How does vertical grain compare to horizontal grain?
A vertical grain orientation is the most common for stave shells. The grain runs from top to bottom, placing the end grain at the bearing edge. Some say that shells using vertical grain sound better than shells using horizontal grain. The argument is that the end grain makes for a stronger bearing edge and transfers vibrations better. We believe that this is simply marketing hype. We have never noticed grain direction effecting sound. There are so many factors that effect the sound of a drum (such as wood type, dimensions, bearing edge quality and roundness, head selection, and tuning) that grain orientation becomes trivial. We actually prefer a horizontal grain orientation for very porous woods, such as oak, as it leads to a smoother bearing edge. Horizontal grain also makes it possible to line up the seams and create some really amazing semi-symmetrical grain patterns.
