Okay, I guess it's not too late to chime in. Two and a half months from 50. Enjoying my '65 Ludwig, blue oyster pearl, Downbeat kit that I picked up as an early birthday gift to myself - Had to justify the purchase as such to the wife, as I already have three other 60s, Ludwig kits...
Started drumming at about 11 years old, then promptly switched to bass, as my best friend also took up the drums soon after I did, and that was one too many drummers, though I kept my hand in there until a few years later when I needed to sell my kit to buy a Fender Precision. Got back onto the drums about 15 years ago, (always loved it, and missed it, though apartment living didn't really accommodate it anyway). Hooked up with a 60s, British Invasion tribute band soon thereafter, and promptly went out and bought my first vintage Ludwig kit...
As far as hardware goes, I'm kind of on the fence. Have a Pearl BLX kit with all heavy double braced hardware - solid as a rock, and easy to adjust, but when lugging it to an audition recently, the sheer weight of it was enough to make me decide that that wasn't the gig for me. Have recently been collecting 60s vintage hardware, (Ludwig, and WFL) and though it's nice and light, it also has it's quirks; most notably the flat based, 1121 hi-hat stand slides equally well on floors as on carpets... Have a couple of nice, light aluminum DW flat based cymbal stands that I'd used for gigs with the British Invasion band, and they were great for that purpose. I try to keep the more precious vintage stuff at home if I can.
I'm really glad I found this forum! I've learned so much from you guys, and really know how to properly care for the vintage stuff I have, as well as how to identify a good deal when it comes along. Don't know what excuse I'll use next, but I definitely seem to have caught the vintage drum bug.
