Craviotto Drum Company

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Craviotto Drum Company
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Solid vs. Ply . . . Here’s Why!
Craviotto
PLY SHELL DRUMS are comprised of several thin sheets
of wood, or plies. Those plies are glued together and
molded into a circular drum shell. Because each ply is not
visible, there is no way of knowing if any imperfections
exist. Imperfections can alter the sound and structural
integrity of the shell. The glue used to combine the plies
drastically dampens the shell’s ability to resonate or sing.
Craviotto solid shell drums are made from premium
grade, solid wood boards. Whether Mahogany or Maple,
Ash or Ambrosia, each board is hand-selected to ensure
sonic and visual excellence. Craviotto’s craftsmen carefully steam-bend and meticulously hand-finish each solid
board into a musical masterpiece. Each Craviotto shell
wears thousands of fingerprints from the best craftsmen
in the business.
Craviotto shells use approximately 85% less glue than
the average ply shell. And because Craviotto solid shell
Others
drums use solid wood boards with minimal glue, our
shells breathe, vibrate, and resonate freely.
The difference is not only heard, but felt. Craviotto
drums feel phenomenal to play and respond with a pure
tone, unsurpassed projection, remarkable resonance that
can be felt from the throne, enhanced tuning range, and
unparalleled warmth.
Not all solid shells are created equally. There simply is
no comparison to a Craviotto one-ply, solid shell. Our
drums are known the world over for their sonic beauty,
uncompromised quality, and for the vast color palette
and range available in each instrument. Craviotto solid
shell drums are the
canvas and you are
the artist. Create
your masterpiece
with ours.
The image on the left shows a ply shell
with the inner plies exposed. As you
can see, the inner plies are composed
of non-face grade woods which may
contain imperfections, expansion gaps,
and small fissures. Also, notice that
the plies are glued then staggered running both vertically and horizontally.
Standard
Ply Shell
Craviotto
Solid Shell
A signature CRAVIOTTO ONE-PLY, solid
shell is only minimally adhered twice:
where the shell comes together at
the joint, and when the reinforcement
hoop is inserted. One-ply, solid shells
feature drum building in its truest,
most natural state.
1. OUR JOURNEY BEGINS at the source. Because all Craviotto drums
are made using one-ply, solid shells, the wood must be perfect both inside
and out. Craviotto has an incredibly stringent set of criteria we use when
hand-selecting wood. Many call it picky or persnickety. We call it being
exacting and fastidious. It’s an attribute that sets us apart in the drum
building industry. While it happens throughout our entire process, going
the extra mile begins with our very first step.
2. ONCE THE WOOD is delivered
to our workshop, Johnny begins the
critical process of hand-selecting
each board, assessing each board’s
unique properties and attributes,
matching the boards, and cutting
each board to size.This step requires
a masterful understanding of wood
and extreme attention to detail.
Johnny’s 30 plus years of experience
play an integral role in achieving the
masterpiece drums that Craviotto
Drum Company handcrafts.
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Here’s how
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3. FAST FORWARD several weeks,
after careful preparation, Craviotto’s solid wood boards are ready for
our proprietary rolling and bending
process. While it has taken nearly
a month to get here, we’re ready
to roll. While some manufacturers
choose to use state-of-the-art machinery and cutting edge technology
to bend their shells, we use steam,
strength, and sweat. Not very exciting, but these traits are the backbone
of Craviotto’s Old-World process
which is physically demanding and
truly corporeal.
4. AS SOON AS the shells are completely dry and thoroughly inspected,
they move on to the production process. Comprised of numerous steps,
the production process incorporates
our craftsmen’s individual talents,
specialized skill sets, and plenty of old
fashioned handwork. From inlaying,
to sanding, to hooping, to trimming,
each Craviotto shell gets touched
with over a thousand sets of fingerprints during this process. Hands on?
Yes we are.
