RedRoad drums are made with high grade rawhide,(elk or deer) naturally
treated unless chemically treated is requested. Natural treated is done using water only and hand scraping, a rather tedious
process. The result is usually a darker more antique like color. Occassionally some hair may still be
on the hide with various markings that often create interesting, petroglyph
like patterns. Some hides have a very transluscent quality.
Chemically treated are usually bleached and can have a completely
"blank" expression"!
Age and health of the animal can have an effect on the thickness and
quality of the drum's skin. Often, these effects are not noticeable until the drum is made. In most cases the older the animal, the thicker the rawhide.
Many people ask what is the difference between elk and deer.
Eelk is more expensive to obtain and prepare than deer because Naturally Processing elk is VERY
labor intensive, thus more costly. Processing with chemicals is less expensive because it is less labor intensive. Elk tends to have a deeper, richer more resonant sound than deer although deer has a lovely,
softer tone of its own.
Currently, our drums come in 3 sizes: 3", 10", 13" and 15" and
in two styles: full wrap and partial wrap. With or without handles. Painted drums are also available. We also provide drum
bags of all sizes.
We may also be including rawhide rattles in the future as well as
other percussive instruments.
