Imagine you are an optician and a drummer and you just had the greatest idea. You decide to cut up your bass drum and make your first sunglasses from a drum shell. With this unique concept and a cool brand name, Jefferson Eyewear makes glasses from drum shells and cymbals. Drummerszone visited the awesome enterprise that has many major league drummers wearing the custom-made glasses from drum shells.
Jefferson Eyewear is the brainchild of Gerd Booten, a carpenter who turned optician. As a drummer himself, he has found a new muse in music in turning drums and cymbals into glasses. Starting with working on skateboards, he can now literally create your personal custom glasses from any drum shell.
Made from disallowed shells from drum companies like Sonor or British Drum Co, Gerd also creates the glasses from shell parts that you send him. This goes for bass drum shells only. Just because a small 10" tom curve will simply not fit any human head. Unless you want a cool gadget because Gerd will always meet your specs. The standard option is to have one of the over 25 standard models in the collection customized to your optical specs.
Jefferson Eyewear turns drums and cymbals into the coolest shades Watch the E=mc2 of Jefferson Eyewear, where drums and cymbals are turned into shades and optical glasses. Gerd also explains how you can order and have them built from your own drum shells.
In this video 0:00 Thomas Lang & Jefferson Eyewear Custom Made Drum Glasses
1:00 The Wall of Fame
1:16 Special Projects (Karl Brazil & other Cool Jefferson Eyewear Projects)
2:45 How to order your personal glasses made from drums
3:30 Thomas Lang closing message
Signature Models All the Jefferson Eyewear glasses already made their way to the biggest stages on the planet; with Mark Schulman during his shows with P!nk, or Karl Brazil while performing with Robbie Williams. Even Elton John has a flight case with Jefferson Eyewear glasses as a personal gift from multiple Grand Slam-winning tennis star Kim Clijsters.
Thomas Lang was the first drummer to have a Jefferson Eyewear signature model. As of now there are several signature models from Karl Brazil [Zebra finish], e-Drumming hero Michael Schack, Bruno Mars-drummer Eric Hernandez, Benny Greb, Aquiles Priester and Mike Dolbear. Real specialties are the Marco Minnemann Ultimate Fan Box and Queen Cora Coleman's Royal Wear glasses, designed by The Lady herself and made from cymbals. There is also the Mark Schulman Wrapped Shell collection which has five different models.
Even backstage Jefferson Eyewear grew with artists the likes of Irons Maiden's Nicko McBrain to Belgium power trio Triggerfinger with Mario Goossens on the drums, or British Rock outfit Editors with Ed Lay, and even ex-Therapy? drummer Graham Hopkins.
WIN a Thomas Lang price package from Jefferson Eyewear
Thomas Lang Vic Firth Signature Series drumsticks - totally damaged by Thomas!
(His DNA is still on the sticks, so cloning Thomas for teaching, practicing and even gigging purposes is up to you!)
Ordering Jefferson Eyewear Glasses Literally everything is possible! As Gerd reveals in the video, ordering is easy. While glasses are a very personal item and product, Gerd will make sure you get the ones you want designed to your specifications. You can even send him your own drum shell (or a slice of it). Always l00% hand-made by Gerd from The Netherlands. You can see more of his work and products on jeffersoneyewear.com.
