The only new Rogers drums I have seen have all been inexpensive imports. The primary focus for Rogers today, as I understand it, is to provide a line of instruments specifically for the stores of the company that owns Rogers today (Brook Mays Music). In addition, they have been focusing on percussion products for school bands and I actually think that they do more with the school related items than they do with the drum sets. New Rogers kits run from $159 to $599. Snare drums run around $100. In any case, if you are looking for something that rivals the old Rogers drums in terms of sound and looks, your best bet is still your old Rogers drums.

As an FYI, Bill Crowden is still at the helm at Rogers for Brook Mays. I know Bill well, and he used to have one of the best drum shops in the country here in Chicago a long time ago. Bill is a wonderful, knowledgable guy, and his business sense has been good for Rogers, especially as it pertains to the school market. Whether or not Rogers gets resurrected to the heights that it reached in the 60s and 70s is anybody's guess, but, my personal take on it is that this is probably not in the game plan with the current owners. But, who knows, things change every day. Maybe some of the other forum members have more recent information for us.

Steve The Band

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the response. I used to do business with Bill Crowden when I lived in Chicago. I can't for the life of me, remember the name of the store he had/ has? (Drums Unlimited..Drum City???) I do remember it being upstairs in a downtown location. I had a Cuban King conga and brought it to him for a new head and someone stole the thing right out of his store (I've often wondered about that?) and he told me to pick out anything in store. I wound up with a new set of Ludwig timbales. I also did a lot business at Franks Drum Shop. Is it still there? Do you have an email for Bill?

I will never part with my old Rogers set. What I would like to do is keep it in my recording studio and get another for gigs. The new Rogers shell pack at $599.00 with the new tom suspesion mount looks decent in the ad, but would like to hear from anyone who has first hand experience with it.