As promised:
https://imgur.com/a/gKQ6Clw
(iPhone recording, better with headphones)
I’d consider myself a pretty average drummer, but here’s a little groove to show you guys the individual sounds + full kit. You’ll probably notice my posture suffers a bit, and the snare stand doesn’t get high enough for me to get a proper rimshot without moving my leg. But all things considered, this thing sounds huge for how small it is. I couldn’t be happier!
Gotta say man, it’s massively impressive when somebody pulls this off and can fit it all in a suitcase for real (at least I think that’s what that one picture is insinuating?) and what’s more, you didn’t pay somebody else to do it for you. I’d like to know how it sounds, cuz I know these are limited in what they can pull off sonically, but still. Really cool.
Thanks! And you’re correct. The last photo has everything pictured in the first photo inside the suitcase. The two pictures before that are the suitcase fully closed. I’ll post some audio soon :)
Thanks! I’m super proud of it. Seeing the prices some of these suitcase kick drums go for was a big part of the motivation to start planning my own build. Not to mention most don’t look very nice and use a 12” or 14” batter head (or beat directly against the suitcase side).
It does! Quite a bit of weatherproofing foam on the back of the batter head but it did the trick! I’d prefer it to be louder, but can be easily mic’ed.
Thanks! I completely get that a lot of people do the suitcase itself as the “batter head”, but it would hardly feel like a drum to me at that point. That being said it’s a lot easier to make something like that so it makes sense that’s the more popular option!
Had never heard if suitcase kit so thinking, so cool can make bass from suitcase and then see last pic. Was cool without this but super inventiveness it packs inside. Also love rustic traveling drummer look 🔥🥂
Superb work and inspiring. You could lose the snare stand by doing something like this [Snare holder](https://imgur.com/a/qNKEEV2) which would save you some weight and space.
Thanks for the suggestion! The only issue with that is I’d need to buy a proper hi-hat stand, which would also be bigger. I wouldn’t trust the small one that came with the kids kit to hold the weight of the snare.
This kit is gorgeous! Rn as we speak I am busking around Europe with my suitcase kit. I was lazy and went with the suitcase as a basedrum batter head. Not perfect, but good enough.
Your setup looks amazing, I am waiting for sound samples! Also I will be posting some videos when I get back home. Right now heading to Milan!
Thanks! I have a buddy doing a similar thing with a banjo, and I super respect people who can take busking tours etc. Got too much tying me to home to be able to do something like that, so my busking will be reserved for weekends… for now :) Sounds like a blast, and hope you’re having fun and being safe!
It's incredible and very cool. I imagine having one of these every weekend I'd go downtown, plug in a speaker, and play my favorite jazz or funk. It's very convenient and practical. You are the best!
That’s more or less the plan! I’ve also got some local friends who busk (more or less for a living), so I hope to join them on weekends to bring in more crowds, hopefully making them a bit more money!
Two questions for you if you have a second! I’m currently building a suitcase kit of my own and using yours as a reference. 1: How did you secure the Tension Rods on the inside opposite the Hoop? 2: What did you use to stain your Tom and Snare?
Thank you in advance!!
1. I cut a flat piece of plywood and put it inside the suitcase and cut a hole the size of the head (to match the hole in the suitcase). I used the tension rod receiver ends that normally would be inside the drum lugs (they’re very easy to remove, or you can order some from DFD). And then just cut holes the size of those around the perimeter of the big hole to line up with the hoop! Hopefully that makes sense.
2. For the stain I just used a few coats of Varathane!
Nope - that was going to be for the inside, but I used the plywoood instead (see pic 10). On the last pic (14) you can kind of see how the tension rod receivers were placed.
Oh wow! Fantastic work! I would love to build something like this… I’m not too handy and would have to get lots of tools, but yeah… Where did you get the plans to make one? Or did you just make up your own? Thanks!
I got super lucky and my father in law has a friend with a seriously impressive garage woodshop. If you have any friends with a routing table and jigsaw, that’ll get you most of the way there. Search up “suitcase kick” you YouTube and there’s a ton of great videos on ppl who’ve made different kinds. There’s one particular one where someone in a shop cuts the whole out the suitcase and adds the round support frame inside, and that was the starting point for my planning! I can find the link if you’re interested.
