Let's show off our cocktail drum outfits--preferably those from pre-1970 vintage. I'll start by posting about my 1950's Gretsch outfit. The 24 x 14 cocktail drum is the right height for play from either the standing or the seated position. The large drum and the 6 x 8 bongo tom have the original store badges from Brochstein's older store location in Houston. Herb Brochstein operated this music store for many years before starting the Promark company located in Houston. The cocktail drum was originally a single-headed drum with the horrible little fan of snares under the batter head. The drum had been drilled for several attachments. So, I felt no guilt about removing the wooden ring around the bottom of the drum, and using it as a hoop for the new bottom head that I installed. I bought a 6.5 x 8 popcorn snare that I wrapped with a scrap of perfectly matching Sky Blue Pearl given to me by a forum friend. The snare drum, tom, two cymbals, and a cowbell are all mounted to the cocktail drum. I have a few convertible bass drum pedals by Ludwig, Leedy, and Gretsch, but no mounting bracket. So, I bought a great new Gibralter pedal complete with bracket online for $99. That bracket will work with any up-beat pedal. But, the Gibralter seems to be very substantial.
Cocktail Drum Outfits
Sweet! I don't have a cocktail set but I heard this podcast the other day with drummer John Mettam who collects them and has a website dedicated to cocktail drums. It’s pretty informative.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drum-history/id1439751014?i=1000503748786
Man, several years ago, I wanted to scab together a cocktail kit to gig with...I looked around for quite awhile at the available cocktail pedal options -all were junk...and the DW one was terrible! And I usually love their pedals. I never tried the one you use, so maybe it's a good one...but I wish there were some better, smoother feeling actions on those up beat pedals, in general. I guess it doesn't really matter anymore, though, since there's no gigs.
Cool kit, btw.:)
"Nietzsche is dead." -God
My understanding is that you can use any pedal
With a reversible cam. But of course you need the bracket.
Yep. The bracket is the key item to have. I figured at $99, that is much less to pay than if I found a vintage bracket. As it turned out, that Gibralter pedal is very nice. I can also attach any of my vintage up-beat pedals to the bracket.
Its not pre-1970 (1993 I think) but Tommy Winkler of Nashville made four very unusual ported cocktail drums with three heads. The third head was a snare head installed on a shaped bottom that just set upon the un-beveled top of the drum. It is kind of like hanging a piccolo snare below the batter head. I believe he made one for Steve Ferrone, one we sold to Daniel Guajardo in Indianapolis, and the other two are in Huntsville. The pedal attached to two of the floor tom legs. They sound very good and are fun to play. Tommy put a plywood baffle between the snare portion and bottom bass drum portion and ports in both sections. Three of them are 13" diameter and one is 16" diameter.
I have a Ludwig 1968 Miami Beach and I use a 1959 trans badge Ludwig piccolo with it. I did an article for NSMD on my set.
https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/not-so-modern-drummer/2018/10/29/cocktails-anyone
Let's show off our cocktail drum outfits--preferably those from pre-1970 vintage. I'll start by posting about my 1950's Gretsch outfit. The 24x14 cocktail drum is the right height for play from either the standing or the seated position. The large drum and the 6x8 bongo tom have the original store badges from Brochstein's alder store location in Houston. Heb Brochstein operated this music store for many years befor starting the Promark company located in Houston. The cocktail drum was originally a single-headed drum with the horrible little fan of snare under the batter head. The drum had been drilled for several attachments. So, I felt no guilt about removing the wooden ring around the bottom of the drum, and using it as a hoop for the new bottom head that I installed. I bought a 6.5 x8 popcorn snare that I wrapped with a scrap of perfectly matching Sky Blue Pearl given to me by a forum friend. The snare drum, tom, two cymbal, and a cowbell are all mounted to the cocktail drum. I have a few convertable bass drum pedals by Ludwig, Leedy, and Gretsch, but no mounting bracket. I bought a great new Gibralter pedal complete with bracket online for $99. That bracket will work with any up-beat pedal. But, the Gibralter seems to be very substantial.
Very nice, glad to see you got it all fixed up. I knew Herb of course when I took lessons at his store. Then not long after he started Pro Mark USA I was in Houston & stopped by the factory to see him.
I have yet to score a nice cocktail drum itself. I sure like them though. I do have this late 60's Star (pre Tama) Starfield Cocktail Outfit. It features a 16" bass drum and a bass mounted snare drum. Snare drum has a factory cowbell mount. The drums sound really nice. Was fun to restore as well. Since this pic I have found a correct cowbell and bass pedal.
Mike
That's a cute little cocktail outfit, Mike. It's kinda like a budget Slingerland copy.
- Share
- Report