Researching my First Vintage Kit, Suggestions Please :)

Hi guys,

I am considering saving up for my first vintage drum kit and would love suggestions from you based on the type of sound I'm going for (I generally love warm tones with lots of low end).

In my childhood I owned a few Peal kits that were birch shells. Then a few years ago I sold my last Pearl birch kit for an older DW maple kit which are believed to be Keller shells from the early 90s. I like this kit a lot and will probably keep it. Going from birch to maple was a huge step in the right direction for me.

With that said, I do not know much at all about vintage drums except for the few times I've played on kits in stores and they sound great. My first impression is that there is a warmth in vintage kits that is hard to match in contemporary drums. I'm not sure if there's truth to that or if its just a generality.

Visually, silver sparkle seems to be my favorite of the vintage finishes that I've seen. Size-wise I just want to make sure that I don't get smaller sized vintage drums. At least standard sizes and possibly even a little bigger than standard would be good.

With all of this said, I'd love to hear your suggestions and welcome your vintage drum expertise to help me research and make a firm decision including brand, year or decade, type of wood, what to look out for, etc.

Thanks in advance!

johnbarnesiii said:

Hi guys,

(I generally love warm tones with lots of low end).

Click to expand...

Early 60's Slingerland or Ludwig 3 ply mahogany-polar-mahogany.
Ludwig will cost more probably, and better 'mojo' value, but Slingerlands have a similar sound and tend to fetch lower prices, at least on ebay. Some would say they are under-valued.

If you just after that sound, there are many (better built) modern drums that imitate that sound.

Happy hunting.

Thanks Louis for the info. What are some examples of modern drums that imitate the vintage sound that you mention? And also would these sound as good as the original vintage shelled kits? Thanks!

Depends upon what you're looking for ,but Gretsch and Ludwig used Jasper shells at some points in time from the 60's through the 80's.

Some of the best sounding drums I ever played were some early 70's Ludwig's that were probably using a Jasper shell.

Last folks to use Jasper shells were the folks at Austin Fibes during the 90's and early 2K.

Ludwig, George Way, Pork Pie and a few other that escape me ATM all make a Ludwig Club Date clone (or reissue in Luddy's case) that is supposed to produce a passable vintage tone.

I prefer the real thing just because I don't care for new stuff and because with enough patience and skill of negotiatin' you can score a real vintage kit for cheap.

Also, in addition to Slingerland and Ludwig (the ol' Slingy-lud) don't forget about Rogers. You'll find that vintage drums are like high performance cars or motorcycles, everyone has their brand preference. Rogers have a large fan base, including myself, and thus can command a high price tag like Ludwigs. There are also a ref lesser known brands out there, Check out this website for a proper education: http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/

Thank you guys! 1960's Silver Sparkle Slingerland is sounding like a great way to go so far. I guess this would be 3 ply mahogany-poplar-mahogany shells?

Also would something like this be any good??: http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Stor...T-SILVER-SPARKLE-WCASES-109033610-i3155635.gc

If it's chrome over brass hardware that's nice, Ludwig chromed steel was garbage back then. Slingerland's hardware really stands the test of time and their stick saver hoops are great. Ohio era Rogers kits are beatiful and play well, but those are priced high with no wiggle room for deals.

If it has the vintage wrap do some research on that because not all are created equal. Some adhesive and materials caused yellowed looks, some wraps are very thin and possibly not glued all the way around (Premier), some are thick but tight and prone to splitting without proper care or seam separation.

A good way to save money is a kit with some refurbished hardware, professional re-wrap, but grade A shells. They command less money because they're non-original, but they sound as good or better than unmolested drums.

You have a few options with vintage gear.

If you want something that's mint be prepared to pay a mint for it! Collectors know how much vintage equipment is worth and will overcharge.

Personally I'd head down the project route. There's millions of player condition vintage kits that sound amazing out there but they're road worn so need some TLC. It's a good way to get into restoring drums.

