There’s a reason Nashville is known as “Music City,” and its drum community continues to live up to that reputation. We had a great time at this year’s Music City Drum Show, connecting with players, builders, and friends throughout the weekend.
As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation, we were proud to unveil a new drum design we’ve been developing—quite possibly the first of its kind from Noble & Cooley.
The drum was created in collaboration with the talented Ricardo Parra of Parra Drums. The shell features a hybrid construction combining a steam-bent maple center with stave rings of American white oak on either side. Ricardo’s concept brought together the strengths of both approaches in a single design.
The result allows sound to move seamlessly through the shell, blending the focused energy of stave construction with the open, resonant character of a steam-bent drum. It was exciting to hear the instrument come to life in the room and share it with so many of you in person.
Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to collaborate with companies like Zildjian and Ludwig on special projects, and this latest collaboration represents another meaningful step forward—working directly with individual makers whose ideas challenge and inspire us.
At Noble & Cooley, we believe drumming is about sharing ideas, learning from one another, and building something greater together as a community.
We’re grateful to everyone who stopped by our booth, and we’re looking forward to sharing more of what’s coming next very soon.
@officialsnaregeek (Instagram) with Luke at the Music City Drum Show, July 2025