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we roll
5. OUR SHELL IS complete in its raw form and is ready to be finished. This
is where most drum builders begin their process. Not us, we’ve been at
it awhile. Once again we find ourselves working on each shell with our hands
– from sanding, to edging, to oiling, to sealing, to assembling, and so forth.
More fingerprints don our shells from the hardest working drum craftsmen around. Our solid
shells are checked and re-checked with each step.
6. NO DRUM LEAVES our workshop unless
it receives the stamp of approval from Master
Craftsman, Johnny Craviotto. Johnny personally
inspects and signs each and every shell before it
gets carefully packaged and shipped. Only now
is this Craviotto drum ready to enter the musical universe. While our fun is finally done, yours
is just beginning.
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Center stage
FINALLY, a center lug
kit that’s worthy of taking
center stage.
Craviotto’s new Center
Stage drum set embodies
every ounce of handcrafted
quality and unsurpassed
craftsmanship that Craviotto Drum Company has built our reputation on.Traditionally, center lug kits were geared towards
the entry-level market. Well, not anymore.
Craviotto’s Center Stage drum sets feature our signature one-ply, solid Maple
shells finished with our center mounted cast lug. Due to weight differential
between our solid brass tube lugs and
our lightweight cast lug, Center Stage
drums open up quickly, tune easily, sing
with clarity, and sparkle with resonance. The shallower
depths respond quickly with a clear note. Articulate,
responsive, and sonorous,
Center Stage drum sets
shine in the studio and
glisten live.
Drum Set
Due to overwhelming popularity, Center Stage drum
sets now come in a variety of sizes to accommodate
all drummers and their musical needs. Craviotto Center
Stage drums are available in the following
sizes: 12x18, 12x20,
12x22 and 12x24 inch
bass drums, 7x12 and
8x13 inch rack toms,
and 12x14, 13x15, and
14x16 inch floor toms.
Ala carte or packaged,
Center Stage drum
sets can be ordered
in any configuration
to provide drummers
with their ideal set-up. From Swing, to Soul, to Ska, the
Center Stage drum set from Craviotto will quickly find
its way to the front and center of
your next gig.
Johnny C. Snares
JOHNNY C. SNARE DRUMS from Craviotto offer
our workhorse drum at a working musician’s price.
Johnny C. snare drums pay homage to master drum builder, Johnny Craviotto, and his commitment to offering handmade, professional quality instruments for all drummers
and musicians. Johnny C. snare drums feature our famous
one-ply, solid Maple shell that has become the “go-to”
sound for drummers, percussionists, and studio engineers.
Why compromise on quality, craftsmanship, and performance? Johnny C. snare drums offer the same warmth,
range, and versatility found on our Custom Shop offerings.
Because we’ve limited the size, finish, and edge options
in addition to outfitting the popular Johnny C. drums
with our redesigned proprietary sleek, diamond faceted
lug, Craviotto is able to offer a world class, handcrafted
drum at a price point geared towards accommodating
students, professionals, and busy studios.
Johnny C. snare
drums are available
in 5.5x13", 6.5x13",
5.5x14", and 6.5x14".
Each Johnny C. snare
drum comes with
our versatile 45º
bearing edges. Legendary drums from
a legendary craftsman, Johnny C. snare
drums are full of
character and personality, just like
their namesake.
super swing
IF THERE EVER WAS a drum that
could capture the sound of an era, it’s
the Super Swing snare drum from Craviotto.
Our 7x14" one-ply, solid Maple Super Swing takes you
back to a time when swing was king.The days of scouring
the globe for that killer looking, easy playing, and fully
functional vintage drum are over. The Super Swing embodies the fatness, warmth, and “mojo” drummers have
been begging for in a modern drum.
Furnished with our walnut stained wood hoops and walnut inlay, the Super Swing looks as classy as it sounds.
So whether you swat or stir, caress or crack, the Super
Swing responds with the musical soul of a drum that’s
been there before, seen it all, and lived to tell about it.
