Hey Frankie,

good points indeed.

With all this kind of stuff there's a balance to be struck, the lifecycle of a modern drum is different to that of a 'traditional' instrument. Traditional makers (Charlie Byrne or Paul McAuley for example) did/do very little to the skin except wet it and place it on the drum, modern makers do a lot more work to bring the drum to immediate playability to meet the demands of the contemporary marketplace. I'm not sure I'd claim traditional makers for lax workmen but I think that you are probably referring to W_altons (now all made in China), R-oundstone or any number of eastern manufacturers who just don't get it - in that case I'd say those are a triumph of commercialism over quality

It is my experience that drum once played in will continue to perform for a number of years including its optimum period and then will become 'played out', this is where the skin's fibres have stretched to their maximum extent and there no longer remains anywhere for it to go

The problem that I see with buying a drum that has been chemically 'played in' is that the chemical process affects the internal structure of the skin and if you buy a drum that has been chemically prepped essentially you have a drum with a reduced lifespan. The degree to which the skins have peen prepped is therefore important.

Personally this is the reason why I do not like the dragonskin drums or the part-tanned models occasionally made by Paul McAuley or Rohan Young. These feel like chamois and whilst they give a soft 'boomy' sound they lack 'attack'; in addition I have technical reservations over their potential lifespan. I have heard stories of some of these soft drums 'dying' very quickly.

There's a balance between preparation for 'soft-sound' and preparation for 'reasonable lifespan' and still meeting a buyer's expectations of playable sound from the box. Yes makers can make you a drum as soft-sounding as you like but there's a trade-off.

I think that a drum should arrive at a purchaser with some way yet to go before it reaches its optimum through playing, YMMV :)

Great to have you engaging on the forums Frankie, all good stuff to be discussing