My philosophy on snare drum tone and tuning is that the snare drum heads should be tuned as tight as possible, top and bottom. The shell will provide the most responsive and optimal tone with the heads tuned “tight as a drum”. Buddy Rich said, "I don't tune them, I tension them. There's a great difference” and, of course, he had the archetypical snare drum sound, especially after the advent of plastic heads.
Read moreI'll see you in the funny papers!
The guitarist was great, but the other members of the group had one pet peeve about him
Read moreSelf drumming car
Move over Tesla!
Read moreFunctional Guide to the Drum Set
Yes, we've preserved the traditional functions, but nowadays we prefer to do more with our instruments.
Read moreFrom Editor George Lawrence
Every drummer has their idiosyncrasies about their kit. We appreciate the offer to help, folks, but just wait ‘til we have it all packed up in the cases. That’s when the heavy lifting starts.
Read moreWilliam Henry “Chick” Webb: The Beat That Changed America by Ulysses Owens Jr.
But at the peak of his fame, at just 34 years of age, his life was cut short by the chronic spinal tuberculosis that had left him four feet tall with a hump on his back.”
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 moreNoble & Cooley introduces very first Signature Snare drum
The oldest drum company in America introduces “U” created and designed in collaboration with Ulysses Owens Jr. - the three-time Grammy Award winning drummer and Juilliard educator. With his students in mind, Ulysses wanted a snare drum that was both high quality, yet affordable.
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 moreRemembering Joe Montineri
Joseph Paul Montineri, March 23, 1951 – April 24, 2024
If the modern era of boutique drum making has a father, it’s Joe Montineri. -Phil Hood in DRUM! magazine
My Favorite Things
Over the years, I acquired many collectable drums, cymbals, stands and pedals, percussion instruments, gadgets, etc. I have gone through two “purges” of selling my collections. What’s left are my favorite things - some new, some old.
Read moreCompound or Odd, That is the Question
Ask a musician what kind of time signature is 9/8 and you’ll no doubt get the answer, it’s compound time.
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 moreBob Gatzen Memorial
Hello drummers:
Many of you knew Bob Gatzen and Creative Music, a great drum shop in Wethersfield, CT, back in the old days, so wanted to pass on notice of his memorial service.
Trevor
Hello drummers:
Many of you knew Bob Gatzen and Creative Music, a great drum shop in Wethersfield, CT, back in the old days, so wanted to pass on notice of his memorial service.
Trevor Davis
Read more1937 Ludwig & Ludwig-Slingerland Super Rare Abalone Pearl Super Ludwig Drum Outfit
The Ludwig & Ludwig catalog of 1937 offered a Super -Ludwig Drum outfit consisting of a 14”x28” single tension bass drum, 5”x14” Super-Ludwig snare drum in “Abalone Pearl,” plus various other traps and cymbals, but no ‘separate tension’ tom toms. Slingerland, however, did offer separate tension tom toms in its 1936 (and presumably 1937) catalog in “Abalone Pearl.”
Read moreFaster Still!!!
Faster Still!!!
When a young drummer asks about the best way to develop speed, the usual answer is “practice slowly”. And no, that's not an oxymoron. Your ability to play fast is 100% determined by the amount of control you have over your limbs. And the best way to develop control is through … wait for it … slow, regular, mindful practice.
Japan'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.
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