Anyone know anything about Smith Custom Drums?

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

I got curious about these after seeing Vinnie playing these on the Jeff Lashway session on youtube.

I found a myspace page that says they are in Bridgeport, but other than that it seems like the company pretty much doesn't exist.

Anyone know anything about them?

[Willie Bruno]

My teacher in high school in Norwalk CT was an endorsee of Smith and the last time I saw him he told me that the company had gone under. I don't know what happened or anything, but it's a shame because they are really nice custom drums. From what my teacher told me, the owner would even let you pitch match from the long tubes of Keller shells he had in the warehouse before cutting them to size. He could also make any design for a wrap and used to produce the wraps for Gretsch. You can probably find a few kits circulating around for sale at stores or online like on ebay. I saw a beautiful set of champagne sparkles a few years ago at the Sam Ash in New Haven CT for sale. They were a bit pricey, but then again they are custom.

[YamahaPlayer]

Keller shelled "custom" company basically. Like Willie said I believe they are closed.

Given they used Keller, there really can't be much difference between them any any other "custom" Keller based shop.

Consider the only thing you can do to change the sound of the shell's are Bearing Edges and Coatings. Both of which you can have any decent custom shop do to your spec.

[Jim Richman]

I was talking to a guy at NAMM a while back and he said that he sold a kit of their's in the 30,000+ dollar range. No joke. Like 50-80 layers of laquer and stuff. I don't remember the exact price, but it was possibly even more.

[deseipel]

sounds like NAMM show spin-sales-speak, but who knows.

[YamahaPlayer]

Ha ha... a keller shelled kit for $30,000.... joke.