Craviotto
CRANKS IT
up to 11!
2015
Catalog
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CraviottoDrums.com
ets
Johnny Craviotto
Master Drum Builder
Craviotto Solid Shell Drums
Solid vs. Ply — Our Story
Becoming the foremost authority on drum construction, hand
craftsmanship, and one-ply, solid shell construction takes determination, patience, dedication, and persistence.
Craviotto
Johnny is not only a legendary drum builder, he’s a legendary
drummer. The hands that handcraft Craviotto Drums today once
held the sticks for Rock ‘N’ Roll pioneers Ry Cooder, Buffy St.
Marie, Moby Grape, and Neil Young.
It was during that time that Johnny became interested in the history and construction of drums. Always an avid collector, Johnny
began to study and refine the art of drum building. Through
extensive research, experimentation, practice, and patience,
Johnny developed his own unique formula for building drum
shells from a single piece of steam-bent hardwood.
By using the finest hand-selected hardwoods, premium grade
proprietary components, along with the handcrafted construction
methods Johnny developed in his years of research and experimentation, Craviotto Drum Company has been able to transform
solid planks of wood into exquisite musical instruments.
Craviotto’s proprietary process advanced the one-ply, solid shell
concept by significantly improving the consistency, quality, and
integrity of the drum shell. As a result, drummers no longer had
to sacrifice quality and craftsmanship. Craviotto one-ply, solid
shell drums contain the perfect balance of tradition, innovation,
craftsmanship, and performance.
Every drum that Craviotto Drum Company makes is a solid
shell drum. Whether it’s a 15x24" American Ash Bass Drum or a
4x14" Black Cherry Snare Drum, Craviotto solid shell drums are
made using hand-selected premium solid wood boards that are
steam-bent into a custom Craviotto solid drum shell. Our craftsmen scour the United States and abroad in an effort to locate the
perfect boards necessary to meet our sonic and visual standards.
Solid vs. Ply . . . Here’s Why!
Ply shell drums are comprised of several thin sheets of wood, or
plies. Those plies are glued together and molded into a circular
drum shell. Because each ply is not visible, there is no way of
knowing if any imperfections exist. Imperfections can alter the
sound and structural integrity of the shell. The glue used to combine the plies drastically dampens the shell’s ability to resonate
or sing.
Because Craviotto solid shell drums use only solid wooden
boards, the process is controlled and we hand-select each board
Others
that becomes one of our famous solid drum shells. Craviotto
solid drum shells use much less glue than ply shells. Therefore,
the solid drum shell is much lighter in weight and can resonate,
breathe, and vibrate freely.
After playing a Craviotto solid shell drum, you may notice the
wide tuning range and vast color palette available to you. Perhaps you’ll notice the increased projection, sonic clarity, and the
enhanced dynamic range. Whether in the studio, theater, or large
concert venue, Craviotto solid shell drums have a presence that
can be felt as well as heard. There simply is no comparison when
it comes to projection, warmth, and resonance.
Craviotto Drums are known all over the world for their unsurpassed sonic beauty, their attention to detail, the immense range
of sounds and colors that are available in each instrument, and
their unmatched physical beauty. Craviotto solid shell drums are
the canvas and you are the artist. Create your masterpiece with a
Craviotto solid shell drum.
The image on the left shows a ply shell
with the inner plies exposed. As you
can see, the inner plies are composed
of non-face grade woods which may
contain imperfections, expansion gaps,
and small fissures. Also, notice that the
plies are glued then staggered running
both vertically and horizontally.
Embarking on our 11th year, Craviotto Drum Company continues
to thrive as the industry leader in handcrafting the world’s finest
one-ply, solid shell snare drums and drum sets. Whether creating
boutique instruments for discerning artists, dialing in just the
right timbre for selective studio engineers, or handcrafting that
custom dream drum set for drummers around the world, each
Craviotto drum shell wears Johnny’s fingerprints, sweat, and
signature with pride.
