FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How do you order a Kumu Drum set?

If you want to familiarize yourself with the various options, there are always several test sets here in Hämeenlinna. Contact me (by e-mail or phone) and we’ll set up a meeting. If you can’t come over, we can design your set, for instance, by e-mail. When we’re in the know about your dream set, I will tap out an order confirmation and a pre-payment invoice, which is 40% of the total price. When the pre-payment has been paid, your set will be on the production list. The rest is due when the drums are ready.

How long does it take to get the set?

Delivery time for a new set naturally varies a bit, depending on, for example, the number of orders. A more exact time will be given in the order confirmation; in the past few months the delivery time has been approximately 15 weeks. Not bad for an individual hand-made drum set!

How much does set # XX cost?

Prices for many kinds of sets can be found on the price pages, and you can view them, for instance, according to the size of the kick drum. Simultaneously, you can see the price for both finishing options (SatinSound, a low-gloss wax finish, and GlossTone, a hand-polished lacquer finish). The set prices do not include snare drums. The prices for snares are at the beginning of the price pages, then come the sets with steel hoops and finally the wood hoop sets. If you can’t find the set you’re looking for, send me an e-mail and I’ll check the price for you.

How durable are the wood hoops?

Very durable. For example, a SuperWoodHoop on a snare will easily take rimshots. There will naturally be minor marks with time but all that is just cosmetic. The hoop has a number of wood plies with vertical grains. You might know that in a chopping block the grains run vertically, and therefore the wood can take a lot of punishment, and the same goes here, too. Of course, within reason: there are drummers who even go through die-cast hoops! But in normal playing, the wood hoops will last for years, on toms “forever”. The age of the top hoop on a snare is mostly affected by how it’s played.

Do you sell wood hoops separately?

The making of wood hoops includes various steps. There is a lot of sawing, glueing, routing, drilling and sanding involved. I simply don’t have enough time to make wood hoops for other drums, so I recommend turning to well-equipped music stores. The real Kumu wood hoops are only available with Kumu Drums.

Do you cut SideHoles for other drums?

See above – SideHoles are only available with Kumus.

Can Kumus be ordered with black or gold-plated metal parts / hardware?

During the years I’ve seen so many worn-out black, gold-plated and powder coated parts that I decided, years ago, to stick with chromed ones. Chroming is very durable and at least ages gracefully, which suits a hand-made top-class instrument. It’s a nice thought that a drum set will be looking good, even in thirty years.

Can Kumus be purchased with stands / hardware?

The prices on the price pages are always so-called shell set prices without any stands or pedals. Often the customer already has a working hardware set, but surely you can get your Kumu kit with the hardware of your choice. The basic price includes, in any case, Kumurim suspension for the toms, our own legs for the floor toms and spurs for the bass drums. For the Kumurims you only need a tom holder, for example, a clamp / adapter that is attached to a cymbal stand. You can get those from here as well.

Do Kumus come with drumheads?

Surely! Kumus are always delivered tuned and ready to play with pro-level drumheads, which have been agreed on with the customer. I can give good recommendations for head choices according to the style of music being played.

How much do special finishes cost?

Fades and bursts come with no extra charge. Sparkles can be added to GlossTone, which approximately means an extra 10% to the price. A Kumu specialty, the various Lace finishes, also add about 10%. The Lace patterns are done by spraying through real lace, which leaves a “negative” image on the drum’s surface. That’s our own invention! Other patterns and special finishes are priced individually.

(Translation by Sami Huohvanainen)