The serial number schemes and paper label designs used with Gretsch guitars and banjos differed from those used with Gretsch drums. On a few occasions in the early 1970s, drum serial numbers and drum abels appear on guitars and banjos and guitar/banjo serial numbers and labels appear on drums. This article is written for the vintage guitar, banjo and drum communities so that this fascinating interaction between these areas of Gretsch manufacturing is more widely understood.
Read moreThe Rarest Rogers BeBop set - a goal achieved
I would like to introduce you to my stunning vintage 1960s Rogers little Jazz Bop Set!
18” Bass Drum, 14” Floor Tom and 12” Tom. I added another 14” floor and the matching snare in some of the photos from two of my other sets just for a WOW-factor.
I stumbled upon this set only two weeks ago and I am so thrilled I did, it has been a search many years in the making.
1924 Ludwig & Ludwig "Special Professional Outfit", customized
I'm an architect and custom builder and have a difficult time restoring stuff. I have to customize everything and make it express my individuality. For instance, my daily driver is a hot rod 1952 Willys pick up truck with a custom extended cab and a fuel injected 454.
Read more1950s Leedy & Ludwig Knob Tension Kit
Here we have a nice example of an early 1950’s Leedy and Ludwig Knob Tension kit. This unique outfit first appeared in the 1951 catalog and made its last appearance in 1953.
Read moreMy Rosebud drum set
Thus my Rosebud: Like Citizen Kane’s sled named “Rosebud”, I have found the drums of my youth.
Read moreSuper Ludwigs 1st Generation
The 1st Generation of Super Ludwigs were made from 1925 – 1935 and they made 5 different sizes.
Read moreRare 4 x 14 Slingerland *Tone Flange* Artist Models
I haven’t been able to find any new/old snares lately so here’s some cool and rare 4 x 14 Slingerland *Tone Flange* Artist Models from my collection. In my 28 years of collecting I have only seen three of these 4 x 14 Artist Tone Flange models. Common logic has to be that there are more of these out there so feel free to send me photos/stories of your 4 x 14 TFs.
Read moreSlingerland Radio King kit in Yellow Marble Lacquer
The kit is in marble lacquer which is a hand painted finish resulting in no two drums ever looking exactly alike. The front bass drum head is beautifully hand painted and features actual sequins appliquéd on the female dancer’s dress.
Read moreMy Uncle Jimmy and his Gracy Drum Set
Back in the 60’s, my grandparents would invite our entire family to their cottage in Northern Ontario. At one family event, a close friend of ours introduced us to her new boyfriend Jimmy Hayes. Jimmy was a one man party. He would sing, dance, tell jokes and kept everyone entertained and in stitches. To me though, he was extra special as he also played drums.
Read moreAt DrumSellers.com: SonorLite BeBop set in Tony Williams Yellow Lacquer
From Ray Lombardo’s listing at DrumSellers.com
Read more1938 LEEDY 6.5 x 14 GOLD SPARKLE BROADWAY PARALLEL SNARE DRUM
There were a few gremlins that the previous owner neglected to tell Mark about. The worst was that the two strainer thumb wheels were forced on, cross-threaded and frozen in place. This is when you need a good machinist or friend. In this case my good friend Al Schneider (the original Drum Doctor est. 1963) came to the rescue.
Read moreA Special 1989 DW Kit
…so I pulled the trigger. As it turns out, the seller was George Lawrence. I was familiar with George, due to his affiliation with George’s Drum Shop and Famous Drums, but I did not know him at the time.
Read moreAt DrumSellers.com: Slingerland 1955 Windsor Radio King Ensemble 6-N Set
Beautifully Conditioned Slingerland 1950's Windsor Radio King Ensemble 6-N Drum Set, as shown in the 1955 Slingerland Catalogue in White Marine Pearl.
Read more"Drums On Sale" - Hagerstown, Maryland Drum Shop closing
The last day the shop will be open is Friday, October 27th with a sale to liquidate any remaining inventory sometime in mid-November. Many products have already been discounted on the website, with further discounts and sales to come.
Read moreLeedy & Ludwig Zebra finish
The ad is from the Sept. 10, 1952 issue of Downbeat Magazine
Read moreMy Three Black Beauty Snare Drums
In 1977, Ludwig revived the legendary Black Beauty. Apparently, the drum was named by Paul Whiteman, conductor of the first performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” in New York’s Aeolian Hall. The drummer was George Marsh. He was playing his Ludwig and Ludwig Deluxe which Whiteman described as a “Black Beauty” because of its sleek black appearance and brilliant sound.
Read moreMy Yellow Orange Kit
a deal was struck with the Jacques Capelle company to produce drums under the Orange name. Capelle was founded in Paris in 1908 and was already well known for their uniquely designed bass drum pedals and hi-hats, which are still very desirable among collectors.
Read moreAt DrumSellers.com! Vintage Sonor Lite drum set
Ken Lovelett, owner of American Percussion Instruments has posted for sale this gorgeous and rare set of Sonor Lites in small (bop?) sizes at www.drumsellers.com.
Read more1970s Wooding Cristalline Kit
Wooding drums were produced by Hollywood Meazzi in Italy. Meazzi made several lines of high-quality drums during the 1960’s and 1970’s. At one point, their endorsee roster included Max Roach, who had his own signature kit. Jack DeJohnette and Billy Cobham also had Meazzi kits.
Read more1929- L&L Super-Sensitives--family portrait
Family portrait time here at Curotto Acres. Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Sensitives were around from 1929 to 1935-36. They do not appear in a Ludwig catalog past 1935 but I have heard of a few wood examples from the early 1940s.
Read more