*Slingerland used the term Opal Pearl but this finish looks exactly like L & L’s Peacock Pearl or Leedy’s Rainbow Pearl finishes.
Read more1929- SLINGERLAND 5 x 14 *OPAL PEARL PROFESSIONAL MODEL
I'm of two minds on this...
Or maybe three. But definitely not one. It's an exercise I find myself doing a lot as I work on things that challenge me: trying to get my mind -- not just my limbs -- to focus on two things at once.
Read moreThe Rare Slingerland Ben Pollack Radio King Model Snare Drum
According to Slingerland’s catalogs, the “Ben Pollack “Radio King” model was only produced for two years, between 1936-1938. This is a significant reason why this model is extremely rare and desirable. Also, the drum consumers of the day were placing overwhelming orders to Slingerland for the Krupa model. All of this was certainly because of Gene Krupa’s major popularity and drumming success.
Read moreCure For Idle Hands - Stick Control Unleashed Part I
The exercises in Stick Control are great for getting your hands moving, so why not use them to get the other limbs involved as well? The following interpretations move the stickings around the entire drum set. While the idea is to get all four limbs working, it’s best to go easy at first, i.e. start with two limbs, then add the third (and then the fourth) when ready.
Read moreUnsung Heroes - Angus Burchall
This month’s drumming unsung hero is from the land down under…Australia. His name is Angus Burchall and, for more than 30 years, he has been the drummer for Australian singing legend John Farnham.
Read more2019 Chicago Drum Show Pics - 187 of them!
187 pics from the 2019 Chicago Drum Show!
Read moreTodd Sucherman - Remembering Tony Williams - Chapter 1
But, Tony… Hearing him in that room. He would always start out with a solo piece and it felt like it was fight or flight— the hair would rise up on your arms. Primal. Scary. Loud. Resonant. Uniquely him, so much of his authentic self in every note… The coolest and the deepest 24” inch bass drum with three floor toms in THAT room. The softest whisper to the loudest roar… Grooving, swinging with explosive punctuations. The sound is seared into my memory for the rest of my life.
Read moreThe Drum Engravers, Part 3: Mike Morgan
I’d like to share some of our conversations in order for you to get to know Mike as I did, describe a few examples of his work, and also explain how his approach differs from that of other gifted hand engravers, like John Aldridge and Adrian Kirchler.
Read moreFrom Editor George Lawrence
Hi, from my bunker in Memphis TN. during this time of “Corona virus bullets flying and no one is bullet proof”.
Read moreGuide to Vintage Drum Indentification - Slingerland Lugs
The Slingerland “Streamlined” lugs were used on snare drums, bass drums (a larger version) and tom toms. While Leedy is credited with the first modern non-tubular lug casings, Slingerland was the first to use them on tom toms and bass drums.
Read moreWin a Set of Istanbul Mehmet Black Bell Cymbals!
Enter To Win A Set Of Istanbul Cymbals And Other Prizes! Here’s your chance to win some bronze from Istanbul Mehmet, the original handmade cymbals from Turkey.
Read moreUnsung Heroes - Ash Soan
Our unsung hero this month is a U.K. born drummer whose rhythmic stylings can be heard on over one hundred recordings, including 56 top ten albums…
Read moreAll In A Day's Work
OK, full day of studio work, jazz lounge gig in the evening, sit-in at the after-hours club ... and it's still not enough! Well, some of us really are that obsessed with playing, but 8 or 10 or 12 hours a day? Sure…
Read moreMarcel FAIVRE full dress drumset
Probably a special order... a "custom" drumset as we say today. This drumset was manufactured by METJAZZ brand (Jean Metzger drum maker), whose specialty was those very decorated drumsets, very fashionable in France from the 30s to the early 50s…
Read moreGuest Editorial - Words of Encouragement
Early teardown
One by one every tour was canceling. One by one all the buses were coming back to Nashville. One by one we were hugging it out, bummed that we couldn’t finish the tour. One by one we all got in our cars and left. It only took a few days for Lower Broadway to follow suit. No industry was safe from the effects of COVID-19.
Read more1920s C. G. CONN 5 x 14 8 LUG ENGRAVED/GOLD PLATED “DOUBLE DRAGON” ALL-METAL DRUM
“This drum has been nicknamed “The Dragon Drum” and was probably an un-catalogued one-off special order…
Read moreFrom Editor George Lawrence
This is great! and I’m having so much fun staying at home and being safe and drinking as much coffee as i want and i don’t have to shave or use punctuation and the ideas are just pouring-pouring-pouring out of my head and I’m typing 130 words a minute and I’m gonna go play my drums now and I’ll be back in a minute - woohoowoohoo!!! (“Editor on Maximum Coffee” image courtesy of the editor on maximum coffee)
OK this is a long one - I have plenty of time to write and you probably have plenty of time to read if all of your gigs and rehearsals and students have cancelled like mine. :-)
Read moreKelli Rae Tubbs' Early Drum Set Video Series, Episode 1: "Woodblock"
Not So Modern Drummer welcomes old friend but new columnist Kelli Rae Tubbs. She knows her stuff about the early drum sets of the early 1900s and she is a great presenter and host. We will be featuring one or more of Kelli’s very well produced videos every month.
Read more"Drum History Podcast" - episode 1 with Kelli Rae Tubbs: The Death of the Trap Drummer
Kelli Rae explains and demonstrates the sound effects used by drummers during the silent movie era, and also how the “talkies” eventually put many drummers out of work in the theatres. Bart van der Zee has graciously allowed Not So Modern Drummer to publish his podcast and direct our viewers toward his awesome podcast site at www.drumhistorypodcast.com
Read moreBiff Adam, Drummer in Merle Haggard's Strangers, Dead at 83
Drummer Biff Adam, who was an integral member of Merle Haggard’s legendary backing band for four decades, and also served as the singer’s publicist and bus driver for several years, died Saturday, March 7th, after battling congestive heart failure.
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