Ringo's Cymbals- a timeline

[equipmentdork]

That's Ivor's version of the story but Ringo now says he saw the full set in the store window and fell in love with the look. Who's telling the truth? I suppose we'll never know.

Although you can't just peel off a wet-slide decal....so there's a strike against Ringo's version of the tale.

The decal on his first set did slowly chip away until it just read "Lu" at which point they had a full logo repainted on in a slightly off font.

Reportedly, John Lennon introduced Ringo as being "on Lu!" one evening.


Dan

 

[JDA]

In a Modern Drummer interview I remember Ringo saying "Premier's were too heavy" (in sound I think he meant) , "Gretsch were too fast" and "Ludwig's were just right"

I guess when he went looking

 

[type85]

That's Ivor's version of the story but Ringo now says he saw the full set in the store window and fell in love with the look. Who's telling the truth? I suppose we'll never know.

Although you can't just peel off a wet-slide decal....so there's a strike against Ringo's version of the tale.

The decal on his first set did slowly chip away until it just read "Lu" at which point they had a full logo repainted on in a slightly off font.

You gotta love Ringo, he tells the best stories! Much more interesting that Bill Ludwigs version!

 

[b/o 402]

Makes me wonder if there was some “Ludwig” name tag or other ephemera that Ringo’s referring to?

 

[JimmyM]

Reportedly, John Lennon introduced Ringo as being "on Lu!" one evening.


Dan

Nowadays Ringo would probably Have 100 of them and sell them at intermission.

 

[kingindnorth]

one thing I love is that Ringo liked to tune his drums for deeper, more resonant tones.

 

[K.O.]

Reportedly, John Lennon introduced Ringo as being "on Lu!" one evening.


Dan

I've read John started to introduce Ringo as being "on the loo" which has a whole 'nother meaning in Britain. Probably prompted Ringo or Brian Epstein to get the logo repainted in full.

More on the logo heads can be found here...

https://www.beatlesuits.com/saga-of-seven-skins-story.html

 

[toddlittle827]

Pro Paiste tip: German Stambuls seldom EVER had Made In Germany engraved on them. They absolutely, positively cannot be dated to pre 1957/8 by a lack of country of origin on them. Once the Swiss factory opened the MIG was not automatically added to the German Stambuls or Zilkos. They kept the original pre-Swiss logos.

A B8 Stambul made in Germany in 1977 will not say MIG on it!!!!!!

The German Stambuls pretty much maintained the original metal stamp logo (w/o country as this was the original Post WWII paiste factory) with slight shifting of the elements of the dies from 1948/9 - 1977. There are a few exceptions to this out there (with either MIG or Foreign Made on them) but not many. They (MIG engraved Stambuls) are the rare exception not the rule.

 

[sternerp]

August 19th 1966- The US Tour stop in Memphis
Noting again for the nth time, the lathe lines in the 20". This photo is new to me and proves that Ringo continued the US tour with the same cymbal pack (14" A Zildjian, 20" A Zildjian, 18" A Zildjian) he used since the 1st US tour, almost two years before. I am really believing that this 20" specifically, is Thee big whooooosh cymbal we hear limited on Rubber Soul and Revolver. My guess is that it is in the ~2100+gram range, it has a slightly typical A Zildjian thicker cymbal roar to it. In fact, if you see the Budakon show footage from '66, the cymbal barely moves when struck.
View attachment 531311
August 29th- 1966. The Final US show, candlestick park San Francisco.
View attachment 531312

View attachment 531314
Next we get into Sgt. Pepper cymbals and beyond. There are some surprises to be had!

Thanks for the photos! I was 11 when I saw the Beatles at their 1966 Candlestick show. I don't remember much music; just lots of girls screaming.

 

[jptrickster]

Just to add to the conversation here is my Zyn (18 riveted) in comparison to Ringo's riveted cymbal from AHDN.
View attachment 531849

Similar profiles although maybe not exactly the same. I found a Zyn once at the Chicago drum show that had exactly that same profile many years ago (well before there was any notion that it might be a "Ringo cymbal") but did not buy it.

It's the "The Day the Earth Stood Still" saucer profile.

View attachment 531850

I must say that was a very interesting sounding cymbal having heard a few taps of it played alone in the movie (second episode Ringo noodling Abbey Rd Studio) Different (better/more) than I had expected. A sleeper cymbal for sure.

