Drum set full color digital print wrap on a Roland Drum Set by the vehicle wrap experts at Iconography.
The Vinyl Wrap Experts at Iconography are proud to have completed this stunning drum kit graphics wrap for Roland, located in Los Angeles, CA.
Our client, Roland, is a leading manufacturer of many types of precision machines, 
including both of these musical instruments, as well as the printer that was used to print the wrap material. Using the same process and technology that we use for vehicle wraps, this wrap was printed on our Roland XC540 printer with OEM Roland inks, ensuring the highest quality digital print output on our wrap material.
The pictures below document Iconography’s precision in wrap expertise on this new TD-20SX V-Pro series drum kit. You can also see in the background some shots of the wrap on a Roland HP-307 SuperNATURAL Piano. Our vinyl wrap experts created the design templates, printed the material and expertly installed it.
History of the Drum Set
While drums have been used for millennia, the modern drum set (or kit) is a uniquely American invention less than 150 years old. It evolved from the need to save space and money in theaters and New Orleans jazz clubs by allowing one person to do the work of several percussionists.
The drum set evolved from combining multiple percussion instruments (bass drum, snare, cymbals, “traps”) into one kit for a single player, driven by the need for efficiency in theaters and the development of music like jazz, with key innovations including the bass drum pedal (patented by Ludwig in 1909) and the hi-hat, coalescing into the modern setup in the 1930s big band era and evolving further with bebop and rock.
The drum kit is a “global” instrument. It combines the European snare and bass drum, Middle Eastern and Asian cymbals (like Zildjian, founded in Turkey in 1623), Chinese tom-toms, and African and Caribbean percussion.
Key Milestones in Drum Set Evolution
- Double Drumming (Late 1800s): Before pedals, drummers used a technique called “double drumming,” where they hit both the snare and the bass drum with sticks.
- The Bass Drum Pedal (1909): William F. Ludwig patented the first commercially successful spring-actuated bass drum pedal. This was the turning point that allowed drummers to play the bass drum with their feet, freeing their hands for other tasks.
- Trap Kits (1910s–1920s): Early sets were called “trap kits” (short for contraptions) because they were adorned with various sound effects—woodblocks, cowbells, and whistles—used for silent movie sound effects and Vaudeville shows.
- Modernizing the Hi-Hat (1920s): Originally called “low boys” (cymbals mounted just off the ground), these were raised to waist height so they could be played with both hands and feet.
- Gene Krupa & Tunable Toms (1930s): Legendary drummer Gene Krupa worked with Slingerland to develop the first fully tunable tom-toms, which replaced the primitive tacked-on heads of Chinese toms. His setup became the standard blueprint for the modern kit.
- The Mylar Revolution (1957): Remo Belli introduced the first successful synthetic Mylar drumheads, which didn’t go out of tune with humidity changes like the animal skins previously used.
- Electronic Innovation (1970s–Present): The first electronic kits and drum machines emerged in the 70s and 80s, eventually leading to the highly sophisticated digital and hybrid setups used today
What Is a Custom Drum Set Wrap?
Custom drum kit wraps allow for complete personalization using custom artwork, photographs, or specialized textures (sparkles, pearls, woodgrains) to re-cover drum shells. While major suppliers like Walopus, Best Drum Wrap, and Precision Drum Company offer pre-cut or full-sheet options, often with, respectively, 222+ finishes, we offer truly unique and custom custom image printing, finished with high-quality durable laminates.
At Iconography, we go beyond pre-fab vinyl covers for your drums. We can take your images, or even just your ideas and turn them into a cohesive concept across all of your drums, regardless of size or shape. Want a different wrap on your floor toms vs rack toms? No problem! Kick drum and snare in another? We have got you covered. Electric or acoustic sets can easily be wrapped.
We also offer the same professional certified installation that we use on our vehicle wraps, ensuring a perfect fit.
Iconography Studios is proud to have designed, produced and installed graphic wraps for a wide range of instruments from drums and pianos to violins and accordions! Do you have an interesting instrument or other wrap project? Give the wrap experts at Iconography a call to learn how nearly any object can be turned into a work of art! 562-424-4353 or email us at info@IconWrap.com.
