i hear ya..

i just recently sold all of my "new" drum stuff so i can make room for more "vintage"

there's no way in hell i would take my vintage kit out..mostly because of the type of music i play/places i play/people who are there..

i just use my other bandmates set..which is a mis-matched POS. but i don't mind. he doesn't care if someone knocks over his cymbal or spills beer on his set.

although i would love to bring my kit out..to get the sound i should be getting out of a drumset..i simply cannot/will not take the risk.

stay strong brother!

Sumo Dude

this past Saturday, I played a gig in a very professional club, a real stage. with real bouncers, and roadies, I used my 1940's ludwig ludwig kit, but I'll only use my vintage stuff in a situation like this one!

Hell play them, they're just drums. I try to rotate my playing kits or take a kit based on the venue. Small bar, 20,12,14 Rogers Cleveland, outdoors: 24,14,16,18 Ludwig Stainless, (sun won't fade stainless steel). Jam at a friends house: 18,12,14 Slingerland 70's that takes up little space. Point is, don't horde them, bash them. Let the Hummel's sit on the shelf.Yes Sir

I agree! Whats the point of owning something, if you can't use it.

I love to take my Sonor teardrops on the stage with me whenever that's possible. I love it when I see people's jaws on the floor wondering what kind of alien set is that.It's true that I need to keep my eyes on them the entire night and take extra care transporting and setting them up, but for me it's worth it! flowers2

Centenary Phonic

Rogers Londoner

Premier Elite

Rare Left handed Olympic

Arbiter Autotune (with vibrasonic lining)

400

Dynasonic

etc

etc

Gigged em all, thats why i bought them in the first place.

presently im using a mint 70's Premier, love it!

Oh yeah...Now I am going to make you all a propostion. We all love the look and sound of vintage drums, but are scared to death some drunk is going to smash that irreplaceable kit. I have a solution. I do reworks for vintage MIJ kits, both thin and thick shells. The thins sound like old 3 ply Slings and Luds, and the thicks sound like later Rogers. You get the look and the sounds of the 60s and 70s without the worry.

Let's face it, most non-drummers could care less as long as they look and sound good. I have not had one drummer turn their nose up at my kits because they are MIJ. Everyone that plays my drums asks how much, and are surprised. The fact is, a well worked MIJ kit is worth it's weight in gold on stage. They sound good, they look fantastic, and they are inexpensive. I don't care about all that "they killed Timmy" hoopla. You want a vintage sound and look, either spend big money on a new import with vintage style wrap and try to tune it, or buy an old MIJ for very little and send it to me to be worked over. Alternatively, I have for sale right now, a vintage Astro (69-74) in Orange sparkle, or Glitter, that looks the part and sounds great, the shells being mahogany/maple. The kit comes with both original chrome and new replacement wood hoops, made up to closely match the kit.

PM for more details.

Just gigged my 62 WMP Slingerlands this past Sunday in a downpour under a tent. The only problem was the calf head on the snare, had to tighten it up after every song. Play em!!

Of course I gig my vintage drums! I'm a musician. I want to sound my best, and I want to sound like me. I think I owe that to my bandmates and to the audience. I've been playing for a living for over 50 years in some of the worst places in the country and can only recall a couple of times when drunks or brawlers ever knocked into my drums and even then, no damage. Drums are musical instruments. Meant to be played upon in order to make people happy. Sure they will get a little road rash after a few years, but I think of that as patina. But what do I know. I only play drums, not collect them.The Band