Why TJS Custom Drums?
Built by a Drummer
Tom J. Schultz has been a professional drummer since 1964 and takes extreme pride in hand building, finishing, and assembling each drum meticulously. Tom creates each set of drums as if he were going to be playing that drum himself.
It starts with the wood
TJS Custom Drums primarily uses select-grade maple for shells. Maple has a great, warm, rich sound and is very versatile – with a lot of tuning range. Birch is also used when a drier more focused sound is desired.
Coming out of the shell
Our standard laminated shells are staggered for extra strength and can be made from 5 to 40-plys depending on the desired sound
We also do Stave shells on request for snares. The “staves” or blocks are made from solid wood with no plies or stress from bending. The vertical grain pattern produces a stronger bearing edge so it will stay true longer – extending the life and preserving the sound of your drums.
The finish
Our specialty finish is a hand rubbed satin lacquer using specific oil finishes (Tung, Danish, etc.) topped with carnauba wax. This is a very classy satin, semi-gloss finish that has a slight sheen and is perfectly smooth. It’s the house favorite!
We also offer natural or custom stain finishes as well as a finish ply, gloss, and exotic veneer. Gloss black is available on hoops only.
The beauty within
TJS Custom Drums are also finished on the inside of each shell – TJ’s philosophy is that the inside is also part of the drum. The inside is finished with Danish oil and is hand-sanded from 400 to 1200 grit-sandpaper to provide the smoothest possible finish. The oil prevents the inside of the drum from drying out without changing the sound.
TJS Custom Drums is proud to be eco-friendly by using only water-based paints and stains
Holding it all together
All TJS Custom Drum Kits are assembled with the finest hardware available: TJS Custom Drums exclusive mini die-cast springless lugs; 2.3 mm flange hoops; TightScrew tension rods (new!); chrome threaded air vents; chrome rims mounts and Gibraltar fold-out bass drum spurs are standard on all kits.
Personalized Service
Tom J. Schultz has an initial consultation with clients to determine the sound they are looking for. Tom will ask several questions such as what type of music they play, venues they commonly play, and drums they have played in the past. Tom will make suggestions and recommendations for sound, etc., but ultimately – the perfect custom kit is a collaboration between the artist and TJS Custom Drums.