I will say this: if Buddy could have read music he may have enjoyed staying in one place and making big money while staying in town (NY or LA) and being the house drummer for one of those late night tv shows. But (lucky for us) he had to move his band around a lot to keep it working all the time. This gave everybody, everywhere a chance to hear and enjoy Buddy Rich. (...and then again he probably wouldn’t have had it any other way)
Read moreFirst Generation Rescue of a Rogers Dyna-Sonic
Dyna-Sonic serial number 1171. This drum was offered on the Rogers Drums Group II Facebook page. Condition was utterly deplorable. The shell was covered in grime, many years worth of grime. It displayed the absolute worst in neglect. It was however, fairly complete. The frame, of course was long gone. The tension rods were mostly a mix of unknowns that were themselves thirty to forty years old. The heads on the drum, I am pretty sure, were 70s era Remo. This drum had not been played for decadesDyna-Sonic serial number 1171. This drum was offered on the Rogers Drums Group II Facebook page. Condition was utterly deplorable. The shell was covered in grime, many years worth of grime. It displayed the absolute worst in neglect. It was however, fairly complete. The frame, of course was long gone. The tension rods were mostly a mix of unknowns that were themselves thirty to forty years old. The heads on the drum, I am pretty sure, were 70s era Remo. This drum had not been played for decades
Read moreReinventing the Wheel: Racks and Remote Hats From A Century Ago?
So you think that state-of-the-art rack system you emptied your bank account for firmly puts you among the pinnacle of 22nd Century Drummers, right? After all, it is equipped with a remote cable Hi Hat, so it's the “Latest and Greatest.” Would you believe your great grandfather, the guy you got those drummin' genes from, beat you to the punch by nearly a hundred years?
Read more1950s French ASBA set with nesting floor tom
This brand was created in 1928 by Alfred and Simone BOUDARD. Pre-war, ASBA produced accessories for musical instruments (music stand, trumpet mute, instruments stand, etc...). It was only after WWII that ASBA began to produce drums and percussions and eventually became internationally successful !
Read moreTodd Sucherman Clinic, Nashville TN, April 20, 2017
Remo + Peter Erskine Felt Tone Heads
Peter Erskine on why he uses the Powerstroke 3 Felt Tone Drumhead The Powerstroke® P3 Felt Tone™ Bass Drumheads incorporate the traditional style of dampening a bass drum with a strip of felt into an easy to install all inclusive Drumhead.
Peter Erskine on why he uses the Powerstroke 3 Felt Tone Drumhead The Powerstroke® P3 Felt Tone™ Bass Drumheads incorporate the traditional style of dampening a bass drum with a strip of felt into an easy to install all inclusive Drumhead.
Read moreLes Demerle schedule update: Chicago Drum Show & Amelia Island Jazz Festival
I will be exhibiting and also giving lessons in booth 175 on the second level of the 2017 Chicago Drum Show, May 20 & 21.
Read more
How Old Do You Think This Drum is?
????????
Read moreDon't Look Now
My doctor put me on a new drug that actually made me a bit stoned for the first few days. I was prepared for this and planned my days accordingly. What I didn't realize was how it would affect my playing. Being a little bit high (from whatever cause) can help you get into the music. Best case is to be high on the music alone. Less desirable is to be in enough of a fog to forget to pay attention to, for example, the guitar player trying to catch my eye because he wants to end the tune.
Read moreRIP Barry "Frosty" Smith
Barry “Frosty” Smith died unexpectedly last night at home, but he’ll live on forever when locals discuss Austin’s greatest drummers. In truth, there’s little debate of Smith’s placement on that list.
Smith experienced a fatal episode in his backyard on Wednesday evening, according to friends. He’d suffered a stroke and a heart attack in 2015, which limited his ability to perform.
1926-27 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 6.5 x 14 DeLUXE STIPELGOLD SUPER-LUDWIG MODEL
Ludwig introduced the new Stipelgold finish in their 1926 catalog. “The New Ludwig “STIPELGOLD” finish is a special composition producing a marvelous *“Stippled” effect in a bright golden hue. It is hard and durable, adhering tenaciously to the shell of metal or of wood.” The 1927 catalog introduces the “New Ludwigold Iridescent Display Finish”. It looks like the Stipelgold finish was short-lived, maybe 1-2 years. Aside from the 1926 catalog, the only other reference to the Stipelgold finish is at the bottom of the first page of the 1927 catalog: “LUDWIGOLD or STIPELGOLD at the same price.” So as best as I can tell by researching the 1926, 1927 catalogs and Rob Cook’s DRUM COLORS THE REBEATS COLOR SWATCH BOOK; Stipelgold was only around for one year, 1926.
