The Porto-Pak is a very special snare drum. Punchy and articulate, this 5.5 x 13 1948 – 52 WFL Classic Porto-Pak snare drum is difficult to find these days. This drum was born out of the need for gigging musicians, be bop and club players to get their drums into the taxi cabs and onto smaller band stands and still hit the spot. Having more body than its 3 x 13 partner, its mahogany – poplar – mahogany with glue rings shell has tonal depth that the other one misses.
The Classic Porto-Pak is fitted out in fabulous red sparkle with the famous nickel classic P-87 throw-off, 6 lugs and brass hoop hardware. Its partner, the Super Porto-Pak is the same drum as the Classic, the only difference being the throw-off. It has a P-83 strainer with a P-32 butt on the other side. Both drums don’t have a muffler and sound very nice with a really defined crack.
I was able to find 2 Porto-Paks, one Classic and one Super, with the same sparkling red pearl finish. Both drums are in great original shape and are still being played with the original snare wires.
Danny Bilan
Our Man in Canada