purchase
Well... after some convincing from friends, I've decided to pursue this avenue... making custom, high-quality drums for folks. All my drums are 100% handmade, created with all the love and care that I'd put into a drum for myself. If you are interested in purchasing a drum from me, please contact me at outsidetheboxdrums@gmail.com. I'll even teach you how to play it.
Pricing information can be found at the bottom of this page. I provide my pricing structure up-front for the sake of honesty. My prices are significantly lower than other drum makers', especially given the quality you'll get. This is a fun hobby of mine, not a source of income. I'd much rather you get an affordable, well-made drum, than me make a huge profit. If you're local to Houston, I accept cash. If you're somewhere else, Paypal seems to work for most folks (though I lose 5% to processing fees) and you get to pay the shipping costs (somewhere between $50 and $100). I don't expect any payment until your drum is finished and you're happy with it.
I want your drum to be as unique as you are. I'll never make the same drum twice. And if there is a specific "attitude" you want your drum to have, we'll work together to make sure your needs are met. And if you live near me, I invite you to join me in my shop while your drum is created.
drum types
cajon - Cajons are played sitting on top of them. They have a full voice range, from highs to resonant lows. A single box cajon will provide all the percussion needed for an acoustic set, or add an organic feel to a full band. This offering is the classic box cajon.
double cajon - Double box cajons are about the same size as the standard cajon and are played either sitting on top, or from behind as you would play bongos. This drum consists of a single box structure separated by an internal baffle. Though it lacks the deep bass of the standard cajon, it provides a dynamic missing from the large... you're actually playing two different drums! The two sides are tuned to a perfect fourth, the standard two-drum tuning (other tunings are possible, if you prefer).
cajonga - For those that would prefer a more traditional drum, the cajonga plays like a conga, but has the features and sound quality of a cajon (hence the name). This drum is free standing, between 2.5 and 3 feet tall. It lacks the sustained tone of the large cajon, but playing two or three cajongas at a time gives the drummer tremendous vocal range.
cabongo - These small triple-chamber cajons are played while sitting in your lap. They have a high, crisp voice, like bongos and have a 1-4-5 tuning. These are good for accenting an already existing drum arrangement or for soloing. They are also fairly light and easy to carry on the go.
drum options
wood type
plywood... is plywood. It's is a sturdy material, but the random internal structure can destroy the resonant properties that proper instruments need. While I will make drums out of plywood, I do not recommend it.
solid wood is a much better choice than plywood. Not only is it beautiful, the internal structure of solid wood makes for a much better sound. Solid woods include pine, red oak, poplar and other materials I find at the local hardware store.
exotic hardwood - Exotic hardwoods are the ideal choice for instruments. Their density and natural resonance make these drums sing. Options are almost unlimited as I have access to two specialty stores.
construction
While all of my drums are well constructed, some aesthetic options are available:
butt joints join the structure faces by simply butting them against each other, end grain to long grain. This option only looks nice with solid wood, as it can be rounded over to minimize the amount of exposed end grain.
quarter round joints join the structure faces with a cross grain strip, rounded for comfort, if you like. No end grain is exposed.
miter joints join the structure faces directly, giving the illusion of continuous wood grain from one face to the next. Edges can be chamfered or not, it's your choice.
dovetail joints joins the structure faces in an alternating "castle top" pattern and is extremely sturdy. You have the option of using different kinds of wood on adjacent structure faces to highlight the dovetails.
bookmatching is a process by which a piece of wood is split down the middle and glued together on-edge to produce a mirrored grain pattern. I can bookmatch the rear face of a drum out of the same material the body of the drum is made of for a very classy look. I can also bookmatch the body of the drum.
finish
unfinished is ideal for the craftsman that would like to finish his drum on his own. This option is similar to going to a bald furniture store.
painted the color of your choice. I only advise this option on plywood and pine. Other wood choices have natural beauty that shouldn't be covered.
stained the color of your choice. I only advise this option on plywood and pine. Other wood choices have natural beauty that shouldn't be covered.
lacquer provides a hard, damage resistant coating. Most musical instruments have a thick coat of glossy or semi-glossy lacquer.
oil is the preferred finish for beautiful wooden furniture, because while it penetrates and protects the wood, it doesn't destroy the natural texture. An oil finish also enhances the natural beauty of the wood. Oil finishes are completed with a coat of paste wax, and buffed to a shine.
pricing
Each drum type has a base price. Basic drums are made of plywood, with butt-jointed construction and are unfinished. Options can be added for a higher-quality, more personalized drum. And if there's an option you want that I haven't listed, email me and we'll work something out.
| drum type | base price |
|---|---|
| cajon | $100 |
| double cajon | $150 |
| cajonga | $120, or 3 for $300 |
| cabongo | $150 |
| wood option | price |
|---|---|
| plywood | no cost |
| solid wood | $40 |
| exotic wood | $80, or more depending on species |
| constuction option | price |
|---|---|
| butt joints | no cost |
| quarter round joints | $20 |
| miter joints | $40 |
| dove-tail joints | $70 |
| bookmatched rear head | $50, or more depending on species |
| bookmatched body | $75, or more depending on species |
| finishing option | price |
|---|---|
| unfinished | no cost |
| stained | $20 |
| painted | $20 |
| laquered | $20 |
| oiled | $40 |