Jasper Drum Shells-What you didn't know!

We take a look at The Jasper Wood Company history, and the family behind it, with the goal of exploring their journey into making their iconic drum shells that have become legendary in the drum making industry.
They started out with Rogers drums and then went on to play a huge role in the development of plywood drum shells and played a part in the formula that became "That Great Gretsch Sound", a recipe that is still being used in today's high end Gretsch kits.
The company closed down in 2003 for reasons that have been somewhat misunderstood, but we cover that here as well.
All the early employees are gone now, and information that has been passed on is getting harder to find and some memories of those who worked there differ at times, so I am hoping that the research done for this video remains as a record of this beloved drum shell maker.
I welcome any information in the comments that would add to, or correct, the record. My goal is to get it right.
I hope you enjoy the video!

[@Drumsonsale1988]

Took a tour of the Gretsch factory about a decade ago… Fred Gretsch actually purchased all the Jasper shell molds when they closed and was going to make their shells in house again. The machinery was just too old/rough to set up to get working, so they then partnered with Keller who built molds specifically for them to keep the specs the same (the classic 6 ply Gretsch shell is 1/16” larger than most other brands) I’m sure those machines are still sitting in the Gretsch drum factory to this day… that place is a hoarders paradise for all the different brands Gretsch owned and produced over the past 50+ years!

[@eddieavakian]

Great info! I appreciate you sharing that bit of personal knowledge.

[@Rogersdrumvideos]

Phenomenal brother. The best compilation of Jasper information in existence. Your hard work is appreciated. I’m honored to be part of it. Thank you !

[@eddieavakian]

Thanks Anthony. You’re deep dive into the details is always impressive and I’m grateful for your contribution to this video, but more importantly, to the preservation and education your put forward to drum history. DNA testing wood!! Love it!

[@ericessenberg3591]

I’ve driven through Jasper a few times and I can testify that it is a beautiful town great architecture and an amazing country feel.

[@tmaddrummer]

This is the first video I've watched in 2024.... it was well worth the wait. Thanks and Blessings!

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you! I appreciate you saying so. Happy new year! ✌️✌️

[@tuknchuk]

That was SIMPLY AWESOME !!! Thanks so much for making this video and sharing !!! Just delightful !!! 😊

[@christianjensen5523]

Interesting!

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you

[@shannonedens7854]

I have a set of Fibes with maple/gum Jasper shells. They sound amazing!

[@user-ds4cw2cr8e]

I can't thank you enough I really enjoyed that I love the history of drums from making kinds of wood that gives it the sound so thank you I can't get enough I'll be looking forward to your next video bless you

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you so much!

[@timbofromkeno]

This is such niche content, but I hope you know this is the kind of content I LIVE FOR. Thanks for doing what you do, Eddie!

[@timbofromkeno]

And dude, I had no clue that the earlier 3-ply Cleveland Rogers shells were from Jasper. I had a 20-12-14 prototype kit back in the day that showed off the "new" beavertail lugs. It was wacky in the best way, and it was probably the best sounding drum kit I've ever owned. But it definitely fell into the "collectible" realm more than the "player" realm, so I ultimately sent it on to another home.

[@TheDarkDiaries-sw9re]

@@timbofromkeno hey Timbo. Thanks for the reach out! It’s great to hear from you and other people like you who appreciate videos like this. Not too many people watched this one compare to some of my other ones and I’m surprised because Jasper has been a bit of a mystery and there aren’t many videos on them. My go to kit is an early Rogers Jasper kit and n like yours, sounds amazing. I did video on it. Check it out if you haven’t already. Talk soon man!

[@DylanWissing]

Great stuff! I spent a lot of time in Jasper as a kid - my grandmother lived there, and ran the Occupational Therapy department at the local hospital in the '70s-'80s. I remember well her telling me that a lot of her work consisted of teaching people who had their limbs mangled in the machinery at the Jasper Wood factory how to adapt to new employment (long before I had any sense that they were making drum shells).

[@eddieavakian]

Oh man. I guess OSHA policies hadn’t been in full effect back then. I tried to find as many ex employees as possible in my research. Was only able to reach a couple. Jasper looks like a beautiful community. One day I’d love to visit. Thanks for speaking up about your personal Jasper experiences Dylan.

[@scottgordon497]

Wow! Makes me wonder how many people were mangled making my drums.

[@richmonddrums3780]

Superb video - great to have all this information drawn together in a well researched, non waffling presentation! Top work

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you so much! Getting as much information about these shells, and the people behind them, in one short video was definitely the goal. Thanks for checking it out! ✌️

[@DrummingMan1]

I believe Fred Pepper with Canwood drums Saskatchewan Canada used Jasper shells in the 70s and early 80s! I had a kit refinished EPEK percussion, Ed Pek told me shells were Jasper maple! They sound beautiful, of course!

[@weschilton]

Super informative video thanks!

[@eddieavakian]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@themikelewis94]

Great vid dude!

[@eddieavakian]

@@themikelewis94 thanks! I appreciate it!

[@thomastornroos7393]

This is extremely interesting - and very well done 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you Thomas!

[@ericferry4704]

Great presentation! It’s so hard to get any info on drum shells of the past!

[@eddieavakian]

Thanks Eric. I agree, it’s hard to get the info and it’s getting harder as people from that era are passing on. I’m hoping my research will serve to preserve some of this history.

