This is what i think

60's-Ludwig,Roger's-Gretsch-Camco-Slingerland-Leedy But i will also say the M.I.J,. set's out sold all of these..

70's-Ludwig-Roger's-Slingerland-Gretsch-Pearl and agian the M.I.J. set's

80's-Ludwig-Pearl-Tama-Yamaha--and the M.I.J./M.I.T. set's

90's-Ludwig-O.C.D.P.-Pearl-Tama-Yamaha-and again the M.I.J. and M.I.T set's ...

To me the D.W sets from the 90's and the 80's are poorly made set's.The only reason that you seen alot of these set's was that D.W. was pushing them all over the place and had a deal with the G/C....Mikey

Uuh... not much is made in Japan anymore and japanse stuff is of great quality. Most of the stuff today is made in China, Taiwan and Indonesia and that is the cheap stuff you're talking about. Althogh, my Sonors are made in China and are manufactured VERY neatly and are good drums.

Regardless of how well built Chinese drums may be, it is sad that the people living in that country don't even have basic human rights yet countries all over Europe and the US have nearly free trade agreements with them... I guess morals and business have never really gone hand in hand anyway. :) (referring to the trade agreements, not you Gilnar)

I think the 60's are an easy pick for a golden age because before that because kits made in that era seem to take the first step towards a modern kit. But that's a totally subjective statement.

I think companies like Gretsch, Slingerland, Ludwig seem to be the most popular across all the decades. Back then, because of availability in Sears and Roebuck and what not, and since then because of the 'made in America" nostalgia a lot of Americans have for the 20th century (the simpler times). Rogers and M.I.J kits as well get a nod.

That said, my Chinese assembled Sonors have treated me very well over the years--and while I disagree with Chinese politics, I cannot say that I "pity" or "feel bad" for Chinese citizens, especially when you get harassed on the street there by folks for being and American trying to change their way of life.

It would be interesting to note sales figures from drum companies across 5 decades. I think the actual numbers would also vary quite a bit from genre to genre.

I would assume that Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch and Rogers would be the notable drums of the 60's. I am sure that the Camco, Sonor, Premier, etc. market share was quite a bit smaller by comparison. Of course the MIJ kits were plentiful but that is an example of disruptive technology or disruptive marketing.

The 70's started off where the 60's left off, but began with the rising to prominence of Pearl, Tama and Yamaha while sadly watching the decline of Slingerland and Rogers.

The 80's seemed to be dominated by the big 3 Japanese firms.

The 90's saw a rise in the more boutique companies such as DW and OCDP.

Interesting thread.

This to me...is pretty much it.Ludwig at one point was turning out over 100 kits a day,and working 6 days a week,24 hours a day,and still turing out seperate,and speciality percussion.

Tama,Yamaha and Pearl ,in the late 70's and 80's pretty much raised the bar, in drum and hardware, build quality and sound.

It's sad to lament, the almost intentional grounding of Slingerland and Rogers.They were both great drums in terms of looks,build and sound quality,and are still in my mind , a benchmark of how a drum should sound.Lets not forget Leedy in the great American drum companys.

I like the sound of some modern drums,but the sound of vintage top 5 American made drums as well as Sonor and Premier vintage kits is what throws my hair back.

Steve B

I spoke to an expert at the 'drum farm' who told me that dw's shells are identical to that of the old rogers and with the lugs being old camco's wouldn't that put dw at the top of the heap?

A better way to address the question is to begin with the decades following the invention and acceptance of the drum set - the beginning of the 20th Century. In addition, one must understand that until just recently there was no "globalization" or regional trade treaties as practiced today. Just the opposite was the case - importing and exporting goods required expensive overseas shipping and steep tariffs and taxes were levied by each country to protect their own domestic industries and labor force from foreign competition. Neither "standardization" nor "international size" could be expected in head sizes, thread gauge, etc. if a drummer needed parts or service for equipment made outside their own country. Also factor in that in the 1950's and 1960's China and Taiwan were only beginning to industrialize, Japan was known as a "copycat nation" which exported cheap and shoddy 'knock-offs" of American drums, Germany was split into two separate countries, and most of Europe lay behind a Communist "Iron Curtain" which was in effect sealed off from the West. Forgive me if I seem to be complicating the question, but politics and economics (as today) always played important roles in determining which drums were the most popular. I think it safe to say during the 1960's in the U.S.A. Slingerland and Ludwig always were foremost in popularity and sales among serious drummers, followed by the other American manufacturers like Rogers and Gretsch. The Asian import market was everywhere to be seen but more or less limited to the pawn shop and music store low end retail market. Few today remember when Leedy Drum Company was hugely popular during the 1930's and 1940's. If an American in the U.S.A. prior to the mid-1970's had suggested that Pearl, Tama, and Yamaha would literally "rule" the world of drums in terms of sales and popularity today, or that Communist "Red China" would one day manufacture almost drum bearing the label "Ludwig", "Slingerland", "Gretsch", et al, they would have been considered completely crazy and mocked in derision.

Kleening

Yeah I'd have to agree with this quite a bit. I'd say that the 00's or 2000's whichever yo please, has been ruled by C&C. There were a TON of "custom" drum companies that bloomed in the early 00's but faded rather quickly with the superiority of C&C.

-Beau