Pete Stanbridge Todd Suchermann Empyrean #01 signature Model 2014

Stanbridge / Todd Sucherman "Empyrean" — Serial No. 1

Serial No. 1 of the Empyrean, the flagship snare designed in collaboration with Todd Sucherman and hand-built by Pete Stanbridge.

Crafted from three of the most expensive and sought-after woods in the world: high-figure Amboyna Burl, high-figure Afzelia Burl, and premium-grade African Blackwood.

What sets No. 1 apart from every drum that followed: it is the only Empyrean whose wood grade and burl density are identical to Todd Sucherman's personal No. 0.  No. 1 alone was cut to the exact material standard of the artist's own reference drum — and it can never be matched again.

This drum was built over a span of three years, from 2012 to 2014.

Pete Stanbridge stopped taking new orders about ten years ago, even though his website is still up.

The world’s most luxurious custom wooden snare drum.

Material cost alone to build an identical drum now exceeds what this drum originally sold for complete.

And that is material cost alone before over 100+ hours of master craftsman's labor, and the design and development Todd Sucherman brought to the instrument, and any margin at all.

Over the past decade-plus, the high-figure and premium grades of all three woods — Amboyna burl, Afzelia burl, and African Blackwood — have roughly doubled to tripled in price, and continue to climb as top-grade material grows scarcer.

This exact drum’s entire construction was documented, step by step, in a multi-part published build feature by Not So Modern Drummer

THE EMPYREAN - DRUM SPECIFICATIONS

As pictured above, the Todd Sucherman Empyrean Snare Drum consists of...

• 14 by 6.5 by 5/16th inch lathe-turned drumshell, constructed using solid wood segments.
• Amboyna Burl sections surround a centre band of Afzelia Burl, framed by two thin African Blackwood pinstripes.
• Todd Sucherman signature in gold foil under high gloss lacquer finish.
• Hardwood Hoops constructed of fingerjointed blocks of figured Bubinga with African Blackwood striking surfaces and matching pinstripes.
• Hand-carved Amboyna Burl throwoff handle with two Swarovski crystals inset at pivot point.
• Ten Stanbridge Drum Co machined brass tube lugs in 24K gold plating with matching tension rods.
• Stanbridge Drum Company badge in solid Amboyna burl with gold foil inprint and 24K gold plated air vent.
• Remo drumheads with Empyrean logo.
• Paper tag inside drumshell with Edition Number signed by Todd Sucherman and Pete Stanbridge.
• Pearl Drum Company premium 20 strand stainless steel snare wires.

This drum will be shipped via International Priority, with delivery in approximately 2–4 business days to the destination.

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