Jay Lane "Drummer of the Year" endorses Craviotto Drum Jay Lane's roles on drums have earned him a place in San Francisco's music history. He started performing in the Bay Area in the early '80s, joining the original lineup of Primus with Les Claypool, but left the band due to prior commitments to the local cult band The Freaky Executives. Shortly thereafter Lane co-founded the hip hop/ jazz collective Alphabet Soup. In 1994, Lane reunited with old friends, the 7-string guitarist Charlie Hunter and sax man Dave Ellis, to form the original Charlie Hunter Trio. Lane recorded "Bing Bing Bing!" with them, but left shortly thereafter when he started playing with Grateful Dead guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir and bassist Rob Wasserman in a side project that would eventually become RatDog.
After Jerry Garcia passed in 1995, RatDog began touring and recording more often, giving Lane the opportunity to jam with incomparable musicians and to perform worldwide. Evening Moods (1999) and Live as Roseland (2001) featuring his work with RatDog, are available through Grateful Dead Records. He has also appeared on Austin City Limits, VH1 Classic's All Star Jams, the Montreaux Jazz Festival and others in Europe, the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival and the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, and almost every state in the US.
In 2002, Lane earned accolades from his peers and fans, winning "Drummer of the Year" in the California Music Awards. His beats are urban, funky, and fluid, and demonstrate the physical power and stamina he's built over a lifetime on the drums.
In 2005 Lane has been touring with both Claypool (Skerik, Mike Dillon, Gabby La La) as well as Bob Weir & RatDog. Between tours, he still finds time to lay down the grooves with Alphabet Soup in SF, where he lives with his wife, his mom, and two beautiful daughters (who are forbidden from dating drummers).
Jeff Ballard Acomplished Musician touts Craviotto Lake Superior Snare Drums Jeff Ballard grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He recalls when he was a child laying in bed listening to the music his father would play every weekend: Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, Sergio Mendez, Oscar Peterson, Milton Nascimento; how he loved the sound and the speed of Ed Thigpen’s brushes on the snare. “I remember feeling the power of a Basie big band shout chorus which would then suddenly disappear into some quiet dancing riff. It was the swing in it, which excited me the most. I also remember how it felt traveling thru sounds of the jungle in a Milton Nascimento record. The drums, percussion, and voice, would sound as if they either came from the earth or were made of water. And I was so happy to hear the joy of Ella and Louie singing and playing together. I think that that early exposure has made me part of what I am today, especially in regards to my love for sound.”
In a community college he studied music theory and played in a big band as well as started working in small groups that played music for all kinds of occasions. He realized then that there are ways to play the drums, which are particular for each occasion. Each genre has requirements with needs to be met. "...I think the challenge is in the search for finding the music’s particular needs. The joy is in the discovery.” During this time, while living in and playing around San Francisco, he became absorbed with ‘modern’ jazz. “ Hearing Tony Williams play with Miles completely changed the way I played drums. Hearing John Coltrane and Elvin Jones, and listening to Ornette Coleman’s music changed my whole world. It was like coming home.”
At the age of twenty-five he began playing with Ray Charles. “We toured 8 months straight every year with the band. Although we often played the same songs and arrangements every night, Ray was always able to make us feel as if it was for the very first time. The drum chair was the best seat in the house really. I only had to watch Ray’s feet to know where and what he wanted the groove to be. What a great school.”
After three years with Ray Charles, Jeff Ballard move to New York City where he found like-minded musicians who were drawing on tradition as well as searching for their own interpretation of playing and expression in music. "...Playing and recording with all of these musicians have opened up the opportunity for me to explore my infatuation with sound. It is the sound, not the note per se, which touches me the most.” Jeff Ballard has also played and toured with Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Buddy Montgomery, Lou Donaldson, Mike Stern, and Danilo Perez. He joined Chick Corea in 1999 and continues to play in his various projects.Currently Jeff Ballard is a member of the Brad Mehldau Trio, Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band, performs periodically with Corea, and is a co-leader of Fly, a collective trio with Mark Turner and Larry Grenadier. Their latest self entitled record, Fly, and ensuing concerts have won critical acclaim as best of the year 2004.
Check out Jeff Ballard's website at jeffballard.com
Listen To Jeff Ballard Play Craviotto Drums Below:
Jarrod Alexander Rock Drummer endorses Craviotto Drums Though he launched his professional career less than a decade ago, rock drumming extraordinaire Jarrod Alexander has already built a resume in the rock, hardcore and punk scenes via a host of recordings and performances with an outstanding array of acts. From international tours to sessions in some of the nation’s finest studios,
the Berklee College graduate has proven himself to be a flexible, versatile and knowledgeable percussionist. Alexander’s recording resume launched in 1999 with the release of DEATH BY STEREO’s debut album, If Looks Could Kill, I’d Watch You Die. The next year found Alexander back in the studio with ADAMANTIUM, recording When It Rains, It Pours.
When neither Josh Freese nor Brooks Wackerman were available, punk legends THE VANDALS enlisted Alexander to handle drum duties for a stint performing at sizable European festivals in the summer of 2001.
2002 found Alexander in the studio with three more bands, completing albums by THE HOPE CONSPIRACY, THE SUICIDE FILE and THE PARKER THEORY by year’s end, and even managed to squeeze in a U.S. tour within his already impacted schedule.
