DW Craviotto Solid Maple Snare Drum 15×6.5″ – Signed by John Craviotto

This is a DW Craviotto solid maple snare drum in the rare 15×6.5″ size, built during the period when John Craviotto handcrafted steam-bent shells for DW. The shell is signed by John Craviotto in 1999 and stamped as completed on April 18, 2001. The serial number is #508738, and it is stamped with “G,” indicating the shell tone. The drum features all hallmarks of DW/Craviotto production from this era: single-ply solid maple shell, DW turret lugs, and Craviotto badge.

The drum has been fully disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, and reassembled. A new 30-strand Bibin snare wire is installed, which works exceptionally well on a 15″ shell due to its wide contact surface. Hoops, screws, and hardware are in excellent functional condition. There are minor signs of corrosion on some of the internal screws, but this does not affect performance or structural integrity.

The shell itself is in outstanding condition, with a clean wood surface and no damage or warping. Both the signature and date stamp are clearly visible inside. This is an unusual instrument, both as a collectible and as an additional snare option for drummers seeking an alternative to the standard 14″ size. The extra diameter provides a deeper, fuller response, more volume on attack, and a noticeably lower tonal range.

Specifications

Model: DW Craviotto Solid Maple
Size: 15″ × 6.5″
Shell: Solid one-piece maple, steam-bent
Signed: John Craviotto (1999)
Completed: April 18, 2001
Serial Number: #508738
Shell Tone: #G
Badge: DW + Craviotto Solid Maple Shell
Lugs: DW turret lugs
Throw-off: INDe Drum Lab
Hoops: 10-lug triple-flanged hoops
Tension Rods: Complete DW set with washers
Heads: Remo top and bottom, near-new condition
Snare Wire: 30-strand Bibin, new
Condition: Used – excellent
Construction: Single-ply steam-bent shell
Sound Character: Full, resonant low-mid response, clear attack, wide dynamic range

This drum combines documented Craviotto history, DW hardware, and the rare 15″ dimension, making it a unique and technically impressive instrument.

The last two images in the gallery show this DW/Craviotto 15″ snare compared to a standard DW 14″ snare.