I bought my first kit at 19, five years after I had started playing. I had some lessons, and had free use of a 67 Rogers Swingtime 20-12-14 for two years. Then one day the person who had been teaching me, just up and sold the drums.

Three years later, 1979, I purchased my first drumset. Rogers, 1977. Super Londoner V, 24, 13, 14, 18ft. Dynasonic 5x14, Paiste 2002 cymbals, cases, and all the hardware. There was also an add on 12x15 tom. They were exactly two years old to the day. I paid 950.00 cash. Over the years since, there have been some changes, but ........................

Nov. 1979

[IMG]http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/33955/2375624370028342110S600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

I still have them.

[IMG]http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/47246/2131362780028342110S600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG]

bunny in love!!!!

Yes Sir

What a cool story to go with the kit!!!

My first kit was a generic MIJ kit in grey pearl, It was also my first rewrap to a woodgrain as pictured (check out the old cymbal stands). Bought in 1963 for I think 200 dollars, The whole then "potential" band came with me for the purchase & we each carried a piece home on the train from the city.. it was six months later before I could afford any cymbals. I was in the army at the time & used to stow most of the kit in my bedside locker at the barrracks. Locker inspection was a lot of fun......(not).

My first real kit was a Slingerland Jet in 1967.. and then a double Ludwig kit in the early 70's.. the Ludwigs I wish I had kept.. there are some pics of the Jet & the Luddys minus one of the 22's on a band website put together by the bass player at this link.

Cheers

http://www.theoriginalrubberband.com.au/index.html

My first "kit" was comprised of second hand orphans bought at Drum City in Hollywood. I don't remember much about them...looks like the tom was a Ludwig (zepher lungs) and the snare might have been a Ludwig and Ludwig 6 1/2" X 14" Pioneer (wish I still had it). I don't know about the bass and cymbals. Anyway, bought in 1956 and used until 1963 when I bought my Gold Sparkle Ludwig Hollywood Kit that I still have.

Here ya go, Blair. Were we ever that young?

Thanks Howie!

I showed the pic to a friend the other nite,and didn't tell him who it was.........

He was surprised when I told him it was me circa 1973-74!

Also,I had already upgraded from the first version double tom mount.......

(You know,the one that your toms bounce all around when you play them....)

I found out that by just by enlarging the center hole a bit,I could put the next,stronger version on......

The Rogers kit in the pic is circa 1964,so,after only 10 years,someone sold it for around 1/5th - 1/6th of what they paid for it!

I looked all the stuff up once,and recall it being over $2,000 in 1964!

When I went to get the kit (with my dad),I remember the guy we followed to his house drove a Vette,and when we went in,there was a mink stole laying across a chair,so he had $$$.

Maybe I shouldn't say this,but "back in the day",I used to hide my herb in the cannister throne! :-)

Was that before it was illegle?

I have no photos of me at 12 years old, or my first kit, a WMP set of Kents. I found a You Tube clip of a guy playing a 60's Kent kit so you can hear what these drums sounded like. A little 'boxy' but that thud-iness is just so 60's!

Enjoy...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkkmMz4c8jE[/ame]

John