Snare Drums
Craviotto’s Periodic Table of
excellence
NEW FOR 2016 and marking our 6th Collaboration between master drum builders Johnny Craviotto and his metal shell complement,
Adrian Kirchler, Craviotto Drum Company is proud to introduce our
limited edition Masters Bronze series snare drums.
Craviotto’s
curiosities
ALUMINUM SOLITAIRE:
+
TITANIUM SOLITAIRE:
MASTERS BRONZE:
LUSTROUS, LIGHT AND LIVELY
describe our new limited edition offering
in the coveted Solitaire series, our Titanium
Solitaire. Limited to only 25 pieces worldwide, the Titanium Solitaire is as precious as
the metal used in creating it.
HANDCRAFTED from a thin, 1 mm sheet
of premium CuSn8, better known as B8
Bronze, these drums sound as exceptional as
they look.This ebullient alloy is comprised of
92% copper and 8% tin and is known for its
strength, gutsiness, and zealous musical personality. Dense, dry, and distinct, the Masters
Bronze have a unique voice bringing a new
mystique to the Craviotto arsenal.
To begin, Craviotto has sourced US made
Aerospace-grade Titanium. If it can handle
flying at peak altitudes in extreme conditions,
we know it can soar on 2 and 4. We’ve perforated the Titanium directly in the middle of
the shell, using our signature Walnut inlay as
the muse. The result is decidedly distinctive
Craviotto character with an expansive range
and lively tone. The versatility and tunability
is so impressive, we’re only offering it in one
size – 6x14".
It’s not surprising that a drum of this magnitude can ascend to uncharted musical altitudes. Why fly under the radar? Up your
musical game and give our Ti a try.
Masters Bronze snare drums are available in
two sizes, 7x14" and 5.25x14". Our 7" deep
offering will be limited to 75 pieces worldwide and our 5.25" snare will be limited
to just 25 pieces worldwide. Each drum is
available with your choice of throw-off: the
Trick GS007 or the vintage style Gibraltar
SC-GVSTO. Masters Bronze snare drums are
outfitted with ten proprietary chrome over
brass diamond tube lugs, our signature diamond butt plate, Craviotto’s exclusive triple
flange hoops, and our custom snare wires.
THE THOROUGHBRED of workhorse
metal snare drums, Craviotto’s Solitaire series snare drums continue to carve out a
special niche in the boutique drum marketplace without the lavish price tag.
Innovative and demiurgic, the Solitaire series
shines in all facets of music performance
and provides uncompromised cut, enhanced
clarity, and incomparable quality. Each shell is
hand-rolled using premium grade US made
Aluminum. Our originative dual diamond
venting system, modeled after our signature
wood inlay, gives the drum a definitive character that performs effortlessly live or in the
studio. Solitaire series snare drums are available in two sizes and two finishes: 5.5x14"
and 6.5x14" in your choice of Matte Black or
Aged Pewter. Experience the radiance you’ve
been missing and see why our Solitaires are
absolutely brilliant.
JOHNNY CRAVIOTTO and his
team of artisans are always aspiring
to inspire. Craviotto’s esteemed Private Reserve collection represents
the most sumptuous and superb offerings that grace our workbenches.
Whether an astonishing Ambrosia, a
whimsical Curly Walnut, or a beautiful bountiful Birdseye Maple, Private Reserve drums are handcrafted
from truly one-of-a-kind anomalous
solid wood boards.
Only Master Craftsman Johnny
Craviotto can deem each masterpiece Private Reserve worthy. Because of Johnny’s scrupulous specifications and the rarity of each board,
Craviotto is only able to produce
extremely limited quantities each
year adding to the Private Reserve’s
aura, fascination, and collectability.
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Drum Sets
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REPRESENTING THE PINNACLE of drum building in
the most advanced form, Craviotto’s handcrafted single
ply, solid shell drum sets are the perfect blend of
innovation and tradition.
Craviotto Drum Company’s single ply, solid
drum shells make us fundamentally different from all other manufacturers.
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Craviotto Drum Company is committed to helping
drummers find, realize, and obtain that ideal drum sound.
