Edward Tucker revives the "Catalog Corner" column which Harry Cangany for so many years. Catalogs are so important the vintage drum collectors. Thank you, Edward, for sharing your large catalog collection and your knowledge of vintage drums!
Read more1921-22 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 4 x 14 6 LUG SCROLL PATTERN DeLUXE MODEL
I call it a “Monday Morning at the Office” drum because the scroll pattern is in every panel but there is no “Ludwig Chicago” engraving that would normally be just left of the strainer.
Read moreLudwig Las Vegas 4 x 13 Snare Drum
It took me years to finally find a Ludwig Las Vegas 4 x 13 Snare Drum. I finally got the opportunity in May of this year to purchase one from a private seller in the U.S., although it did come at a bit of an inconvenient time. I was lying on a stretcher in the hospital waiting to go into the operating room for my scheduled spine surgery when I received a text message from the seller wanting to discuss my interest in purchasing this snare drum.
Read moreVintage MIJ Bongos
The Japanese drum companies used the traditional conical design but using lugs, hoops, and wraps that their drums used. Pearl and Star appear to be the only two manufacturers of bongos in Japan.
Read moreIn Memoriam - Mark "Whitey" Cooper, well respected drum collector and historian, passes
The vintage drum collecting world mourns the passing of Mark “Whitey” Cooper, a great friend and colleague, as well as one of the most important experts on many aspects of drums and drum set history. Mark was one of those guys that every one, and I mean every one, liked and loved. The first time that I met Mark at a drum show I knew that he would be one of my favorite people. Instant comrades.
Read morePeter Erskine Gladstone/Lang Snare
To say I am beyond thrilled to be the new caretaker of this incredible piece of snare drum history from one of the greatest drummers of all time, my friend, the incomparable Peter Erskine, is an understatement.
This is what Peter calls “…my legacy snare drum…” and I am fully aware that this is/was one of his most prized and personal snares of all time, and I am so grateful that he has entrusted me to watch over it.
Them Stinkin’ Badges
One of my favorite parts of the vintage MIJ drum genre is simply admiring all the badges, the styles and types and even the brands. A badge on a drum (especially a stencil) lets you know who sold it. Any kind of badging usually accomplishes at minimum the tasks of identification and advertising, and sometimes a little deception with the styling.
Read more1928- SLINGERLAND 5x14 WALNUT TONE FLANGE FANCHER ARTIST MODEL
Most of these drums have 10 brass wood screws or 10 brass brads on the top bearing edge that are in line with the tube lugs and are there to allow the brass ring of the Tone Flange to seat. This drum is a tad different, there are12 brass brads that do not line up with the lugs (see photo). I also noticed a difference in the internal attachment hardware. On Slingerland snares of this era there is usually a washer, a lock washer and a screw. This drum has a larger washer, smaller washer, lock washer and a screw for the lugs, 3 point strainer and butt plate.
Read morePhotos from Chicago Drum Show on NSMD Facebook
Bob Campbell shoots great photos, period. Especially of drums and drummers. He got some great shots of both at the 2024 Chicago Drum Show in May. Too many to post here. They are uploaded on the NSMD Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/notsomoderndrummer Go check it out.
Read moreSuper Ludwig Super Sensitives
I really like the Ludwig pre-serial # Super Sensitive snare drum. I have 10 of them in my collection from the 1920’s – 1970’s. This month I will feature 3 of them that are from 1961 – 1964.
Read moreBucket List Find - Ludwig Down Beat Bowling Ball Oyster Blue
I’ve always been a fan of the blue and black “bowling ball” oyster finishes that Ludwig introduced in 1971. The blue is my favorite and I have had a couple of Hollywood kits (12, 13, 16, 22) over the years, but I’ve always wanted a Downbeat kit (13, 16, 22) with a rail consolette.
Read moreRare Early Pearl Snare Drum
The word “rare” is a very subjective term and quite overused in the drum world, but in this case I think it’s appropriate. There are many parts of this drum which are rarely seen, or not seen at all, and they don’t appear in any known catalogs.
Read more1960s Keystone Badge Ludwig Drums – Types and Dimensions
This article documents the types and sizes of drums recorded in a large database of 1960s Ludwig Keystone badge drums to provide a glimpse into Ludwig’s 1960s production.
Read more1968 Slingerland Modern Jazz Outfit No. 9N
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.
Read more1995 SLINGERLAND 6.5 x 12 BRASS/ENGRAVED #1 of 5
The engraving pattern is based on the engraving pattern that was used on the 1928 Slingerland Gold Plated Artist Models
Read moreA rare French METJAZZ drumset !
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.
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