Leedybdp, let me send you my recipe for bruschetta. Might be able to ease you into an appreciation of raw tomatoes.....over-engineered Roma tomatoes.

I'm of the opinion that this is a Vintage Drum Forum.

That's why I'm here. I am fascinated by vintage (pre 1970) drums. I have little desire for any drums or cymbals made after 1969. Two exceptions have entered my collection. One is a 20-12-14 set of Slingerlands that are from sometime between 1973 and 1976. They are built virtually identical to my favorite mid 60's Slingies. The other exception is a set of Walberg & Auge drums (22-two 13s-16-matching snare) with 1972 hand written dates inside the shells. I had no idea that W&A was making drums at such a late date. I speculate that these drums had been assembled from the Gretsch, Rogers, and Walberg's own parts several years before they were "dated" and shipped.

I think anything made 20 or more years ago is vintage.

Though Sonor and other imported brands (e.g. Premier, Hayman, Trixon and Pearl, a bit later) were available here in the USA, the domestic market was almost completely dominated by the American Big 4, which is why I didn't mention them. However, for all intents and purposes, they can also be included in the discussion.

I don't want to sound like an old curmudgeon here. However, for all of the so-called technological "progress" that has occurred in the music industry, I don't think that the end result (i.e. music) actually SOUNDS any better than it used to. In fact, it has become sterile and ****genized. Part of this is the actual recording process. Digital recording has come a LONG way, especially with ProTools HD and some excellent tape emulation plug-ins, but the depth, dimension and richness of the analog recording process is gone, and in THAT respect, there's a long way to go.

It is impossible to address all of the technological advances, issues and mishaps I've seen over the years in drums, guitars, amps and recording gear, but I don't tout the vintage thing just because I am being nostalgic. There are valid points to be argued.

BTW- you HAVE to be kidding with the censoring of the word H-O-M-O-G-E-N-I-Z-E-D. Did I mention that exaggerated political correctness is ANOTHER problem we have in our current society? Soap Box

Technological advances are going to have a limited effect on an instrument which, at its core, has prehistoric beginnings.

Try typing "j e w e l r y" ! (It's not us, it's the software).

It's not the software, it the operator thereof.

***lery.......

Wow... now THAT is overthinking it! Mind Blowi