ABOUT BAY CUSTOM DRUMS
Our story
BAY Custom Drums was founded in England in 2014 by Ian Bowman and his family, bringing together specialist finishing experience and an exacting approach to handmade instruments.
Built from experience
Before BAY Custom Drums began, Ian had already spent more than 30 years working with wood and specialising in high-quality finishes. His expertise extended beyond wood to metal, acrylic and plastic.
That experience remains central to the way we work: understanding how materials behave, preparing every surface correctly and treating the finish as part of the instrument rather than an afterthought.
The first drum kit came about when Ian began experimenting with different woods, adhesives and finishes in search of a sound he had in mind but could not find elsewhere. After many attempts, the final kit was built and tested. It was exactly what Ian had envisaged, and Jack was happy to play it. The 'BAY' sound was born.
Once Jack began playing in public, he was often approached by fellow artists and sound engineers who wanted to know more about the kit, including how and where they could buy one. The level of interest led the Bowman family to launch a business specialising in custom-built snare drums and drum kits for musicians who could recognise the difference in sound, with each instrument created around their individual needs.
From construction to final setup
We combine carefully considered construction, detailed finishes and hardware chosen for the way each instrument needs to perform.
Each instrument is finished and assembled, then tuned, tested, and adjusted before it leaves our workshop.
The little details matter because they work together. Shell construction, dimensions, bearing-edges, hardware, and final setup all influence the way an instrument responds in the player's hands.
Here at BAY Custom Drums, we firmly believe that a drum kit is not simply a group of randomly made drums arranged together... A drum kit should be ONE instrument with all of its elements being made to complement each other. We invest a considerable amount of time and effort to ensure that each drum within our kits has a corresponding amount of warmth, tonality, and sustain, thus providing the customer with a finished product that they can be proud of.
Sound before specification
The starting point is clear: how the instrument should sound and feel, and where it needs to perform.
A custom order starts with a conversation. The customers priorities guide the sizes, construction, materials, hardware and finish.
Our fixed products follow the same approach, but the choices have already been made and tested to create the classic 'BAY' sound we are known and loved for, but at a fixed price.
The people behind BAY Custom Drums
We are a family-run business.
Each individual drum is either built by Ian or Jack. Sarah completes the team with her administrative skills.
All enquiries will be dealt with personally by one of us. This assures you that you are speaking to someone who cares.
What can we build for you?
Tell us what you play, what you need from the instrument and where your current setup falls short. We will help you decide whether a Custom Order or a fixed product is the better starting point.