After two more U.S. tours and a two more album recordings for THROWDOWN and THE BARS, Alexander landed the drumming spot for JAMISONPARKER in 2003. Columbia recording artists A STATIC LULLABY enlisted Alexander’s services for several months throughout ‘04 as a touring drummer.
Last year, Alexander’s prolific nature reached new heights, tracking on recordings for artists such as EVERYDAY TRAGEDY, WHEN TIGERS FIGHT (featuring members of Damnation AD), HOPE DEPARTED, FIRESCAPE (featuring Josh Partington from Something Corporate) and others.
Currently, Alexander performs regularly with Southern California-based artists THE PAPER MODELS, THE SUICIDE FILE and DIANA. In addition to playing Craviotto drums, Alexander is also endorsed by Istanbul cymbals and Pro-Mark drumsticks. And don’t be surprised if you happen to spot his name in the next set of liner notes you read ? after all, with such a prolific work ethic, Alexander might become a household name much sooner than you think.
Listen To Jarrod Alexander Play Craviotto Drums Below:
Zsolt Jánky Drummer & Educator is proud to play Craviotto Drums He was born in Kolozsvár located in Transilvania. As the member of a large family full of musicians, music was second nature to him since his birth. In the first 4 years attending his music school he was learning piano, but at the end he graduated on the vocal faculty. At 14 he had a strong personal experience, which had inspired him to start drumming, at the time in a self thought manner. His talent and fanatic practicing, earned him to become a member of such nationally well-known bands, as Trident, Altar and Kappa. With them he had toured, and played several major rock festivals.
At age 18 he had moved to Hungary, and immediately got into Fuchsia’s Fall, a band known for their alternative sound. From here he got invited to play rhythm & blues, and latin rock with the popular Sonia and the Palefaces band, which had an immensely large following. The young drummer rose to fame with this electrifying band, which played thousands of concerts nationally and internationally, opened for Santana in his Budapest concert in 1996, and recorded several creative albums. He became well known among the music lover audiences, and the music industry as well. It was a mile stone in his musical carrier, as it landed him in the dimension that gave him the opportunity of self expression on his instrument, opening him up to the various styles of the music of the sixties, and seventies, while making important self realizations.
As he became one of the most sought after drummers in Hungary, a natural continuation of his musical carrier was to become a session musician, sharing his talents with; the Mogyorosi Trio, Éliás & Staff, Mother Funker Dr. Rhythm Project, Unisex, Not for Sale, Egyszercsak, Fiesta, Bery, Hevesi Tamás, Unique, Csepregi Gyula Band, Bódi Magdi, Felkai Jam, Tátrai Tibor, Ex meg Az, Szörp, Cool Miners, Coda, Daci Zsolt Band, KAPPA, Honfoglalás, Tino Gonzales, Etta James, Earth Wind & Fire, Pure Blues, Ian Siegal and many others…. With them he played countless club and open-air concerts, and participated on many of their records.
In 1996 he founded his drum school Dr.Rhythm, and by today several of his students have their own bands, are playing out in clubs, and do recordings. He’s national endorser for Pearl drums, Sabian cymbals, Big Stick drumsticks, Remo drumheads, and the handcrafted solid shell Craviotto snare drums. In the beginning Nicko Mc’ Brain, then later Steve Gadd, Harvey Mason, Jeff Porcaro, Omar Hakim and John Jr. Robinson had a big influence on him. As a musician he likes all the jazzy, groovy, funky, rocky, live music. His future goal is to publish his own drum notebook; release records with his band KAPPA, and to enlarge his Dr. Rhythm drum studio.
Jeff Quay Blue Man Group Drummer loves his Craviotto Snare Drum Jeff Quay's Craviotto Solid Shell Snare drum is the centerpiece of his drum kit. "It has a lush warmth that blends perfectly with the toms to provide the depth that gives me that 'tribal sound'. " he says. "At the same time, it has a crystal clear 'crack' which can cut through anything when the back beat is needed. It has the widest dynamic range of any drum I've ever owned. It sounds great at very low levels and doesn't sound papery when I'm bashing. I own several of these drums and each one has it's own character and personality. Like a Stradivarius Violin, Craviotto drums are a vehicle for personal expression. They are works of art!"
Steve Horton He is a grerat drummer in U.S.A. He used many kind of Craviotto Snare Drum. Daitai koko gurai made shika yonde nai darou.Douse Craviotto no hp kara kopipe shiteiruto omottennjanaika. Craviotto snare wo yashi ni oshiete yattemo.Buta ni shinju dakarana.Somo somo play shitakotonai drum ni iken shiyoutoiu baka ga irunoga omoshiroi. Shikamo Johnny no Snare Drum wo ashizama ni nonoshiru kokono renchu no 90% wa tataita koto ga nai.Sono shouko ni sozai ya sheru no tsukuri,oto ni kanshite no coment ga kakeyashinai. Hayari yamai ni okasare te netsu ni ukasareta boufura ga waiteiruto omotteirukara doutomo omowannga. Soreni bakuon-chu ni Craviotto Snare no sensaisa nanka hitsuyou nai wake dashi. Hima tsubushi no asobi aiteni omoshiroi kara agete tsutteru to omoshiroinoga hikkakaru. Sore ga wakaranai de muki ni natte tsurareru hito wo matsu to suruka. Demo res wa ashita ikou kana.Okizuki ni natta minasan.Chobun ni otsukiai kudasai mashite arigatou gozaimashita. Thanks,Best regards. Yogi.
