This drum has found a new home, but its story stays here.
It remains in the Kline Drums Archive as a record of the
instruments that have passed through my workshop.
This Harmony Drum Co. nickel over brass snare is a 5" × 16" single-tension drum with plenty of authentic vintage character. The original shell and hoops have been left intact, preserving the wear and patina that give this drum its personality. The result is a gritty, fat, vintage voice with a surprisingly modern feel.
What's the story with this drum?
This is one of those drums where I didn't want to fight what was already there. The original tensioning hardware was missing, so I assembled the drum using what I believe to be vintage Rogers claws paired with modern tension rods. The shell retains its original air vent, along with one additional hole from an earlier chapter in its life.
I did add one new hole to accommodate a modern George Way throw-off, along with DW 16" snare wires. New Remo heads complete the setup.
The shell and hoops definitely show their age, but that's exactly what I like about this one. Rather than trying to make an old drum look new, I gave it a thorough cleaning, waxed the wooden hoops, and left the authentic wear and patina alone.
The end result is a big, fat, gritty vintage drum with the usability of a modern setup. It's got plenty of old-school character without feeling like a museum piece—and honestly, that's exactly what I wanted from this one.
