Four years ago I walked into my local small hardware store with a part from a very old bass drum pedal to find a needed screw. This place has a massive selection of nuts, bolts and screws like nobody else nearby, and I am one of that sections biggest customers. If they don’t have it, which is unusual but happens occasionally, they will order it for me.
Anyway, I’m walking around the store with the pedal uprights and this older gentleman says “hi, are you a drummer?”. To which I answered yes. Now I see that he works there and I’ve never seen him before, he was a new employee. So we get to talking about drums, what I do, my collection and my restorations and he says “I’ve got a vintage set I may be looking to sell in the near future!”. Well my ears perk up as he’s explaining to me all about his set and he asks for help with value and if I would possibly be interested in purchasing them myself. I told him that I very well might be and that I would have to inspect them in person first.
So we set up a time for later in the week, he only lives a couple miles from me. The next few days was filled with my mind imagining the set and hoping that it was a winner. The days go by and I’m at the appointment looking at this beautiful set all set up in his and his wife’s beautiful large showpiece of a home with these drums displayed completely set up like artwork. I check them out thoroughly and carefully, eventually making him a nice offer. He tells me everything about the set. He explains to me that his father purchased and ordered them for him brand new in 1968 and that they ordered the “Buddy Rich Artist Model” snare in lieu of the standard COB model. We talk for a while longer and he tells me his wife is not emotionally ready to let them go yet. Okay, oh well.
But a glimmer of hope as he says, “but keep in touch, we’ll be ready eventually as we get closer to selling the house”. So for the next four years I texted him approximately twice a year to check on the status with basically the same answer, not quite ready yet.
This afternoon, May 20th, 2024 at exactly 10:50 am I receive a text out of the blue that simply reads: “Hi. Would you be willing to go $…. for the set?” And I immediately respond: “Hey (blank), you know what, I actually will. We’ve been in talks for so many years and I appreciate your patience.”. We set a plan in motion, I arrive at the agreed upon time, pay the man and load them up! I couldn’t believe that it happened out of the blue and the deal was done so fast today.
Anywho…You are looking at a one owner 1968 4-piece Slingerland Brass & Black Badge, w COB Rims, Milk Chocolate Interior “Modern Jazz Outfit” No. N9 in Light Blue Pearl in absolutely remarkable condition!
12” tom, 14” floor, 20” bass, 5” x 14” 8-Lug “Buddy Rich Artist Model” snare. All ordered and born together with all the original period Zildjian Cymbals including a 20” ride, 18” crash and 14” hi-hats. All the original hardware plus a bonus vintage Ludwig cymbal stand for the crash because the set only came with one and that’s all they had in the store at pickup.
Now I’m off to clean and play these beauties!
As always, thank you for reading.
Stay tuned…
Edward Tucker
Studio 3T