Typically, four piece Rogers sets in the Swivomatic era came configured as 20-12-14 or 16. The 13 and 16 usually were in sets with 22 or 24" bass drums. This is testimony all these years later to the impact of what people saw pictured in the catalogs. In 1961, I bought my first professional grade drum set. I ordered a Black Diamond Pearl four piece set from Foster's Music in Hammond, Indiana. The 20-12-16 Holiday series drums were ordered with a matching Holiday model snare drum. I was so impressed with the Swivomatic hardware I saw in the store that I wanted a Swivo disappearing cymbal arm on the bass drum, and my snare drum mounted by another Swivo from the bass drum. My love affair with the Swivomatic bass drum pedal began with the pedal that I ordered with that drum set. Fifty one years later, my first choice of pedal is still the Swivo. But, I have switched my allegiance to the hinged foot board version from the one-piece foot board that was my first one. My 1965 Walberg and Auge set with Rogers lugs and hoops is configured 20-12-16. If I had been the person who ordered this set from the W&A factory, I would have specified Swivo tom and cymbal mounts and swivo bass spurs. But, I love this homely little sorta Rogers set just as is.

I've got a 13-16-20 with matching Powertone SD in steel grey ripple. One of my faves!

Nice Walbery & Auge Leedybdp. I wish they were still in business because I travel through Worcester regularly. I saw a BDP bass recently that must have been a W&A because it had Rogers lugs, Slingerland spurs and cymbal mount, and a Gretsch (W&A) rail. The rail and cymbal holder were set for a lefty!

Rocketman: Would love to see your 20 13 16 PowerTone SGR pics and hear your comments on using the 20 bass with those size toms.

Anyone else hitting 20 13 16?

Yep. My 1963 Leedy BDP (Black Diamond Pearl) Shelly Manne set is factory matched 13-16-20 with the Shelly Manne snare. Those sizes work well for me.

Like that! How do you like the sound with a smaller bass and larger toms?

The 20" bass drum is strong enough to mix right in with the 13 and 16 tom. Choice of heads and proper tensioning works wonders. Oddly, seems as though it's trendy lately for overly large and deep bass drums to be in kits with small mounted tom and small floor toms.

I have long since sold that Rogers kit, but I did like the sizes. leedy wrote:

Oddly, seems as though it's trendy lately for overly large and deep bass drums to be in kits with small mounted tom and small floor toms.

Sounds weird to me too. The thing I liked about the sizes of the Rogers kit was, it was easy to tune the drums down low where I like them, and the 20" Rogers bass drum gave me all the boom, punch and projection I needed. I was playing in a Blues band and the drums were competing with amplified Guitars, bass, keyboard, saxophone, and harp, and they always held their own in terms of not getting lost in the mix. I like the size combination, 13, 16, 20, it works for me.

John

Thanks for the feedback Leedybdp and PurdieShuffle.

I note that PurdieShuffle lists the 50's era Gretsch Bop 20,13,16 with the matching snare.

> I note that PurdieShuffle lists the 50's era Gretsch Bop 20,13,16 with the matching snare.

And a sweet one it is too, Dan. At my age, it makes a big difference to me whether I'm lugging around a 22" bass drum or a 20" that works just as well. I'll take the smaller drum any day. Got to make it easy on the drummer! lol

[IMG]http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n632/PurdieShuffle/k4.jpg[/IMG]

John