Read moreSOLD: 1964 Ludwig Hollywood Set
Selling is a part of what I do. It is bittersweet to sell a kit, but it gives me joy to see someone else get a cool vintage drum set that they really like. I was a little bit sad to let this sweet Ludwig drum set go today. I had owned this 1965 Ludwig Hollywood set for a long time. I had a buyer come over today, and he was trying to get a great drum set to put in a music room he was building. One of my close friends told him to check with me before buying a kit. He called me and asked if I had any drums for sale? I assured him I had several nice drum sets that would be perfect for his new music room. I told him there was nothing wrong with getting a new drum set, and they would work just fine, but a vintage set would be better. What do you guys and gals think, isn't vintage better?
Read moreGretsch Name Band Outfit in Tangerine Sparkle finish.
This is my very first Gretsch set and I finally own a kit made in NYC - Brooklyn, as a matter of fact, during the heyday of round badge Gretsch drum manufacturing. This is one of the most beautiful drum sets I have ever seen. The kit can look yellow, gold, red and orange depending on the lighting. I personally think it looks best in plain daylight.
Read moreJohn Densmore's Mod - The hunt for the Ludwig mod orange kit he used with the Doors
It was not until the mid-2000s that while surfing online I saw a pic of Vince Treanor (Former Doors road manager) pictured with the 14” floor tom that I knew was John’s. It was sometime in early 2016 when I learned that the drum had changed hands and was now in the hands of a new owner. I was able to contact that owner and was happy to find that he was very friendly and even happier when I realized that the drum was not terribly far from me and that I could go see it. Along with the owner, we were able to look at close up pics of John using the drum in the 60s and match up the color striations to authenticate it as the original drum.
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter four
Not So Modern Drummer continues to celebrate the legendary Buddy Rich in 2017. Recognizing the 100th anniversary of his birth… Providing their personal commentary on Buddy are Bob Girouard, Rob Gottfried, Jack Scarangella, and Gary Stevens.
Read moreKim Plainfield has passed away
Kim Plainfield, master drummer, educator, and author passed away suddenly this past week. Almost immediately, the very sad news sent shock waves throughout the drum world. Kim’s death had social media on fire. Numerous condolences and accolades kept pouring in with no end in sight. Kim’s students, close friends, and colleagues at The Berklee College of Music in Boston, and The Drummers Collective in NYC, are still attempting to process such a terrible loss to the musical community.
Read morePearl Hosts Second Nashville Drummers’ Lunch And High-End Drum Preview
Pearl Artists
Following the success of its first Drummer’s Lunch and Gear Preview in 2016, Pearl once again invited all members of the Nashville Drummers’ Facebook group to the Hard Rock Café’s Reverb Room to eat, play, and be inspired.
Read morePress Release: Buddy Rich Year-Long Centennial Celebration to Begin at Lincoln Center
The kickoff for a full year of celebratory dates and festivities takes place on April 7 and 8 at Lincoln Center for special performances titled, "Buddy Rich Centennial: Celebrating the Jazz Drum." The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, will perform a musical tribute to the legendary drummer featuring Ali Jackson on the drums in a virtuosic display of big band drums and rhythm, with arrangements he has created to honor the music of Buddy Rich.
Read moreAustin Drummer Issue Winter/Spring 2017
Nick Marcy's Austin Drummer magazine. Winter/spring 2017 issue
Read moreThe Rogers XP10 Series Snare Drums, 1981 - 1984 Dyna-Sonic and Super Ten
Shortly after the launch of the XP8, eight ply, all North American Maple shell ply series of drums in 1979, the reissue of the Rogers wood snare drum brought to us the XP10 series of snare drums. The production list of snare drums from 1965 had over a half a dozen various models. The production list for 1975 had two, Dyna-Sonic and SuperTen being the only offerings from Rogers. Available in 5x14 and 6.5x14. Dyna-Sonic was COB, SuperTen was COS. Rogers had discontinued wood shell snare drums in 1972, primarily due to lack of sales. The late 70's and early 80's, however, wood shell snare drums steadilly gaining in popularity. Into this market, Rogers launched the XP10.
Read more