それでは>>279のような人間のゴミクズ以下の様な奴にもジョニーの功績が分かるようにしましょう。 Jay Lane "Drummer of the Year" endorses Craviotto Drum Jay Lane's roles on drums have earned him a place in San Francisco's music history. He started performing in the Bay Area in the early '80s, joining the original lineup of Primus with Les Claypool, but left the band due to prior commitments to the local cult band The Freaky Executives. Shortly thereafter Lane co-founded the hip hop/ jazz collective Alphabet Soup. In 1994, Lane reunited with old friends, the 7-string guitarist Charlie Hunter and sax man Dave Ellis, to form the original Charlie Hunter Trio. Lane recorded "Bing Bing Bing!" with them, but left shortly thereafter when he started playing with Grateful Dead guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir and bassist Rob Wasserman in a side project that would eventually become RatDog.
After Jerry Garcia passed in 1995, RatDog began touring and recording more often, giving Lane the opportunity to jam with incomparable musicians and to perform worldwide. Evening Moods (1999) and Live as Roseland (2001) featuring his work with RatDog, are available through Grateful Dead Records. He has also appeared on Austin City Limits, VH1 Classic's All Star Jams, the Montreaux Jazz Festival and others in Europe, the Mt. Fuji Jazz Festival and the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, and almost every state in the US.
In 2002, Lane earned accolades from his peers and fans, winning "Drummer of the Year" in the California Music Awards. His beats are urban, funky, and fluid, and demonstrate the physical power and stamina he's built over a lifetime on the drums.
In 2005 Lane has been touring with both Claypool (Skerik, Mike Dillon, Gabby La La) as well as Bob Weir & RatDog. Between tours, he still finds time to lay down the grooves with Alphabet Soup in SF, where he lives with his wife, his mom, and two beautiful daughters (who are forbidden from dating drummers).
Jeff Ballard Acomplished Musician touts Craviotto Lake Superior Snare Drums Jeff Ballard grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He recalls when he was a child laying in bed listening to the music his father would play every weekend: Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, Sergio Mendez, Oscar Peterson, Milton Nascimento; how he loved the sound and the speed of Ed Thigpen’s brushes on the snare. “I remember feeling the power of a Basie big band shout chorus which would then suddenly disappear into some quiet dancing riff. It was the swing in it, which excited me the most. I also remember how it felt traveling thru sounds of the jungle in a Milton Nascimento record. The drums, percussion, and voice, would sound as if they either came from the earth or were made of water. And I was so happy to hear the joy of Ella and Louie singing and playing together. I think that that early exposure has made me part of what I am today, especially in regards to my love for sound.”
In a community college he studied music theory and played in a big band as well as started working in small groups that played music for all kinds of occasions. He realized then that there are ways to play the drums, which are particular for each occasion. Each genre has requirements with needs to be met. "...I think the challenge is in the search for finding the music’s particular needs. The joy is in the discovery.” During this time, while living in and playing around San Francisco, he became absorbed with ‘modern’ jazz. “ Hearing Tony Williams play with Miles completely changed the way I played drums. Hearing John Coltrane and Elvin Jones, and listening to Ornette Coleman’s music changed my whole world. It was like coming home.”
At the age of twenty-five he began playing with Ray Charles. “We toured 8 months straight every year with the band. Although we often played the same songs and arrangements every night, Ray was always able to make us feel as if it was for the very first time. The drum chair was the best seat in the house really. I only had to watch Ray’s feet to know where and what he wanted the groove to be. What a great school.”
After three years with Ray Charles, Jeff Ballard move to New York City where he found like-minded musicians who were drawing on tradition as well as searching for their own interpretation of playing and expression in music. "...Playing and recording with all of these musicians have opened up the opportunity for me to explore my infatuation with sound. It is the sound, not the note per se, which touches me the most.” Jeff Ballard has also played and toured with Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Buddy Montgomery, Lou Donaldson, Mike Stern, and Danilo Perez. He joined Chick Corea in 1999 and continues to play in his various projects.Currently Jeff Ballard is a member of the Brad Mehldau Trio, Joshua Redman’s Elastic Band, performs periodically with Corea, and is a co-leader of Fly, a collective trio with Mark Turner and Larry Grenadier. Their latest self entitled record, Fly, and ensuing concerts have won critical acclaim as best of the year 2004.
Check out Jeff Ballard's website at jeffballard.com
Listen To Jeff Ballard Play Craviotto Drums Below:
Jarrod Alexander Rock Drummer endorses Craviotto Drums Though he launched his professional career less than a decade ago, rock drumming extraordinaire Jarrod Alexander has already built a resume in the rock, hardcore and punk scenes via a host of recordings and performances with an outstanding array of acts. From international tours to sessions in some of the nation’s finest studios,
the Berklee College graduate has proven himself to be a flexible, versatile and knowledgeable percussionist. Alexander’s recording resume launched in 1999 with the release of DEATH BY STEREO’s debut album, If Looks Could Kill, I’d Watch You Die. The next year found Alexander back in the studio with ADAMANTIUM, recording When It Rains, It Pours.
When neither Josh Freese nor Brooks Wackerman were available, punk legends THE VANDALS enlisted Alexander to handle drum duties for a stint performing at sizable European festivals in the summer of 2001.
2002 found Alexander in the studio with three more bands, completing albums by THE HOPE CONSPIRACY, THE SUICIDE FILE and THE PARKER THEORY by year’s end, and even managed to squeeze in a U.S. tour within his already impacted schedule.
