WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Drumming up business

Cambridge, Vermont - July 23, 2010

At the end of a dead-end street in Cambridge, Bill Allen is beginning his rhythm of work.

"I love it -- I love it," Allen said.

He's a drum maker, selling his musical instruments under the name Green Mountain Drums since 2007.

"We make it all here," he said.

But Allen's been honing his skills for more than 30 years-- since he was a kid.

"It really evolved because my father bought me my first set of drums and I broke it. And he said 'fix it,'" Allen explained. "Once I could fix what I played-- I didn't like what I had."

You won't find Green Mountain Drums in any stores. They're all custom-made for musicians including Matt Burr, the drummer for Vermont's own Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

"He said, 'hey man, draw up your own drum set!'" Burr said.

Burr asked for a drum set that would produce a vintage sound with modern modifications.

"I want a microphone built inside the bass drum," Burr said.

Bill Allen built Burr's drums out of mahogany, poplar, and maple. The mix, they believe, produces a warmer, deeper resonance.

"It's a really different sounding set of drums," Allen said.

Allen opened his business after years working as a geologist consulting on major construction projects like dam and bridge repairs. He liked it, but his true love was drumming.

"I've been playing since I was six," he said.

He shapes some of the drum bodies; tricky sizes are done offsite, often using Vermont wood. Finished work ships around the world. Purists looking for a specific sound may want the craftsman to tweak the size or depth of the instruments.

"With the larger companies, what you get is what you order from the catalog," Allen said.

He says his stainless steel hardware helps make tuning his drums easier and reduces unwanted vibration noise.

"You can definitely hear the difference," he said.

For Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, the Green Mountain Drums are more than just the beat; they are a reminder of home while touring the nation.

"Collaboration. True historical collaboration of Vermont is something that I think really defines what the state is all about," Burr said.

Bill Allen helps musicians find their groove with his drums that are "Made in Vermont."

"It means everything to me," Allen said.

A typical custom 4-piece drum kit will run about $2,500. Bill Allen says the price is comparable to a high-end store brand set. Click here for more information on the company.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News - Made in Vermont