Lovingly hand-made in France. I have been to the ASBA workshop in Lyon France - these drums are on par with the top custom drums being made. Not to be compared with high production, mass market drums. Shells are hand-cut, edges hand sanded, wood is hand oiled, lug casings are hand packed, etc.
This fabulous ASBA set is 9x13, 16x16, 16x22. The finish is their "Marcel Blanche" which is a silver sparkle wrap that is quite beautiful. This is the Revelation series and the shells are wonderful 3 ply vintage-style mahogany/poplar/mahogany with birch reinforcing rings - this construction is reminiscent of the great vintage WFL drums of the '50's and the early '60's drums of Ludwig - these produce a warm and musical tone that is still sought-after today. Gorgeous set and the shells sound incredible. These drums are incredibly well made and are a joy to play.
Here is the ASBA story:
Hand made in Lyon, France, ASBA's rich history dates back to 1927. Throughout the years ASBA created many very innovative products, especially in the 60s and 70s. Their drums were superbly made and they also designed the famous ASBA "Caroline" bass drum pedal in 1965. That pedal was used by the likes of Mitch Mitchell, jazz greats Joe Porcaro and Albert "Tootie" Heath, and many other artists of this era. The pedal was so good that it was distributed in the USA by Ludwig at the time. ASBA drums were played by many of the USA's finest players including Al Foster (studio legend and also with Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, etc), jazz great Daniel Humair (who, by the way, gifted an ASBA set to Mel Lewis at one point. Mel said in a 1978 interview that he used to use it for small trio dates). Even the incomparable Elvin Jones endorsed ASBA drums at one time.
ASBA flourished during this era and their drums were sold in more than 25 countries, however, in 1983 the pressure from competitors manufacturing in Asia caused the company to close.
Thankfully, in 2016 Guillaume Pornet embarked on relaunching ASBA and developed an excellent team. They design and manufacture their shells and parts and have created superb products that not only pay tribute to the excellent original ASBA line, but also create superb instruments that meet the demands of any modern drummer. The ASBA drum sets and snare drums are superbly crafted by hand in their Lyon, France factory. There is something here for everyone: Superb kits for jazz, rock, fusion, and any other application. The sets capture all three of the classic shell compositions used during the 50s through 70s: 3 ply mahogany/poplar/mahogany; 3 ply maple/poplar/maple, and 6 ply maple. This set is the Revelation series.
Many of the sounds, grooves and players that inspired today's best rock drummers come from a time when this ply configuration was the rule. Although these shells are based on classic 70's drums, the Mahogany/poplar/mahogany shells are in a class of their own. They have a wide adjustement range, a warm tone, a round attack and a fast decrease.
More detailsA reference to the classic sounds of the 50's, the Mahogany / Poplar / Mahogany configuration is one of the warmest ones. Depth and character are more pronounced in quieter and softer musical settings, while large round sounds appea when things get a little louder.
Shells: "vintage" manufacturing 3-ply Mahogany / Poplar / Mahogany according to exclusive ASBA specifications in line with the brand's historical manufacturing method. Bearing edge: rounded with beechwood reinforcement ring 45° bevelled Drum parts: High quality chromed drum parts, exclusively designed as per ASBA 60s Hoops: Chrome on Die cast Manufacturing: Handcrafted in Lyon-France Preparation: Application of high quality wax inside the shells Stamp: Each shell stamped with the date of the day of final assembly Drumhead Fit Control Technology: All our shells undergo a rigorous control, ensuring the perfect flatness of our bearing edges. This technology guarantees a very high precision contact between the drumhead and the shell. The result is a huge tuning range, from the most "fat" sound to the most vocal settings. Whatever expressiveness you are looking for, the ASBA shells offer you the ultimate in musical quality.
IF YOU WANT A VERY HIGH-QUALITY DRUM SET THAT SOUNDS KILLER AND THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS, THIS IS IT!!
$4445 List price, now being blown out for only $2500
Contact me for an accurate shipping cost - I will need your zip code and contact info - USA SHIPPING ONLY.