Welcome! You're truly never too old to do anything - cheers and have fun!

Have fun with your drums!WelcomeWelcomeWelcome

Well, what's the saying - 60 is the new 40, or something like that. Its fast becoming my favorite saying!

Well, I've taken some pics of the Norma's, but I'm having problems up loading them. It says "upload failed", or a box comes up that says I'm missing a security token. Never heard of that before, but my guess is I don't have enough posts yet. I might need to up that number before I can upload the pics.

OK, I think I finally figured out how to get the pictures up - I hope!

Welcome to the VDF!

I traveled a very similar road to get here...I always wanted to be a drummer, all the way back to 7th grade band. I was so jealous of the drum kids...trombone players were just not that cool...at least I damn sure wasn't. (I have since changed my mind about that thanks to, among others, the great Sarah Morrow in the late great Dr.John's band...may he RIP)

In an effort to up my cool factor, I picked up the guitar in high school and have been an on-again off-again "serious player" since then. About 5 years back I finally bought a house with a large enough basement and distant enough neighbors to buy my first drum set. I started playing them and found it not only enjoyable, but even preferable to playing guitar. It gave me a renewed passion for music and has really improved my overall musicianship. That first kit led quickly to my first vintage kit, a MIJ STAR acrylic kit. It was researching that MIJ kit that led me here. If you stick around you will find the VDF to be filled with (mostly) useful well vetted information, and (mostly) super friendly and supportive people.

BUT, ONE CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF THE VDF...

Along with playing, I was an addicted guitar gear nut from the jump. I had many dozens of guitars, amps, and pedals along the way, but eventually ran out of "GAS" for guitar gear and settled on a few "keepers." After finding drumming and the VDF it was really easy to change my "drug of choice" to vintage drums. My GAS tank is full again, and now I've got a basement that has, at any given time, four or five drum kits, and one or two in the restoration process. So if you (and your significant other) are ok with that possibility, then by all means, stick around!

Great story and oh so familiar!

I felt myself getting stale on guitar, and now drumming has me all charged-up about playing music again. Like I said, I'm not sure where this will take me and whether I play with some guys, play out, or just do it to do it, its all good. I'm re-energized. I think changing my guitar mind-set is going to be the hardest thing. Its definitely a different mentality.

As far as collecting, yeah, I can see that happening! But I have to resist, as I have to many collections of different things already. My significant other is great and always supports me, even starting to drum at 60, but I will control myself for her. I need to play and learn. But I'm sticking around here anyway and will live vicariously through you guys!

Looks awesome!

Thanks!

It looks as though this kit has led an easy life, being played sparingly and stored well. The snare even has the original Norma drum head. Sounds great to my ears as well. I think I'll be very happy with this kit.

So, now that I am getting somewhat comfortable with the whole MIJ drum thing, I have a couple of questions.

I am confused as to the origins of my Norma kit. Unless I'm missing something, I don't see it under the Star banner, but neither do I see it under Pearl. I understand that these two builders made nearly all of the MIJs, so what say the experts, Star, Pearl or something else?

And how long was the Norma brand around and what years? Rare/not rare, decent/not decent, just another MIJ kit? Were all these kits basically the same, built in the same factory and just given different badges?

Oh, I almost forgot the most important question - who was Norma!? Lol

Any info would be great guys!