10/02

In 1999, when Drum Workshop first unveiled its Timeless Timber drumsets, a unique quality of sound as well as a new standard of visual beauty was created from the 500-year old hardwood discovered on the bottom of Lake Superior. DW’s original Lake Superior Maple drumsets were prized by collectors and professionals alike. This year, to celebrate the drum company’s 30th Anniversary, another limited edition of the popular yet rare drumsets will be produced out of Lake Superior Birch.

According to Drum Workshop’s vice-president and drum designer John Good, the new Lake Superior drums are just as unique as their predecessors. "This highly-figured Birch has many of the same characteristics as the Birdseye Maple we found in the late ‘90’s," comments Good. "But, it also has a richness of tone and appearance of its own. In this regard, the drums are not only different from every other drum on the planet, the wood is also different from the Maple logs that were raised from the lake earlier."

The bonanza of slow-growth trees found on the bottom of Lake Superior was harvested by under-water treasure hunters who came across the sunken forest almost by accident. As they were clearing their view, the divers discovered thousands of logs that had sunk during the trip to local sawmills over 100 year ago. By inspecting, measuring and researching the trees, historians were able to determine that many of the trees had been growing for 500 or more years before they were felled. In addition to their advanced age, more intense figuring and greater density, the years in the deep, cold water had also cured the wood, thus providing an uncommonly musical temperament when used to create drums.

DW’s Lake Superior Birch kits are available in a standard seven-piece configuration including 7x8", 8x10", 9x12", 12x14" and 14x16" F.A.S.T. toms with a choice of 16x20" or 18x22" bass drum and matching 5x14" or 6x14" snare drum with "candy black burst" lacquer finish and satin-chrome hardware. A beautifully framed, personalized plaque, which features a history of the wood, serial number, wood swatch and photograph of the raw shells for each kit, is also included with each drumset. Furthermore, only 200 of the 30th Anniversary Lake Superior Birch Timeless Timber drumsets will be produced— giving a handful of drummers a rare, second chance to be part of musical history.

For more information, see your local Drum Workshop dealer or contact DW at 3450 Lunar Court, Oxnard, CA 93030, USA, tel: (805) 485-6999, fax: (805) 485-1334, internet: www.dwdrums.com.