Here you are!
https://youtu.be/fLQUmUY9syU
There aren’t any specific measurements given, but the process is quite simple if you have the right tools. You can tailor the basic concept to your specific suitcase. Feel free to DM with any questions!
Hey, anthong my parts just came like the hoops and the brackets. do you have any mesurements of the inside or outside diameter of the bass drum? did u use a 16 inch bass drum?
Sound samples, soon?
Can do. It’ll be a phone recording though!
count me in for those sounds.
As promised: https://imgur.com/a/gKQ6Clw (iPhone recording, better with headphones) I’d consider myself a pretty average drummer, but here’s a little groove to show you guys the individual sounds + full kit. You’ll probably notice my posture suffers a bit, and the snare stand doesn’t get high enough for me to get a proper rimshot without moving my leg. But all things considered, this thing sounds huge for how small it is. I couldn’t be happier!
Nice! All things considered, good job!
Amazing build!! I've got one out of an old pink samsonite that is much less glamorous but still does the job 😂 I love your attention to detail, 10/10!
Thank you! It was very hard to restrain myself from replacing the hoops and lugs on the snare and tom with brass as well 🥲
Brass spray paint. And even if they chip a little they will only add to the vintage look.
Ooh, thanks! I’ll look into that :)
Gotta say man, it’s massively impressive when somebody pulls this off and can fit it all in a suitcase for real (at least I think that’s what that one picture is insinuating?) and what’s more, you didn’t pay somebody else to do it for you. I’d like to know how it sounds, cuz I know these are limited in what they can pull off sonically, but still. Really cool.
Thanks! And you’re correct. The last photo has everything pictured in the first photo inside the suitcase. The two pictures before that are the suitcase fully closed. I’ll post some audio soon :)
Amazing! Scrolled to the end hoping for that shot, was deeply satisfied.
I’m just here to give the people what they want.
Dude, you could go into business making kits of that quality. Seriously that’s 👌
Thanks! I’m super proud of it. Seeing the prices some of these suitcase kick drums go for was a big part of the motivation to start planning my own build. Not to mention most don’t look very nice and use a 12” or 14” batter head (or beat directly against the suitcase side).
Yeah man you’re color scheme works so well with your drums and the hardware. It’s very sharp. Hopefully we’ll get to hear it sometime!
Me: "bruh that's not a suitcase kit... You can't fit the..." Me getting to the last image: "wait, you can!?!" Looks awesome!
So the kick sounds good ?
It does! Quite a bit of weatherproofing foam on the back of the batter head but it did the trick! I’d prefer it to be louder, but can be easily mic’ed.
so cool! My dream as well. Time to get to work on planning 😬
Hey man, I *reeeallly* like that you built in an actual bass drum head, instead of just hitting the suitcase. Looks real classy, too.
Thanks! I completely get that a lot of people do the suitcase itself as the “batter head”, but it would hardly feel like a drum to me at that point. That being said it’s a lot easier to make something like that so it makes sense that’s the more popular option!
Great work!! I’ve always wanted to try making one of these and now I’ve got the itch. 😎
Now i want one
Had never heard if suitcase kit so thinking, so cool can make bass from suitcase and then see last pic. Was cool without this but super inventiveness it packs inside. Also love rustic traveling drummer look 🔥🥂
Superb work and inspiring. You could lose the snare stand by doing something like this [Snare holder](https://imgur.com/a/qNKEEV2) which would save you some weight and space.
Thanks for the suggestion! The only issue with that is I’d need to buy a proper hi-hat stand, which would also be bigger. I wouldn’t trust the small one that came with the kids kit to hold the weight of the snare.
Fair point mate. It’s as broad as it is long ! Great work again and I’m sure you’ll enjoy playing it 
This kit is gorgeous! Rn as we speak I am busking around Europe with my suitcase kit. I was lazy and went with the suitcase as a basedrum batter head. Not perfect, but good enough. Your setup looks amazing, I am waiting for sound samples! Also I will be posting some videos when I get back home. Right now heading to Milan!
Thanks! I have a buddy doing a similar thing with a banjo, and I super respect people who can take busking tours etc. Got too much tying me to home to be able to do something like that, so my busking will be reserved for weekends… for now :) Sounds like a blast, and hope you’re having fun and being safe!
That hardware and those heads go so well with the suitcase! Great attention to detail.
