Natal Stave Snare Drums are built in England. Each drum is assembled by hand and given a unique serial number. It is then quality inspected to the same high standard as Natal drums.
Natal Stave Snare Drums are fitted with same Tru-Tune tension rods, Tri-Throw snare throw-off and hand polished lugs as all Natal snare drums. They also feature 2.3mm triple flanged hoops and a die cast Natal logo badge. The Natal Stave Snares are available in three woods: Ash, Maple and Bubinga.
When constructing a snare drum shell there are many things to consider. Perhaps the most important of which is the shell construction method. Most wood snare drums are made using ply wood. This is where very thin sheets of wood are glued together to make one thicker sheet, which is then cut and formed into shape. While ‘ply’ is a very effective material for making snare drum shells, it’s strong and versatile, it does not have the tone and resonance of staves.
It is the stave shell construction that is the key to its more musical tone and greater resonance. A ‘stave’ is simply a block of wood, like a xylophone bar. These blocks are glued together at their edges to form the shell. The grain of ply is cross-grain; this means the grain runs horizontally, around the shell. With staves the grain runs vertically, from top to bottom, which allows the shell to resonate more freely. Another important factor is the amount of glue used. In ply construction the plys, or layers of wood, are glued together across their surface area using a lot of glue, which inhibits free vibration. Staves are glued at their edges only; this allows the shell to resonate with the natural tone of solid wood.
Another important factor for tone and resonance is at the bearing edge. A ply bearing edge is cut with the grain which makes it more difficult for vibration to transfer through the wood; this impedes resonance. The stave bearing edge is cut across the grain which opens the wood allowing vibrations to travel freely through the staves creating more resonance and so greater tone and volume.
- Size: 14'' x 5.5''
- Weight: Approx 15 lbs
- Color: Amber
- Shell Construction Method: Stave
- Shell Material: Ash
- Lugs: Hand Polished 'Sun'
- Tension Rods: Tru-Tone
- Snare Mechanism: Tri-Throw
- Hoops: 2.3mm Triple Flange, Chrome