After two more U.S. tours and a two more album recordings for THROWDOWN and THE BARS, Alexander landed the drumming spot for JAMISONPARKER in 2003. Columbia recording artists A STATIC LULLABY enlisted Alexander’s services for several months throughout ‘04 as a touring drummer.
Last year, Alexander’s prolific nature reached new heights, tracking on recordings for artists such as EVERYDAY TRAGEDY, WHEN TIGERS FIGHT (featuring members of Damnation AD), HOPE DEPARTED, FIRESCAPE (featuring Josh Partington from Something Corporate) and others.
Currently, Alexander performs regularly with Southern California-based artists THE PAPER MODELS, THE SUICIDE FILE and DIANA. In addition to playing Craviotto drums, Alexander is also endorsed by Istanbul cymbals and Pro-Mark drumsticks. And don’t be surprised if you happen to spot his name in the next set of liner notes you read ? after all, with such a prolific work ethic, Alexander might become a household name much sooner than you think.
Listen To Jarrod Alexander Play Craviotto Drums Below:
When neither Josh Freese nor Brooks Wackerman were available, punk legends THE VANDALS enlisted Alexander to handle drum duties for a stint performing at sizable European festivals in the summer of 2001.
2002 found Alexander in the studio with three more bands, completing albums by THE HOPE CONSPIRACY, THE SUICIDE FILE and THE PARKER THEORY by year’s end, and even managed to squeeze in a U.S. tour within his already impacted schedule.
After two more U.S. tours and a two more album recordings for THROWDOWN and THE BARS, Alexander landed the drumming spot for JAMISONPARKER in 2003. Columbia recording artists A STATIC LULLABY enlisted Alexander’s services for several months throughout ‘04 as a touring drummer.
Last year, Alexander’s prolific nature reached new heights, tracking on recordings for artists such as EVERYDAY TRAGEDY, WHEN TIGERS FIGHT (featuring members of Damnation AD), HOPE DEPARTED, FIRESCAPE (featuring Josh Partington from Something Corporate) and others.
Currently, Alexander performs regularly with Southern California-based artists THE PAPER MODELS, THE SUICIDE FILE and DIANA. In addition to playing Craviotto drums, Alexander is also endorsed by Istanbul cymbals and Pro-Mark drumsticks. And don’t be surprised if you happen to spot his name in the next set of liner notes you read ? after all, with such a prolific work ethic, Alexander might become a household name much sooner than you think.
Listen To Jarrod Alexander Play Craviotto Drums Below:
Zsolt Jánky Drummer & Educator is proud to play Craviotto Drums He was born in Kolozsvár located in Transilvania. As the member of a large family full of musicians, music was second nature to him since his birth. In the first 4 years attending his music school he was learning piano, but at the end he graduated on the vocal faculty. At 14 he had a strong personal experience, which had inspired him to start drumming, at the time in a self thought manner. His talent and fanatic practicing, earned him to become a member of such nationally well-known bands, as Trident, Altar and Kappa. With them he had toured, and played several major rock festivals.
At age 18 he had moved to Hungary, and immediately got into Fuchsia’s Fall, a band known for their alternative sound. From here he got invited to play rhythm & blues, and latin rock with the popular Sonia and the Palefaces band, which had an immensely large following. The young drummer rose to fame with this electrifying band, which played thousands of concerts nationally and internationally, opened for Santana in his Budapest concert in 1996, and recorded several creative albums. He became well known among the music lover audiences, and the music industry as well. It was a mile stone in his musical carrier, as it landed him in the dimension that gave him the opportunity of self expression on his instrument, opening him up to the various styles of the music of the sixties, and seventies, while making important self realizations.
As he became one of the most sought after drummers in Hungary, a natural continuation of his musical carrier was to become a session musician, sharing his talents with; the Mogyorosi Trio, Éliás & Staff, Mother Funker Dr. Rhythm Project, Unisex, Not for Sale, Egyszercsak, Fiesta, Bery, Hevesi Tamás, Unique, Csepregi Gyula Band, Bódi Magdi, Felkai Jam, Tátrai Tibor, Ex meg Az, Szörp, Cool Miners, Coda, Daci Zsolt Band, KAPPA, Honfoglalás, Tino Gonzales, Etta James, Earth Wind & Fire, Pure Blues, Ian Siegal and many others…. With them he played countless club and open-air concerts, and participated on many of their records.
In 1996 he founded his drum school Dr.Rhythm, and by today several of his students have their own bands, are playing out in clubs, and do recordings. He’s national endorser for Pearl drums, Sabian cymbals, Big Stick drumsticks, Remo drumheads, and the handcrafted solid shell Craviotto snare drums. In the beginning Nicko Mc’ Brain, then later Steve Gadd, Harvey Mason, Jeff Porcaro, Omar Hakim and John Jr. Robinson had a big influence on him. As a musician he likes all the jazzy, groovy, funky, rocky, live music. His future goal is to publish his own drum notebook; release records with his band KAPPA, and to enlarge his Dr. Rhythm drum studio.
Jeff Quay Blue Man Group Drummer loves his Craviotto Snare Drum Jeff Quay's Craviotto Solid Shell Snare drum is the centerpiece of his drum kit. "It has a lush warmth that blends perfectly with the toms to provide the depth that gives me that 'tribal sound'. " he says. "At the same time, it has a crystal clear 'crack' which can cut through anything when the back beat is needed. It has the widest dynamic range of any drum I've ever owned. It sounds great at very low levels and doesn't sound papery when I'm bashing. I own several of these drums and each one has it's own character and personality. Like a Stradivarius Violin, Craviotto drums are a vehicle for personal expression. They are works of art!"
