I know I am not the only one. I’ve been on the internet. We are many. We are unabashed. We are gearheads. Professional drummers are amazing people. We worship them, adore them, buy their signature drumsticks, learn their techniques, styles and solos…hang posters of them in our practice spaces…but a few of us yearn for more. We love the drumming, but are fascinated, captivated, no…obsessed with…THE GEAR.
Read more1965 Ludwig Club Date Restoration
My project started with a bunch of Ludwig drums and assorted cymbals I bought from a guy going the digital route. Beneath the grime and stickers were a partial club date kit, 14" and 16" WMP B/O toms, and a super sensitive snare.
Read more1970s Ludwig Green Vistalite Big Beat outfit
I don't understand why green was not a very popular color among the Vistalites produced by Ludwig in the 1970s. Some collectors claim, that Mr. Bill Ludwig said, there were only about fifty green sets made in the 1970s. I have my doubts about that number, but we know there are a lot fewer green sets than clear or blue. The darker green and red sets just didn't sell as well as the clear and lighter colors. The amber color got a big boost from John Bonham's using them on tour with Led Zeppelin.
Read moreSlingerland's Snare Drum "Hybrids"
In my early days of collecting, I often asked myself, “What is this model?” or “Why is this snare drum made like this and inconsistent with similar drums of this era?”, or “Why is this snare drum different than the one in the catalog?” As I grew more familiar with Slingerland drum catalogs and references, I became a vintage Slingerland drum detective of sorts. I learned to read between the lines of the typical and not so typical examples. I discovered that these hybrids came into existence because of the supply and demand issues at the factory.
Read more1935-1936 Ludwig Silver Anniversary 5x14 Engraved Black Beauty, Super Ludwig model
In 1935, Ludwig & Ludwig Drum Company celebrated its 25th “Silver” Anniversary and issued a series of redesigned Silver Anniversary snare drums in Standard, Super-Ludwig, and Super-Sensitive models. Mark Cooper (Cooper’s Vintage Drums) has noted that while the Silver Anniversary occurred in 1935, these drums did not appear in print until 1936 (Ludwig Drummer Magazine, Ludwig Silver Anniversary Edition catalog 36-A).
Read more1924 Ludwig & Ludwig 4 x 14 DeLuxe Universal Model (catalog #11)
A regular 1920s nob Universal Model will not shake up the vintage drum community and will most likely go un-noticed or un-interested on many auction sites. I think that the historical significance here is that this is one of the earliest examples of L & L’s DeLuxe Finish. When you add the fact that this finish was only offered on the Professional Models we can surmise that this drum was most likely a special order drum.
Read more1967 Ludwig Super Classic bought right off the Ludwig factory Showroom
I had mentioned above that this was a floor model at the Ludwig factory. I found this to be quite interesting to be able to buy back then as such. But when I took the kit apart to smell the interiors (wink ;-) and check the date stamps, I discovered the initials BL in the drums. I could not help myself, so I reached out to Bill Ludwig III and explained what I had and the story.
Read moreThe Gretsch Drum Kit That Made Olympic History (Tony Williams' yellow set)
“There I was, thinking, ‘This is the kit that Tony Williams played; they’re his drums. And I’m responsible for them.’ So I started trying to take the drums down and get them someplace safe. Then a security person walked up and said, ‘Get your ass off stage.’ I told him, ‘I’ve gotta get my drums off first. These are really historic drums.’
Read moreNick Hopkin Reports on the Dutch Vintage Drum Meeting near Amsterdam
This show is much smaller than Chicago but really well attended by both exhibitors and punters. Dealers from Germany, Switzerland and all across the Netherlands were there as well as myself with a great selection of vintage drum goodies.
Read more1938-40 Slingerland 5x14 Nickel Over Brass Artist Model Radio King
This snare drum was sold to me a Radio King. As I started to get into the restoration I noticed that there are no extension brackets or any drilling for extension brackets.
Read moreSlingerland Studio King drum set - Conway Arkansas cloud badge
I'm pretty sure I now have one of the last Slingerland kits ever made, and it's a good one, and I didn't have to pay Slingerland's ridiculous exorbitant prices for it.
Read more1970s Rogers Holiday drum set in Wine Red Ripple finish
Wine Red Ripple was listed as a Rogers wrap from 1960 to 1967. In talking to other collectors I have concluded that these shells were made and wrapped in Ohio and shipped to Fullerton when the plant moved. They were completed and tagged in California and thus became A late blooming Wine Red Ripple set. One thing is for certain, this fine vintage wine will make you high just looking at it.
Read more1965 Ludwig Downbeat drum set - Sky Blue Pearl
Vintage Ludwig Downbeats are extremely versatile sized drums no matter what the color you end up with. These kits can be tuned for a variety of music and are real easy to travel with logistically. The entire kit fits in the backseat of VW Golf! (with the seats up, NOT down).
Read moreSlingerland Super Gene Krupa Radio King snare drum (a whole lot of clams)
In 1940 Slingerland decided to go back to the drawing board and create a new Radio King snare drum model. This model would become known as the “New Super Gene Krupa Model” with a unique and innovative strainer system which became known as the "clam shell" strainer. Unlike the Gene Krupa 6.5” x 14” model with the three point strainer and eight center streamline lugs, this new Radio King snare had been drastically redesigned.
Read more2016 Chicago Drum Show Pictorial
See over 200 of Bob Campbell's beautiful show pictures at the Not So Modern Drummer Facebook Page and at our Vintage and Custom Drums Forum Facebook Page
Read more1965 Ludwig Downbeat set in Sparkling Burgundy Pearl
This is a 1965 Ludwig Downbeat set in Sparkling Burgundy Pearl. Burgundy Sparkle or “Root Beer Sparkle” (as it is sometimes called) is a finish that is not very common. So it falls under the “rare” category from a collector’s standpoint.
Read more1920s - 30s? L&L? 5x14 NOS/NOB 12 lug "Rat" snare drum
Here’s another very weird snare drum that has been in my restoration queue for some time. This drum reminds me of those Desert *Rat Buggies that are put together with all sorts of non-matching, weird parts, rusty body parts and who knows what else.
Read morePremier B202 drum set - Golden Sun finish
Here’s a kit that only occasionally do I come across in original condition; A Premier B202 in ‘Golden sun’ finish. This particular set was bought new in 1970 and remained with that owner until a month or so ago. The finish is fairly rare or, at least, rare in good condition.
Read more1963 Ludwig Galaxy Pearl Superbeat Set
Galaxy Pearl is a very rare finish, as you know, and the prices reflect that when they come up for sale. This finish was only available for a couple of years, so there is a very limited number of these sets out there. The badges on all these drums are pre-serial number Keystones.
Read more"Of Splendor and Elegance"
Formally part of the famed William Guthman Collection of Early Americana, this sturdy relic was hand-crafted and painted by Stephen Emory, of Rindge, NH.
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