Drummer Brad Bilhorn has been renovating a barn on his property to serve as his drum shop. He is specializing in making kits from his large bank of mostly Ludwig drum shells and improving them with his tweaks. He is a DrumWrapper user, a wrap press machine manufactured by Not So Modern Drummer. Brad is doing it Old School, off the grid – no internet, smart phone, text, etc., YET, so you’ll need to call him to talk drums. Here’s the letter from Brad:
Homestead Vintage Drums, located in Downstate Illinois sells vintage drums which have been rebuilt to “better than original specs” and which are intended for the player working at acoustic or moderate electric dynamic levels. Vintage Ludwig drums are our main brand but we also have a number of Rogers and Gretsch shells which can be sold as individual drum or made into sets. Small group jazz and big band set-ups are our specialty and we can accommodate most any standard configuration. We are glad to work with you in designing an individual custom set-up.
We usually have standard-sized shells on hand and we are making custom 4” and 4.5” depth snare drums. We also build custom designed canister seat case thrones. Drums can be pearl wrapped in any color and a certain amount of paint options are available.
Call us at 217-377-9747 Monday through Saturday 9AM to 5PM central time to discuss details. We’ll be happy to get the drums that meet your needs.
Homestead Vintage Drums is owned and operated by jazz and all around drummer Brad Bilhorn whose partial credits include jazz greats Joe Henderson, Art Pepper, Harold Land, Bud Shank, Blue Mitchell, Clark Terry, Bill Watrous, Frank Rosalino, Kai Winding, Marion McPartland and many others.
Brad has worked with many big bands like The San Fransisco 49’ers Big Band, The Oakland Invaders Big Band, Full Faith and Credit Big Band, The Jim Dukey Electric Big Band, The Bill Saks Big Band, Les Elgart, Larry Elgart, the Brad Bilhorn Big Band, and many others.
His jazz rock fusion credits include Mike Nock and the Fourth Way, Mark Isham, Mingo Lewis and Joaquin Leavano. His rock and pop credits include The Pointer Sisters, Chuck Berry, Albert Collins, Steve Douglas, Maria Muldaur and many others.