Steve Horton He is a grerat drummer in U.S.A. He used many kind of Craviotto Snare Drum. Daitai koko gurai made shika yonde nai darou.Douse Craviotto no hp kara kopipe shiteiruto omottennjanaika. Craviotto snare wo yashi ni oshiete yattemo.Buta ni shinju dakarana.Somo somo play shitakotonai drum ni iken shiyoutoiu baka ga irunoga omoshiroi. Shikamo Johnny no Snare Drum wo ashizama ni nonoshiru kokono renchu no 90% wa tataita koto ga nai.Sono shouko ni sozai ya sheru no tsukuri,oto ni kanshite no coment ga kakeyashinai. Hayari yamai ni okasare te netsu ni ukasareta boufura ga waiteiruto omotteirukara doutomo omowannga. Soreni bakuon-chu ni Craviotto Snare no sensaisa nanka hitsuyou nai wake dashi. Hima tsubushi no asobi aiteni omoshiroi kara agete tsutteru to omoshiroinoga hikkakaru. Sore ga wakaranai de muki ni natte tsurareru hito wo matsu to suruka. Demo res wa ashita ikou kana.Okizuki ni natta minasan.Chobun ni otsukiai kudasai mashite arigatou gozaimashita. Thanks,Best regards. Yogi.
As a drummer and drum builder, Johnny Craviotto has been involved in the music business for nearly half a century. He began his professional playing career in the early 1960’s and quickly progressed to touring and recording with Rock ‘N’ Roll pioneers, including Ry Cooder, Buffy St. Marie, Moby Grape and Neil Young.
During that period, Johnny also became interested in the history and construction of drums. He began collecting vintage drums and studying the art of drum building. Through extensive research, experimentation and patience, he eventually developed his own formula for producing drumshells from a single piece of steam-bent hardwood. This proprietary process advanced the classic “solid shell” design by significantly improving the consistency and integrity of the shell to provide modern drummers with unprecedented, unsurpassed levels of snare drum sound and performance. By using this exclusive combination of hand-selected hardwoods and premium-grade components along with the handcrafted construction methods that he developed, Craviotto was able to transform solid planks of wood into fine musical instruments.
Craviotto’s style of solid-shell drum construction also allowed a distinctive quality of sound and response to emerge from each drum due to the organic variety in the grain pattern, density and mass of each board. In fact, since every drum had its own inherent tonal and performance characteristics, not only did Craviotto drums differ from all others, each also subtly differed from one another. The natural individuality of the wood, along with the uncompromising attention to detail employed during all phases of the production process, elevated the solid-shell snare drum as an art form and single-handedly resurrected its popularity and prestige.
Although one-piece drumshells were a standard design for centuries, they had been replaced by more uniform, more stable plied drumshells for much of the 20th Century. However, while plied drumshells were easier and less expensive to produce, they characteristically lacked the depth of sensitivity and tonal quality preferred by discriminating professionals. By applying his modern materials and production methods, Craviotto’s solid-shells set a new standard and his fame quickly spread among the world’s top drummers.
By the mid 1980’s, Johnny had joined with Billy Gibson (Huey Lewis and The News) to form the Select/Solid Snare Drum Company. Even though his first effort in the drum business lasted only a few years, the drums he created under the Select/Solid brand became highly collectible. In 1990 Johnny formed his own company, Craviotto Percussion, and two years later he was introduced to Don Lombardi (founder and president of Drum Workshop, Inc.) by close-friend and legendary studio drummer, Jim Keltner. For more than a decade, the availability of custom-quality DW snare drums made from Craviotto solid Maple and exotic wood shells further expanded Johnny’s reputation as a master drum builder and the reigning authority on the subject of solid-shell drum design.
Today, with the launch of the Craviotto Drum Company, Johnny continues to both refine and redefine the art and science of solid-shell drum construction. The perfect balance of old and new, tradition and innovation, craftsmanship and performance? or as close to perfect as humanly possible? Craviotto’s Limited Edition Solid-Shell snare drums are sure to accomplish something that only a handful of truly exceptional drums have ever been able to do: simultaneously raise the bar for drum makers and drum players.
Modern Drummer High Marks For Unlimited Edition Snare Drum Craviotto Unlimited Edition drums are very responsive, exhibit lots of overtones, and are very loud. The Trick machined aluminum throw-off operates smoothly and quietly, the 20-strand snares are responsive, and the 10-lug design allows great versatility of tuning. These drums offer articulation and sensitivity that’s very competitive with that of mid-priced multi-ply drums. Meanwhile, their single-shell construction offers a level of volume and sustain not often found at anyprice range.
Drum Magazine Great Review for the Craviotto Unlimited Edition Maple With the Unlimited Edition maple, Craviotto promises “high-end performance at a midrange price.” But is it a professional snare drum? Absolutely. It sounds and feels great, is very well crafted and nicely detailed, and even comes with a pair of drum sticks, an additional batter head, and a great Cordura case. It’s nice to see that even the masses can enjoy the finer things in life.
Modern Drummer Magazine Modern Drummer Reviews Craviotto Limited Edition Snares John Craviotto has created a series of solid-shell snare drums that expands and complements the range of high-end snare drums available today. These drums are worth searching out to see and hear for yourself. They’re finely crafted and beautifully finished, and they possess distinctive sounds. You can’t ask more from a custom instrument.