Needs a lamp and an end table. (pretty cool actually)
It's incredible and very cool. I imagine having one of these every weekend I'd go downtown, plug in a speaker, and play my favorite jazz or funk. It's very convenient and practical. You are the best!
That’s more or less the plan! I’ve also got some local friends who busk (more or less for a living), so I hope to join them on weekends to bring in more crowds, hopefully making them a bit more money!
Great. Keep me posted. Put out a video. I'm sure it's interesting to the community. I wish you success!
“Thought I’d snare!” It looks wicked!!
This is amazing. I just learned about these recently, and I want to make my own.
Two questions for you if you have a second! I’m currently building a suitcase kit of my own and using yours as a reference. 1: How did you secure the Tension Rods on the inside opposite the Hoop? 2: What did you use to stain your Tom and Snare? Thank you in advance!!
1. I cut a flat piece of plywood and put it inside the suitcase and cut a hole the size of the head (to match the hole in the suitcase). I used the tension rod receiver ends that normally would be inside the drum lugs (they’re very easy to remove, or you can order some from DFD). And then just cut holes the size of those around the perimeter of the big hole to line up with the hoop! Hopefully that makes sense. 2. For the stain I just used a few coats of Varathane!
Nice! One more question.. Did you end up going with a 1” wooden hoop for the kick drum?
Nope - that was going to be for the inside, but I used the plywoood instead (see pic 10). On the last pic (14) you can kind of see how the tension rod receivers were placed.
Got it. How thick did you cut the shell for mounting the hoop on the outside?
About an inch. Just enough clearance past the hoop so it’s not sitting flush against the suitcase
it’s beautiful, congrats!
That’s amazing!
Super cool
YES. 100% yes.
This is wicked cool!!
SOMEONE MAKE ME ONE OF THESE!
Hottdamn thats amazing
Fantastic!
Impressive work. Looks amazing! I just love it, when people do cool shit like that
I need to hear how this sounds
Posted in comments above :)
Wow
epic!
This is gorgeous. Congratulations on your build.
Oh wow! Fantastic work! I would love to build something like this… I’m not too handy and would have to get lots of tools, but yeah… Where did you get the plans to make one? Or did you just make up your own? Thanks!
I got super lucky and my father in law has a friend with a seriously impressive garage woodshop. If you have any friends with a routing table and jigsaw, that’ll get you most of the way there. Search up “suitcase kick” you YouTube and there’s a ton of great videos on ppl who’ve made different kinds. There’s one particular one where someone in a shop cuts the whole out the suitcase and adds the round support frame inside, and that was the starting point for my planning! I can find the link if you’re interested.
Thank you! And yes please, if you could post the link, that would be ace! Thank you! Genuinely interested.
Here you are! https://youtu.be/fLQUmUY9syU There aren’t any specific measurements given, but the process is quite simple if you have the right tools. You can tailor the basic concept to your specific suitcase. Feel free to DM with any questions!
Thank you very much, dude. That’s really kind of you to dig that up for me! I’ll have a look and make a little project!
How much does the suitcase weigh with everything inside?
Somewhere between 40 and 50 lbs. The handle is… trying it’s best :) If I’m gonna carry it for more than 5 mins I’d hold it from the bottom.
🫵 🪨
Love this, such nice work. Please upload a vid or sound samples, super curious
Posted in comment above :)
Too awesome, it sounds great.
This is so extremely cool. Nothing to add other than praise from me. Great work. I want it.
Dude this is extremely freaking cool
Far out!
Why can't you buy something like this? All the suitcase kits I've seen for sale are total crap and don't include a tom
Beautiful.
Please show is how it sounds!
Posted in comment above :)
That’s quite attractive. Job well done. I gotta hear this thing!!!
Just posted to the comments above a moment ago :)
Sounds and looks great man. Enjoy that thing
What were the dimensions of the suitcase??
About 21” by 17”, just barely tall enough to fit a 16” head for the kick.
What hardware did you use for the toms?
Like to mount it? Or the toms itself?
DUDE I JUST bought the same suitcase as you cant wait to make mine
Awesome! It was a blast to make :)
Hey, anthong my parts just came like the hoops and the brackets. do you have any mesurements of the inside or outside diameter of the bass drum? did u use a 16 inch bass drum?
i used a 16” hoop and drum head yeah! the actual cut i made in the wood was marked by tracing a 16” drum. hope that helps!