#Craviotto timeless timber professional#
#Craviotto timeless timber series#

He would go on to build a limited edition series of solid-ply drums made from 600 year old wood rescued from the bottom of Lake Superior. In 1999, Johnny came up with spectacular idea, which was to build drums from ancient, old growth wood recovered from sunken timber. For about a decade, John's snare drums were available as part of Drum Workshop's catalogs. John Craviotto developed a steam-bending technique which led to a partnership with DW Drums in 1993. Johnny Craviotto loved solid shell drums and spent years developing processes to eliminate manufacturing imperfections to bring new precision and reliability to this ultimate snare drum design.ĭuring the mid-1980s, John Craviotto teamed up with Billy Gibson, drummer of Huey Lewis & The News, and launched his first drum company, Select Drum Company, later renamed to Solid Drum Company.

With the help of the master boat builder, Johnny began making one-ply drum shells. Using this experience, John Craviotto began applying these techniques to build drums. At this time, John Craviotto also developed an interest in the work of early drum builders.Īround 1979, Johnny did a stint in a boatyard working with a master boat builder.

#Craviotto timeless timber professional#

In the 1970s, he started his musical career as a professional drummer playing with artists such as Captain Beefheart, Ry Cooder, Moby Grape, and Neil Young, among others. Johnny began playing drums at at an early age and he started playing professionally as a teenager. John Angelo Craviotto was born to Italian-American parents in San Francisco, CA. His contribution to the world of drum building has been without equal.' He created instruments of incredible sonic and visual beauty, and those instruments have graced stages, recording studios, and collections worldwide. During his whole drum-building career, always honing his skills and perfecting his technique, Johnny Craviotto stayed true to his core philosophy: ' It's got to start with the foundation, like a house it's got to be the shell.'Ĭraviotto Drums, based in Watsonville, California, has issued a statement calling Johnny 'the world's finest drum craftsman': 'No one had his knowledge, his skill, and the passion he displayed for his craft.