Great rewrap! Looks like they did a nice job! ;-)

Always nice to look at those.

B

You know what they say about guys with big hands..

They wear big gloves!

larryz!...

Reference post #14... 2nd paragraph. There's your answer. Oh, by the way... no liquor was ever "hidden in one" of the floor toms as Buddy wasn't a drinker, meaning alcoholic beverages of course. He WAS however, quite the "smoker"... both cigarettes and... When I chatted with him back in 1973, there he was with his ever present Kents!

Tommyp

Blair!

Now THAT made me chuckle! Gotta tell you that my wife has made mention of the big, er... hands too!

Tommyp

Indeed they did! I discussed the fact that these HAD to be rewrapped back in another thread/post. Your typical WMP fade/yellowing/splitting etc... but ... what was underneath all that is what you see here. This is the "Vintage WMP", and as such it just about NAILS the Rogers chip size/pattern. I have three Rogers sets.. all WMP .. so it was easy to compare! One of the sets is an ORIGINAL 1966 Rogers Buddy Rich Headliner, and I used those to match these. Near perfect!

Tommyp

> He WAS however, quite the "smoker"... both cigarettes and...

A -lot- of those old jazz guys from that generation were 'reefer smokers.' Krupa and Satchmo, who was one of its biggest proponents and at a time when it was dangerous to do so.

Weed has always been a part of the music scene. Buddy and guys like Pops were great players -and- regular users. Goes to show that one, does not preclude the other. I never get high or drink at gigs. I consider it a 'job' and I never work impaired. But I never held it against the guys that do. As long as they can function/play and do the job... puff-puff, pass. To each his own.

John

Indeed! And it goes without saying that I was in NO WAY commenting on or judging Buddy's enjoyment of his chosen "organics". Man, back in the day while playing 5/6 nights a week in the clubs I most probably smoked my body weight in herb... and then some. Buddy wasn't a drinker... he did enjoy the "smoke" though, and functioned with it at perfection levels. The night I met him, one on one in his dressing room, I wondered to myself just WHERE a 15 piece big band could disappear to on their break between sets. I was but a mere 17 years old then. I figured it out later though! LOL!!

Tommyp

Mark!

THANKS as always! I know that you're a Buddy AND Rogers fan, so glad you enjoyed the little bit of "theatre" with the towel!

Lucky!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed too! Thing is, I do think that I'm freaking hideous. Good thing my wife never thought so. LOL! Or maybe she does and isn't sayin'! LOL!

hardbopman!

THANKS!! They were my ideal set for a long time. To be able to actively play/gig on these is just too cool.

gwm!

So true! The "Sinatra Show" certainly gives me the material/venues for these drums to shine. THANKS!!

iamjohn!

Thanks for the kind words!, well... truth be told: I had wanted the Rogers Buddy Rich model set when I was 13... but my folks bought me Ludwigs, which make no mistake, were GREAT! My ideal though, from that day on, was to get a set of Rogers Buddy Rich Celebrity's, and I eventually did!

Tommyp

Tommy, those are stunning! I have seen that pic before but like Rogersling says, it never gets old.

I picked up my first Rogers Kit a few months ago. Its a 79-80 Big R Xp8, nothing like what you have but I am looking forward to getting them restored so I can play them and see what all the talk is about on these.

So what state do you perform the Sinatra show, I would love to see it.

Jeff C

Jeff C!

Actually, no... you haven't seen this pic before, as I just took it out of my camera the day I posted it.. but! .. I have put up pics of these drums more then a few times, so there is going to be some similarity, and I showed a few from this very show in the past too. Regardless... THANKS!! Goes without saying that likes/dislikes are completely subjective of course. But that said, the build quality/sound of Rogers drums are excellent, and the Big R XP8's are indeed nice! I'm sure you will enjoy them! Regarding the "Sinatra Show" :

That show plays the tri-state area which is CT/RI/NY. Most of the gigs are in the summer performing at outside venues/amphitheaters/etc, although we do indoor venues as well. Next PUBLIC performance.. ( currently, but that is subject to incoming bookings ) .. isn't until February. We're doing a show at the "Infinity Concert Club" in Norfolk, CT. Tonight, I'm working a PRIVATE for Bay State Health Systems/Mass Mutual in Springfield, MA.

Tommyp