Warrington craftsman builds pro-level drums by hand at Bucks County Drum Company

WARRINGTON, Pa. (WPVI) — In a small workshop in Warrington, Pennsylvania, one man is producing drums sought after by professional musicians.

Chris Carr, founder of Bucks County Drum Company, handcrafts each instrument himself, creating what he calls a distinctly “made in PA” sound.

While most instruments are mass-produced, Carr’s drums are built through a meticulous, hands-on process.

“What I’m doing now is book matching,” he said while working with wood in his shop. “Cutting venire is tricky.”

Carr started the business in 2005, transitioning from cabinet making to drum building.

“The reason I started making my own shells was because of changes in the whole industry,” he said. “What I do is multiple things at a time. I’m not just working on one order a time.”

He taught himself the craft.

“I would buy shells by the parks, put my own finish on making a drum. That’s how I learned, taught myself how to do it,” he said.

Carr considers drummaking an art form.

“The two most critical parts of any good drum set, especially high-end, is the integrity of the shell. Does it resonate on its own?” he said. “And also the bearing edge. That’s where the drum shell meets the drum head. And if that contact point is not good, you’re going to get a less-than-quality sound.”

The work demands precision.

Carr once had helpers, but the workload proved demanding.

“Initially, I had a couple of helpers come and go. It’s fun for a while, and then they find out it’s real work, but there’s really good people. They’re very helpful. And once I started implementing different shell designs, I didn’t need as much help,” he said.

His drums have been used by well-known musicians, including jazz drummer Bernard Purdie and David Uosikkinen Ross from The Hooters.

Drummer Kevin Soffera owns five sets.

“They sing. They literally are a work of art in terms of drum set,” Soffera said. “The tuning of them, as a drummer, they have to sound great. But when you teach these things, they have to feel good.”

Carr sells some of his work in stores, but most orders come through the company’s website. The 59-year-old Pennsylvania native said the local connection matters to him.

“It’s important for people to understand that Pa. is huge in historical culture, especially workmanship and craftsman, that’s why I named the company what I did. I grew up in Bucks County… Doylestown,” he said. “There’s a lot of history here, and craftsman, and I’m proud to be part of it.”