[@wendysyphurs1000]

I love your videos so nice 😊

[@eddieavakian]

Thanks Wendy

[@adrianrivera-negron8280]

Tremendous video!! All this information is very interesting and helps to demystify, with the data of your research, what has been said for decades that there is something special in the sound quality of the shells made by Jasper. With the information that you bring, I can understand that these rumors, more than myths, are reality and are basically based on the way, the technology and the materials that Jasper developed to make his shells!! It would be extremely interesting to be able to make a scientific-sound comparison of the same Gretsch models made by these two large companies to see the differences and sound variations.

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you so much Adrian. That sound comparison would be interesting to hear for sure.

[@Ebut191]

Excellent. It's like learning your own musical heritage. Could you go Down Under and do a history of Australia's Drouyn Drums made in Brisbane Queensland during the 50s- 70s. And maybe across the Atlantic for England's Premier and Hayman?

[@eddieavakian]

I’m not familiar at all with Drouyn. I’ll have to check them out. Premier and Hayman will likely be ones I’ll be doing tho.

[@d_k_C_A]

Education is always good!

[@henriklinder8661]

There are a Swedish Custom brand “Proper Drums” that were made by Jasper shells and I believe Gretsch hardware by Bengt Nordgren to were a really good set. I used one used 10”x10” to make a 10”x7”(-ish) that sound really good! Proper were super shells!!

[@eddieavakian]

Thanks for letting me know about Proper Drums! I’ve never heard of them.

[@earldrum]

Another great research video Eddie! Very cool you should be on Drum History Podcast! 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you Earl. I learned quite a bit myself making this one. I love drum history podcast. Bart does a fantastic job and service to our community! ✌️✌️✌️

[@earldrum]

@@eddieavakian go to his site and submit your last few videos on drum shells. He probably ask you to be on the show! You have a lot of knowledge to share. He had the audience! I did his show in January on drum magazines. He is super nice person too! Great topic!

[@eddieavakian]

@@earldrum thanks Earl. I need to go back and find your episode! I spoke to Bart a while back and you’re spot on about him being a super cool guy. He did extend an invitation to me. My only hesitation at the time was that I wanted to prepare a specific topic that would be interesting to his viewers. Maybe I’m over thinking it but I tend to to do that!😳

[@TheRoomboom]

thanks for the video, hardness is not to be confused with stiffness that drives natural frequency of the shell. Besides the important parameter is the damping ratio which I guess is higher (than maple) for gumwood or poplar. FYI there was a French drummer (Capelle) who used the same type of electric process and claimed hi fret current would take out any bubble in the glue.

[@eddieavakian]

Thank you for the added insight Thomas! It’s interesting to see just how far wood science has progressed in drum making from the early days. When I was reading those patents I had to remind myself just how revolutionary some of those processes were back then.

[@vazquez808]

Brother, I just learned so much. There is so little info on jasper. Thanks

[@eddieavakian]

Yeah man I know. And every day there are less people left alive who can give you any info on the early years. Your comment means a lot to me. Thank you!!

[@josephg.bradetich3064]

70 grestch kit

[@josephg.bradetich3064]

Cool my grestch could have Wiscon maple

[@brianchisnell1548]

At least my Ludwigs and Slingerlands have their own shells.

[@eddieavakian]

Yes indeed!

[@brianchisnell1548]

@@eddieavakian 49 RK's and '69 Luds. When the families owned the companies. Just love these!

[@luism.mendezrosario3569]

What year did Gretsch start using Jasper shells?

[@eddieavakian]

Hi Luis. I don’t know the exact year but it was late 50s. I’d estimate somewhere around 1958 but not positive.

[@luism.mendezrosario3569]

@@eddieavakian thanks sir. I have a Gretsch kit (1979) and I want to know if it is a jasper shell. Thanks for your help sir.

[@miker5233]

LED and Ludwig Drums

[@eddieavakian]

Led Zep?

[@Diesel0807]

I always found it funny how sloppy keller shells were put together.. the plys ofter didnt really line up and tney would just fill the gaps with putty.. one could see this clearly on the DW kits in tne 90s the finish work was rough as well.. compared to say a Yamaha or Sonor shell they seemed pretty shoddy quality wise

[@eddieavakian]

I did another video on Keller. I got a lot of early DW owners who love their drums w Keller shells. Have you seen a quality improvement since those 90s shells? No doubt that Yamaha and Sonor have always maintained quality shells. My two favorite kits are both Rogers, an early 60s w Jasper and and late 60s w Keller.

[@robertacurtis8804]

😢 P R O M O S M

[@mikeschumacher9715]

Almost 5 minutes of history, NOT on drums. REEDONCULOUS!

[@eddieavakian]

Hi Mike. As the name implies the video is about understanding the company. The history is a big part of that. I spent alot of time researching information and interviewing people to bring out information that has never been put together in one video before so that the history of this legendary company can be preserved. There are a lot of drum videos out there talking about the drums but I wanted to bring new information to the table. Sorry you didn’t like the video.

[@Camcodrummer]

If not mistaken Gretsch has some Jasper shells still in house they use for special customers.

[@eddieavakian]

Thats interesting. I have not heard this but I can see it being possible. Where did you hear this?

[@Camcodrummer]

@@eddieavakian I just watched I think..Sweetwater visits Gretsch??. And they spoke of the special section or corner..something like that. It's a stock of old Jasper shells I will look to find the video and try to link it here.

[@Camcodrummer]

​@@eddieavakianit was a podcast with Vinny and Carlok . Vinny had his last Gretsch kit wrapped in white and they used left over Jasper shells they had in stock. The podcast is 2 years old and I think he had the kit made in 2010...so ...