Name: Quercus Rubra (Red Oak, Gray Oak, Mountain Red Oak, and Eastern Red Oak).

Growing Region. Canada, Eastern United States into central the central United States.

Availability: Readily available, also available with FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certification.

Weight/Hardness/Density: Red oak scores 1290 on the Janka hardness scale, maple 1450, birch 1260, walnut 1010 and cherry 950. The Janka scale is a measure of how much force is required to drive a .44” steel ball ½ of its depth into the wood. Red oak weighs 3.75 pounds per board foot. Maple weighs 3.4, birch 3.5, walnut 3.5 and cherry 3.3.

Cost: Similar to maple. We found prices varied in relation to maple depending on source and thickness. Some prices were higher than maple, others lower.

Comments: The most widely used of all hardwoods, this tree can reach heights of 100 feet and grow as much as 2 feet in a year. It produces acorns for reproduction, which are a food source for rodents, deer, insects, squirrels, and birds. Ceratocystis fagacearum (oak wilt) kills tress within 1 year of infestation. It is spread through root grafts and over longer distances by beetles. The imported “gypsy moth” poses a defoliation danger to these trees. Such defoliation attacks can cause death in these trees. For those of you in New Jersey, you should recognize Quercus Rubra… It is your state tree!

Timbre/Tonal Color: Red oak has an “open, soft” resonance sound making maple sound harsh. Principle note is shorter than maple. Oak has little mid-range frequencies. Lot of bottom end from oak giving it an “airy puffy” sound.

Dynamic Range : Nicely consistent. No pitch changes from pp (very soft) to ff (very loud). Oak has a high end “slap” that kicks in around mp to mf.

Tonal Range : Great bottom end especially when tuned down. Plenty of low frequencies.

Tuning Range: Likes to be tuned lower. The oak sounds better tuned low, and went to as loose a head tension as maple before bottoming out, but choked sooner than the maple at high tension.

Resonance/Decay: Slower decay than maple, although the principle note is shorter.

Cross Stick: Woody sounding rim shot. Oak has a larger cross-stick area, than our maple drum.

Volume: Although the volume itself may be similar to maple, it has a “softer” sound that is not as harsh to the ears, probably due to its low frequencies.

Sensitivity: We have no sensitivity problems and got good response all around the drum.

Feel: Oak is a “soft” feeling drum. Good response and feedback from the drum.

Comments: Marco thought the oak to be a great ballad drum.

By Greg Gaylord & Marco “I’m not Minneman” Meneghin.

Photo credit Frankie Frost