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FVF Custom: exotic

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3. FVF Custom Drums
£425 (13"x6" block cherry/figured maple)

From his Leicestershire base Francis Smith sets out to build "anything within reason". This means not only solid, segmented or stave wood snares in exotic timbers but also glass or carbon fibre, acrylic, aluminium or titanium, or even composites of wood with fibreglass or metal.

4. Jalepeno Classic/Elite
£375 (14" satin wax)

For consistent quality, Dave Nuttall sticks to classic European premium-grade Finnish birch ply, dry moulded with outer and inner plies running vertically. Available with eight in-house, solid brass lugs, in depths from 4" to 8" and a choice of oil, wax or lacquer finishes.

5. Newell Custom Snares
£325-£355(14"x4"-14"x8")

Chris Newell has invested in fibreglass moulds to form his top-grade Finnish ply shells. Results are indistinguishable from major manufacturers' efforts with angled seams. Bearing edges are cut to a central peak and you can specify an even number of plies, with or without reinforcing rings.

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