actually, Mitch. I live 220km. east of Toronto and have bought a large measure of drums in and around Toronto. I'm in T.O. every weekend , making a living.

Luan is definitely a softer and less dense wood than the mahogany that Ludwig used in the 50's. But here is the thing, the Luan we are listening to in this case is 50 years old and the Mahogany 60. Luan when it's new is soft, but after 5 decades of drying out it becomes harder, denser, and more resonant.

I'm also not sure I would describe what I heard from the Luddy's in this recording as more resonant, so much as it is more ringy. And maybe it's just me, but that Luddy BD sounds awful to me. Lot's of extra ring and overtones.

I'm usually a big fan of Luddy's but this set did not impress me.

I don't search out American drums. If I come across them and they are within the ballpark, then I will go for them-----so the dumpsters are safe, from me.-----a story about dumpsters.

About 3 years ago, I saw an offer on ebay for 2 Sonor toms, in Toronto, from a seller that I recognized because I had previously bought something from him. I also rebuild and recondition microscopes. About 5 years ago I had bought an almost impossible to find part( condenser) for one of the most expensive research microscopes built in the U.S in the 1930's. At the time, that microscope cost about the same as a house and a lot. The condenser was extremely rare. The seller was on College st. I asked to pick up the condenser but it wasn't possible. A couple of years later, I asked on the toms but got a reply from another person, saying the seller was away and would reply when he got back. Turned out to be o.k. , so I arranged a Sun. p/u ,when I was in T.O.----not College st., this time----out towards the beaches.

The seller was part of a group of sellers , who used the same username but generally looked after their own stuff and they had a storefront out Kingston Rd., or thereabouts.

The guy was a drummer and was going to be touring a bit and said he would keep an eye out for stuff of interest to me, in his travels .His hair looked odd, kind of, highly stylized.I knew I recognized the do but I wasn't focused on that. I was there to pick up the toms, which cost me 66.00. He had a lot of diverse stuff of all kinds and I bought some other small drum parts.

About 2 months later, my wife was listening to a C.B.C. radio documentary about a dumpster diver in Toronto and it turned out to be him. He was part of a coop of dumpster divers and played in a WHO tribute band (hence, the hair). That's where the two Sonor teardrop toms came from and the super rare Spencer 5 achromatic condenser came from.

I'm pretty much into German drums ,Mitch. Have a lot of them, so the Luddys are safe.

was his name Darrin?

So Mitch, are you the guy to contact if we need some WMP wrap? ....as in a smaller piece or for an inlay or something?

I have a WMP kit (Rogers R-380) and will likely be wrapping it in the same wrap, so I will likely have spare, but you know what I mean. You ever have any extra/used wrap that might be useful to others?

John

Hey Calf -

-thought I would search around for some of those brands you speak of......

http://nh.en.craigslist.org/msg/3913941042.html

well that's about all I came up with worth sharing.....great deal for somebody! Probably 300 with shipping - don't happen to have 300 burning a hole in my pocket right now! Great deal though - includes snare and some cymbals too! This is clearly an older kit. The Olympics of the 80s on up are not worth grabbing, am I right?

Oh, and one more thing......speaking of better or worse MIJs....I have never seen a Zim Gar that was not a cut above the rest of the MIJ herd. Someday.......

John

yep. it was Darrin.---you obviously know him.

well , his house was a normal east Toronto newer house but the garage was his collection of goods. nice guy and I found it so strange that he or his pals would find , what were 3 very desirable items ( doesn't mean much to most of you guys--but the mic. condenser was as rare as Mike the Chickens head).

P2e

Stewart drums are okay. I have the Stewart snare drum pictured here - in WMP - and it is a very nice sounding drum. I started playing in the early 60's and my very first drum was one pretty much like this one. I have some sentimental attachment to these MIJ drums from the 60's. But, that aside, a Stewart snare drum can be made to sound not too bad. They're nice looking drums too. I have a 14 Royal Star floor tom and tone-wise I'd put that up against many modern much more expensive drums....no Sh*t....it sounds that good.

Most of the 'tuning' - the sound from a drum - comes from the bearing edges, the heads & the hoops. The wood ads to it but it is not the biggest variable in drum sound.

I just gave away a Zimgar kit to my Pastors son as a gift. He cant understand why i gave it to him because "its such a great sounding set"..He,s a young guy and has not experienced the vintage 4. That said, i agree they sound great and as a occasionally used drum kit, the Zims should last another 50 years!...why not?