Play one today at your nearest Craviotto dealer and turn
that sound in your mind into the kit of your dreams.
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Craviotto Drum Company’s Custom Shop drum sets
offer uncompromised craftsmanship, intelligent innovation, and proprietary features. We handcraft our
drums with precision and meticulous attention to detail.
Craviotto’s Custom Shop offers a wide range of customizable features such as wood type, bearing edges,
lug choice, and lacquer finish options. Custom Shop
drum sets feature our new gleaming Marquise lug as the
standard build option.
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Because of our coveted proprietary single ply construction, Craviotto shells offer unsurpassed warmth, bell-like
clarity, unparalleled pureness of tone, clear projection,
and impressive sustained resonance.
Snare Drums
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Craviotto Custom Shop snare drums provide unsurpassed tone, unequaled performance, and offer a one-ofa-kind instrument as original as the artist playing it.
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COMPLETELY BESPOKE and entirely handmade,
Craviotto Custom Shop snare drums were created to
meet the needs of drummers who were seeking a truly
customized, personal sound and feel. Each Craviotto
Custom Shop snare drum is made from a single, solid
board of hand-selected premium grade hardwood. Along
with Johnny’s unique bending process, we cure and hand
finish each shell to ensure strength, stability, and unparalleled performance.
Craviotto Custom Shop snare drums are made to your
exact specifications. You determine the size, the bearing
edges, the inlay options, and the finish. Craviotto’s Custom Shop offerings feature our proprietary lugs, as well
as the flawless workmanship that has made Johnny Craviotto a legend among drummers and drum builders.
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Stacked Solids
Craviotto
complements
IT’S A FACT. When you play Craviotto, compliments ensue. These specialized offerings from Craviotto are designed
to complement your existing set-up while garnering compliments from colleagues, collaborators, and “concert-goers”
alike. Let our ingenuity be your opportunity to create, explore, and add another dimension to your musical landscape.
Metal Timbales:
INNOVATIVE, revolutionary, and
unique, Craviotto Stacked Solid
snare drums and drum sets provide
drummers the opportunity to create an instrument that truly achieves
their imagined drum sound. Totally
customizable and entirely handmade
to your exacting specifications, each
Craviotto Stacked Solid shell drum
is as unique as the artist playing it.
By creating a solid shell drum comprised of two or more tone woods,
Craviotto Drum Company has expanded the tonal spectrum and has
opened a new world of color possibilities to drummers. Stacked Solid
drums represent both a visual and
sonic work of art.
We all want our drums to help us
channel ideas, create collectively,
inspire others, and express ourselves freely. By creating your own
unique Stacked Solid drum set or
snare drum, you’ll begin the musical
journey of discovering new and un-
charted sounds, textures, and colors
making you as unique as the instrument you’re playing.
Revisited and revamped, Craviotto Drum Company has
created an exciting new timbale offering that’s sure to fit
your musical needs. From Mambo to Merengue, these Timbales
blend tradition with innovation
by providing old-school scintillating soul with today’s modern
advancements.
Available in 13” and 14” pairs,
our Timbales are handcrafted using the same premium grade Aluminum found on our
Solitaire series snare drums. We’ve added a cutting edge
military-grade hard-anodized finish for unparalleled durability. Play patterns all night long on these shells, this
finish is impervious to wear.
Bass Drum
Floor Tom Conversion:
Versatility is something we’re all after these days. Craviotto’s thoughtful Bass Drum Floor Tom Conversion allows
you to convert your floor tom to a smaller bass drum in
a matter of seconds. The resonant side of your floor tom
is outfitted with a wood counterhoop. Just turn your
drum over, swap the floor tom legs for gullwing spurs, and
voila! Like magic, you have a smaller bass drum at your
immediate disposal.
Battle-tested and Bachata approved, add a pair of Craviotto Timbales to your set-up and hear your Salsa stylings
sizzle.