A signature CRAVIOTTO ONE-PLY, solid
shell is only minimally adhered twice:
where the shell comes together at the
joint, and when the reinforcement hoop
is inserted. One-ply, solid shells feature
drum building in its truest, most
natural state.
From Johnny’s hands to yours, trust the experienced hands of
Johnny Craviotto, Master Drum Builder.
Johnny Craviotto
CraviottoDrums.com
CraviottoDrums.com
New! for 2015
Solid Wood Timbales
Center Stage Drum Set
The Perfect Addition
Finally, a center lug kit that’s worthy of taking center stage.
Craviotto’s new Center Stage drum set embodies every ounce of handcrafted
quality and unsurpassed craftsmanship that Craviotto Drum Company has built
our reputation on.
Craviotto’s solid Wood Timbales . . . rooted in tradition,
refined for the present.
Developed in collaboration with several of our artists, Craviotto’s
innovative and revolutionary Wood Timbales provide the scintillating soul found in traditional timbales and a whole lot more. Craviotto’s Timbales feature the enormous tuning range our one-ply,
solid shells are famous for. Whether tuned high for ultimate clarity
or lower for a mellow mix, our Timbales perform tastefully and add
new dimensions of color to your musical palette.
Traditionally, center lug kits were geared towards
the entry-level market. Not anymore!
Craviotto’s Center Stage drum sets feature our
signature one-ply, solid Maple shells finished with
our center mounted cast lug. Due to weight differential between our solid brass tube lugs and our
lightweight cast lug, Center Stage drums open up
quickly, tune easily, sing with clarity, and sparkle
with resonance. The shallower depths respond
quickly with a clear note. Articulate, responsive,
and sonorous, Center Stage drum sets shine in the
studio and glisten live.
Craviotto Wood Timbales feature our handcrafted side-mounted
cascara plate, diamond mounting system, and customized
brass hoops.
Available in 12” to 15” diameters, Craviotto’s Wood Timbales are
also the perfect addition to your existing drum set. These timbales
can sing, shout, and scream so tune them up or down to achieve
your desired sound. Whether you’re playing Mambos or Merengue,
Reggae or Rock, Craviotto Wood Timbales will quickly find their
place in your set-up.
Available in limited sizes, Center Stage drum
sets are available in the following configurations:
12x18 or 12x20 Bass Drum, 7x12 Rack Tom, and
12x14 Floor Tom.
Center Stage drums offer bold, resonant sounds
with a small footprint. Play one today and hear
why the Center Stage drum set by Craviotto will
quickly finds its way to the front and center of
your next gig.
Super Swing Snare Drum
10" Timbalito
If there ever was a drum that could capture
the sound of an era, it’s the Super Swing
snare drum from Craviotto.
Our 7x14 one-ply, solid Maple Super Swing takes
you back to a time when swing was king. The
days of scouring the globe for that killer looking,
easy playing, and fully functional vintage drum
are over. The Super Swing embodies the fatness,
warmth, and “mojo” drummers have been begging for in a modern drum.
Furnished with our walnut stained wood hoops
and walnut inlay, the Super Swing looks as classy
as it sounds. So whether you swat or stir, caress
or crack, the Super Swing responds with the
musical soul of a drum that’s been there before,
seen it all, and lived to tell about it.
Timbalito by Craviotto.
You’ve heard it. Now you need to have it.
Craviotto’s unique Timbalito brings a fresh bouquet of sounds
and colors all in a petite 10” shell. Just don’t call it little. Truth is,
there’s nothing little about it!
Craviotto’s Timbalito packs a punch and makes a point. From riotous rim shots, to furiously fast flourishes, our new Timbalito acts
as the perfect blend of part Timbale and part Tom-tom.
10" Timbalito
is shown with
a 12" Timbale
In today’s ever-changing music industry, drummers need instruments that go with the flow from gig to gig, rig to rig, set-up to
set-up. With genres broadening, composers writing, and the quest
to discover new sounds ineluctable, Craviotto’s Timbalito blends
beautifully and merges gracefully from style to style, coffee house
to concert hall.
