Angled grain drum shell ply configuration

1. In a drum shell, the combination comprising

a) said shell having multiple wooden plys,

b) each ply having grain extending in a characteristic direction,

c) the grain direction of at least one ply extending crosswise relation to the grain direction of the next adjacent ply, about the shell,

d) said one ply defining a cut extending at an angle +β relative to the drum axis, and said adjacent ply defines a cut extending at an angle −β relative to the drum axis, said cuts extending between upper and lower edges of the plys.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the grain direction of said one ply extends at an angle +α 1 relative to the drum axis, and the grain direction of said next adjacent ply extends at an angle −α 2 relative to the drum axis.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein 30°<+α 1 <60° and −30°<−α 2 <−60°.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein α 1 ≅45° and −α 2 ≅45°.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the grain direction of each ply extends crosswise relative to the grain direction of the next adjacent ply or plys.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein each ply is adhesively bonded to the next adjacent ply.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein there are between two and eight plies in the shell.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plys are embodied in a first section of the shell, the shell having a second section endwise assembled to the first section.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the second section consists of one of the following:

i) a non-wooden material

ii) metal.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plies are embodied in a first section of the shell, the shell having second and third sections endwise assembled to opposite ends respectively of the first section.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said multiple wooden plys form tapers at opposite ends of the shell.

12. In a drum shell, the combination comprising

a) said shell having multiple wooden plys,

b) each ply having grain extending in a characteristic direction,

c) the grain direction of at least one ply extending crosswise relation to the grain direction of the next adjacent ply, about the shell,

e) and wherein said one ply defines a cut extending at an approximate angle +β relative to the drum axis, and said adjacent ply defines a cut extending at an approximate angle −β relative to the drum axis, said cuts extending between upper and lower edges of the plys, and wherein +α 1 ≅α 2 whereby grain directional continuity is maintained at opposite sides of the cuts.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said cuts through said multiple plys are substantially angularly equally spaced about an axis defined by the shell.