Spectacular restoration of what should be considered a very noteworthy drum set! I can't even imagine the work that went in to that restoration, but I am sure the pay off is worth it. I bet that 24" bass drum is pure thunder!
Do you have any interesting photos of Buddy playing Fibes?
Congratulations on your newest addition to your remarkable collection.
Spectacular restoration of what should be considered a very noteworthy drum set! I can't even imagine the work that went in to that restoration, but I am sure the pay off is worth it. I bet that 24" bass drum is pure thunder!Do you have any interesting photos of Buddy playing Fibes?Congratulations on your newest addition to your remarkable collection.
PT/Jeff!
THANKS!, and glad you liked! This particular set of Fibes does indeed have historical significance, based on the 1st generation build with everything being hand built. Then, add in the configuration/sizes!, and wow! Being the BR freak I am, well ... Buddy really only played a full set of Fibes for like a hot minute in 1967, but play them he did! I actually DO have some pics in my collection of Buddy playing the full set of Fibes COF. These are hard to come by as there just aren't that many! A couple of these in my collection have never been in print actually. I'll attach a couple for your viewing pleasure! There is of course more than a few videos up showing him playing the full set of Fibes in 1967 ... but pics are tough to find. Regarding the 14X24 bass drum:
Indeed! With no muffling of any kind and no port, it's a CANNON! However, I have it set up in my usual way as I have to be able to cover a few different styles of music .. so .. it's a "tad" more controlled, but with great depth, a very clear note, and nice projection! THANKS for your comments Jeff!
Tommyp
Spectacular restoration of what should be considered a very noteworthy drum set! I can't even imagine the work that went in to that restoration, but I am sure the pay off is worth it. I bet that 24" bass drum is pure thunder!Do you have any interesting photos of Buddy playing Fibes?Congratulations on your newest addition to your remarkable collection.
The infamous Buddy Rich Live in London at Ronny Scott's photo.
Still endorsing Slingerland ,but but as Buddy put it ,you can keep photographers from taking picts at odd angles.
The infamous Buddy Rich Live in London at Ronny Scott's photo.Still endorsing Slingerland ,but but as Buddy put it ,you can keep photographers from taking picts at odd angles.
pgm554!
Pics abound of BR playing just the Fibes SFT 690/COF! Very few and far in between to get him on the full set! I have MANY in my collection with no watermark!, and many are actual photographs, not digital. The LIVE at Ronnie Scott's Rich in London is a great one!, but ... with his Slingerland's of course!
Tommyp
From the videos I've seen (Mike Douglas),he seemed very uncomfortable on that set.
Snare is way high and not at his usual angle.
I owned a set of Fibes for a very long time.
I changed the finish from antiqued copper to chrome (thanks to Bill Corder)because of all the dents that metal picks up over the years.
When I bought the set ,I was completely unaware it was fiberglass.
It wasn't until I discovered that the sound was different ,that it occurred to me that it wasn't a wood sound.
Bought it from a local drummer named Ricky Ricco(Colaiuta's first drum teacher as he preferred his Ludwigs) for $500 bucks complete.
As I added to the set ,I bought a BD (from Gene Okamoto when he worked Leo's in Oakland) that had the reinforcement rings and they interfered with a my Remo muffle ring and had some guy router them out.
I have a few Fibes/Coder snare drum shells I am thinking about rewrapping as they are dented and scratched.
One of the re-finishers polished the metal down to copper while trying to get the scratches out.
I was thinking on the ones with scratches (not dents) just polish to copper coating and see if that works as opposed to rewrapping with chrome PVC
From the videos I've seen (Mike Douglas),he seemed very uncomfortable on that set.Snare is way high and not at his usual angle.I owned a set of Fibes for a very long time.I changed the finish from antiqued copper to chrome (thanks to Bill Corder)because of all the dents that metal picks up over the years.When I bought the set ,I was completely unaware it was fiberglass. It wasn't until I discovered that the sound was different ,that it occurred to me that it wasn't a wood sound.Bought it from a local drummer named Ricky Ricco(Colaiuta's first drum teacher as he preferred his Ludwigs) for $500 bucks complete. As I added to the set ,I bought a BD (from Gene Okamoto when he worked Leo's in Oakland) that had the reinforcement rings and they interfered with a my Remo muffle ring and had some guy router them out.I have a few Fibes/Coder snare drum shells I am thinking about rewrapping as they are dented and scratched.One of the re-finishers polished the metal down to copper while trying to get the scratches out.I was thinking on the ones with scratches (not dents) just polish to copper coating and see if that works as opposed to rewrapping with chrome PVC
My 1st Fibes full set was in 1973, I was at The Berklee College of Music in Boston, and EU Wurlitzer was a Fibes dealer. I was studying with Alan Dawson then .. ( absolutely GREAT stuff! ) .. and he was a Fibes endorser/clinician. Then, I went to see The Mahavishnu Orchestra with Billy Cobham, and my fate was sealed!
