METJAZZ is a french brand created just after WWII by Jean METZGER. He was working with his 3 sons, Henry, Jean Claude & André, and the workshop was located in SUCY EN BRIE near Paris. They made banjos and drums, and quickly knows a great success for their high quality instruments because METJAZZ was a very innovative brand, by design, and patented inventions.
Read moreMIJ Sixties Fibre Gold Star Kit
Every now and then a vintage Japanese kit comes on the market with one of the “fun” wraps. For Star made drums, that would be: the Pearl Fantasia, or the Lava Pearl, or the Peacock Pearl, or what I have today, the Fibre Gold.
Read more1959 Starlight Sparkle Gretsch Broadkasters Name Band drum set.
The set is pretty rare having the Starlight Sparkle wrap that was available from 1958 to 1962 only. It has a beautiful light lavender tint in the light.
Read moreWhat's This Worth? Rare DW BeBop Junior drum set made in Mexico
This one has me stumped. I’m not an authority on DW even though I was a dealer since 1985 and bought one of the first kits made. I’m thinking this is one of the first, if not the first, badge of kits made in the Fender plant in Encenada Mexico.
Read more1984 Brady 7 x14 Sheoak Block Snare Drum – with DW Hardware!
I kept in touch with Chris and when he told me he was going to the states and would be in New York, I asked him to bring me a snare. We met in N.Y.C., and I picked up my snare–an amazing Sheoak stave, (block), fitted with large DW (Camco) lugs and DW dual tension adjustment. It sounded fantastic. I’m not a scientist but I’m convinced that the thick Sheoak shell combined with the large, round lugs creates an outstanding snare sound. At the time I played a 1970’s Gretsch kit and the combination was fantastic.
Read more1937 (3703) LEEDY 6.5 x 14 FULL DRESS *ORIENTAL PEARL BROADWAY DUAL MODEL
*Collectors of the same 1930s era Ludwigs and Slingerlands know this finish as Abalone Pearl but Leedy chose to call their finish Oriental Pearl.
Read more1969-1970 Gretsch Gold Snares
“The gold Gretsch snare was circa 69-70 and done right on the cusp of the transition from Round Badge to SSB.” -Steve Maxwell
Read moreThe History of WhiteHall Drums by Marc Patch
Whitehall was a brand from David Wexler & Co, a company which started in 1920 as a musical instrument distributor in Chicago. The early drums in the Wexler catalog were American made by Kent, but as time passed they were all made by Pearl.
Read more1928 Slingerland No. 123 Tone Flange Sea Green Artist Model
When I acquired this drum a few weeks back it arrived in its original hard case but it was missing the brass flange, ring and bearing edge screws. A friend suggested I ask Mike Curotto.
Read more1930s Ludwig Standard Snare Re-issue and anatomy of a two piece shell
In 2009, I saw an ad for a 1930’s Ludwig Standard 5 x 14 snare drum re-issue. Adrian Kirchler, owner of AK Drums in Valdaora di Sotto Italy, was making 60 replicas of this 2-piece shell snare. Even though I heard about it late, I was able to get on the list to purchase one through Long & McQuade, a musical instrument store in Toronto.
Read more1927-30 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 5 x 15 GOLD PLATED SUPER-LUDWIG THEATER MODEL
The entire drum is bright gold plated. L & L did offer gold plating as an option so this drum could be a special order or the drum may have been plated after market.
Read moreJapan's Ode To Slingerland by Marc Patch
In the beginning of Japan’s rise of drum making in the early 60’s all of the major manufacturers in one form or another used Slingerland’s styling in the making of their own drums. Some of these companies were simply inspired and a few crossed the line into infringement, either way Slingerland just let it happen
Read moreThe Leedy and Ludwig 4.5” x 14” Broadway New Era Snare Drum
In 2010, I purchased a 4.5 x 14 White Marine Pearl Broadway New Era snare drum from Soul Drums in Toronto. Over the course of time, I traded the drum to Century Drums, previously located in Toronto, for another drum. I regretted that decision and kept my eye out for a chance to buy another one. Luckily just last year, Soul Drums had another 4.5 x 14 Broadway New Era snare only this time in Red Sparkle finish. I’m not parting with this one.
Read moreFarris Coursey, Nashville’s First “A” Team Drummer
I am ashamed to admit it, but even as an amateur history buff, I wasn’t familiar with Farris. That all changed a few years ago with the purchase of an early 1960’s Rogers drum set that Farris owned and played. I will attempt to tell his story now as best as I can.
Read more1954 Leedy & Ludwig 6.5"x14" Dance Model Snare Drum
Here is a great example of a 1954 Leedy & Ludwig 6.5”x14” Dance Model snare drum in white marine pearl finish in outstanding condition without any blemishes.
Read moreYamaha Dave Garibaldi Signature Snare Drum
I have wanted this drum for a long time but they became increasingly hard to find after they were discontinued.
Read moreJapanese Stencil Drums Primer
Almost all of the stencil drums in the 60’s & 70’s came out of five factories in Japan. Today we can tell most of the time which factory made what, because each factory made almost all of their own distinct parts. - Marc Patch
Read moreGreat video and wiki on how to clean cymbals B8 and B20 cymbals
Mostly about cleaning Paiste cymbals but applies to Zildjian, Sabian, Meinl, B8 and B20 cymbals as well.
Read more1970s Ludwig Stainless Steel Set Built in 2024!
I started to conceptualize this many years ago following a glimpse of a SS Ludwig Timp-Tom trio set.
After making a trade with a fellow drummer and friend for a beautiful original set of Timps recently in 14”, 16” & 18” I got to work
Time Capsule Pearl Valencia Kit
Valencia drums were Pearl’s lower-priced kit during the 1960’s; similar to Ludwig’s Club Date and Slingerland’s Stage Band outfits. These drums were traded in at the Memphis Drum Shop several years ago by the original owner. They were purchased new in Japan while the owner was stationed there in the service.
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