Dan,

I'm confused about that listed bass. The Top Hat "Dog Bone" configuration changed to the Londoner in '67 with the Dayton era hardware changes, BUT this bass is listed as having a Holiday #16002 tag which is an impossible Holiday number for 1967 (unless it's actually an over-written Powertone label which ranged 15000-18000 in '67). Plus, the described Speckled interior didn't appear until mid 1967, so this bass had to originally have the Londoner mount, not the Top Hat mount.

My question is, why would the mount hole on this bass have to be enlarged for the Top Hat double mount as you describe? Wasn't the Top Hat mount just the same, single straight Swivo collet currently on this bass?

Mike

My main point was to use the Londoner mount with the cymbal rod as illustrated in the photo. If by any chance that had been a base with the Top Hat mount, the center hole would only be as large as a single straight swivo mount. In that case, the center hole would need to be enlarged.

As far as whether or not that bass was built in the era for Londoner mounts, I wasn't looking at the details you just mentioned, but would agree if it has a speckled interior, it most likely had a Londoner mount on the front. Very few bass drums seem to have been supplied with a single swivo in that position by that time period. I've never seen one up close and never owned one. I have seen pictures of that here and there, but mostly on 18" bass drums for some reason.

Thanks Dan, I understand your point now. Always value your opinion on anything Rogers. Like the bass we're discussing, I also replaced my Londoner style double mount with a single collet for a 4-pc setup. It places the tom in exactly the same position it would be in as if it were on the double mount. I just don't feel comfortable with the tom mounted to the far left with Rogers' original collet placement.

Mike

[Attachment: 72820]

I think a lot of guys share you sense of comfort with the tom located as you have it on that set. Those of us who were exposed to the rather far left position associated with earlier drums sets got used to it. How you hold the sticks has some bearing on it too. If you use a traditional grip, it's not that bad having the tom on the far left. If you use matched grip, I think it is more comfortable to use the tom as you have it.

I find it takes me a little time to get used to the Celebrity or Cozy Cole type layouts when I haven't used them for a while. The mounted tom really is out there on the left. Most of the time I use a Headliner or Citadel layout and I have no problem with those.

There are early Gretsch kits with the rail way down on the left side that I find that quite uncomfortable. A lot of guys started out with double toms on mounts like the Rogers unit that was on your set, or the Ludwig double mount or whatever, and find it quite comfortable to use that even with a 4-piece setup. So the arrangement you have is one that a lot of drummers would be more comfortable using than the Headliner, Swingtime, Celebrity, Cozy or Starlighter arrangements.

If this is correct, don't even think about this kit. Not worth it with the cracking and missing parts. Can't stress enough that you should walk away from a drum set for which you have to make excuses when you sell it. Too many nice kits out there.

BTW the mounts look like the Cozy Cole Constellation set up. On the CCC, the tom mount is a bit far over to the side and may take getting used to.

Yes all correct on that kit. I too thought I was getting a deal. The plastic bass drum hoops really upset me. Also when I spoke with the store they never mentioned anything missing. How could you miss the obvious holes from the tone controls. To be fair it was the GC in Michigan that did me wrong. The one here in Raleigh is great.

Mike/Dan!

Might I chime in here? Regarding the Rogers OEM single rack tom mount position:

Certainly valid points Dan/Mike!, but... after around 1975 I had all contemporary setups too, and with the more modern approach to mounting rack toms, ie: more centrally located on the bass drum. Then, the vintage bug bit... and badly at that... not that I'm complainin' of course! Anyway, I wanted the complete experience of the "vintage vibe", so I play all my BR sets with the mounts as they were originally. I play match grip 85% of the time, with my point being: All I do is sit at a slight angle to the right.. and I mean very slight .. but just enough where the rack tom is still in perfect position, even with match grip. In the 3rd pic you can see the throne just over slightly to the right... just a taste. Dan is also correct in that after a bit, it becomes your norm, and there aren't any problems anyway! In my case, ALL my sets are BR models/configurations, and again, I wanted to leave everything as it was... for the total experience/vibe. As always, this is a completely subjective discussion!, and there is no right or wrong. I'm just sayin' you CAN keep everything at it was, and still be comfortable, if that's what you want! Here are a couple/few pics that show my set in the "as is" Buddy configuration.

Tommyp

You shimmed up your HH with a sheet of paper ?

I think I might pick this one up tonight since it's local and I definitely prefer the pearl finish to the onyx finishes. What do you guys think? Fair deal, or? Anything to be leery of here?

Thanks for all the help!

http://austin.craigslist.org/msg/4529539343.html

I would snap it up in a heartbeat! If you don't maybe I will. I imagine if you had cash in hand you might get it for $900. Or just sell off that snare and things you don't want.

Make sure the tone controls are in the toms. Looks nice though.

Manny