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I got these three snare drums a while back. The 1926 Ludwig & Ludwig drum catalog introduces “Genuine Stipelgold” to the drum market. As collectors we have seen the only “Stipelgold” finish on Ludwig drums but here are three mystery “Stipelgold” snare drums from different mothers (companies).
Read moreMy favorite finish on Ludwig drums is Oyster Black Pearl. I think every Ludwig collector loves this finish. When Ringo chose Oyster Black for his Ludwig drums, he made a great choice. They were perfect for the Beatles as they looked so good even on black and white TV. The 1970s version of this finish made a radical change. The pattern became bigger and the color became blacker. I love the seventies version of this finish, but I must admit I like the 60s version more. The Oyster Black finish survives to this day and the newer versions look great.
Read moreTrying to acquire all chrome Roto Tom’s especially the largest of 18 inches proved to be quite challenging. After a couple years of searching, bidding and buying all necessary parts and drums including entire collections to sometimes get just one piece I was finally ready to build the set.
This pair is unused and quite extraordinary. What you are looking at is a pair of 1920s Slingerland Banjo & Drum Co. Gold Sticks Purple End with original water decal in their original box with inner sleeve. These are the Slingerland “Fancher Model”. They are stamped Slingerland 1-H on one stick only.
Read moreLudwig utilized two different types of stamps and three different stickers to indicate that the anti-galvanic finishing process was used on its chrome-plated shells. By gathering information from chrome-plated drums and exchanging emails with the president of the company which provided plating for Ludwig, a timeline of the different stamps/stickers is developed. These interior stamps/stickers are another useful tool to authenticate and date vintage Ludwig drums.
Read moreThis set is a 1960s Ludwig Hollywood set. It has a 22X14 bass drum, a 12x8 and a 9x13 mounted tom. The older Hollywood sets had two 12s and sometimes two 13s. The kit also features a 16x16 floor tom. The drums have Keystone badges with serial numbers that places their born-on date around 1967. I have placed an 8-lug matching Super Classic snare with the set, but I received a very nice chrome 14x5 snare with the kit. I'm sure it was the snare that was bought with the kit. That was the standard snare that went out with so many Ludwig sets.
Read moreI read with interest your article on the Buescher True-Tone Snare Drum.I am attaching a couple of photographs of an old snare drum that I thought might interest you. The skins are almost certainly animal skins, and the snare wires are wire wound around silk. The clamps appear to be nickel plated and are free floating, not connected in any way to the main shell.
Read moreI saw this one at a NAMM Show in the late 1990s, maybe early 2000s. At that time Leedy was trying for some type of comeback. I got the drum from Sam Bacco who at the time was associated with Leedy. He told me that he located one long-lost piece of this material from Slingerland and there was enough material left over to make a Leedy Broadway Standard snare drum. Sam told me that the finish was made with melted guitar picks (you can see some un-melted guitar picks in the finish).
Read moreI purchased an old drum in Nashville in the mid-90s and have never been able to identify its manufacturer or its value.
Read moreI now own several Ludwig Peacock Pearl snares, but all are 5 x 14”. In late 2020, I found out that Paul “Jamo” Jamieson was thinking of retiring and paring down his drum collection. Jamo is well known for his many contributions to the music industry as a drum tech and cartage/rental businessman. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music business and accumulated some amazing drums along the way. In one of our many engaging conversations, Jamo mentioned that he had some cool vintage drums that I might be interested in. One of these was a 6.5 x 15” (yes, 15”!) Ludwig Super-Sensitive in Peacock Pearl.
Read moreThe story of the snare was vague, but from the extended family members of the original owner from whom I purchased it, it goes something like this; he bought it and never played it for whatever reason, and the later generations always respected the drum and never touched it. Not a lot of details but a very graceful unembellished straight-to-the-point explanation. They didn’t mince words or get into an epic narrative.
I am so grateful that it was left unscathed.
So now, here, is my unplayed, unused, 100% original MINT 1950 Slingerland Krupa Model Radio King No. 143 WMP 5.5” x 14” Solid One Piece Shell “Radio King” Engraved Nickel over Brass Rim 3-Point Strainer Tin Straps Snare Drum in it’s original Canvas Bag.
In trying to determine whether the Buescher Company also did drums among their band instruments, I came across your post/article on a Buescher drum, confirming for me that they did in fact make (or at least distribute) drums as well.
Read moreOne would think that the less expensive drums would have the DuCo finishes but these four snares are perfect examples of higher end (and somewhat rare) drums whose owners chose the less expensive shell finish option. In my opinion this is like putting Sears tires on a Ferrari…but I still will not pass up a rare snare drum with an inexpensive finish.
Read moreMy vintage drum collecting started out with a five-piece Ludwig clear Vistalite set in the 90s. There was a classified ad in my local newspaper that listed two Ludwig drum sets for sale. I bought the two sets and one of them was a clear Vistalite set, and the other a Rocker set. I cleaned up the Ludwig Rocker set and sold it for the price of both sets. I kept the Vistas and my collecting vintage drums started. It was downhill like a snow ball from then on.
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I’m stumped. You?
Read moreThe drum has that 30s era quality brass sound and the silk wires give it that dry orchestra sound. The top wires make it very dry and totally dampen the ring/sustain. They actually sound better than the to wires of either the 20s Ludwig Super Sensitive or the 30s Leedy Dual (both 6&1/2 x14) that I also own.
Read moreWith more than 15 lbs of engineering, this snare is very complex ! Léon AGEL wanted to create a snare drum whose top and bottom heads can be adjust with a single screw... and snare wire under each head... An aluminum shell, 2 strainers, 2 wire tensions screws, 2 mufflers, 2 fixed hoops and a big internal tension system...
Read moreThe collection of all the Classic Drummer/Vintage Drummer Magazines still in print is available through Not So Modern Drummer at DrumSellers.com. All 17 of the print issues still in stock are available from former editor/owner Billy Jeansonne for a very low price $34.95 - plus $5.95 shipping. That’s about $2.40 an issue!
Read moreThis is a 1955 Leedy New Era Outfit in excellent condition. This set is originally a 3 piece but I added a perfect matching floor tom from the 60’s to round out the kit. This is a great version of a small light vintage kit for the “jobbing” drummer. Easy to fit in the cabs and cars of yesteryear!
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Unfortunately, Gretsch had a drum model with a similar name. Their Broadcaster was spelled with a K instead of a C. When Gretsch realized the similarities, they felt it was an infringement on their own drum products and rights. A lawsuit ensued and the court ruled in favor of Gretsch, so Slingerland had to drop the Broadcaster name, so it was only produced from 1934 to 1935.
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