Gary look at your other thread on this subject the link is below , I spent 30to 40 minutes with Arie Lang, and played all the snare drums he had on display that day, http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=21777

The guy I used to take lessons from has one and it is one of or possibly the best snare drum. Like Vintagemore2000 said, it is world class. If you have the money and are thinking about getting one, get it.

I'm getting old!!

Mark - thanks again for your reply and pointing me to my other thread. I completely forgot about my other posting. I guess I've been caught up in the excitment - collecting information and all. Sorry guys.

I don't need another drum but I've been reading about Gladstone drums for a year or more and when I found out about Morris (Arnie) Lang making these drums - it was Huge for me. I will have one of his drums some day I hope - hopefully sooner than later.

If my wife gets involved it would probably be a very NICE Christmas presantx-mas3 are you reading this Rosemary??

Gary,no problem, hey sent you a Pm

Hey Gary. You should get the Gretsch book on the history of Gretsch drums. It has stuff in the book about Billy and his famous drums. The original ones all used Gretsch shells which makes them cool. I know Billy made the 3 way deal so he could tune without removing the drum from the stand due to space restrictions in Radio City Music Hall's tiny pit but most guys don't need a drum that does that. Just tuning the top and bottom at the same time would probably suffice. I still think most guys would prefer to tune the heads separately only because it is familiar to every other snare drum most of us have ever played. The Gladstone is a beast. My old drum teacher had a Hinger and many other snares and said the Gladstone was and still is his favorite. Not only is it a smoking snare drum, it's a piece of art that is so well made an idiot would know it was expensive upon a first glance. They are that nice.

Yes - I bought the Gretsch Book last year and Chet's Gladstone Book a few months ago. Lots of good information in both of them. I emailed Chet and he sent me some of his comments on Lang's drums. He had nothing but praise for them.

About a year ago I remember thinking it sure would be nice if Gretsch re-introduced the Gladstone build-out. When I read about LangPercussion and Morris (Arnie) Lang's drums I got pretty excited. He's been doing this (building Lang/Gladstone drums) for 12 years! He's also been working toward it for 40years he told me.

I always say there's a lot of nice drums out there. Personally, I've been associated with Gretsch drums since the late 60's. They're great drums and I have not got the time to collect most other brands. I'm sticking mostly with Gretsch and Gladstone (Mr. Lang's drums with the Gladstone hardware). That will be more than enough for me in this lifetime I think.

I have a walnut and a 500 year old recovered bird eye maple snare drums.Its difficult to pin point the reason for great sounding drums but Arnies edges are incredible and his hardware is simply the finest there is.

Wayne - That sounds like one hell-o-va drum you have there!

Mark...I'd like to read the articles if I could find them.

Thx,my drums are very unique indeed.I had Arnie assemble a couple of drums for my twins boys that are to be left to them when i check out.Im trying to keep them in brand new condition so i dont take them out to play at all.Its been several years now and i can say that wood certainly ages with time because the drums just get sweeter with time.