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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

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The first vintage & Custom Drum Magazine, since 1988

Not So Modern Drummer

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Database of Articles 11/13 to current

Super Ludwigs 1st Generation

October 30, 2023 Danny Bilan
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The 1st Generation of Super Ludwigs were made from 1925 – 1935 and they made 5 different sizes. 

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In Danny Bilan, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Super Ludwig First Generation
1 Comment

Rare 4 x 14 Slingerland *Tone Flange* Artist Models

September 27, 2023 Mike Curotto
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I haven’t been able to find any new/old snares lately so here’s some cool and rare 4 x 14 Slingerland *Tone Flange* Artist Models from my collection. In my 28 years of collecting I have only seen three of these 4 x 14 Artist Tone Flange models. Common logic has to be that there are more of these out there so feel free to send me photos/stories of your 4 x 14 TFs.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Slingerland Tags slingerland tone flange artist model, Mike Curotto
2 Comments

Slingerland Radio King kit in Yellow Marble Lacquer

September 27, 2023 John Floyd
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The kit is in marble lacquer which is a hand painted finish resulting in no two drums ever looking exactly alike. The front bass drum head is beautifully hand painted and features actual sequins appliquéd on the female dancer’s dress.

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In Vintage Drums, John Floyd, Slingerland Tags Slingerland, Radio King
Comment

My Uncle Jimmy and his Gracy Drum Set

September 27, 2023 Danny Bilan
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Back in the 60’s, my grandparents would invite our entire family to their cottage in Northern Ontario.  At one family event, a close friend of ours introduced us to her new boyfriend Jimmy Hayes.  Jimmy was a one man party.  He would sing, dance, tell jokes and kept everyone entertained and in stitches.  To me though, he was extra special as he also played drums.

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In Danny Bilan, Vintage Drums Tags Gracy Drums
5 Comments

At DrumSellers.com: SonorLite BeBop set in Tony Williams Yellow Lacquer

August 31, 2023 George Lawrence
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From Ray Lombardo’s listing at DrumSellers.com

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In DrumSellers, George Lawrence, Vintage Drums
Comment

1938 LEEDY 6.5 x 14 GOLD SPARKLE BROADWAY PARALLEL SNARE DRUM

August 31, 2023 Mike Curotto
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There were a few gremlins that the previous owner neglected to tell Mark about. The worst was that the two strainer thumb wheels were forced on, cross-threaded and frozen in place.  This is when you need a good machinist or friend. In this case my good friend Al Schneider (the original Drum Doctor est. 1963) came to the rescue.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Leedy Tags Leedy Drums, Leedy Broadway parallel
Comment

A Special 1989 DW Kit

August 31, 2023 John Floyd
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…so I pulled the trigger. As it turns out, the seller was George Lawrence. I was familiar with George, due to his affiliation with George’s Drum Shop and Famous Drums, but I did not know him at the time.

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In Vintage Drums, John Floyd Tags DW Drum Workshop, Gary Chaffee
2 Comments

At DrumSellers.com: Slingerland 1955 Windsor Radio King Ensemble 6-N Set

August 31, 2023 George Lawrence

Beautifully Conditioned Slingerland 1950's Windsor Radio King Ensemble 6-N Drum Set, as shown in the 1955 Slingerland Catalogue in White Marine Pearl.

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In DrumSellers, Vintage Drums Tags slingerland Radio King
Comment

"Drums On Sale" - Hagerstown, Maryland Drum Shop closing

August 31, 2023 George Lawrence

The last day the shop will be open is Friday, October 27th with a sale to liquidate any remaining inventory sometime in mid-November. Many products have already been discounted on the website, with further discounts and sales to come.

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In Vintage Drums, From Editor George Lawrence, Industry News Tags drumsonsale.com
1 Comment

Leedy & Ludwig Zebra finish

August 31, 2023 George Lawrence

The ad is from the Sept. 10, 1952 issue of Downbeat Magazine

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In Vintage Drums, Leedy, Life's Little Drumming Lessons, Ludwig Tags Leedy&Ludwig
2 Comments

My Three Black Beauty Snare Drums

July 31, 2023 Danny Bilan
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In 1977, Ludwig revived the legendary Black Beauty. Apparently, the drum was named by Paul Whiteman, conductor of the first performance of “Rhapsody in Blue” in New York’s Aeolian Hall. The drummer was George Marsh. He was playing his Ludwig and Ludwig Deluxe which Whiteman described as a “Black Beauty” because of its sleek black appearance and brilliant sound.