Rhythm Magazine Rhythm reviews the Craviotto Limited Edition Custom Snare "There’s a uniform appearance to the quartet of snares here that implies a strong, if subtle, brand image. And as far as the natural finishes are concerned, well, it would be a shame to hide away the loveliness of these shells. They’re not outlandishly figured but there’s a consistency and unspoilt beauty to the timber that deserves an audience.
Drum Magazine Raving Review From Drum Magazine "I have gushed freely in this review, but as someone who has made drums and makes his living with drums, it is rare to find such a high level of craftsmanship in such a seemingly simple instrument as a snare drum. Yet it is in those little details that the true caluie of a drum is found. This is what makes these drums worth the asking price. There are production line drums that cost more than these drums, and there are solid shell drums that cost less, but I've rarely seen a snare drum that has brought together so many elements of quality in such a beautiful and classic way. And when that happens, it ceases just being a drums, and becomes a piece of musical art."
Not So Modern Drummer Magazine Not So Modern Drummer runs the Johnny Craviotto Story "By the middle of 2003, Johnny along with his closest friends and associates, decided that the time was right for him to develop his own line of drums. So, in addition to providing component shells to other companies, Johnny began developing and building his own drums. At the January 2004 NAMM show in Anaheim, Johnny launched his own drum company, the Craviotto Drum Co. Although his first year’s production is limited to only 250 of each of the American Ash, Birdseye Maple, Black Cherry and Mahogany solid snare drum models, rest assured that the master drum builder has a lot more of tricks up his sleeves. "
Using a combination of hand-selected hardwoods and hand-crafted construction methods, Craviotto Solid Wood Drumshells begin as single, hand-selected planks of wood that are precision cut, steam-bent and painstakingly transformed into fine musical instruments.
Due to the organic variety of the grain pattern, density and mass of each board, this time-honored style of drum construction allows a distinctive quality of sound and response to emerge from each drum. Because each drum has its own inherent tonal and performance characteristics, not only do Craviotto drums differ from all others, each also subtly differs from one another. In other words, each and every Craviotto drum and drumshell has a unique voice all its own. This uniqueness and quality of materials along with the uncompromising attention to detail during all phases of Craviotto’s proprietary production process provides the physical and acoustical perfection that has made Craviotto drums and drumshells a legend among drummers and drum makers.
As a drummer and drum maker, Craviotto continues to refine the age-old art of solid-shell custom drum construction? building on his “solid” reputation as the reigning authority on the tradition. Craviotto drums remain among the most prestigious instruments of their kind and are used and endorsed by many of today’s leading drum artists. The perfect blend of tradition and innovation, Craviotto represents the world’s most classic drum design in its most modern form.
American Ash Ash is also one of the most popular woods for electric guitar and bass bodies. However, despite its availability, ease of use and excellent tonal characteristics, Ash has rarely been used in drum manufacturing. Perhaps its inclusion as one of the four select wood types in the Craviotto Limited Edition snare drum collection will help establish it as a mainstream material for drum construction, as well. Like all Craviotto snare drums, the American Ash models feature a custom-crafted solid shell with matching reinforcing hoops, carefully applied and inspected sound edges and snare beds, exclusive “Diamond” tube lugs and the highest quality components, including a state-of-the-art GS007 throw-off by Trick, Remo drumheads, Puresound snare wires and a choice of 2.3mm steel triple-flanged, vintage-style brass or heavy-duty diecast counterhoops? all with highly polished nickel-plating. Craviotto Limited Edition American Ash snare drums are available in a choice of two traditional sizes and, along with their lightning-fast stick response, both drums possess a clean, penetrating sound that is slightly darker and drier than Maple yet brighter and fuller than Birch? creating a unique collection of drums that offer a level of performance that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
Birds Eye Maple Birdseye figuring occurs in only a small percentage of all Maple trees. As unpredictable as it is rare, Birdseye is random in pattern and appearance and is not created by soil, wind, climate or other external conditions like other types of figuring that are present in Maple variants such as Curly, Quilted and Fiddleback. Instead, it is part of each tree’s genetic make-up? much like freckles in human beings. This individuality of appearance complements the wood’s tonal personality and makes each drum even more unusual and unique. Craviotto’s Maple solid-shells have long been used to create many of the world’s most popular and prolific snare drums. The shell features a single, steam-bent piece of highly-figured North American Rock maple with matching one-piece reinforcing hoops at the top and bottom to help maintain the strength and shape of the shell while raising it’s pitch for increased power and projection. Craviotto Limited Edition Birdseye Maple snare drums are acclaimed for their unsurpassed visual beauty as well as their uncommon consistency, stick response and articulation. With a tonal character that features a well-balanced blend of low-end body, midrange focus and high-end crack, Craviotto Birdseye Maple snare drums have the quality and versatility to excel in both general-purpose and special-purpose drumming situations.
Maple Craviotto’s original Maple Solid-Shells have been used to create some of the world’s most popular snare drums. The shell features a single, steam-bent piece of North American Rock maple with matching one-piece reinforcing hoops at the top and bottom. Besides being a traditional design element in many classic drums, the reinforcing hoops help maintain the strength and shape of the drum while raising its pitch for increased power and projection.
Craviotto Maple shells are noted for their characteristic blend of low-end body, midrange focus and high-end crack as well as its unsurpassed consistency, response and articulation. Available in a complete range of sizes to meet the needs of any performance situation, the shells include bearing edges and snare beds that are painstakingly applied.
