Leedy 6.5x14" Leedy USA Custom Shop / Craviotto Solid Cherry Shell “Relic Series” Snare Drum 2008 #2 of 3!!

Leedy 6.5x14" Leedy USA Custom Shop / Craviotto Solid Cherry Shell “Relic Series” Snare Drum 2008 (DF2 Ldy #1)

The Leedy/Craviotto 6.5x14" Solid Cherry Relic Series snare (Serial #2) is an ultra-rare early example of the Leedy USA Custom Shop project that paired Craviotto solid-shell craftsmanship with vintage-era Leedy styling. There were only two or three of these drums ever made. This drum is #2!!

Features a one-piece solid (steam-bent) cherry shell (Craviotto build approach), relic finish and fittings, and, vintage Leedy style hardware.

This drum has does not appear to have been used. Unplayed condition.

These Leedy snares were an extremely limited edition project championed by Steve Maxwell of Steve Maxwell Vintage & Custom Drums. Steve was working on a special project involving Leedy USA Drums using Craviotto Drums USA solid shells.   

Here's what Steve had to say about this project...

"Fred Gretsch still owns the Leedy name, and several years ago I asked Fred Gretsch if we could do some special Leedy USA drums using Craviotto solid shells. I liked the idea because Leedy was one of the companies that used solid shells for their snares at various times, and I thought it would be great to do some solid shell snares made in the USA with the Leedy name, but with Johnny Craviotto's incredible shells. Fred liked the idea, as did Johnny Craviotto, so I had some drums built. Johnny's team built the shells of course, and they also did all of the drilling, finish work and assembly. We did some of these as what I called a 'relic' series whereby we used the Craviotto shell but used vintage era Leedy hardware.

It was a fun project but we only built a handful of these drums because I got too busy with the demand of my shops. I can't remember exactly, but I think we may have made 4-5 drums with newer Leedy hardware and maybe 2-3 of these 'relic' style drums. Of course, they all sounded fabulous with those solid Craviotto shells, and they looked really great. It was nice to see the Leedy badge sitting there on such high quality drums. Leedy was a truly innovative brand that many people have forgotten. It was nice to bring it to the attention of current day players and collectors."