A note from the technician.

My vintage-drum journey began in 2008. I was playing the drums full-time, but on modern instruments. Through nothing but luck, I happened upon a 1962 Rogers Dynasonic snare (with the 7-line shell with bread & butter lugs!) at a yard sale for $10. The drum was filthy, a few parts were missing, and several lugs were cracked. Getting that drum into playing shape was a fun challenge, and one I would handle very differently today. My love for vintage drums only grew from there, and I have now been lucky to work on and own drums and percussion instruments from all the top manufacturers of the 20th century. I maintain a significant collection of vintage instruments for my own use – and to teach my kids. My wife is a percussionist, and we are privileged to own some vintage Deagan keyboard instruments.

Merit Drums started as a passion project for me, and I remain reluctant to compromise. You won’t find me working with inferior tools or materials, or taking the “quick and easy” approach to any task. I know there’s nothing wrong with simply hand-buffing a chrome-plated drum by hand with a cloth and Turtle Wax, but I do it with a high-speed buffer and progressive compounds up to jeweler’s rouge. “Do your best,” as they say.

I can’t fix everything, so I will decline any job with which I’m not experienced and comfortable. I do not drill or cut acrylic shells (e.g. Ludwig Vistalites) or shells made from any exotic material I haven’t successfully worked on previously (e.g. concrete, glass, etc). If you need that work, I am happy to refer you to another technician.

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