[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJJnA6zEcGk"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJJnA6zEcGk[/ame]

Many thanks, L-D...

I STILL melt when I hear Widespread Panic cover CFMWH live today... as recently as last month in DC!

Hard to believe that video was about 40 years ago!!

Jeff

The drums sound real good - punchy toms. Around 1:30 and a bit after it shows what looks like Ginger using the butt end of his stick in his left hand. I play like that most of the time. I much prefer the sound of the butt end on the snare for backbeats to the thin "tick" a drumstick tip makes in comparison.

Eye Ball Swivomatic at 2:45?

But wait - wasn't he was advertising for Ludwig? :confused:

Swivo's were a big deal back then. A lot of drummers swapped out for Swivomatic hardware. Keith Moon had a few of his Premier kits refitted for Swivo's. You had more positioning options with Swivomatic hardware.

He was a Ludwig endorser...this was his later silver sparkle kit from 68(?) (the earlier ludiwg kit had swivomatic tom holders, I think that kit was from 66)....it had the new for 68 double tom holders fitted at angles from the tops of the bass drums and swivomatic spurs. Other than the pedals, all the other hardware was Ludwig.....although he did fit add-on swivomatic tilters to the tops of the Ludwig tilters to position his cymbals better. Note the foam pads under the lower tier cymbals.....He used to put the top rod of the cymbal stand right through his lower cymbals! I can't imagine anyone doing that today!

This is one of my favorite vids. The highest res version gags my computer, but I power on through. I copied the top rod through the ride trick for a while in 69-70 with no ill effects since the diameter was about the same as the hole in the cymbal

As of 1995 or so, Baker was using many of the same cymbals picked up at the Zildjian factory. He probably is today.

When he returned from Italy in the 90's, Ludwig again recruited him as an active endorser. He was a Ludwig clinician for a while and the music store in Little Rock, AR that I worked for held a clinic with Ginger Baker. I estimated over 500 attendees for the free event! As a result, I spent all day and part of the next with him while prepping the "wrong" Ginger Baker outfit Ludwig sent us for the clinic. The clinic was amazing. Sadly, we don't hear all of his abilities on recordings......just a fraction.

I mentioned the rivetted ride cymbal used on his recordings and he pulled it out of his cymbal bag. I said "you better keep your eye on that one, or I'll run off with it." For a second or two, I think he believed me.

He told the story of picking out cymbals at the Mass plant (they sent a limo to pick him up) and taking them back for sound check. The ride cymbal just didn't have the sustain he was looking for, so he set it down on the beautiful wood floor at the Theatre venue, borrowed a drill from a roadie and began drilling holes for rivets. I saw the drill bit skip marks and I'm betting you can still see the holes in the stage floor.

Another note: Before he left for the airport, I asked him if he was aware of how many young drummers he had influenced. He looked back at me as if he had no idea. He's a very open, intelligent and kind person. Even gave me his phone number and address, but there was no reason to call and bother him, although I'd bet he wouldn't have minded a chat or advice.

I wish my scanner was up and running, I'd post a pic or two.

Just to add on from the same show..love this song and Ginger does a cool short drum solo at the end.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LwcakgjXAc"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LwcakgjXAc[/ame]