I don't talk to them but they speak to me LOUDLY when I play em.

Oh yeah, I'm a big smeller of things that are old. Especially drums. but also the inside of old LP album jackets. American made only, not the flimsy UK jackets. I'm talking real cardboard circa 1960s-early 1970s.

If your drums start talking back to you let us know! I bet they could tell some stories. I often wonder the life my club dates had before I adopted them a few years ago.

yea I always wonder, where have the drums been? Who played them? Were they in any bands or just the lone drummer jamming out in his basement? Has anyone learned to play their first song on that particular set? ( I can say at least one person did on mine and is still learning) Who bought them when they were factory fresh? Did anyone else love this set as much as I do mine? Did they spend hours polishing the metal and cleaning and waxing them or did they sit dirty and uncared for?

The questions can go on and on and unfortunately we will never know these answers. But we can always hope

Oh yes I have had some great conversations with them.

You ask some great questions! I've often pondered the same ideas myself. When I was about thirteen, my dad gave me an old Leedy snare which he used in the Sea Cadets. I wish I could remember the first song I ever learned on that drum. Probably something really simple. I traded that old drum along with some cash for my first set of Stewarts (probably not too bright but, at least I had a kit). To this day, I often think about the fate of the old Leedy. Man, I wish I still had it.

Brian

There's not a mutually exclusive answer to that question: Yes you are a nut job, and YES we have all done that! Thats because we're all a little nuts for our beloved drums, especially the ones to which we've attached sentimental value. Wish I still had my beatup,1946 4-pc WMP Gretsch set on which I learned my first song playing along to a Ventures album. I loved that set more than my first girlfriend.

I'm with you 100%. I love the smell of a mahogany shell in the morning. If that makes us a little nuts, well then, welcome to the nut house. We're in good company.

I feel bad now because the only time I talk to my drums when I'm working on them, is when they're giving me a hard time! Then, it's just a chain of expletives; 'son-of-a-b**ch, mother-f**ker,' etc.etc. all of which I will not recount here, I'm sure you get the idea.

I'll just have to start 'talking nice' to them from now on. It's just that there is always that one lug, one mount, or that one screw that refuses to come off that will send me off on a tirade.

I have to remember... talk nice to the drums. Cool Dude

John

I don't talk to them. I do "talk" to things when they are giving me trouble like john mentioned! it helps!

smelling, oh yeah. I love the smell of the interiors in my old drums. when I walk into my drum room, the smell is amazing. and a big yes to old albums as well. I love the smell. nothing quite like it..

mike

Yep I'm a talker alright. The drums don't talk back but they sing loud and clear! And like John I do cuss at some. The current kit I'm getting together has broke my balls every step so far. But they will be amazing I hope when done someday. Yes it would be cool to know the history and where they have been. A bass drum I have has the initials "BV" stamped into the badge and on the rail of the consolette tom holder. BV has good taste in drums anyway. No idea who it was.