Craviotto’s Timbalito just might be the largest, hippest, biggest
small thing out there.
CraviottoDrums.com
Vintage Series
Custom Shop
Drum Sets
Drum Sets
Poplar is Popular Again
As pictured: 9x13, 16x16, 14x22, 6.5x14 in
Silver Sparkle Lacquer
Vintage Series drums capture the warmth of the
big band era and combine it with the fat, punchy
sounds from the classic rock era. Available in these
classic sizes: 9x13, 16x16, 16x18, 14x22, and
6.5x14, Vintage Series drums are handcrafted using
our signature one-ply, solid Poplar shells. Make no
mistake, this is not your “filler grade” poplar found
in many inner plies of drums. This is premium,
North American hand-selected Poplar worthy of the
world’s finest drums.
Each Craviotto “Vintage Series” drum comes with
our innovative Baseball Bat bearing edge on both the
batter and resonant side. Craviotto’s Vintage Series
speaks with a softer voice and a rich, warm glow
that is very microphone friendly. So, if you’re looking for that warm, fat sound found on your old LP
collection, look no further. Craviotto Vintage Series
drums make you feel warm and fuzzy.
Cocktail Set,
Maple Shells
with
Walnut Stain
Cadillac Green and Curly Maple
The Pinnacle of Drum Building
Vintage Series Finishes are limited to the following sparkle
lacquer finishes: Silver Sparkle, Red Sparkle, and
Champagne Sparkle.
2-in-1 Series
Drum Sets
BB
Everybody Loves A “Twofer”
45°
Mahogany Rock Kit
Craviotto Drum Company’s 2-in-1 drum set has revolutionized the drumming industry. These innovative instruments
can be played from either side, offering two distinct tonal
options in one instrument. Craviotto’s proprietary hardware
is center mounted to allow for quick and easy transitions.
Just loosen the wing screws, turn the drum around, re-insert the spurs and floor tom legs, and “Voilà” – a totally
new drum set experience.
2-in-1 drum sets can be ordered using Stacked Solid Shells (as pictured in
Walnut and Ash) or from a single wood species. Bearing edges are also customizable, though BB/45˚ bearing edges are the most popular on this offering.
The 2-in1 drum set is built to perform in any performance situation and acclimate to your performance environment. They are the perfect choice for studios
as they offer more sound potential for your investment. The 2-in-1 drum set by
Craviotto offers multiple tonal options for an individualized, bespoke sound.
Representing the pinnacle of drum building in
the most advanced form, Craviotto’s handcrafted
single ply, solid shell drum sets are the perfect
blend of innovation and tradition.
Craviotto Drum Company’s single ply, solid drum
shells make us fundamentally different from
all other manufacturers. Because of our single
ply construction, our shells offer unsurpassed
warmth, bell-like clarity, purity of tone, clear
projection, and sustained resonance.
Craviotto Drum Company’s Custom Shop drum
sets offer uncompromised craftsmanship, unparalleled innovation, and proprietary features only
found on drums bearing the Craviotto badge.
From 10" through 26", we handcraft our drums
with precision and painstaking attention to detail.
Because all our drums are custom-built, we offer
a wide range of solid lacquers, sparkle lacquers,
or naturally hand rubbed satin oil finishes.
Walnut Bop Kit
From our Custom Shop offerings, to our solid
Poplar Vintage Series, to our innovative 2-in-1
Series drum sets, Craviotto Drum Company is
committed to helping drummers find, realize, and
obtain that ideal drum sound. Play one today at
your nearest Craviotto dealer and turn that sound
in your mind into the kit of your dreams.
