If you get a chance to A-B a couple of vintage kits side-by-side, tuned the same, you'd definitely be able to tell a difference. Heck, you could even do a comparison of two similar kits (same brand, model, and sizes) and they would sound different, too. Different kits with differing construction lend themselves to different sound characteristics. I can't tell the difference between a 3-ply Slingy and a 3-ply Luddie, but I can DEFINITELY tell the difference between either of those and a 3-ply Gretsch, or a 5-ply Rogers. I've been in a couple situations where this was actually demonstrated. I'm a believer because I have seen/heard it.

In my humble opinion, the 3-ply Gretsch round badge kits sound the best, followed by the 3-ply Ludwigs/Slingerlands. I don't really get excited about the other companies' drums as much...

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Wow..why do you wanna open up THAT can of worms ? ;)

caddy is right. Not many folks really get the...luxury...of actually having 2 vintage kits side-by-side, same heads, same tuning...to compare to each other. But they DO sound different. Sometimes subtle...sometimes like night and day.

It's funny...Slingy and Luddy...they were arch rivals back in the day, eh ? Yet, from the point of view of construction specifications, their shells were/are incredibly similar (speaking of the 3-ply re-ringed varieties. Even their edges were similar).

Rogers shells and edges (in particular the latter) were, to me...always a bit ahead of their time. They were, in a sense, the prototype of modern edges. So, Rogers were punchier and a tad bouncier...in comparison to the warmth of their contemporary Slingy/Luddy counterparts.

IMHO, Gretsch never did anything for me...jasper or no jasper. 3-ply with rounded edges...OK...they always sounded a bit flat and un-alive...lacking to me. But different strokes and all. Lotsa folks love 'em......

Then... the oft overlooked Premiers from that time period. 3-ply Birch shells with re-rings. Those old thin birch shells (Olympics as well...since they used the exact same shells for Premiers and Olympics) have the best low end of any of the old makers. They are incredibly sweet, deep sounding shells and are real beauties.

So...to me...it's not so much who's were the BEST...but more...what kind of sound is it you are seeking, in particular. If someone came to me and said...do me up a rehab vintage kit which has some serious balls on the low end...I would hunt down some Premiers. Now, if they asked for a kit which had the woodiest vintage sound...I would steer them to Slingy or Luddy. But if they said they needed a kit which sounded vintage but had the most oomph and volume, because a lotta times it'll be used in a rock or funk situation, for example...I would go for a Rogers.

Would be interested to hear others chime in on their favorites and why....[/COLOR]

The best sound is having a variety of sounds. Everyone's going to have their unique opinions. Example: I like my Cadillac for it's luxury and my Corvette for it's speed etc. (oops..those are both GM)...anyway you know what I mean.

I think the best sounding jazz sets are Gretsch -because they favor the high tuning ranges and their unreinforced shells are reinforced by the extra-heavy diecast rims. I don't know what it is, but they just have that jazz sound. I think the drums that sound most like vintage Gretsch are Yamaha Recording Customs.

I think the best sounding BIG drums are Ludwigs. Two words: John Bonham

:2Cents:

I don't want to step on any toes here but...

It's the drummer, not the drums. In the case of Bonham, he could have played Gretsch drums and still sounded huge, IMHO. Lets also not forget the recording process - It can make a BIG difference in the sound of any kit from any maker.

This question cannot be answered. Ask Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton which guitar is the best. You'll get two different answers I imagine. Maybe three!!

Also, consider the number of jazz drummers who have played kits by Ludwig, Slingerland or Rogers. How about rock guys playing Gretsch kits?

And what would Camco kit's be best at? How about Kent's (sorry... had to do it)? DW... Rock only?

Seriously, is there a "best sounding" drum?

What were the Rogers edges cut at?

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Lucky....I am scared to answer that because Ploughman hangs here. Falling Do

The re-rings were narrower than anyone else's, they had a much smaller outside roundover than Luddy, Premier, Slingy....the inside bevel seems to be about 30 degrees....but the edges in contact with the heads were sharper, and therefore there was less head contacting the ring than the aforementioed companies.

Also, the shells were maple ("Kellers", what we would consider today); of the time the big US companies (besides Gretsch) used the mahogany/poplar/maple combo. And, they 'undersized' their shell diameters a bit more than everyone else (standard fare today) so the head ring didn't contact the shell itself. This made the drums sound punchier and more "alive".

The effect also meant, with less head contact to the shell, there would be less vibration transferred from the head to the wood shell. So, the woodiness and "slapiness" of the shell (something which folks often relate to that 'vintage sound') was reduced in favor of greater attack, volume and bounce.

Oh, jeez......Soap Box...I'll stop now.....[/COLOR]

Big Daddy,

You're absolutely right. I believe it IS the drummer more than anything else, too. But, I have a somewhat "psychological" association with certain names, faces and drums. When I mention Bonham, I always see a certain picture of him in my mind for reference. I remember Robert Plant mentioning in an interview that Bonham was always after the biggest drums that Ludwig made...etc. And I hold onto that association between Bonham, his sound and Ludwig.

I have the same feelings about Steve Gadd, Evans hydrolic heads and Yamaha drums.

I always think of Gretsch when I think about Elvin Jones -even though he switched a few times over the years. Still, he's always a Gretsch man in my mind. See what I'm saying?

I have been around drum discussion forums long enough to realize that "the best" is a real can of worms -believe me! ;) I've been kicked out of places for using my can opener! heh heh But, seriously, sometimes, I believe there are other non-mechanical reasons why some drums can be perceived as sounding "the best"...just for the sake of discussion.

Sonor, in my humble opinion, my last kit was a Yamaha Maple Custom, the real Mcoy, sounded pretty amazing. But it depends heaps on the skins, tuning and the technique of the drummer.