Aaron Mlasko, Owner
Mlasko Quality Custom Drums is a small business focused on meeting the specific needs of drummers who demand the very best from their equipment. We offer custom hand-built (to order) maple, birch, ‘vintage mahogany’, ‘vintage maple’ and acrylic drums and snare drums in the same, as well as various other materials. We also offer an extensive variety of products and services.
Aaron Mlasko began working for himself in the early 1990’s after numerous stints in Northwestern U.S. drum shops. His attention to detail and intuitive problem-solving nature has since been valued by clients from all walks of life.
To begin with, Aaron has been playing drums since the age of 9. A self-described “sucker for a good song”, Aaron knows what it takes to make a tune sound good. More “meat and potatoes” than superfluous, Aaron’s solid, emotive and tasty groove “feel” drumset playing and percussion have been heard on many recordings and stages all over the country. Bands you’ve likely never heard of like Blue Collar Love, bicycle, Fighting Machinists… Some you may have heard of like Damien Jurado and (live percussion with) The Wallflowers. Point is, it truly takes a drummer to understand the issues encountered by a drummer, and Aaron’s got you more than covered. Just ask, he’ll be happy to help.
“How’d you get started doing that?…” One of his first in-depth episodes with the technical aspects of drums was in regards to his first drumset; an ancient, heavily-used, cheap, Japanese, hodge-podge, mismatched red/blue sparkle-covered set purchased with paper route money. The contraption barely worked, so Aaron completely disassembled it, repaired/refinished it and built it back up. Not bad for an 8th grader… Over time, Aaron worked in (many) various retail drum settings. Countless sessions as an in-demand studio drum tech led to the obvious(?) step to live drum tech, as Aaron has toured over the years with Liz Phair (Mario Calire, drummer), the Wallflowers (Mario Calire), Tori Amos (Matt Chamberlain), YES (Alan White), Pearl Jam (Matt Cameron), Candlebox (Scott Mercado) and The Presidents of the United States of America (Jason Finn) in multiple tours of the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America. His extensive skills are in demand by major players all over, and are available to you as well.
Aaron built his first custom drum in September of 1994. A natural progression from tweeking-out and refurbishing all other makes of drums, Mlasko Quality Custom Drums was born. The name is a tribute to his father’s custom home-building business, “Mlasko Quality Custom Homes”, in Lewiston, Idaho in the 1980’s. Mlasko Quality Custom Drums has grown from a grass roots drum boutique into a… well, grass roots drum boutique. You will find his custom drums to be classier and vibey-er than the “competition” while still remaining comparably affordable. Aaron’s great appreciation for vintage drums coupled with a thorough understanding of what does and doesn’t work under a microphone and on stage will enable you to own and play something remarkable! “What makes your drums different than everyone elses?…” Mlasko drums built today have years of refinement behind them. We’ve learned our lessons the hard way. You simply can’t do that overnite. Aaron prides himself in his ability to meet each customer’s needs individually and in person. Few builders of this skill level exist, and you can take advantage of it… just drop us a line or give us a call!