Vintage Cream and Gold Duco
CraviottoDrums.com
Custom Shop
Snare Drums
Johnny C. Snare Drums
New Look — New Name — New Price
Made to Your
Exact Specifications
Same Great Handcrafted Quality and Performance
Craviotto Custom Shop snare
drums were created to meet the
needs of drummers who were
seeking a truly customized,
personal sound and feel. Each
Craviotto Custom Shop snare
drum is made from a single, solid
board of hand-selected premium
grade hardwood. Along with
Johnny’s unique bending process,
we cure and hand finish each shell
to ensure strength, stability, and
unparalleled performance.
A new take on an old favorite, 2015 brings fresh style and a lower
price point to our signature workhorse one-ply, solid Maple snare
drum, the Johnny C. snare drum.
Formerly called the Diamond Cast, Johnny C. Series snare
drums pay homage to master drum builder, Johnny Craviotto. Its
Johnny’s unrivaled signature one-ply, solid Maple shell that has
become the “go-to” instrument for drummers and studio engineers alike.
Johnny C. snare drums feature the same one-ply, solid Maple shell
found on our Custom Shop drums. Why compromise on quality,
integrity, craftsmanship, and performance? Johnny C. Series
snare drums offer unparalleled warmth, range, and versatility at
a price point aimed at providing working drummers with a world
class, handmade instrument.
Craviotto Custom Shop snare drums are made to your exact
specifications. You determine the size, the bearing edges, the inlay
options, and the finish. Craviotto’s Custom Shop offerings feature
our proprietary diamond tube lugs, as well as the flawless workmanship that has made Johnny Craviotto a legend among drummers and drum builders.
Johnny C. Series snare drums are available in 5.5x14" and 6.5x14"
with 45˚ bearing edges. The Johnny C. Series snare drums are
legendary instruments from a legendary craftsman.
Craviotto Custom Shop snare drums provide unsurpassed tone,
unequaled performance, and offer a one-of-a-kind instrument as
original as the artist playing it.
Solitaire Series
Snare Drums
Meet The New Thoroughbred
of Workhorses: Solitaire Series
snare drums by Craviotto.
A revolutionary new metal shell offering
from the one-ply, Solid Shell specialists, the Solitaire Series represents
everything you know and love about
the Craviotto Drum Company. Complete
with revolutionary innovations, the
highest quality materials, and incomparable craftsmanship, Craviotto’s Solitaire
Series snare drums offer all the magnificence of a boutique offering without the
lavish price tag.
Like all Craviotto drums, the Solitaire
Series is handmade in the USA. Each
Solitaire snare drum is
made of hand-rolled, premium grade US Aluminum.
Solitaire Series snare drums
feature our revolutionary
diamond venting system
modeled after the wood inlays
found on our one-ply, solid
wood Custom Shop drums.
Craviotto’s Solitaire Series
shines in all facets of music
and provides unparalleled
cut, clarity, and precision
to support your musical
demands.
Johnn
y C. S
ies
Solitaire Ser
eries
Stacked Solids
Drum Sets and Snare Drums
Custom Options & Colors
Johnny C. Lugs
By creating a solid shell drum comprised of two or more wood
species, Craviotto Drum Company has expanded the tonal
spectrum and has opened a new world of color possibilities to
drummers. Stacked Solid drums represent both a visual and
sonic works of art.
Innovative, revolutionary, and unique, Craviotto Stacked
Solid snare drums and drum sets provide drummers the opportunity to create an instrument that truly achieves their imagined
drum sound. Totally customizable and entirely handmade to your
exacting specifications, each Craviotto Stacked Solid Shell drum
is as unique as the artist playing it.
We all want our drums to help us channel ideas, create collectively, inspire others, and express ourselves freely. By creating
your own unique Stacked Solid drum set or snare drum, you’ll
begin the musical journey of discovering new and uncharted
sounds, textures, and colors making you as unique as the instrument you’re playing.
Blackwash
Canary Yellow
McHugh Blue
Ronnie Red
Black/Gold Duco
Creme/Gold Duco
CraviottoDrums.com
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