Snare Drums made from Craviotto Maple Solid ?Shells are used by many of today’s leading drum artists, including: Terry Bozzio (solo artist), Scott Crago (Eagles), Sheila E. (solo artist), Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle), Tommy Igoe (independent), Tris Imboden (Chicago), Kenney Dale Johnson (Chris Isaak), Jim Keltner (studio legend), Joe Morello (independent), Gary Novak (independent), Neil Peart (Rush), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Chester Thompson (Phil Collins) and Paul Wertico (independent).
Exotic Solid Shells Offering a more exclusive, more esoteric choice of performance and appearance, Craviotto Exotic Wood Solid-Shells provide drummers with an extended range of tonal and visual options. And, while the natural differences in color and figure are more visible, each type of wood naturally creates its own set of performance parameters, too. Although drums with Mahogany and highly-figured Curly and Birdseye Maple shells have been quite musically and commercially successful throughout the history of modern drumming, Cherry, Birch, Oak and Walnut have more recently become among the most popular Exotic woods.
Lake Superior The world’s first drum made from a single piece of 700 year-old wood salvaged from the bottom of Lake Superior was built by Craviotto and presented to Ron Spagnardi, the publisher and founder of Modern Drummer magazine, in May of 1998. Truly unique in tone and appearance due to its advanced age and preservation in the depths of the lake, a legend was born.
Early the following year, Craviotto introduced the Limited Edition Lake Superior Solid Maple 5.5x14" Snare Drum which featured an exquisite Birdseye Maple shell with engraved hoops and 24k Gold-plated hardware. These 200 drums rocked the drum world and were quickly treasured by both players and collectors.
In 2002, a second edition of 100 Lake Superior Solid-Shell Birch 5.5x14" Snare Drums was released to similar acclaim. The new Lake Superior models incorporate a solid 700-year-old Birch shell with engraved hoops and the classic look of Nickel-plated hardware.
Mahogany Not only is the Mahogany used for Craviotto drums selected and harvested from forests in Peru where only two trees out of a thousand are taken so as not to disturb the delicate ecological balance, the Craviotto Drum Company regularly contributes to replanting Mahogany and other types of trees in forests around the world. During the first half of the 20th Century, Mahogany was a common shell material for drums made by revered American companies like Ludwig, Leedy and Slingerland. In fact, vintage drums using the classic Mahogany shell and Maple reinforcing hoop design remain highly-coveted by many collectors. However, these instruments should not be confused with more recent student model drums made from “Philippine” Mahogany in areas such as Japan, Taiwan, China and Indonesia. Craviotto Limited Edition Mahogany snare drums have a distinctively dark, earthy tonal quality derived from the more porous, less dense wood that naturally filters the instrument’s high frequencies. The Maple reinforcing hoops are used as a way to help counterbalance the Mahogany’s prominent lower overtones? stabilizing the shell, raising the pitch and increasing its projection without sacrificing its unique tonal tendencies.
The Craviotto Custom Shop was established to meet the needs of drummers and drum collectors who have requested access to a wider, more personal range of drum types, sizes and appearance and performance options than were originally offered in the Limited Edition series. Players who order drums from the Craviotto Custom Shop will not only be able to choose from an extensive selection of woods, dimensions, finishes and hardware, they will also be able to consult directly with Johnny Craviotto as their drums are being designed and produced. Custom Shop drums feature a full complement of premium components as well as the flawless workmanship that has made Craviotto a legend among drummers and drum builders. From their personalized "Craviotto Custom Shop" drum badge to their unparalleled tone and unprecedented individuality, these "one-off" instruments are sure to provide their owners with a lifetime of spectacular, "one-of-a-kind" performance.
Craviotto Solid Shell Snare Drums Works of Art For Working Drummers Many collectors prize Craviotto drums. We're flattered. Craviotto Custom Shop drums are unique, featuring extraordinary rare or figured woods, special finishes, and custom sizes. The Craviotto Lake Superior maple and birch limited edition snares, presented by Drum Workshop, became modern legends. The stunning birdseye maple, rich real mahogany, vibrant cherry, and bold ash of the Craviotto limited edition drums makes each a visual treat. But all Craviotto drums are made to be played, with fittings built to Johnny's exacting, "working drummer" specifications, and supplied with throwoffs, such as the Trick GS 007 and the Dunnett R Class, that are sturdy, swift, silent, and state-of-the art. Craviotto drums combine the best of vintage sound and classic design with modern durability. Craviotto Unlimited snares take the working drummer ethic to the highest level. Works of art? Yes. Delicate flowers? Absolutely not. Craviotto Unlimiteds feature One piece Eastern Hardrock maple shells for rock solid sound and reliability, matching reinforcing rings, Remo Ambassador heads, Craviotto Diamond Cast Lugs and custom snares, Dunnett R Class throwoff, sturdy gig bag, key and a spare head and set of sticks. These drums live to gig, and are priced with working musicians in mind. Definitely NOT for display purposes only. Craviotto Unlimited Series Solid Shell Snare Drums
Unlimited Craviotto Unlimited Series Solid Shell Snare Drums Developed to provide drummers with an extraordinary alternative for everyday situations, the new Unlimited Edition solid-shell maple snare drum from Craviotto is the one drum for all occasions. These superbly crafted instruments are created from a single piece of hand-selected, premium-grade North American maple and combine their classic solid-shell design with Craviotto’s proprietary bending, curing and finishing processes.This unique combination of methods and materials not only ensures the strength and stability of the shell, it also gives the drum its distinctive and highly desirable warmth, depth and sensitivity. In addition to Craviotto’s legendary solid maple shell with matching top and bottom reinforcing hoops and precisely applied bearing edges, each Unlimited Edition drum features exclusive “Diamond” cast lugs, badge and butt-plate. A rich, hand-rubbed natural satin oil finish further enhances the drum’s overall appearance and performance.
