Greetings Vintage Drum Fans
I thought as a last article for a very good year of drums I would write about a situation that comes along to us collector/players as to buying a vintage 3 piece set aka dang there’s NO floor tom in this kit man.
There was a time many years ago when a 3-piece combo kit or “outfit” was all a jobbing drummer needed. There was no room for any “floor tom” in a cab. And certainly not on any subway train. So when the opportunity arises to purchase a set in the bass drum, tom tom, snare drum format: do we think one can find a matching floor tom to make our 4 piece kit dream normalcy come true?
This is heavy stuff folks.
Then we have the scenario of a floor tom actually missing. Such is the case with the latest addition to my collection. The Gretsch Progressive Jazz Outfit consists of a 14x20 bass drum, an 8x12 tom, 5.5x14 snare and a 14x14 floor tom. In my case, the floor tom is missing. To make the search even harder, the drums are wrapped in the rare silver satin flame and are in excellent shape with few issues. Finding drums in general in this wrap in this good of shaper is hard. Finding that 14x14 floor tom will be very difficult. But the search is a HUGE part of the vintage drum fun. And I already have been looking but here’s a perfect opportunity to let you all know that I’m looking for a 1960’s Gretsch Round Badge 14x14 floor tom in sliver satin flame!
And sometimes a substitute will also work until you find that matching floor tom. In my case, I was able to locate a brand new 16x14 BroadKaster floor tom with the modern version of silver satin flame from Bentleys Drum Shop in Fresno CA. Under stage lights you cannot really tell the difference but for now, a perfect show worthy substitute and I’ve already used this set on several gigs and the drums sound amazing. All the drums have the original Gretsch Perma Tone heads and still sound great. So my advice is YES! Get that kit even though the floor tom is missing. There’s many way to make it work and they all bring Vintage Happiness! May the New Year bring you lots of old drums! Happy Holidays!