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Not So Modern Drummer

1370 Vera Cruz St.
Memphis
3303386035
Since 1988, a treasure trove of info about vintage drums, custom drums & legendary drummers

Drummer community & drum marketplace
The first vintage & Custom Drum Magazine, since 1988

Not So Modern Drummer

  • Home
  • Subscribe -FREE
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  • Donate
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  • Writers/Articles
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Database of Articles 11/13 to current

For Sale - Many, Many catalogs of vintage drum and cymbal companies, and more

April 30, 2026 George Lawrence

Mark McChristian is selling his collection of American, Japanese and European drum company catalogs and more.

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In For Sale, Vintage Drums Tags Vintage drum catalogs, Vintage cymbal catalogs
Comment

New Trixon Drums Book

April 30, 2026 George Lawrence

High-quality designed hardcover book with over 290 high gloss colored pages in German and English texts and fantastic photos

Read more
In Vintage Drums Tags Trixon
Comment

What's this Worth? W&A Carry All Bass Drum

April 29, 2026 George Lawrence
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In great shape with original heads etc. Any idea on worth?

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In What's It worth?, Walberg & Auge, Vintage Drums Tags Wahlberg & Auge Carry All Bass Drum
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What is this drum?

April 29, 2026 George Lawrence
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This is a bass drum from Star's junior drum set called the "Midget" model. Its earliest appearance in a catalog was 1965.

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In Vintage Drums, Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, What's It worth? Tags Tama, Star drums, Star Drums Midget Drum Set
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US Mercury Single Tension Snare Drum

April 28, 2026 Marc Patch

Let me introduce you to my little friend: a Star made U.S. Mercury single tension snare drum. You won’t see many of these out in the wild, so here’s your chance to get a glimpse of a very rare entry-level snare by Star, and it has all its original parts!

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In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Vintage Drums Tags us mercury single tension snare, Star drums
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1932-34 SLINGERLAND 5 x 14 ENGRAVED/ART GOLD DUALL “RADIO” MODEL

April 15, 2026 Mike Curotto
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one of my “Holy Grail” snare drums was finally located and has entered the Curotto Collection. This is the only one that I have ever seen or heard of. The only reference that I am aware of is on page 4 of the 1934 Slingerland Drum Company catalog.

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In Vintage Drums, Slingerland, Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums Tags Mike Curotto
1 Comment

1929-30 Ludwig 'Standard-Sensitive' Model Black Beauty DeLuxe Snare

March 31, 2026 Chris Ardoin
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Ludwig released 4 new models in 1929 : Super-Sensitive, New Era-Sensitive, Super-Power, and the Standard Sensitive.

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In Chris Ardoin, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags ludwig 1929 standard sensitive
4 Comments

WTH Is This Drum Set?

March 31, 2026 George Lawrence

I just bought a new kit from Nelson’s in Nashville, but have been perplexed on where it came from.

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In Back In Time, Vintage Drums Tags unidentified drum set
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1930-39 Leedy Butterfly Girl Trap Kit with Rolling Console

March 31, 2026 Tim Northup

This set is an impeccable example of a 1930-39 trap kit that shows the changes and innovations that were quickly occurring to the drum set.

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In Tim Northup Drums Museum, Vintage Drums, Leedy, Kurt Ekstrom Tags Northup Drum Museum, Tim Northup, Leedy drums
1 Comment

Late 80s SOLID 5.5 x 14 Maple Snare

March 31, 2026 James Anzelone
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Solids were produced starting in the late eighties by Huey Lewis and the News drummer, Billy Gibson and drum maker,  Johnny Craviotto. They were made with a steam bent 1-ply maple shell and maple reinforcing rings, much like vintage Slingerland Radio Kings.

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In James Anzelone, Vintage Drums Tags james anzelone
5 Comments

1941 & 1942 WWII Era Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalogs with price lists.

March 31, 2026 Edward Tucker
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Frankly, I didn’t know Sears was selling these complete sets this early on, and with endorsers!

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In Edward Tucker Restoration, Vintage Drums Tags Sears Drums
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The Star Lever Hack

March 31, 2026 Marc Patch

One of the most common sights to see on a Star made snare drum is a missing lever on a 930 Strainer. The overall design of the 930 was inspired by Slingerland’s Zoomatic. I have a way to keep the strainer and just add a lever to it.

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In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Vintage Drums Tags Star Lever Hack
1 Comment

1970s 6.5 x14 Vistalite Super Sensitive Snare

February 28, 2026 Edward Tucker
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 This is my very rare 1970s 6.5” x 14” Color Code No. 2201-Clear Ludwig No. 415KP Vistalite Super Sensitive Blue & Olive Pointy Badge Snare Drum.

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In Edward Tucker Restoration, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags Vistalite super sensitive
2 Comments

Edward Tuckers Catalog Corner - 1970s Zickos Drum Corp.

February 28, 2026 Edward Tucker
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This Zickos Drum Corporation factory authorized portfolio is either a dealer catalog, corporate item, a dealer only item or distributor book. And it is full of separate loose distribution flyers and smaller catalogs.

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In Edward Tucker Restoration, Vintage Drums Tags Zickos Drums
1 Comment

1930’s Ludwig and Ludwig 26x14 Bass Drum Restoration

February 28, 2026 Danny Bilan
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I have attached a number of pictures of the finished bass drum. I have also included a picture of a Black Diamond Pearl kit I use that includes a bass drum from the 1940’s and toms from the 1970’s. It sounds amazing.

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In Danny Bilan, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags Ludwig & Ludwig
2 Comments

1960-62 Ludwig 6.5x14 gold plated Super-Sensitive Model

February 26, 2026 Mike Curotto
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Ludwig produced (presented) only 5 of these snare drums that were gold plated with name plaques.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags '60-'62 ludwig gold plated super sensitive
2 Comments

1928 Ludwig Black Beauty Moose Drum Trap Set at Northup Drums Museum

February 26, 2026 Tim Northup

This would have been an above standard professional drum kit for a working drummer that was playing in orchestras, vaudeville, and theaters for silent films in the 1920-30s.

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In Tim Northup Drums Museum, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Northup Drum Museum
3 Comments

What Was Passed Along

January 30, 2026 Edwin Rivera III

I didn’t go looking for a story when I bought this drum kit. At the time, I thought I was simply stepping into vintage drums more intentionally than I ever had before.

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In Edwin Rivera III, Slingerland, Vintage Drums Tags slingerland capri pearl, Roy Harte, Drum City
4 Comments

1928-1930 Ludwig & Ludwig Peacock Pearl Super-Ludwig Snare Drum

January 30, 2026 Joe Czulinski

“In my humble view, this century young visual and sonic masterpiece features one of the most beautiful finishes to ever adorn a drum”

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In Ludwig, Vintage Drums, Joe Czulinski Tags Joe Czulinski, Ludwig & Ludwig Super Ludwig, Peacock Pearl
6 Comments

Gretsch Mystery Wrap - Stumped

January 30, 2026 George Lawrence
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But what makes me curious (and has stumped a good few people more in the know than I am) is the wrap. It is (now considerably yellowed) WMP but it has these gold & silver strands running through it.

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In Vintage Drums, George Lawrence Tags Gretsch gold and silver strands wmp
7 Comments
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