 

[JimmyM]

I must say that was a very interesting sounding cymbal having heard a few taps of it played alone in the movie (second episode Ringo noodling Abbey Rd Studio) Different (better/more) than I had expected. A sleeper cymbal for sure.

Ya, I have no desire to get one, but it was cool sounding.

But I love Ringo's philosophy of gear...stick with a good solid set of drums, a small handful of good choices for cymbals, don't go switching anything out willy nilly just because you can, and make some music already!

 

[GiantBeater]

June 28th 1968- recording Goodnight
Possibly the best picture of any of his cymbals, probably a 20" 50's zildjian and could be the "Help! on the beach one" (though it is hard to see that familiar lathe line but it could be the lighting), but I am not sure we have seen this cymbal in his set up prior to the white album. I like to think he is using this 20" on Helter Skelter and the Baby You're so Square outtake cover we hear on the white album outtakes. The edges look thin and hand hammered so I believe it would have been crash/rideable.

July 30th 1968- Recording Hey Jude
I see the 602 20" medium ride

July 1968-
Unknown 20" Zildjian most likely, the same one from Goodnight sessions

 

[ThomFloor]

Lots of details in all these pics.
One thing though, Ringo sure dressed well for working all those hours in a studio.

 

[JDA]

Let's sum up not stop but sum up so far:

1. All the right side cymbals :

2. All the the left side Cymbals:

3. All the hi hats:

Dimension, brand, model (if possible), rivs or not, etc.



Be nice to see a sum up
from @GiantBeater @type85 and all who have researched

- doesn't have to be (the) years each used, just the cymbals totaled up in dimension, brand and which side. A quick synopsis

 

[JimmyM]

Lots of details in all these pics.
One thing though, Ringo sure dressed well for working all those hours in a studio.

He knew he was being filmed, that's why. Paul and John didn't care. George and Ringo did.

 

[JDA]

the two water signs..

 

[GiantBeater]

Let's sum up not stop but sum up so far:

1. All the right side cymbals :

2. All the the left side Cymbals:

3. All the hi hats:

Dimension, brand, model (if possible), rivs or not, etc.



Be nice to see a sum up
from @GiantBeater @type85 and all who have researched

- doesn't have to be (the) years each used, just the cymbals totaled up in dimension, brand and which side. A quick synopsis

for sure man, I was going to do a recap when I am done with the timeline through 1970. In fact, is there a way to pin the timeline to the top of the thread? Is there a moderator around?

 

[JDA]

In fact, is there a way to pin the timeline to the top of the thread? Is there a moderator around?

You (or the author) (edit: it's you ) of thread can (edit post #1) Enter it..into post #1. If that's what you mean

I'd "tack it on" to post #1 and post here on page 7 +; whatever page we're on (two places)
can't be that large/synopsis; could have 1 short and 1 long (if you choose) synopsis

 

[GiantBeater]

September 18th- 1968. Recording Birthday

Here I see and hear the 20" Paiste 602 medium ride. I believe it is the first cymbal struck at the into of Birthday at 0.04.

He hits another cymbal at 0:45 in the video and it sounds a bit higher pitched than the intro cymbal, one of these sounds like 4:03 in this I am the Walrus drums only video

The other shinier 20" cymbal I believe to possibly be the "other" cymbal you see at the beginning Twickenham footage in Get Back 1969, which I think is a Paiste 602. Terry Bonzoleum was saying it could be a Giant Beat, or maybe an 18" cymbal according to Sabas.


September 25-26- Recording Happiness is a Warm Gun
A better view of the shiny 20" cymbal. I originally thought it was the zyn with rivets but I am not seeing those, I think it is another 602. Furthest to Paul's right is probably Thee 18" Zildjian. Also note the 14" supra phonic snare, the backup to his jazz Festival. I wonder what it was used on? I am thinking Mother Nature's Son, Ballad of John and Yoko. Things Paul would have played drums on...

October 7th- 1969. Recording Long Long Long

at 1:21 you hear him hitting the 20" Paiste 602 medium ride

 

[type85]

Amazing analysis and pictures! Each post gets better and better. I can hear the cymbal sounds you're referring to at the time indexes, sounds like a good candidate for a 602.
I have to say that it's VERY unlikely Ringo used a giant beat in any of the pictures from the Twickenham footage.
Vintage giant beats tend to be really "brown" looking (not to mention they sound totally different from 602's!), also the "white label" logo is very clear from that era.

PS, what's the deal with Ringo's double bass setup?!?!?