I started to conceptualize this many years ago following a glimpse of a SS Ludwig Timp-Tom trio set.
After making a trade with a fellow drummer and friend for a beautiful original set of Timps recently in 14”, 16” & 18” I got to work
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Valencia drums were Pearl’s lower-priced kit during the 1960’s; similar to Ludwig’s Club Date and Slingerland’s Stage Band outfits. These drums were traded in at the Memphis Drum Shop several years ago by the original owner. They were purchased new in Japan while the owner was stationed there in the service.
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“Bill III and his Dad had been working with my company for nine months on my design of the FIRST digital drum set in the world (not analog). Selmer squelched the deal (Not Bill senior or III). The unit was to have Ludwig endorsee recordings as parts of the set settings.”
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I was very fortunate to be able to buy this drum from a new friend, Bob Campbell, who lives in the US. I had been looking for this drum for years.
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Some of you may disagree, but to my mind playing time behind a drum set, whether it be rock, jazz, latin, or any other genre of music has to do mainly with the cymbals and snare.
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just how do you decide whether you are going to do a job when there's no money to be had. In short, WIIFMAMB (What's is in it for me and my band)
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Recently a “drums for sale” post popped up on my Facebook page listed on a drum sellers group. It included two 70s WMP Slingerland kits configured as a Buddy Rich kit
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Enter John Crocken’s contest to win his newest invention, the Speed-A-Beat roller ball module accessory for bass drum pedals.
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Then Mose turned to me and said, “Here’s the drum rap. No hi hat on two and four, no sidestick, and when you solo just play as long as you want to and you can either stop and I’ll start the rest of the song or you can try to cue us in.” OK, I’m thinking let me unlearn, in one night, everything I know about playing jazz drumming that I learned at North Texas State University .
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It is a ‘One Of-A Kind’ treasure in that it is the first (right side) mounted tom Gene used with the Benny Goodman Trio/Quartet in the 1936 period.
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I was looking for one of these beautiful drums to add to my collection and found this one on drumsellers.com. I was able to contact George Lawrence who did a great job in helping me obtain it from a collector who was selling some of his collection
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Allow me to introduce you to my Rare 1959 Slingerland Drum Kit No. 27!
This outfit is very interesting and rare for several reasons. To begin with, the snare drum itself is in absolutely extraordinary new condition with ZERO fade, modifications or damage
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and now for something completely different!
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A few weeks later, as I practiced, I was intrigued with not only how smooth my stroke had become, but also how much speed I'd achieved in a relatively short time. And the key component to this admirable accomplishment? I didn't pay attention.
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The second was the 100th Anniversary Black Beauty. “Often imitated but never duplicated, Ludwig set the standard for all others to follow with the Black Beauty. The 100th Anniversary edition, hand-engraved and numbered by master craftsman John Aldridge, is more ornately appointed than all others before it, and features the mark of three generations of Ludwig history. “Chief” Keystone badge”.
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World renowned drummer, percussionist, and inventor Bob Gatzen passed away on December 29, 2023 following a nine year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
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To win your pair of the Excelsior Drum Sticks, or your choice of any of John Crocken’s stick models, send an email to John at jc@mybrandbuilders.com with ‘EXCELSIOR Stick Contest Entry’ in the subject line and your mailing address, phone number and email in the body
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When I started collecting Ludwig snare drums, I learned about the early 60’s Supras which I thought were all made of brass. Little did I know that some of the early Supras were made from steel and aluminum.
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Dino joined long-time friend Steven Van Zandt’s group – ‘The Disciples Of Soul’. Dino designed Steven’s first four albums between 1982, and 1989. He also recorded and toured with the group during that same time period.
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