These are what I put on my floor tom, and I used used ones for reso's:
You might get away with smaller skins 'cause 2" per side is over what you really need for a 16". I bought flesh hoops from Jeff Stern and got some from old heads off of eBay. For my snare I think I'll try a nice one from Jeff but I couldn't afford to outfit my two floors top and bottom with new calf.
These are what I put on my floor tom, and I used used ones for reso's:http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-New-20-Dia-Natural-Calf-Skin-Heads-1st-Quality_W0QQitemZ250416371737QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a4dfa9819&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_3180wt_909You might get away with smaller skins 'cause 2" per side is over what you really need for a 16". I bought flesh hoops from Jeff Stern and got some from old heads off of eBay. For my snare I think I'll try a nice one from Jeff but I couldn't afford to outfit my two floors top and bottom with new calf.
I hear ya....two heads for a 26" bass drum mounted on flesh hoops are about $150 each!
Re: choice of drum kit: I'm going to concur with everyone here and say you can't go wrong with any of the classic brands. Gretsch seems to have a bit of an extra wow factor for me when it comes to rockabilly, if only because DJ Fontana played a Gretsch set with Elvis and Levon Helm played one with Ronnie Hawkins (and later with Dylan and the Band). And yeah, they liked to tune their snare drums low. As Levon put it in his autobiography, "that way you can play it loud without it sounding like somebody dropping a damn stove." Love it.
Hi,
Much as I love my 24x14 bass drum, it is not the size that would be most period correct (if that matters) or give you the sonic signature of a slightly smaller drum.
Pictures and recordings both suggest 22 and 20" kicks prevailed.
This all comes down to your own needs for historical accuracy and/or the sound you want and the resultant musical blend of your band's instruments. A 24 will sound terrific, in my experience; but will not have the more contained punch of a smaller kick which will also sound terrific. Just different.
Pretty much any of the first tier US manufacturers from the period would be suitable. They all got used. WS Holland played a lot of Rogers, DJ Fontana's famous kit was a RB Gretsch. Levon was a Ludwig guy for the most part. None of them used 24" in that time period.
PS: here's some good info and pics re Fontana's Gretsch
http://www.scottymoore.net/gretschdrums.html
Have fun,
Patrick
Hi,Much as I love my 24x14 bass drum, it is not the size that would be most period correct (if that matters) or give you the sonic signature of a slightly smaller drum. Pictures and recordings both suggest 22 and 20" kicks prevailed. This all comes down to your own needs for historical accuracy and/or the sound you want and the resultant musical blend of your band's instruments. A 24 will sound terrific, in my experience; but will not have the more contained punch of a smaller kick which will also sound terrific. Just different.Pretty much any of the first tier US manufacturers from the period would be suitable. They all got used. WS Holland played a lot of Rogers, DJ Fontana's famous kit was a RB Gretsch. Levon was a Ludwig guy for the most part. None of them used 24" in that time period.PS: here's some good info and pics re Fontana's Gretschhttp://www.scottymoore.net/gretschdrums.html Have fun,Patrick
Levon was a Ludwig guy? I know he had a red sparkle RB Gretsch when he was with Ronnie Hawkins, and I thought he alternated between a Black Diamond Pearl RB Gretsch and his old wood-hoop pawn shop kit for most of his time with The Band. But if I'm wrong, it would be far from the first time. :)
Levon was a Ludwig guy? I know he had a red sparkle RB Gretsch when he was with Ronnie Hawkins, and I thought he alternated between a Black Diamond Pearl RB Gretsch and his old wood-hoop pawn shop kit for most of his time with The Band. But if I'm wrong, it would be far from the first time. :)
He used both Gretsch and Ludwig......now he uses Slingerland......its all about the sound......all sound good!
He used both Gretsch and Ludwig......now he uses Slingerland......its all about the sound......all sound good!
You hit the nail on the head there! Each brand has its own sort of romance, but in the end, it comes down to what looks (and, most importantly) sounds great.
He used both Gretsch and Ludwig......now he uses Slingerland......its all about the sound......all sound good!
Yeah, I was too hasty in ascribing solely Ludwig to Levon. I had seen him with those Gretsch as well. "For the most part" was an insufficient fudge factor.
thanks,
Patrick
Yeah, I was too hasty in ascribing solely Ludwig to Levon. I had seen him with those Gretsch as well. "For the most part" was an insufficient fudge factor. thanks,Patrick
S'all good! :) I just didn't know he'd ever used Ludwig. I learn something new every time I log on to this forum.
Cheers!
S'all good! :) I just didn't know he'd ever used Ludwig. I learn something new every time I log on to this forum.Cheers!
You gotta watch the Last Waltz....Levon uses a mahogany Ludwig kit in that with all wood hoops, single tension type rods and everything! Excited Its in the studio scenes though not the live concert footage. For that he uses the Gretsch kit.