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In Vintage Drums, Danny Bilan Tags Ludwig Black Beauty
1 Comment

My Yellow Orange Kit

July 31, 2023 John Floyd
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a deal was struck with the Jacques Capelle company to produce drums under the Orange name. Capelle was founded in Paris in 1908 and was already well known for their uniquely designed bass drum pedals and hi-hats, which are still very desirable among collectors.

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In Vintage Drums, John Floyd Tags Orange Drums
Comment

At DrumSellers.com! Vintage Sonor Lite drum set

July 31, 2023 George Lawrence
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Ken Lovelett, owner of American Percussion Instruments has posted for sale this gorgeous and rare set of Sonor Lites in small (bop?) sizes at www.drumsellers.com.

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In DrumSellers, Vintage Drums Tags DrumSellers.com
Comment

1970s Wooding Cristalline Kit

June 30, 2023 John Floyd

Wooding drums were produced by Hollywood Meazzi in Italy. Meazzi made several lines of high-quality drums during the 1960’s and 1970’s. At one point, their endorsee roster included Max Roach, who had his own signature kit. Jack DeJohnette and Billy Cobham also had Meazzi kits.

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In Vintage Drums, John Floyd Tags Wooding Drums, Wooding Cristalline, Meazzi Drums
4 Comments

1929- L&L Super-Sensitives--family portrait

June 30, 2023 Mike Curotto
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Family portrait time here at Curotto Acres. Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Sensitives were around from 1929 to 1935-36. They do not appear in a Ludwig catalog past 1935 but I have heard of a few wood examples from the early 1940s.

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In Mike Curotto's Medium Rare Drums, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig & Ludwig, Ludwig, 1929 Super Sensitive
Comment

Ludwig Re-issued Snare Drums

June 30, 2023 Danny Bilan
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I have 3 re-issued Ludwig snare drums in my collection.  The first one is the 6.5 x 14 Black Beauty snare that was re-issued for Ludwig’s 100 year Anniversary in 2009.  Although the shell wasn’t modelled after the original Black Beauty snares from the past, it was beautifully and skillfully hand engraved by John Aldridge.  I purchased one of the last of the limited 100 that John engraved.

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In Danny Bilan, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig drums, Ludwig re-issued snare drums
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WIN a free pair of Crocken Moeller drum sticks

June 30, 2023 George Lawrence
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To win a pair of the Moeller Drum Sticks, or your choice of any of John Crocken’s stick models, send an email to…

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In Industry News, Vintage Drums Tags Gus Moeller, John Crocken
Comment

From Editor George Lawrence

May 31, 2023 George Lawrence
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My first drum set was a three piece no-name Japanese stencil kit made by Pearl: 22x14, 9x13, 5.5x14 with one ride cymbal on the bass drum and a hihat. It seems I have come full circle now.

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In Vintage Drums, Gretsch, From Editor George Lawrence Tags Gretsch drums
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Finishes on Ludwig Standards

May 31, 2023 Rick Gier
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…relying upon what is believed to be the largest database of vintage Ludwig drums in existence, it provides insight into the finishes used by Ludwig which have appeared in the resale market in the last dozen years.

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In Rick Gier, Vintage Drums, Ludwig Tags Ludwig standard finishes, Ludwig strata, Ludwig mist, Ludwig Mist
3 Comments

Vintage Star Drums (1965 to 1974)

May 31, 2023 Ralf Bornmann
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…among the drum community many questions came up as to whether an old drum kit, that someone had found in the attic or as a bulky waste, was made either by Pearl or the other main Japanese company: Star. Star was founded in 1962 by the Japanese company Tama Seisakusyo (later called Hoshino Gakki) and first started manufacturing drums under the Star brand name in 1965. In 1974 the company changed
it’s name from STAR to TAMA

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In Vintage Drums, Ralf Bornmann Tags Vintage Star Drums, sixties Japanese drums
8 Comments
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