Stop ruining vintage drums!

[PK Drums]

Now this is just my opinion, but I'd like to see others post their opinions on this. If theres one thing that drives me crazy, it's seeing a beautiful vintage kit from the 50's or 60's with modern heads. Especially black bass drum heads or remo pinstripe's. Not only does it degrade from the vintage look but I've played on kits like I've described, and it takes away from the vintage sound.

Anyone agree/disagree? Please post!

[The Ploughman]

I agree with you.
I dont like pinstripes either.
I hate that black resonant head on my 1966 Rogers Blue Glass Glitter 14x20. Having a Rogers Logo on it is the only thing that makes it bearable. I hate the hole too.
And it wasnt a matter of preferance, the story is, I went to GC.........you know, its like HELL for instruments, and the guy says, "We dont stock anything in 20" heads, nobody uses 20" BDs anymore, but we've got this ONE set." So I was stuck with the Aquarian Superkick II clear batter and a black resonant with a 4 o'clock hole.

Not my choice.

I faired just as badly when I went to pick up heads (at a different GC) for my recently purchased 1965 Rogers 4 piece in Red Wine Ripple. I ended up with another Superkick II, which I dont even like. I put a Fiberskyn3 Emperor on for the Resonant. Topped it off with a red ROGERS logo mounted just above the 3 o'clock position.

[jaymz1970]

I agree with you 100%. I played on a 70's ludwig kit with remo emperor heads and it sounded like crap. The black bass drum head kills me as well.

[Mike Gallichio]

I also think that most of the new heads are so plastic sounding. If you have ever played on a set with real skins then you know that warm great sound.
I do spend a lot of time tuning my drums and am pleased with the sound but real skins are best sounding. If you can, try them. The sound will blow you away. A great vintage sound. You must know with real skins the weather will change the sound so keep your key handy. Also a can of Sterno in humid rooms to help tune them up. But be carefull as with all open flames. Don't get to close with the fire or you will burn a hole in your head. This is why they invented plastic. It is hard to keep the real skins just right. Most drummers dont think the exrta work is worth it. But if you are looking for that true vintage sound it's the only way to go.

[PK Drums]

Thats more or less the experience I have had with guitar Center. I try to stick with sam ash or the smaller mom and pop shops. Interstatemusic.com is also pretty good, and one of the cheapest.

I headlined a show this past winter in VA, and was borrowing a drum kit. I brought my '65 supraphonic and my own cymbals. When I arrived I was happy to see the kit I was to be using was a 60's ludwig in BDP.
Unfourtunatley , when I got on the kit, the drummer had beat up old pinstripes that were de-tuned to an almost pitch-less "thud". The bass drum had two full pillows inside, and if that wasnt enough, the toms had about half a roll of duck tape. I would have rather played on a $200 cb kit.

But each to their own. I guess that drummer liked them that way, and I suppose I shouldn't complain because I didn't have to drag a full kit from NYC to VA.

[Bebop]

i have just recently gotten into vintage drums so im not that knowledgable yet. but i know i dont have the money right now for calfskin heads so should i get fiberskyns for my drums? (i am still in the process of fixing up a 1951 super gene krupa deluxe radio king bass drum so the only vintage drum i have right now is a gracy snare drum that i got off of ebay. actually i dont even have it yet i should be getting it this friday. haha. anyways)

[Webmaster]

Many vintage guys will use a variety of heads from standard
Remo coated Ambassadors to the Aquarian Modern Vintage heads

Click Here (http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/products/display.asp?id=9) for the aquarian heads so you can read up on them.

Click Here (http://www.remo.com/portal/products/3/8/50/ds_coated.html) for the Remo.

I do know some people that will go with calf heads, but the price and the tuning tend to keep most people away unless they want a period correct drum.

The players and collectors can both offer advice on that and each will have an interesting perspective.

Head choice is such a personal preference, I would try and experiment for the best sound and keep reading and asking questions.

In regards to this post your on the right track from a vintage perspective!



David
Webmaster

[Fatboy46]

REMO Fiberskyns have a good sound for vintage drums... as do the REMO Rennaissance the FS III also give the LOOK of calfskin to further enhance the look. Rennaissance heads work well ... however if the drums are from the 50's.. you may need the 'Vintage" line from Aquarian(?).. so that they will actually fit on the drum. the old drums had thin shells... and they don't do well in some venues where you need to play LOUD.. the thin heads dont take up the shock and it is transferred to th shell almost immediately, and chokes the sound.. Thicker or 2 ply heads take up a lot of that shock and allow more volume before choking... stll need more volume? get some mic's...:)

it's great to have these old drums and even better to PLAY them. But real calfskin is out of the $$ range for many working drummers and far too many don't know how to take care of calfskin heads. nor, do they want to keep tuning them through-out the gig.
Play what you can.. D' Drummer

[gaz farrimond]

Now this is just my opinion, but I'd like to see others post their opinions on this. If theres one thing that drives me crazy, it's seeing a beautiful vintage kit from the 50's or 60's with modern heads. Especially black bass drum heads or remo pinstripe's. Not only does it degrade from the vintage look but I've played on kits like I've described, and it takes away from the vintage sound.

Anyone agree/disagree? Please post!

I agree to a point. especially about the Pinstripes; But sometimes at a rush it's all you can get.

What winds me up even more, is people who buy vintage drums 'for breaking'.

They buy a kit, sell it off individually, then strip whatevers left and sell the parts.


:mad:

[geon]

I agree, the sound of vintage is what makes the effort worth while...If anyone knows how I can find a craftsman in the Boston area that would re-head a hoop for an old tom, i'd really appreciate it.

[sabshga]

I no longer walk in to Guitar Center or Sam Ash when I need something unless it is an emergency. I call first to see if they have exactly what I need (which they usually don't). I expect their selection to be very limited. I have moved to buying almost everything from net vendors like Interstate, Music123, Musicians Friend, etc.. Try to get specific hardware at a retail store and you will always be out of luck. I use emeperors top and ambassadors on the bottom and they are always in stock. However, more than once, I've walked out of Sam Ash with an Ambassador coated when I asked for an Ambassodor snare head. They are basically set up on autopilot and aren't about service. It's much more efficient to point and click and get what you want in a few days with no sales tax. As far as black heads on the front they are out of character, I agree but I ended up with them from emergency purchases and when do you need to replace a front bass drum head? I think technically they last forever unless you do a "Who" tribute show.

Gary,

Dix Hills, NY