About MILLTONE Drums

We are a small team with a talent and passion for producing high quality, great sounding, fine tunable, steel tongue, metal slit hand drums, for beginner, amateur, experienced, professional, percussionists, composers, and musicians all over the world. Our current production location is Southaven, Mississippi, USA.

MILLTONE Drums is proud to support and encourage the use of hand drums around the world.

MILLTONE instruments are not mass produced, but always, individually hand crafted, by Master Craftsman and innovator Larry Miller, in the United States. Combining art, science, passion, and dedication together to create a wonderful, unique, hand drumming experience for everyone.

In the beginning of 2008 we developed and introduced two impressive innovations first seen on our third generation, MFT, instruments. They were, the large offset sound port, and revolutionary magnetic fine tuning. The ability to easily fine tune a MILLTONE steel tongue drum to precise concert pitch has found favor, especially with professional musicians, music teachers, and composers. The top sound port has several advantages. Sound reflected from the parabolic, solid steel surface of the “Singing Bowl” bottom, is directed out the top of the instrument to mix with radiated direct sounds from the tuned tongues. This sonic blending adds to the rich, full, sound. The offset port position allows more air volume in the bass section. The top opening also functions as a convenient carry handle and provides easy access to the fine tuning magnets.

Now, it’s February 2009 and we are creating the Fourth Generation, 4G models. Building on our previous experience, continuing research, and experimentation, we find the use of thicker gauge steel further improves the resonance and tone of our instruments. Also, we can now finish the inside of both hemispheres before final assembly. We continue our tradition of making wonderful instruments that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of musical training or ability.

Click here to view the post “The Making of a MILLTONE” for more details about the construction of our 4G instruments.

July 2010

We are now continuing the evolution of our instruments introducing the 5GR models. These new instruments are smaller lighter and feature the Magnetic Fine Tuning, Offset top sound port, singing bowl bottom, and all tongues cut to the Golden Ratio. Although the tongues are different sizes for different notes, each has the exact same ratio of length to width, that is the Golden Ratio of 1 to 1.6180. This further improves the bass response and helps balance the volume between notes. The ratio is also considered the most visually appealing and has been studied for over 2400 years.

March 2012

We now introduce the 6G models. These new instruments have all the MILLTONE trademark physical features of the 5GR models but are made from a different steel chemical micro alloy formula. These new instruments should prove to be the best playing and sounding MILLTONE drums so far.

Imitated, but not duplicated, a MILLTONE instrument has proved to be a worthwhile musical, health, and entertainment investment.

Drums are available on eBay. Type MILLTONE in the eBay search box, or click here to visit the MILLTONE Tunable Steel Tongue Hand Drums eBay Store.

So Who Actually Does What at MILLTONE

Lawrence ”Larry“ Miller

MILLTONE Craftsman Makes all MILLTONE instruments

MILLTONE Instrument Photography and Video demo production

MILLTONE Custom Design Creation and Customer Service

MILLTONE Vinyl Graphics Design, Cutting, and Application

MILLTONE eBay listings

MILLTONE Drums Weblog Posting, Publicity, Artist Relations, Yahoo Group Moderator, and Social Networking

Computer Technical Support

Buying Supplies, Tools, and Materials

MILLTONE Packing, Printing Shipping Labels and Customs Paperwork

Research and Development

Cynthia ”Cindy” Miller

MILLTONE Shipping Transportation to Post Office

Buying Supplies

Bringing Food to Larry Miller at the shop and making him eat.

Banking and Bill Paying

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MILLTONE MILESTONES

Here are some numbers Through May 6, 2012.

YouTube

471,767 MILLTONE Demo Video Views

119 Subscribers

781 Video Demos Uploaded

MILLTONE Drum’s Blog

202,913 Views.

Where have the MILLTONE instruments gone?

38 Countries, 44 States, and Puerto Rico

Leading MILLTONE States and Countries around the World

France 82
California 81
United Kingdom 61
Canada 49
New York 43
Germany 40
Florida 36
Australia 27
Texas 26
Italy 24
Ohio 20
Oregon 18
Spain 18
Pennsylvania 17
Japan 16
Massachusetts 16
Arizona 13
New Jersey 12
Colorado 11
Michigan 11
Virginia 11
Belgium 10
Connecticut 10
Illinois 10
Netherlands 10
Washington 10
Austria 9
Iowa 9
Russian Federation 9
Wisconsin 9
Maryland 8
North Carolina 8
Sweden 7
Switzerland 6
New Mexico 5
Israel 4
Louisiana 4
Minnesota 4
New Zealand 4
Alabama 3
Arkansas 3
Delaware 3
Georgia 3
Hawaii 3
Indiana 3
Mississippi 3
Nevada 3
Norway 3
Portugal 3
Singapore 3
Tennessee 3
Utah 3
Chile 2
China 2
Costa Rica 2
Denmark 2
Greece 2
Idaho 2
Kazakhstan 2
Kentucky 2
Missouri 2
Oklahoma 2
Turkey 2
Argentina 1
Brazil 1
Czech Republic 1
FPO AP 1
Hong Kong 1
Hungary 1
Ireland 1
Kansas 1
Luxembourg 1
Maine 1
Mexico 1
Montana 1
Nebraska 1
Puerto Rico 1
Rhode Island 1
Romania 1
Slovakia 1
South Carolina 1
Ukraine 1
Vermont 1