A friend who is a &# artist said he doesn't care for, in his words, "...how hyped they sound.". He has a more historic edge profile put on his kits because, "I dont want my floor tom to ring for 5 minutes!". Cool Dude

First, there are many many many many many different shell builds from the vintage kits. You cannot make a blanket statement that takes them all under one umbrella of sound. They are very different beasts.

In general

... 3 ply builds (some blend of maple and/or mahogany and poplar) have a deep warm round woody resonant sound and are perfect for close mic

... 5 ply (Slingy) and 6 ply (Luddy) are WAY more focused and have a serious projection but lack warmth

... Fiberglass (pure or blended with wood) project quite well well but lose a bit of the warmth and woodiness

... plastic (vistalite-type shell material) is a much colder sound with a pretty good projection

... stainless is flat out unreal and does it all

... various 3 and 5 and 6 ply builds from Rogers et. al. project quite well and still maintain the incredible deep warm round woody resonant sounds

... later Rogers 8 ply are like the Luddy 6's in that they are WAY more focused and have serious projection

the list goes on

Great points above. I was thinking 3 ply shells as a reference point in this case.

I know that someone out there's not going to agree with my opinion/thoughts/experience, but that's part of what makes this forum fun!

I started drummin' in the late 60s. When I first got a shot at playing with a "garage" band, we never gave a THOUGHT to putting mics on drums. IF you needed more projection, you just learned how to play "harder" and get more out of what you did.

My "garage" band days led to a gig with a Chicago/BST type of band, and that's when I bought my early 70s Ludwigs. 3ply w/rings, clear interiors. NEVER miked the drums. IF in a larger venue, just played harder. I did take the bottom heads off -- which was very popular back then and did help quite a bit.

That kit went to college with me. Ended up playing in a country band, and the largest venue that set played in (un-miked) was a fairly new and pretty big multi-purpose colesium in Hays, Ks. when we (a local banc) fronted for a Del Reeves concert. No sound/projection issues. In fact the Del Reeves drummer just used my drums (and nearly got killed when a stage lighting rack fell from the ceiling and just missed him... and my drums!).

Most of my playing career after than was in smaller venues... and eventually (sometime in the mid 70s) I started miking the drums sometimes. But, my point is this: removing the bottom heads helped big-time with the projection, and IMO didn't hinder the "warm" sound of the shells that much.

I just learned to play (because I had to) LOUD when needed and not-so-loud when needed. Hope all that made sense...

Bill

I get plenty of tone—and projection—from my 3-ply Slingerlands. I tune them wide open. The guitarist doesn't like how they ring in rehearsals, but then wonders why they sound so good on stage without mics. I don't play that hard and several audience members have told me that they have no problem hearing the drums, even when they think the guitar is too loud.

Clear Vistalites are making their performance debut tomorrow night in Laguna Beach ... it will be a surprise for the rest of the band that I'm looking forward to, although I'm sure the Slingerlands will remain as my top kit.

Oh, if I had a nickel for every time this complaint arose at one of our gigs...

Laguna Beach? I'm in Irvine. Where are you playing? I doubt I can get away tomorrow, but maybe sometime.

You always make so much sense. Well put man!

Jeff C

I have always felt that the early Rogers shells or Jasper shells were great at projection ans loud to boot .... but all in all there is so much it depends on heads played, how tuned,2 sided or one, remember (if you are old enough) that one of the main reasons for taking off the bottom heads was to be heard over the new and louder Marshall, sunn, Vox tube amps but over all i feel 3 ply's are mellower and warmer...

What is a &#artist?

Never mind, he he has an endorsement deal.