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hey, gang-

well, i finally updated my prices. it was really time. i was embarrassed to realize what my drums were costing to build vs. what i was charging. i think they’re priced very well now. i hope you’ll agree.

in the middle of redesigning the site, our logo and badge. i think you will really dig the end result. when this is complete, i’m going to be advertising for the first time ever. hope it helps. i’d like to be building more drums in general and i’ve never really tried to do anything to make that happen. i’ve always just relied on word of mouth, and that’s just not enough these days, so wish me luck.

haven’t been touring much lately. just the occasional tech thing here and there, but no major road time. i do miss it, but being home has allowed me to play more music, which has been a good thing.

i turned 38 in december. hard to believe. a lot happened last year in my life and i’m coming to terms with the fact that life is short (and getting shorter) and it’s important to be here now and make the most of what we’ve got. trying my best to do this…

anyhoo, i’m excited to see what happens to mlasko drums this year. it’s really important to me to take the company to a new place. i hope more people will appreciate what it is we do here. feel free to join our humble facebook group. spread the word that there’s this guy in seattle that really digs old drums and is building new versions of them!

alright, enough of my rambling. hope you are well and here’s to honoring classic drum design in 2011!

best,

a.m.

hey gang,

i don’t write here often enuff, but thought i’d update y’all a lil’ bit. i haven’t been doing much touring/teching the last year or so. what this means is that i’ve been playing A LOT more music. this also means, i’ve been learning to live on less income! haha… still doing authentic rockabilly with the roy kay combo. i even geeked out and built myself a replica of d.j. fontana’s kit with elvis and it’s a kick to play! my other current project is called the red hot rhythm club. it’s a 30’s style hot jazz project. there are facebook groups for both of these if yr interested. also doing some sitting in here and there, and that’s about it, musically.

just recently saw a bit of a surge in custom drum orders, which i’m grateful for. i’m excited about changing the direction of the business to strictly classic designs. scary, but exciting…

hank the shop dog is is still his silly old self. all in all, life is good.

well, i thank you for yr interest in what i’m doing here. please don’t hesitate to contact me if i can be of any assistance.

best,

a.m.

–hell yes! i’m pleased as punch to be playing with some great folks lately:

monstruos del mar- my instrumental surf rock band is made up of some long time pals. myspace.com/monstruosdelmar

roy kay combo- it’s not just a trio anymore! i’m super stoked to be playing traditional rockabilly with these notoriously drummerless kats. myspace.com/roykaytrio

johnny mercury and the hot rockets- high octane rockabilly music! johnny’s the real deal and this 3 piece will have you on yr feet. myspace.com/johnnymercury

it sure is nice to be playing music more as opposed to babysitting other folks that do. i still like babysitting, but i promised myself i’d play more this year, and voila!

building some pretty cool kits right now. pictures to follow.

have a good summer kids, and maybe i’ll see ya at a rawk show!

-a

hey gang,

just a little update for y’all. been out with the presidents off and on for the last year. their touring schedule allows me to be home A LOT, so if yr ready for some kick-ass drums, hit me up. i’ve got time and delivery times are a bit quicker than usual lately (around 60 days or less!). this is our 15th year building drums and there’s sumthin’ special coming this fall to celebrate…

take care, kids.

aaron mlasko

so i think i’m gonna have some new badges made up that say “mlasko quality CLASSIC drums” instead of “mlasko quality CUSTOM drums”. i’ll still do “custom” non-classic designs, but my heart’s really telling me to go this new (old) route. it’s what i dig and i hope enuff folks feel the same way. a.m.

i love old drums. i’ve owned a lot of them and beyond certain limitations inherent with ‘age’, they are often superior instruments, if just for their good design. new drums are pretty cool sometimes, but the old ones have a certain style that modern stuff lacks. i’m contemplating only offering traditional style drums. i end up trying to talk folks into the historic sizes (usually with success) anyway. it’s a thought.

i get more excited about building classic drums. they looks great, sound great and aren’t like everyone else’s. it’s the opposite of what’s “in”, but isn’t it just hella-cooler?!… retro stuff just speaks to me more, personally; i’m just into that lifestyle. a bit of a middle finger to the over-stimulated soul-free electronic age? perhaps. i digress…

anyhoo, the old designs almost always works for modern music as well as period stuff. if you doubt me, i will reference lots of diverse sounding, cutting edge records that i’ve brought “old” drums to. i’m a custom drum company and i want to stay “custom”, but i’m wondering if i shouldn’t just take some of the options away and focus on what i know to be better design…

stay tuned while i either shoot myself in the foot or define my drum-making for the better(?), aaron

hey gang. just a little update for y’all. hanging out in t-town. buildin drums. workin on records. sorta in a holding pattern till getting back out on the road with the box in may, prolly. if you want some drums, order ‘em now so i can deliver ‘em before i split. spent christmas in memphis. new years eve in florida with c-box. anyhoo, may move to nashville when the tour’s over this year. we’ll see. so… dat’s about it. best wishes to everyone for 2008! luv, aaron

back home from tour. settling into my new place. it’s small. it’s burnt orange. it’s in tacoma… got some one-offs with the box this month, a record with sprinkle, and that’s about it. i need the rest anyway. that tour whooped my ass. i don’t know why exactly. the c-box boys will be working on their new record this fall, then maybe a tour next year?… a record with randy next month. i dunno, plenty of work i guess, if i’m frugal. dropping the falcon off for some work this week. that’ll pretty much kill the rest of the tour salary. anyhoo, just hanging out by myself in t-town. kinda nice. kinda lonely sometimes, but i’m playing the hand i’ve been dealt as best as i can. maybe take a trip to tennessee to see superdrag in october. dat’s about it. will have the hankledog here with me next week. exctiting stuff… k, go back to sleep! luv, aaron

i finally built something for myself: 9×13 6 ply maple tom (mounts in snare stand), 16×16 6 ply floor with ludwig f.t. brackets and legs, 14×22 8 ply kick and a 6.5×14 black beauty. maple drums have slingerland lugs, claws and sticksaver hoops. finished in my antique “honey” maple oil finish. the least-refined finish i do, but one of my favourites. this kit is a lot like the first “cool” kit i ever had; 1958 slingerland antique maple kit with an 8×12, 16×16 and 12×22. i miss that thing, especially the snare drum which was a 5.5, i think. anyhoo i’ll play it here in a few hours with bicycle at the georgetown music fest and then i’ll put it away for a couple months… sad… sniff, sniff… that’s the news fer today. cheers, -a

so, lot’s of things happening/up in the air right now. been plugging away at building drums, working on records and playing a bit. engraved my first drum last nite. my trusty 90’s pearl sensitone bronze 6.5×14, with the 20’s-30’s leedy ‘thunderbird’ graphic. turned out okay, i spose. need more practice. couple of bands have asked me to tour this summer. contemplating that. might be good to get out of town for a bit. i should have all the current drum stuff caught up within the week, and the demon hunter record will be done in time… we’ll see. anyway, just a bit of an update for ya. stay tuned for news… -a