I play drums in a Louisiana Rockabilly band. I plan on buying a set made in the 50's. I'm having a hard time deciding on which brand to go with. Up for consideration are Gretsch, Rogers, and Slingerland. My question is who was making the best sounding rock n roll drum set during the 1950s? Any data or personal opinion on the subject would really be helpful. Thanks in advance!
Greg
IMHO: I like 50's Rogers and Slingy's... Maybe the former for Rockabilly. I don't follow that style much, but I have a friend that did. He had an early 60's Crown Japanese kit that fit it like a glove. I'm pretty sure it was a 20 bd, 12 rt, and 14 ft. He used a Ludwig 400 with it.
All three...and a few more. That music likes a very resonant and woody sound from the backbeat and bottom end. More so in the 50's than the 60's. All three of those drum manufacturers would fit the bill just fine. If I had to choose...
A Slingerland Gene Krupa kit from the mid 50's. The sizes are perfect (to me) for that. 22,16,13. Excellent kit for that time frame. Some would argue (quite correctly) that smaller dimension drums would be more appropriate, but I like the classic 22,16,13 setup.
Thanks fellas! I was hoping on getting a larger bass drum like a 24 though mcjnic. Mainly because I've never owned one and love the looks of that large bass. We play some bars that don't mic the drums and a loud set really works out for that...
Greg
... My question is who was making the best sounding rock n roll drum set during the 1950s?...
For sure there's differences between the brands, but the differences between drummers, how they play, what heads they used, how they tweaked their sets, what sticks they used, and oh yeah... their touch... all that was way, way more of a factor than the differences between the brands.
So I'd say any of the major brands, I'm a Gretsch person but I'd rather use a lighter set like Ludwigs for a rock and roll gig, but that's just me.
Take a great rock and roll drummer, say D.J. Fontana, I would imagine he could make any of those brands his own, and he probably did.
Thanks fellas! I was hoping on getting a larger bass drum like a 24 though mcjnic. Mainly because I've never owned one and love the looks of that large bass. We play some bars that don't mic the drums and a loud set really works out for that...Greg
I have heard that the 24x14 bass drum sounds the best. Something about the combination of the dimensions. Never had one myself but would like to.
A mid-50's WFL kit might fit the bill nicely.....Excited
Welcome to the VDF from a fellow Louisianian!
You really can't go wrong with your choices or any of the suggestions.
Good luck with the search!
For Rockabilly.... just a snare, a cymbal, and PJ's with feet in them!
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO67LAmgjZQ[/ame]