The Unlimited Edition’s extensive list of standard equipment also includes chrome-plated, heavy-gauge, triple-flanged counterhoops, Dunnett R Class Throw Off, deluxe snare wires, top-quality Ambassador® drumheads by Remo, Craviotto drumkey and maple drumsticks. All Unlimited drums are shipped in a specially-designed, reinforced cordura drum bag with an external pocket and spare drumhead.
Now available at leading drum shops in your choice of color and size options?including the new 5.5x13”, and 6.5x13” models?the Craviotto Unlimited solid-shell maple snare drum is a great, all-around “workhorse” that’s well-suited for any musical style. In fact, with its unsurpassed quality, consistency and versatility, the Unlimited Edition’s sound and performance possibilities are? as its name clearly states? unlimited.
Limited Craviotto Limited Series Solid Shell Snare Drums The Limited Edition Snare Drum Collection are the flagship drums of the Craviotto Drum Co., and consist of high-performance and highly collectible solid-shell snare drums, made from exotic woods. American Ash, Birdseye Maple, Black Cherry and Mahogany allow a distinctive quality of sound and response to emerge due to the organic variety in the grain pattern and density and mass of each board. The rarity and limited availability of these exotic woods is what makes these drums Limited, with only 250 sequentially numbered drums of each collection produced.
American Ash is a hard, strong yet relatively easy to process wood that has rarely been used in drum manufacturing - despite its availability, ease of use and excellent tonal characteristics. Perhaps its inclusion as one of the four select wood types in the Craviotto Limited Edition snare drum collection will help establish it as a mainstream material for drum construction, as well. Craviotto Limited Edition American Ash snare drums with matching reinforcing hoops are available in a choice of two traditional sizes and, along with their lightning-fast stick response, both drums possess a clean, penetrating sound that is slightly darker and drier than Maple yet brighter and fuller than Birch? creating a unique collection of drums that offer a level of performance that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
The natural individuality of pattern and appearance found with Birdseye Maple complements the wood's tonal personality and makes each drum even more unusual and unique - not only from other woods, but from one another. The Birdseye Maple snare drums are acclaimed for their unsurpassed visual beauty as well as their uncommon consistency, stick response and articulation. Its tonal character features a well-balanced blend of low-end body, midrange focus and high-end crack. This drum is fitted with matching reinforcing hoops.
Cherry wood has traditionally been chosen for cabinets, furniture and interior trim. In addition to becoming increasingly popular for home, office and automotive use, musical instruments made from Black Cherry wood have also experienced a growth in demand. The ruddy, reddish-brown color of the wood provides a distinctive appearance while its hardness and density contribute to its highly desirable tonal properties. The impressive aesthetic and acoustic qualities of Cherry wood are further enhanced by they care and superior workmanship that goes into all Craviotto solid-shell snare drums. The Black Cherry snare drums, fitted with matching reinforcing hoops, offer a bright, high-pitched focused sound with the sensitivity, tone and response that is well-suited for a wide variety of classical and contemporary musical applications.
The Mahogany snare drums have a distinctively dark, earthy tonal quality derived from the more porous, less dense wood that naturally filters the instrument’s high frequencies. The Maple reinforcing hoops are used as a way to help counterbalance the Mahogany’s prominent lower overtones? stabilizing the shell, raising the pitch and increasing its projection without sacrificing its unique tonal tendencies.
Each drum in the Limited Edition Snare Drum Collection features hand-selected, handcrafted shells and gleaming nickel-plated hardware along with premium-quality components including Craviotto's "Diamond" tube lugs, Remo Ambassador drumheads and Puresound 21-strand snare wires. All drums come with a heavy-duty, padded Craviotto drum bag, and Trick GS 007 strainer. Options include a choice of heavy-gauge (2.3mm) triple-flanged Vintage style straight or diecast counterhoops and natural satin oil or high-gloss lacquer finishes.
solid shell sets Craviotto Classic & Tonal Balance Despite sporadic attempts, and a few isolated prototypes, no drum manufacturer has succeeded in producing solid shell drumsets for the American market-until now. This is hardly surprising. For example, the machinery necessary to steam bend, mold, lathe, turn and finish round single ply bass drum shells, that will stay true, has proven an especially daunting task, considered to be impractical, and too costly for production purposes. Premium boards large enough to be fashioned into the 22" and 24" bass drums now finding renewed favor are scarce, and transforming them into musical instruments is a daunting process. Johnny Craviotto thinks its worth it. When you play a Craviotto kit, whether you favor Craviotto Classic traditional jazz sizes, the Custom Shop's thunderous Big Band sizes, or the progressive, streamlined Tonal Balance series, we thank you'll agree: nothing else sounds like a one ply kit.
Craviotto Classic and Tonal Balance series solid shell drumsets feature Craviotto’s signature natural solid wood shell in their selection of Bass, Tom & Snare drums. It’s the Sound that counts... Craviotto Drum Company’s solid shell construction creates the tonal balance revered by engineers and artists, regardless of the size, dimensions and specifications.