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Take a look at my latest article on the Not So Modern Drummer site. This one started as an answer to a DFO post asking about the relative popularity of certain finishes. https://www.drumforum.org/threads/what-finish-did-gretsch-make-more-of…midnite-blue-or-champagne.197196/#post-2303215 I...

I acquired a 12x15" Vistalite snare recently. I bought it mainly because I had not seen one like it before. Last week I had someone over looking at a different drum and he took an interest in it. I said i would get him a price, but i can find no sales of comparable drums and very little...

My timing is great. Obviously, that statement has nothing to do with my playing. In 2017, I bought a 1965 Ludwig Super Classic Oyster Black Pearl set from the living estate of the original owner the night before leaving for the Chicago Show. My wife had to pick them up the next day while I...

I just purchased what I think is a 1941ish L&L Standard snare. This is not my typical vintage of vintage drums, so I appreciate anyone who can help confirm or improve my identification. What I see that gets be to 1941ish: The badge The snare gates The throw Imperial Lugs with self-aligning...

I am writing another article. This one documents the manner in which Gretsch displayed the model number on the paper labels. Initially they were stamped, but two different sized stamps are known. There are also two different sets of number fonts used. Then Gretsch hand wrote the model...

I picked up a group of Leedy & Ludwig knob tension snares today. There should be enough to make two fairly complete drums and have some parts left over. It should be a fun project. Thanks to jccabinets and Mark Cooper for some pre-purchase advice.

I recently purchased a bundle of drums and hardware from an auction while visiting the Phoenix area. This orphan floor tom was part of the bundle. The Good: 1970s Rogers No extra holes Wrap is clean with few marks Edges smooth Shell is in-round 18" size - BIG floor...

Seller is offering plain labels for $49.99 each. I messaged Seller asking: How old are the labels? What is the history on them?" They replied: "The tag came from a yard sale in Savannah, GA in that box you see in some of the pics. There’s no date on the label or box but I would say 60s or...

In November I completed a study of 304 Gretsch Round Badge drums sets with serial numbers to try to establish a guideline for the range of serial numbers one can expect to see on a set which was born together. It is posted at my website. George Lawrence just posted it to Not So Modern Drummer...

I am doing a study about 1960s Round Badge Gretsch drums which lack the usual Gretsch silver sealer interior paint. I have already identified a concentrated group of drums in the 72000-76000 serial number range which lack the silver sealer (see attached example) along with another hundred or so...

I have written an article about why so many Ludwig drums are identified as being made in 1976. This is because back in 2005, Rob Cook was given some information which I believe was inaccurate which he used when he developed the first serial number-based dating guide for 1970s Ludwig drums. I...

I picked this up at an estate sale recently. I will start the cleaning process soon, but it is in pretty nice shape. Everything seems to be present and in working order. The first picture was what was provided by the estate sale company. I saw a hint of a Leedy lug. There was also a Leedy...

I will give credit to this seller for creating an interesting description for the drum he has for sale. I agree that it is an Acrolite with imperial lugs. However, there is nothing on this drum that says 1970-1971 to me. A short list of important features - Serial number of 196XXXX (only...

In the May edition: A study of Ludwig drums by day of the week based upon the date stamps I have gathered. https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/not-so-modern-drummer/2020/5/26/study-of-vintage-ludwig-date-stamps-to-determine-frequency-of-days-of-the-week?rq=GIER This is an update on something I...

Gretsch 1960s era Round Badge Drums 9x13" Tom - 14x14" Floor Tom - 14x20" Bass $1,600 plus shipping to active DFO Members Sold via Reverb 7/29/20 Silver Glass Glitter / Sparkle Wrap Very high level players set with the very hard to find 14x14 floor tom. Main Features: * Wrap is in great...

I have all of the chrome hardware from a pre-serial Keystone badge snare and need to find a shell which is worthy of it. Anyone have something in a cool finish? I am not looking for a rewrap or a flaking DuCo finish. I know that I could sell off the hardware, but I would rather put a drum...

This drum was patiently waiting to be cleaned up. I have had it for several years, but try not to clean too many nickel drums at once - too messy. Date Stamp APR 27 1958 Generally in good shape. Still a little rough on the tension rods, but the wrap is really nice. Snare wires are good and...

Mid 60s-ish Luxus model 13/14/16/20/5x14 snare for sale. This is not the prettiest set out there, but sure falls in the "never seen one like it at a gig" category. Trixon made some very solid and nice sounding drums. The German engineering on drums of the 1960s is quite different than what I...

I just acquired these on Monday from an estate sale. They were listed as a Ringo Downbeat set with a high price. I bought them for a more reasonable amount on the last day of the sale. We have all gotten sets that were missing resonant side hoops on toms (in this case the 12 and extra 13)...

Ludwig Supraphonic Snare Drum - Model 400 5x14" Extremely clean drum, very nice chrome, only a few minor marks on the shell. Only issue is some rust on hoops. Serial number 2218516 on round corner Blue/Olive badge - appears to be early 1980s era, made in Chicago drum. P-85 Throw, P-32 butt...