Classic Hardware, Classic Finishes. Made By Hand.
There are lots of custom snare drum makers in the world, and plenty of kit builders as well. These are mostly assemblers using the same new factory parts over the same new modern shells.
Decolite is a different breed of custom drum maker, using exclusively vintage parts on our shells to create instruments with true history and soul in the classic tradition. We build full kits in desirable modern rock and jazz sizes. With encyclopedic knowledge of machine age drum technology, we design and build reusing the best of the past. We avoid parts and designs that haven’t stood the test of time and may decrease modern usability (though plenty of those rare parts can be purchased in our eBay store!). The result is an extremely lightweight, great sounding and fully giggable drum with head-turning vintage appeal. Our emphasis is on tom and bass drum sets, though we build snare drums as well.
Based in Seattle, Decolite is the brainchild of veteran drum restorer, wood and metalworker Adam Kozie. We keep an extensive stock of drum parts from 1900 through 1950, many of which are reborn on Decolite drums.
Each project is lovingly planned and built for the best visual and aural matching, using both vintage and modern small run shells. We can build bespoke kits as well with stock on hand and/or parts supplied by clients. We ship worldwide.