Low C Tenor
$1,700.00The lead voice of the steel band. Bright, clear tones across a full chromatic range for melody and solo work.
Tropical Hammer, Sanford, Florida
Steel drums, built by hand since 1956.
Tom "Tommy Rey" Reynolds sinks, grooves and tunes every pan himself. Professionals bring theirs here for tuning.
- Built in Sanford, Florida
- Steel pan tuning, $100.00
- Ships across the United States
The workshop
Every Tropical Hammer pan starts as a flat sheet of steel and a sledgehammer. Tom "Tommy Rey" Reynolds learned the craft in St. Croix and now builds with his son Thomas in Sanford, Florida.
- Tom starts playing and making pans
- 1956
- Where he learned the craft
- St. Croix
- Where every pan is built today
- Sanford, FL
From the shop
Handcrafted steel drums
Each pan is sunk, grooved and tuned in Sanford. Add a listed drum to your cart and check out with PayPal.
Double Tenor
$1,800.00Two pans with extended range and harmonic depth. Suited to chordal accompaniment and counter-melody.
Triple Cello
$1,850.00Three pans covering the rich mid range. The rhythmic backbone of the band, strumming chords with a warm, resonant sound.
Price list
- Low C Tenor PaintedThe lead voice of the steel band. Bright, clear tones across a full chromatic range for melody and solo work.$1,700.00
- Double Tenor PaintedTwo pans with extended range and harmonic depth. Suited to chordal accompaniment and counter-melody.$1,800.00
- Double Second PaintedTwo pans tuned for harmony and counter-melody. Rich, warm tones that add depth to any arrangement.$1,800.00
- Triple CelloThree pans covering the rich mid range. The rhythmic backbone of the band, strumming chords with a warm, resonant sound.$1,850.00
- Double GuitarTwo pans for rhythmic strumming and chordal accompaniment. The essential mid-range voice.$1,700.00
- Set of 6 BassesDeep, powerful low end that anchors the ensemble. A full set of six bass pans.$2,200.00
- Oversized 26" Low C Tenor PaintedA 26" Low C tenor with an exceptionally full, resonant sound, extended range and projection.$2,100.00
Prices are for painted pans. We chrome any drum for an extra $700.00.
How a pan is made
A hammer, a sheet of steel, and an ear for pitch
Before the workshop, Tom recorded Twisting Steel Drums for Epic in 1962, played the 1964 New York World's Fair and had a Billboard Top 10 hit in 1971 with Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds.
- 01
Sinking
The flat head of a steel drum is hammered down into its bowl by hand. This sets the depth and tension every note depends on.
- 02
Grooving and shaping
Each note area is marked and grooved so it can vibrate on its own, then raised and shaped from underneath.
- 03
Tuning
Every note is brought to concert pitch and its overtones balanced by ear. This is the part that separates a pan from a drum.
Services
Already own a pan?
We tune and restore pans from any maker, and build to order when the shop does not list what you need.
Questions before you buy
Ask us anything else at +1 (407) 451-3921.
How much does a steel drum cost?
Painted pans start at $1,700.00 for a Low C Tenor and go up to $2,200.00 for a set of six basses. A chrome finish adds $700.00 per drum. The shop lists the price of every drum.
Do you tune steel pans built by another maker?
Yes. We tune pans from any maker to concert pitch and balance the overtones. Tuning costs $100.00.
Can you restore a rusted or cracked pan?
Yes. Restoration is for older pans that are rusted, dented or cracked. We reshape, repaint and retune them for $175.00 per drum.
Can I order a pan that is not in the shop?
Yes. Tell us the note layout, the finish and how many pans you need, and we will quote the build. We make everything from tenors to six-bass sets, painted or chrome.
Do you ship steel drums?
Yes. Drums, accessories and recordings ship anywhere in the United States.
Can I visit the workshop?
Yes, by appointment. The workshop is at 900 Country Club Rd., Sanford, FL 32773, north of Orlando. Call +1 (407) 451-3921 to set a time.
Tell us what you play.
Professional player, school band or first pan, we will point you to the right drum.
Made in Sanford, Florida
The workshop sits in Sanford, north of Orlando, and serves players across Seminole, Orange and Volusia counties and the rest of Central Florida. Pans from any maker can come in for tuning or restoration.
Tropical Hammer Steel Drum Crafters
900 Country Club Rd., Sanford, FL 32773
+1 (407) 451-3921 · info@tropicalhammer.com
Visits by appointment.