About The 'Talon'

Since the dawn of mankind, the drum has been used to express cultural and artistic uniqueness. As with most instruments, the drum has evolved to reflect and enhance its diversity of uses. New materials and trends have, in some cases, created a very hi-tech answer to a low-tech question. Kevlar has replaced animal skin and steel replaced sinew.

The more we ask of our drum, the more we have to add to it. And if it has to be carried, then the weight of the drum can be a real concern for the player.

Traditionally, the sling was the only means of carrying the drum. Those who have used the sling can remember the pain associated with carrying the load on one shoulder and the side to side movement of the drum when marching.

In the marching band world, drums are carried and played by means of a fixed or rigid harness. It did not take long for the side drum players to realize that the stability the rigid harness provided would be advantageous given the choreography of their marching.

The pipe band world soon followed suit, enjoying the stability and a symmetrical load on both shoulders that the rigid harness provided. However, this would come at a price. The harness demanded that the lower back act as a cantilever to support the load which was now held away from the body. As a result, there were an ever increasing number of players with lower back problems, either caused or aggravated by the rigid harness.

We at Phoenix believe that stability and comfort should be available to the player; that they can be realized with an alternative solution and so the “Talon Drum Harness” was born out of these concerns.