You gotta watch the Last Waltz....Levon uses a mahogany Ludwig kit in that with all wood hoops, single tension type rods and everything! Excited Its in the studio scenes though not the live concert footage. For that he uses the Gretsch kit.
I love that kit! Apparently he picked it up in an LA pawn shop for $125, cymbals included, just before recording The Band's self-titled album. I never knew it was a Luddy.
I loved that set too - only about 40 years ahead of his time with those.
If after all the discussion here you still want the killer monster bass drum, see if this guy will ship--it may need a refridgerator case though!
If after all the discussion here you still want the killer monster bass drum, see if this guy will ship--it may need a refridgerator case though!http://kansascity.craigslist.org/msg/1399183818.html
damn knavel! that is freakin' bad to tha bone...
I played in a a few rockabilly/psychobilly bands, and Ive used a variety of kits. Even though you are talking about a music style from the 50's, the 60's kits sound great to for this music. The wood combinations and the rounded bearing edges are pretty much the same from the 50's to 60's. And the 60's drumsets are ussually a lot easier to find. I used a 60's Supraphonic excusively for live gigs, and a 60's Slingerland Artist maple for recordings.
Unfourtunatley I noticed that most of my audience, band members, and even recording engineers never cared or could tell the difference between one of my vintage kits or a Pearl Export house it. Of course I cared and it made a huge differnce to me, but it was always a sad fact (of a vintage drummer's) life.
As far as heads I've never used calf, but would love to. I would think calfskin would really give you a beautiful rockabilly sound, but I have heard that calf can tear easliy and is much harder to work with due to humidity and its effects on heads. Some of those bars can get pretty steamy filled with bodies on got summer nights. Ive used Ambassadors and always thought they sounded great.
Now I play in a jazz trio, sub for other jazz combos, and work almost exclusively in jazz, and it is just such a different world. Most people, especially my musicians can tell the difference between kits, heads, and the respect for a good drum kit, with good sounds is like night and day compared to the rockabilly world. Plus no one bumps into or spills beer on my vintage kits! (Once "backstage" I found someone leaning on my 22" Rogers bass drum, and I almost nearly killed them!)
Good luck trying to find the perfect rockabilly drum set/sounds, and remember that some of us do take notice and appreiciate it!
LOOK at this! You want a big bass sound? Here it is, cheap...ish.
Jumping2
LOOK at this! You want a big bass sound? Here it is, cheap...ish.http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-VINTAGE-LUDWIG-WFL-BIG-BAND-KIT-BDP-WITH-30-BASS_W0QQitemZ230381531561QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVintgae_Drums_Percussion?hash=item35a3cf31a9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14Jumping2
I would love a 30" kick!
You can see the eyebolts on the top of that kick - looks like a marching band conversion, which is fine 'cause those drums were the same great stuff.
If I could go back in time I would be hunting out and acquiring cheap marching band bass drums. I'll bet I could have bought them for a song in the 70's.
PK Drums I've been using calf for about two years now and have never had one indication that the heads are fragile or could tear. As far as the humidity... here on Oahu it's often 90˚ & 90% and when it's super muggy is when the drums sound best! The floor toms get a "slam" sound... like I said before it turns out (for me anyways) that pretty much everything I was told growing up about calf heads (hard to work with, unstable, rip easy) was untrue. We were sold that it was for sonic reasons we went to plastic; I think it was because we all wanted to be futuristic and because of $, and for sure plastic's better for heavy rock and football games.
PK Drums,
i agree with what you're saying about the 60's sets. i'm really just looking for a good 3-ply sound from one of the top drum makers so i could end up going that way. i think it would be a plus to have a set from 50's since we do play a lot of songs from that period though.
yeah, it's a shame to run across folks that should know better and have more appreciation. that's just the way it is though. so many folks think a drum is just a drum and nothing else. a lot of em don't even consider drummers as musicians. hell, that's how the drummer jokes got started.
it all depends as far as a knowledgeable crowed and sound guys for me. i'd agree that most of the folks are just there for the bop. but i've also been impressed by what a lot of em know as well.
we play some Psychobilly tunes too. my Pearl set does probably come off sounding better for those songs but i don't care and am set on a vintage kit. i'd love to hear some of the stories you have from that Meteors tour! i'm a big fan of P. Paul Fenech and "The Legendary Raw Deal" project he did. Here's us playing a few Raw Deal songs....
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhhwhaRasco[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxGHjaTF-6w[/ame]
Greg
Good stuff - thanks for posting that Greg!
Yes, with a stand up bass and a guitar player who plays a fat pig guitar through a Twin I can see how you want a vintage set - sound and vibe wise.
I'd just keep my eyes on the used market. I know you originally posted for a 50's kit, but really there was hardly any difference between a '55 and '65 set. I see some beat up set of Leedy or WFL... I'd let opportunity choose the brand.
The band I've been playing in lately is much like yours - 3 pc and we do all the Elvis stuff.
I read that Earl Palmer was recording some BIG HITS using a 26" Bass Drum for a while. I'm not sure if he was using Rogers at that time. That N.O. Funeral Parade sound! Walking
