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Not So Modern Drummer

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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
  • Contact
  • Writers/Articles
  • Drum History Podcast
  • Drumming News
  • Research & Resources
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Database of Articles 11/13 to current

For Sale - 1980s Tama Imperialstar 5" x 14" Powerline 8065 seamless shell snare

October 12, 2025 George Lawrence
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This drum is in excellent ++ working order. The seamless Powerline metal shell drums sound great and punchy whether tuned low and fat or tight and crisp

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In George Lawrence, Vintage Drums, Free Classifieds, Classified Ads
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1928-32 LUDWIG 5 x 14 MOTTLED SEPIA STANDARD MODEL

September 29, 2025 Mike Curotto
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We have to go to the Ludwig Drummer Magazines of that time or to dealer flyers to learn of the special “Hotsy-Totsy" and "Mottled Sepia" finishes offered in 1928. 

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

1960s Rogers DynaSonic

September 22, 2025 Phil Wilson
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The Bread-and-Butter lugs are all perfect and the blue glass glitter wrap is flawless. There is not an issue anywhere on the drum. It is in excellent condition. I consider it one of my favorite snares in my collection.

Read more
In The Phil Wilson Collection, Rogers, Vintage Drums Tags phil wilson, Rogers Dynasonic
1 Comment

MIJ and Beyond

September 14, 2025 Marc Patch

Possibly my favorite is this Rocket badge. This specific badge is my recreation of a pretty rare badge out there, but they nailed that cartoon rocket shape that were found in many toys and comic books in that era. In my searches I could not find any single industry that had so many products that hitched on to space related themes. So it’s official; MIJ Drums are the champions of the universe!

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In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Vintage Drums Tags Made in Japan drums, Made in Japan drum badges, MIJ drums
1 Comment

The Ghost That Wouldn't Die

September 5, 2025 Reader Submissions

Once someone played a Ghost pedal they had to have one. From drummer to drummer, stories of the Ghost spread first by word-of-mouth.

Read more
In Vintage Drums, Reader Submissions, Ludwig Tags Ghost bass drum pedal, Ludwig Ghost
17 Comments

1920s C. G. CONN 4x14 ENGRAVED/GOLD PLATED DANCE MODEL SNARE DRUM

August 5, 2025 Mike Curotto
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I got this drum at the Chicago Vintage Drum Show many years ago.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums Tags Mike Curotto, Conn gold plated dance band snare drum
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Bizarre? Dixie Drum Set by German Deri Drum Company

August 5, 2025 John Floyd
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As a long-time collector, I have a fascination with the unusual, the bizarre, and often the ultimately impractical. These drums fall into all three categories.

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In John Floyd, Vintage Drums Tags Deri Drum Company, Dixi Deri
1 Comment

Leedy Broadway Parallel and Dual Snare Drums

August 5, 2025 Bill Wanser

I decided to write an article covering this to help people identify the three different generations of this parallel throw-off and the versions.

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In Reader Submissions, Vintage Drums, Leedy Tags Bill Wanser, Leedy Broadway parallel, Leedy Dual
1 Comment

Brady 8 pc drum kit - value?

August 5, 2025 Reader Submissions

I was wondering if you could assist me with a drum kit. I currently have my father's Brady Drum kit he purchased in around 1992.

Read more
In Vintage Drums, George Lawrence Tags Brady drums
4 Comments

Sanity Lounge Show - Interview w John Crocken and performance

August 5, 2025 George Lawrence

In this episode of Sanity Lounge, we sit down with the incredibly talented John Crocken—drummer, craftsman, and creator of Persimmon Drumsticks.

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In Vintage Drums, Legendary Drummers Tags John Crocken
1 Comment

MIJ Stencil Strainers

August 5, 2025 Marc Patch

Most of the things I write about are just stating the facts as I have found them, but this one is purely an opinion piece, and just for fun.

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In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Vintage Drums Tags MIJ snare strainers, Marc Patch
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1928-32 Ludwig 5x14 Mottled Sepia Standard Model Snare

June 23, 2025 Mike Curotto
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“Not all pearl covering options were offered in the catalogs. Some finish options, like model options, were short lived and never made the next years catalog. 

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Ludwig
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Rare Little Drum

June 22, 2025 Marc Patch

This beautiful drum was made by Star as part of their “Midget” line. Most commonly seen as part of a four-piece “Low-Teen” drum outfit, they were also sold as individual snare drums.

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In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Mark Markowitz, Vintage Drums Tags Marc Patch
1 Comment

The Ludwig Club Date

June 21, 2025 Kurt Ekstrom

The name Club Date was actually used for the first time in the 1948 WFL catalog and was actually written as the DeLuxe Club Date.

Read more
In Kurt Ekstrom, Ludwig, Vintage Drums Tags Ludwig Club Date, Kurt Ekstrom
3 Comments

John Crocken Drum Sticks has a very nice new website

May 30, 2025 George Lawrence

With decades of experience and performance under his belt—from serving in the Army band to dazzling audiences alongside A-list celebrities and Broadway musicals—John harnessed his skills to infuse every pair of sticks with superior craftsmanship and an unrivaled ethos.

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In George Lawrence, Vintage Drums Tags Crocken drum sticks
1 Comment

1928- SLINGERLAND TONE FLANGE 5x14 WMP LIPSKIN SPECIAL MODEL

May 30, 2025 Mike Curotto
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Lipskin Special Models were not catalogued so we can assume that they were made for a dealer.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Slingerland Tags Mike Curotto, slingerland Lipskin
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The R-360 By Rogers "Semi-stencil"

May 30, 2025 Marc Patch

I personally think the Semistencil nickname is appropriate for the R-360 & R-380 by Rogers

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In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Vintage Drums
1 Comment

Edward Tucker’s Catalog Corner 1911 Walberg & Auge / Jas. H. Ward Mfg. Co.

May 30, 2025 Edward Tucker

A very special rare Drum Catalog arrived.

Read more
In Edward Tucker Restoration, Vintage Drums Tags Edward Tucker
1 Comment

A Brief, Mostly Factual History Of The Bass Drum

May 2, 2025 Richard Best

The trend toward smaller bass drums was driven as much by portability as sound. Elvin Jones settled on an 18" bass drum because it fit into a cab nicely (so I’ve heard).

Read more
In Vintage Drums, Educational, Richard Best Tags Richard BEst
2 Comments

Early Apollo Snare Drum

May 2, 2025 Marc Patch

In an effort to show what is less seen, I offer you another one of my favorites. This gold sparkle Apollo, which was made by Star in the early 1960’s

Read more
In Marc Patch Stencil MIJ, Vintage Drums Tags Apollo Drums
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About the 150th anniversary sets

https://www.johncrockenpersimmondrumsticks.com/

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