Hi All,
I thought I'd break the ice and dive in here with an unveiling of my latest project. I have to say, I'm 62 and I've been playing drums since 1963 and I don't know why I waited this long to play a set of Camco drums. One thought hits me hard every time I sit down to play them, "I could have been enjoying -this- for the last 50 years!" I'm only sorry that I waited so long. These Jasper shelled Camco's are, bar none, the best sounding, most responsive drums I have ever laid a stick/hand on. The drums are as fat and warm sounding as anyone could want. They project beautifully.
History:
It took me 18 months to find and buy all the drums, shells, hardware needed to assemble this kit.
14" x 20" George Way bass drum.
I've been told by guys who know much more than me about Geo. Way/Camco drums, that this bass drum is only one of two known examples of a 14"x20" George Way bass drum. It is dated 1959 inside. It had Rogers swivo tom hardware so I kept it (Rogers legs & mounts) as a theme with the other drums in the kit. The other 20" is part of a kit owned by a collector in the UK. I have no idea what the value of this single drum is. I got it on ebay for $225.00 Buy It Now.
My Geo. Way 20" is not only as good as any 22" I've ever owned/played, it is so much better that it makes my other bass drums sound almost weak in comparison. Great tone and punch. Very responsive to the pressure of the stroke. Quiet (yet powerful) when played softly and pure chest-thumping fury when you lean into it.
9"x13" Rack tom. Oaklawn badge/era orphan. Jasper maple shell with maple re-rings. Was painted black at some point. I stripped it and re-wrapped it in red glass glitter to match the other drums in my orphan kit. Bought it on ebay for $177.00
16"x16 NOS (New/Old stock!) Undrilled, unwrapped Camco Jasper floor tom shell. This was a new/old stock raw shell from Oaklawn Camco. I had the guys at Precision Drums cut the bearing edges to match the profile on the Oaklawn rack tom. I covered the drum in red glass glitter added Camco lugs and rims along with 60's Rogers tom leg mounts to match the Rogers hardware on the other drums. All mounting hardware on this kit is primo Rogers swivo stuff. The floor tom sounds dead-killer! I've never heard/played one this good.
12"x15" Floor tom. This is a rare size for a Camco tom. It was just a matter of a re-wrap and adding Rogers swivo leg mounts. Monster drum. Again, Jasper shell.
Snare Drum: Hybrid - 5"x14" Camco Oaklawn Jasper snare drum shell w/DW lugs and strainer/butt plate. Puresound wires. I got the shell for under $200 on ebay. The DW lugs and hardware came from a custom DW snare from the 1980's. It too sounds and plays as great as the other drums in the kit.
Sorry for dark photos. I took them in my basement and the lighting conditions are not the best down there.
Enjoy...
John (The new kid...)
