MickM was over today and he got to play the black galaxy kit with the downbeat snare. I hope he sees this and posts a review of the snare and the kit.

I know he loved it!

John

I,too have a pre-serial Galaxy Sparkle Downbeat.I have it to go with my 1964,Galaxy Clubdate with a Pioneer snare.

You know the rules… photos or they don't exist!

Post up some shots here. If you don't know how to post photos, pm them to me and I'll post them up for you. I'd love to see your kits I'm sure others would too. Mike Layton is a bigger black galaxy fan than all of us put together. Photos please.

John

i have been bragging on this drum for years, when i had my silver down beat kit, it really did sound awesome ....

Gary - If you still have a photo of the kit, post it up here! The thread is all about Downbeats! I'd love to see 'em.

John

here's something downbeat related that some of you might enjoy...

Brubeck quartet in Belgium '64. morello usually played 22/13/16 Ludwig silver sparkles with a super 400. this appears to be a sky blue pearl downbeat kit. the snare also looks like a downbeat. this must have been a rented or provided kit for him, I would assume. the drum solo starts around 4:45 if you want to cut to the chase..enjoy!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT9Eh8wNMkw"]Dave Brubeck - Take Five - YouTube[/ame]

mike

here she is my fav the 2nd pic under lights

Mike - No 'cut to the chase!' You have to listen to the whole thing! The way those guys step in and out of the arrangement to play their solo pieces is a thing of beauty. When I was growing up in Manhattan, I used to see the girls playing these furiously fast games of double-dutch rope jumping. The ropes would be spinning so fast, you almost couldn't see them. The girls would jump in and out and do all kinds of routines without breaking the rhythm for a second. That's what this performance reminded me of. So smooth the way the cats set each other up then get out of the way. Such great musicians. Joe played a big part in keeping me motivated to be a drummer. He's such a melodic, rhythmic drummer that he can grab you by the ya-ya's and hypnotize you when you listen to him.

Terrific example of how great a Downbeat snare can sound! Thank you for posting that one.

Gary - Man, that is one sweet kit! I love your drum area too. Looks a lot like mine. Is that acoustic axe in the background a Framus guitar by any chance? I had one just like it. I'm trying to identify it by the bridge, it looks just like the one on my old German Framus F-cut-away.

Craig - Yes! We'll figure out new ways to save the world next convo.

It's a $hitty job, but someone has to do it! :D

John

Everytime I see Joe Morello play I think to myself dam he was way ahead of his time. His style was always so laid back and confident as he laid down those chops. Just wow!

My first 14"x20" bass drum. A Club date I acquired from a drummer friend in Alabama. It's a player but I finally found a second correct hoop and some tension rods I needed that work. There is a spot by the cymbal mount where someone used acetone or something on it or the wrap would be in perfect shape. I had some Gretsch spurs I am using for now. Maybe get some hoop inserts from Sam eventually. It plays and sounds well though. I had a orphan classic Ludwig 8"x 12" Tom and can use my 16"x16" from my other Classic Gold sparkle set. Maybe even use the 13" as they are all perfect matches. May take this configuration out on the gig this Friday night and try it out. I could always use my 14"x14" Champagne tom but I am kind of anal about stuff matching up.