply the best metal drum maker and restorer of vintage metal
drums in the world!
Bob Meyer
November, 2021
AK Bob Meyer model snare drum
