“Custom” vs. Classic
Since the fall of 1994, Mlasko Quality Custom Drums were built in the Pacific Northwest by Aaron Mlasko. In 2010, fter 16 years of refining what we do here, we’ve shifted our focus solely onto the classic designs of yesteryear. Why? Well, without berating you with a manifesto-rant, these are the kind of drums i like, play and want you to discover if you haven’t already. If you’ve been looking for drums that are classy, vibey, unique and will serve you thru the next 13 fads, you’ve come to the right place. Our drums are made one at a time, with great attention to detail by a drummer-artisan. They sound incredible because our time-tested designs have always worked and probably always will. There is a very good reason why drummers and producers have always sought after the sounds these types of drums make and the classic looks are to die for. Everything I build literally has my name on it, and to be honest, I’m just not interested in building a drum that I know won’t look and sound good for a long time. There are plenty of other makers out there building trendy (ok, corny) drums with goofy gimmicks. Our “gimmick” is extremely good drum-building with a healthy respect for the classic american drums of the 1920’s thru 1960’s. What we do here is provide drummers with a new alternative to fragile vintage instruments and/or modern drums with zero soul. There are certain aesthetic limitations inherent in our drums but we firmly believe that if you are open to giving these designs a try, you’ll be a passionate convert. Our drums are no longer totally custom, but there are still plenty of options to make sure you get the drums you’ve always wanted. Mlasko drums are different from other drums because of who builds them. They’re NOT for everyone, and that’s a GOOD thing!
–Aaron Mlasko