10" / 12" Wood Timbalitos:
Craviotto’s unique wood Timbalitos bring a fresh bouquet of
sounds and colors all in a tiny
little package. Truth be told, the
sizes are the only small thing
about them. Our signature 10"
and 12” wood Timbalitos pack
a punch and make a point. Available separately or as a pair, Timbalitos offer an exciting
new tonal option to your existing kit.
Part timbale, part concert tom, our Timbalitos share the
same huge tuning range as all of our one-ply, solid shell
drums. So crank them up or tune them low, our Timbalitos take you where you want to go.
Simple solutions that sound sensational, Craviotto continues to lead the way with practical innovations that
enrich and empower.
Species & Color
Time to Meet
Your makers
Options
Marquise Lugs
SOLID WOOD
OPTIONS
MAPLE
WALNUT
BECOMING A MASTER CRAFTSMAN takes dedication and determination. Achieving perfection has a price. Aside from patience and persistence,
one look at Johnny’s hands will tell you that these hands belong to someone
who doesn’t believe in taking shortcuts.These are the hands of a workingman,
and they tell a story of practice, pain, and pride.
Johnny C. Lugs
CRAVIOTTO DRUM COMPANY likes options. We
understand that each drummer has a distinctive musical
personality and varying musical objectives. From sizes, to
woods, to edges, to color preferences, it’s encouraging to
work with a company who understands that drummers
are not one-size-fits-all.
Johnny’s hands once held the sticks that accompanied legends Neil Young and
Ry Cooder. These hands have bent tens of thousands of solid wood boards
into the world’s finest drum shells. And it is these hands that receive thousands of handshake accolades from artists, engineers, producers, and drummers everywhere for building drums the right way.
WOOD INLAY
OPTIONS
Remember, at Craviotto, custom really means custom.
If you can conceptualize it, we can construct it. Let the
craftsmen at Craviotto handcraft an instrument that
allows you to convey your musical message with complete confidence.
MAPLE INLAY
From start to finish and beyond, Craviotto Drum Company is here to partner with you in your musical endeavors. Let the fun begin.
WALNUT INLAY
JOHNNY CRAVIOTTO
Founder and Master Craftsman
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EDGE OPTIONS: left to right 30º, 45º, BB (baseball bat):
BB
CHERRY
30°
45°
BB
CHERRY INLAY
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CRAVIOTTO
CLASSIC Solid Shell
drums are available
in the following sizes:
ASH
45°
LACQUER OPTIONS are truly customizable.
Here are some examples of lacquers we’ve used.
MAHOGANY
Silver Sparkle
Ronnie Red
Black Galaxy
Cadillac Green
Gold Sparkle
Red Sparkle
10"
14"
18"
and
Black / Gold Duco
11" 12" 13"
15" 16" 17"
20" 22" 24"
26".
Johnny’s hands start at the source and sort through mountains of boards to
find just the right ones that will someday become a coveted Craviotto solid
shell. These hands caress, inspect, and sign each Craviotto drum with his signature of approval.
From Johnny’s hands to yours, trust the hands-on expertise and craftsmanship of Johnny and the Craviotto Drum Company.
Experience matters
Craviotto Drum Company consists of multi-talented
artisans with over 90 years of combined drum building
experience and over 115 years of combined experience
as professional drummers. From the iconic Catalyst to
Carnegie Hall, our employees have entertained audiences
on the world’s most prolific stages.
Working under the mantra that none of us is as good as
all of us, we’re committed to creating the world’s finest
drums by hand in the USA. Trust the experience, ears,
and expertise of the Craviotto Drum Company.
1. DAVID VICTOR
General Manager,
Product Development,
Marketing
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2. SAUL ROCHA
Production Manager
3. ERIC GUNN
Assembly, Quality Control,
Finishing Craftsman
McHugh Blue
Creme / Gold Duco
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4. GREG GAYLORD
Principal Machinist,
Production Craftsman
5. JORDAN
ACKERMAN
Production Craftsman
6. NATHANIEL MELA
Operations Manager
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