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The Noble & Cooley Horizon Series fuses contemporary build quality with the warmth of vintage sounds into an elegant and timeless package. Drum Sizes: 8x10, 9x12, 14x16 and 18x22.
$4,177.00
Retail: $5,793.00
The Horizon series brings a revolutionary shell design that delivers a distinctive sound from conventional drums.
The Horizon shell is a multiple ply design of maple with an inner veneer of mahogany to provide a softer and warmer tone that we immediately fell in love with. The plies are placed horizontally, with the exception of two stabilizing plies, which increases stability and resonance. Think of this as tonally similar to solid shell snares but with the strength of a ply drum. The mahogany exudes a warmth and natural low-end that is sure to excite the senses. Married with Noble & Cooley's precision lugs, we found multiple sweet spots where these drums exceeded our expectations.
These drums are finished in a gorgeous Honey Maple stained lacquer that showcases that natural beauty of the wood grain and is accented with the eye-catching black chrome hardware. This breathtaking set sounds as good as it looks. Discover where sound and innovation meet for yourself with the Noble & Cooley Horizon series.
Here then is an overview of some of these features and their effect on drum tonality.
PATENTED SUSPENSION SYSTEM: The unique under lug suspension system we offer has a significant impact on the overall sound of our drums. The system creates a "virtual axle" between the two outside mounting lugs. All contact between the mounting hardware and any resonant component of the drum shell or rim is eliminated. This increases both sustain and decay of the drum. The weight of the drum is completely isolated from the tuning rim and head. In addition to the sonic advantages of our suspension method, head changing is greatly simplified and actually convenient. Because the mounting rim is attached to the underside of the lug rather than the tension rod side, drum heads can be changed without complete disassembly of the entire system (very useful if a head needs to be changed on stage or in the studio.)
SYMMETRICAL VENTING: When a drum is hit, the air inside that drum must be able to escape in order to allow the head to resonate. Most drums have a single vent hole placed somewhere on the shell. More often than not, the placement of that hole has more to do with manufacturing convenience than with any tonal considerations. Not so with Noble & Cooley. We researched the impact of venting. We found that multiple venting holes, placed correctly, made a difference not only in the sound of the drum, but also in the feel. Symmetrical venting lends the drum a more consistent rebound at various locations on the head. We also place the vent holes in line with any other holes that need to be drilled in the shell (lug mounting, e.g.). This reduces the inhibiting effect that drilling has on shell vibration. In a nod to aesthetics (and looking good always counts!), we designed our lugs in such a way that allows the vent holes to be completely out of sight.
LUG LOCKING: Noble & Cooley has found a simple, transparent solution to the common and bothersome problem of drum detuning. The lugs are fitted with delrin inserts that create a cold form around the inherent thread imperfections of any given tension rod. This effectively locks the tension rod in place virtually eliminating the usual drum detuning that stick impact creates.
These are a few of the design features of the Horizon Series. Of equal significance is the custom nature of the kits themselves. As an artist, you can realize your own voice by specifying the particular drum sizes you want, by choosing our die cast hoops on some drums, flanged on others. It is completely up to you, the player . Your drum kit will ultimately be as unique as your playing style. And that is the point, after all else is said and done!
As a company, Noble & Cooley has a rich heritage that is as singular and remarkable as the drums themselves. Founded in 1854 by Silas Noble and James Cooley, the company has been producing drums for over 140 years. We were one of the primary manufacturers of marching drums for the Union Army during the Civil War. Still owned and operated by direct descendants of James Cooley, the Noble & Cooley Company of today is run from the same rustic location in Granville, Massachusetts.
For many years, Noble & Cooley served primarily the toy drum market. It was in 1980 that company vice-president Jay Jones (Great-great-great grandson of James Cooley) decided to enter the professional drum arena. Working closely with designer Bob Gatzen and pulling out of retirement a steam bending machine old enough to have survived a company fire in 1889, N&C introduced the Solid Shell Maple Classic snare drum in late 1983. The drum was a huge success and revolutionized the drum industry to a degree no one could have expected.
It is precisely this combination of innovation and tradition that fuels Noble & Cooley to this day. Attention to detail and the relentless pursuit of perfection are the motivating ideals of our company philosophy. Our commitment to excellence is the reason why Noble & Cooley are called by many "The World's Best Drums."