I can't contribute anything with regard to house kits and the questions/info you seek.

I have, however, come across some drums recently that were rentals from Carrolls Music in NYC, one of which is now in my possession. It has been engraved with the store's name on the exterior. It is a 1929 Ludwig but the batter head snare mechanism was removed and the hoops were replaced with solid stick saver rims, kinda destroys the originality but as a rental drum it was probably a good idea for ease of use. It may also add a different element to your quest to learn more of house drums such as how that the drums may have changed from modifications or upgrades through their life span, which you also mentioned with your comment about drums going through the wringer from tuning variations.

Nice topic to hopefully dig up some interesting info. One thing I always look for in vintage pictures of drummers and their kits is who and how many had Rogers hardware retro-fitted onto non-Rogers drums.

I doubt I've ever played a house kit that was played by anyone famous, but I've had to use them and usually hated every moment of it. One kit in Copperfield's near Fenway Park (now out of business) had hardware that was in really bad shape and the drums were about as melodic as hitting plastic buckets.

Worse yet is when you're not informed a house kit is going to be in place and you end up having to leave your gear in the car for the evening waiting to be stolen.

My view: Down with house kits!

lol good points Dan :)

I played an outdoor gig that had a house kit, the singer in my band told me I didn't need to bring anything except maybe my snare and sticks. It was actually a nice Rogers that if I remember correctly was re-wrapped in wmp. After the band before us had finished, I noticed the drummer removing the cymbals. Long story short, the drummer reluctantly let me use his cymbals. Moral of the story, don't ever listen to the singer.

Ouch, that could have been a difficult night for the singer when you Car Driving2 away.

Not likely I will ever play the house kit at a revered jazz club,I have nightmares about the house kits I have played,usually a Pearl export or low level mapex that they keep outside by the dumpster when it is not being used.

Just for grins I thought I would post this pic. Last time we were in NYC, 2018, we went to Smalls Jazz Club and to my surprise we were seated right next to the performance area, right next the drum kit that inspired O-Lugs to start this thread! I was so happy to be sitting there I snapped this pic!

md

Awesome man! Thanks for sharing that!

You know, I always wondered about that kit and why someone chose the Canopus brand. I would have figured they would have chosen a Gretsch Catalina or some type of Gretsch kit -since that's what most of the NYC guys use as kind of an identifiable "city jazz" sound.