I've gone pretty much "full circle"....

1966 Bought a 2-up, 1-down Kent kit, new in Champagne Sparkle. Wanted Ludwigs, but couldn't afford them. I think they were 20, 12, 13, 14 with matching snare.

1969 Went to college and sold that kit.

1971 Got together with friends and formed a band, but no drum set. Went to a pawn shop and bought a near new Ludwig 24,12,13,16 with 6 1/2" SS snare, stands, cymbals, throne, everything - the whole works for just a couple hundred bucks! Black Diamond Pearl.

1973 Went into the Navy and sold that kit back to the same pawn shop. 50 years later, I still regret that decision! Argh! I was very happy with that kit, but figured I'd never have time to play it anymore...and besides, I drove a VW bug! I had no place to store them.

1976 Formed a squadron band and was able to buy back the Kent kit!

1977 Had money saved and bought the biggest Ludwig kit that I could fit into my car. After all, bigger was better in the '70s! 24/13/14/16/18 with 6 1/2" SS snare. Brand new in Butcher Block Cortex.

Life got in the way and I rarely played for 30 years. Nearing retirement, I got back into drumming and realized that my big Ludwig kit was now too heavy, too many drums, too cumbersome, and not practical for the venues I was playing.

Sold them and bought a used Yamaha e-drum kit. Very light and easily transportable. But I never liked the feel of the cymbals, hated the hi-hat, and the kit was too small for my 6'2" frame. I felt like I was playing a kid's kit.

Sold the e-kit and bought a Gretsch Catalina Club kit. 18/12/14 with matching snare in Champagne Sparkle. That kit is also small, but remains as my rehearsal kit because it is so handy to cart around. And that Taiwan "mahogany" is light as a feather!

During the pandemic, I bought the kit that I really wanted as a teenager. 1966 Ludwig 22, 12, 13, 16 in Champagne Sparkle. That is my gig kit, and is kept ready-to-go in the garage.

A few months later, I bought an identical kit, 1968. That is my at-home practice kit.

I'm finally happy with what I have, and am done buying drums! And as you can see, Champagne Sparkle remains my favorite wrap.

Enjoy your's, whatever they are!

Regards, mb

Hey Marty, nice summary. Regards.

What, those things had plenty of storage space !i

How have they evolved? They've multiplied!!!

They started at a snare drum, moved to a five-piece MIJ, then back to 4-piece Rogers sets, then all over the spectrum and then back to Rogers 4-piece sets. I guess you might say they evolved and devolved. I found that lugging less was enjoying more and my skill level meant hitting four was hitting less and that worked well too.

On the May 1 occasion of the anniversary of my becoming a drummer in 1977, a friend (the guitarist) posted this photo on Facebook. I have to add it because it is the best photo of my kit in 1984 that I've ever seen.

This photo superbly illustrates the 14" and 15" former concert toms that had bottom heads added in 1982 as well as the Tama center mount. I failed to specify that I would have liked the badges to be visible ... just as well, because the craftsmen at Columbus (Ohio) Percussion put the Tama mounts where the Slingerland clip mounts were.

Also note the Bun E. Carlos—style signature bass drum head that I made myself with markers and masking tape ... looks funky up close but totally pro from audience distance. I was also garbed in tribute to BEC: loosened tie is not visible (no cigar). Our set included several Cheap Trick songs, most notably a cover of their cover of The Move's “California Man” (I'm a Slingerland man because of Bev Bevan).

I have a much better idea of what I need now! Let's see...

No more splash cymbals.

No more Chinas.

No more toms smaller than a 13" (special circumstances may apply).

No kicks deeper than a 14"

Bigger, thinner cymbals

Deeper snares

Comfortable playing a gig on just a 3-piece kit if needed.

No pinstripes.

Times change- as do 'trends'- I could go through the many variations but people have already stated how the 3 or 4 piece went to 8 or 10 (plus) - I went through all that but now in my 60's still gig a 5 piece with hats, ride and 4 crash/effects cymbals PLUS electronics: SPD-SX and Roland TM-2 triggering snare, toms and bass and adding effects sounds. In small clubs I bring my own powered speaker. It amuses me that 'younger' guys moan about the weight of their 'heavy gear'... we gig places with 2 flights of stairs/ rocky back entrances through natural stone terraces/ 3 foot high outdoor stages -and we lift it all ourselves. Our Glory Days are over so WE are our crew now- if you want to play- you lift your own gear- be wise about it and stay fit. If you are unfit to carry your drums-I can't see you playing that physical instrument well...! My opinion only-

Some outdoor gigs I add more to the set as I know the crowd gets excited seeing double bass or more toms/cymbals- it takes more time and effort- but isn't that what entertainment is? (work...?)

My drumming hero, Hal Blaine had a huge drum set in the recording studio along with every imaginable cymbal and percussive sound-making tchotchke. On live gigs he played with an economy of drums and go-withs. Hal did not try to stand out from the band on gigs. He drove the band from behind the glory-seeking singers and lead instrument players. The legend goes that Ron Tutt acquired one of the first massive Ludwig Tivoli lights drum sets when he was Elvis Presley's drummer. Elvis took one look at the "look at me" drum set at rehearsal, and told Ron to not play those drums at Elvis's shows.

I guess the King didn't want any competition with his sequined outfits?

It actually is an interesting topic to follow the finishes/colors available for drums. Just the cosmetics of drum shells, painted bass drum heads, "full dress" additions, Chinese toms, temple blocks and so forth. Even cymbals and gongs have been tinted and decorated. I guess you can adding lighting like the pot lights that Gene Krupa used to that list.