I look at this analogy from the point of athletics and anything else that has evolved over time. For example, back in the early years of football, players wore very little protection....maybe a little leather, jock-strap for a helmet or so. As the game progressed and guy grew bigger and stronger, those cheesy helmets were no longer enough to protect. Soon, they became full face masks and harder material etc.....Now relate this to the evolution of music...from what was, to what is. Music is no longer light polka - boom-tat boom-tat boom-tat-tat-tat or a light big band swing. I'm even thinking of the traditional grip on the sticks with a pair of 7a's to the double fisted barbaric slamming with tree clubs. As the style and energy of the music evolved, so too did equipment drummers and other musicians, for that matter, used. I'm surely not knocking the nostalgic aspect of 'collecting' vintage gear, but to argue in its defense, 'quality and toughness' and to be so bold as to contend that it is better than todays stuff, is a little off the mark. Guys that were a part of the ever changing and evolving music scene moved away from the 'flimsier' swivo stuff, in favor of more reliable, durable, and tougher hardware. I have an inkling that Bonham would have ripped swivo spurs off a bass drum before he hit beat one of measure 12. To me, quality is relative to what you are using something for and comparing it to. To play your typical 'bar gig'.....even I'd be breaking swivo stuff and I don't play all that hard.So in sum, I beg to differ that most of this debate (and yeah I love to debate anyway) is in the name of nostalgia....leave quality and durability at home....unless and only unless....you want to compare the stuff to the stuff during that era. To todays hardware, it cannot compare period!
Ok i will agree with everything you say if you can just tell me how and why my swivo stuff does not work for the last 42 years? When i say hardware i am talking about tom holders not cymbal stands or snare stand etc,i will be the first to admit they make better ones now...i have sat at a pearl set and tried for 30 min to get the toms set right between two bass drums and could not get them where i wanted...DW stuff? i watched ginger baker at madison square garden last year every time he hit the floor toms they bounced for 5 min ,no thanks... the key to any hardware in my book is knowing how it works..and keeping it working correctly.
If you want swivo stuff to work correctly you have to clean it and keep the threads coated with a lubricant(i use vaseline) the collets are as smooth as butter and i do NOT have to over tighten them because they close down correctly... If you want the ball joints to hold ,then tighten one screw up against the wall then the other up against that and if the cups on the set screws get a bit dull recup them that is how they work...If you want pictures i will gladly show you what i mean.. anyway fun discussion ,i am still a swivo man.. peace play on..band2 D' Drummer
