Patent ID: 8399754

Claim:
A musical instrument comprising: an annular shell having a peripheral wall extending about an opening at one end of the shell; a head spanning the opening of the annular shell; and an annular rim engaging the head about a periphery of the opening in the annular shell and being coupled to the annular shell as to be arranged to provide tension to the head spanning the opening of the annular shell; wherein at least one of the annular shell and the annular rim is an annular member comprising: a plurality of staves abutted in series in a circumferential direction of the annular member such that each stave extends in an axial direction of the annular member; and an auxiliary layer spanning in the circumferential direction along one side of the staves so as to be bonded to each of the staves; the staves each comprising a rigid material having a grain structure oriented in the axial direction.