Drums are looking great! You might consider some batter head mufflers like the old Rogers. I think there is a company that makes them. Or thin felt strips under the head. I know it is a pain to take the heads on and off to get the correct dampening. I would probably go with the clip on outside batter head mufflers.. Would look better I think. Your doing a amazing job on those. Pearl makes a nice clip on muffler but they are a little pricey but would work and look really cool. Emad makes a little deal too that's cheap and would work.

His older ones were 1930's/1920's Ludwig and Leedy combination. I'm not sure which drum was Ludwig and which was Leedy though. They are all single tension, you tune both heads at once from either the bottom hoop or the top. The toms are actually marching snares like these :

[Attachment: 53137]

Sizes, his snare 14'', bass looks to be a 26'', tom either 14'' or 13'', floor tom looks to be 16'', those are the sizes those kinds of marching snares where available in. My kit is 26'', 14'' - 15'' - 16'' toms, and a 15'' snare.

[Attachment: 53138]

The newer kit he played on the last waltz for the weight with the staples, is made up of 70's Ludwig Marching drums, such as these

[Attachment: 53139]

He's using the floor tom and snare from his older ones though. He played that wooden hoop snare with his gretsch kit too.

[Attachment: 53140]

And yup, Fred from the kentucky headhunters did the same thing with old Ludwig marching drums. His kit is pretty BADA**

Thanks for the advice. Right now i'm using two thin felt strips on the batter and an unknown brand muffler I picked up on eBay for the front head. Cool little contraption don't know where it's from!

All you guys building tribute kits to ol' Levon are just amazing! He was such a cool funky drummer and an even cooler person. If 'n y'all ain't read his book 'This Wheels on Fire' please do yourself a favour and go and get it. It's one of the best books I've ever read. Everyone I've lent it to agrees, even folks who don't like the Band(how that is possible, I don't know). The day we lost Levon we lost a treasure. Hopefully he, Rick and Richard and layin' the boogie down right now up in Heaven somewhere...

very nice man. I'm was from Upstate NY near where he lived. Live in CA now.

I bet he would dig it for sure!

Hi there!

I wanted to let you know that I'm using your project as a guide to make my own Levon Helm inspired kit. I was blown away when I saw a picture of your drums on the internet. Absolutely amazing!!!

Since I "discovered" the Band a few years ago, Levon is my greatest inspiration. I loved his marching drum kit but I hadn't thought of building one myself, untill I saw this thread.

Thank you!! : )

Greetings from Holland,

Luka

Levon, you are a master, truly!!

Such a beautiful kit... and original also

I already have a few marching snares.... I guess it will be my next project some day!!!

Congrats!!Clapping Happy2

Just dug up this old thread while searching for Levon Helm. I have been wanting to do this for a long time and finally getting the ball rolling. This was a great thread for me to read and get inspired from.

So, what is the status on the kit today? Do you still own it? It just beautiful!