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Our Story

After discovering the potential of industrial hemp, our founder Sean Andres transformed his custom vibraphone/marimba mallet shop, Pyro Percussion LLC, into Taproot Drums. Our focus shifted exclusively to using Hempwood and other sustainable, ethically sourced materials for a reimagined product line.

We do more than just make drums – we aspire to inspire positive change in the products we all use daily.

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Through the Project Olympus startup incubator at Carnegie Mellon University, Taproot’s hempwood percussion prototypes thrived, allowing us to refine the concept for an impactful launch.

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April 2023 marked our pioneering snare and practice pad pre-order campaign where our founder received the NAMM President’s Innovation Award in Anaheim, CA.

From the outset, our drums signaled the beginning of a broader journey of creating eco-friendly instruments. Our growth propels us to explore new materials, sustainably sourced, always urging others to follow. 

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With custom jigs designed in a virtual reality 3-D design program, our products are all crafted by hand right in our own shop here in Pennsylvania. Our shop is outfitted with tables and workbenches rescued from discard/permanent storage, with all scrap-wood pieces saved for future projects. Our Pittsburgh location allows us to engage with drumming communities across both the Northeast and Midwest without extensive travel.

Rooted in Pittsburgh, we're on a path to a greener future, leaving a healthier planet for generations ahead.

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our mission

We are committed to sustainability and growth.

 

Just like a taproot, which anchors a plant in the soil and provides the foundation for growth, we believe that we can inspire a wave of musicians who desire eco-friendly alternatives to the exotic and domestic woods that are over-harvested around the world.

 

While other industries play a much larger part in the harvesting of our planet's forests, we as musicians can serve as the taste-makers for a societal shift towards more conscious consumption of natural resources.

Our Team

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