Regarding the scratches/dents: So true! For real spring steel that is chromed, the COF models are "fragile" ! The Antique Brass and Antique Copper wraps were a bit heartier in that regard, and being brushed in finish, certainly HID the bumps and bruises better. This chrome CAN be buffed/polished, as I had to do it with these. Did you see the before and after pic of the bass drum? It looked REAL BAD when I got it, but I was able to improve it greatly, but man, it was a lot of work. All the drums got the same treatment, which is why it took me three weeks to do! You are also correct in that underneath the chrome, is copper! It'll be interesting to see what you do with those! I will say, one has to be very cautious with the speed, compound, and ultimately heat, when machine buffing, or yeah... you will burn right through to the copper. I knew that from experience .. ( OOPS! ) .. so on these, I was prepared! The results were incredible. I wouldn't want to do it again though. Very time intensive!, but certainly worth it! Regarding Buddy and his full set of Fibes:
I agree! On the MD bits he doesn't look locked in with them at all .. however! .. later in the year, it was a totally different story! Buddy played a tour of the far east and Japan in December of 1967, and there is film of a couple of those performances. I have "clips" ( low quality relatively speaking, but enough to see/hear ) .. of some of the Japan concert. Buddy is playing the full Fibes COF set, and the band does a LIVE version of "Diabolus". Buddy, the Fibes, and the band, sound incredible! He didn't play that chart much as it's difficulty level was high ... not for him, for the band! But he did this night. He was quite comfortable on the Fibes, his solo was ridiculous, and the drums/band sounded great! Right after this, he hooked on with Slingerland, and the full Fibes set never came out again. As we know so well though, the snare drum certainly did!
Tommyp
There was another drummer in town where I grew up that had a Fibes crystal set too named Jerry Leoni .
He lived out around Republic where Colaiuta lived.
Last I heard he was in LA playing for the Letterman.
Southwest PA (Brownsville) sent quite a few people to Berkelee in 73 ,
Vince ,a couple of horn players (Paul Lanzi ,Jim Staggers Jeannie Swinker),and a keyboard player named Davey Brahm.
For a po dunk country town in the sticks ,we did produce some fine musicians.
There was another drummer in town where I grew up that had a Fibes crystal set too named Jerry Leoni .He lived out around Republic where Colaiuta lived.Last I heard he was in LA playing for the Letterman.Southwest PA (Brownsville) sent quite a few people to Berkelee in 73 ,Vince ,a couple of horn players (Paul Lanzi ,Jim Staggers Jeannie Swinker),and a keyboard player named Davey Brahm.For a po dunk country town in the sticks ,we did produce some fine musicians.
Ya!... and seeing as how you opened THAT door ... When I was attending Berklee, starting in 1973 .. well .. it was a who's who of "soon to be" MONSTER PLAYERS, and here's the really neat thing: EVERYBODY was friendly/friends! I shared the halls and ensembles with:
Vinnie Colaiuta
Steve Smith
John JR Robinson
Kenwood Dennard, and a killer bass player who ended up playing in The Buddy Rich Big Band, Wayne Pedziwiatr. Wayne was one of BR's all time favorite bass players. We were in the Berklee Funk Ensemble, and that was a GREAT ensemble playing a lot of original funk tunes written by a faculty member. These were the guys I knew and was friendly with. I remember trading ensembles here and there with John Robinson .. ( that was before he became John JR Robinson of course ) .. Went to see Billy Cobham with the Brecker Brothers touring in support of his then NEW album, "Crosswinds" with Vinnie Colaiuta! Funny story there too, but too involved to go into here. Traded licks/patterns with Steve Smith... written patterns ... I think I still have those too. And lastly, hung out quite a bit with Kenwood Dennard at his girlfriends apartment. All true! Thing is...
... all those guys were great guys!, and I gotta tell you, every last one of 'em were incredible players THEN! You just knew they were destined for much more. You could just tell. That school was excellent, but humbling. I came to Boston being THE GUY in my town ... to being NOTHING there, simply because the talent was so deep in that school. It was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. GREAT memories, and an excellent education too ... not to mention being free to roam in Boston!
Tommyp
Top Notch, as always, Tommy..!!
Thanks for the posting, and the wonderful history..!!
Kev
>killer bass player who ended up playing in The Buddy Rich Big Band, Wayne Pedziwiatr.
I've played a few times with Curtis Ohlson (who also played with Buddy) that had one of the great comeback lines when I asked him why he wasn't playing at the Pasand Lounge in Berkeley anymore.
His retort was he wasn't going play there anymore until they take back what they said about him(which was you're fired).