If you're in the UK there's the vintage drum fayre in Birmingham in June, you can get some good deals if you time it right as the good stuff goes fast. Unfortunately last time I went they were overpricing everything but last year there was some steals as my mate has a stall there. I think there was a Ludwig going for £450, Camco £800 to name a couple. You can always get Premier stuff dirt cheap in the UK.

ROGERS!

johnbarnesiii said:

I am considering saving up for my first vintage drum kit and would love suggestions from you based on the type of sound I'm going for (I generally love warm tones with lots of low end).

Click to expand...

Can you list 3 albums/songs that have the sound you're looking for?

johnbarnesiii said:

Size-wise I just want to make sure that I don't get smaller sized vintage drums. At least standard sizes and possibly even a little bigger than standard would be good.

Click to expand...

I'm a Rogers player myself so my vote would be for Rogers, and if you go that route go for the kits with beavertail lugs vs. the bread and butter lugs which had a reputation for cracking. That fact that you are open to a little bigger than "standard" size probably works in your favour as I tend to see slightly lower prices on vintage kits with 22" bass drums and 16" floor toms as opposed to the kits with 20" BD and 14" FT, which can be pricier. I love my Rogers kit ('67 Holiday Starlighter model) and get nothing but compliments about it's sound - particularly the bass drum, which is a 20". Had an engineer in a studio offer to buy it once because he loved the sound of it so much.

geezer said:

That fact that you are open to a little bigger than "standard" size probably works in your favour as I tend to see slightly lower prices on vintage kits with 22" bass drums and 16" floor toms as opposed to the kits with 20" BD and 14" FT, which can be pricier.

Click to expand...

+1 to that. I have been seeing a Rogers kit, I believe its 24, 18, 16, 14 or 13. Guy is having trouble selling it at $250. I already have a 24" kit and plenty of Rogers drums, otherwise I'd jump on it.

johnbarnesiii said:

Thank you guys! 1960's Silver Sparkle Slingerland is sounding like a great way to go so far. I guess this would be 3 ply mahogany-poplar-mahogany shells?

Also would something like this be any good??: http://www.guitarcenter.com/In-Stor...T-SILVER-SPARKLE-WCASES-109033610-i3155635.gc

Click to expand...

The Slingerland kit is exactly the kind of thing you are looking for. For the simple sake of easy availability, I would stay with Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers, Gretsch. But keep your eyes open for Camco kits, too. Also, a lot of the better Japanese kits from the late sixties, early seventies have the sound you are looking for. If you are not brand-conscious, you owe it to yourself to listen to an MIJ kit. You will be surprized.

My own preference would be Ludwig Classics from the mid-sixties to early seventies. I've had a 1964 kit and bought a 1975 kit new, and both those kits had the classic sound you are seeking, with the 1964 kit being the "warmest" sounding kit I've owned.

If you find a vintage kit with the sound you want and at a steal of a price, but not the color you want, buy it anyway and recover it. Recovering is not terribly expensive or difficult to do, and you will be sure of a finish that is not cracked, faded, or separating.

GeeDeeEmm

Appreciate the suggestions guys, thanks so much!!

KamaK I like your question, here are some examples of drum sounds that I like. This obviously due to more than just drum shells, (mics, room, drums, heads, effects & compression, eq, etc). However it will give an idea. Again I like warmer tones with nice presence & attack.

Danzig I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7eQ3eP6kO0)
Failure Come Crashing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WBYwH1y9kc)
Led Zepp (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NaQZojWi6U)
Karma To Burn (Almost Heathen) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axkoe4yucXI)
Quicksand (Slip record) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egzF66hDkFs)
Soundgarden (Badmotorfinger) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEM-1kKcg7g)
Nirvana (In Bloom) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbgKEjNBHqM)

1970's Buddy Rich sizes Slingerland drumset from the 1970'a ($1500):

http://www.maxwelldrums.com/slingerland-24131616-drum-buddy-rich-style-p-6907.html

GJS

Very cool kit, thanks!