I have a Rogers Tower kit in Silver Sparkle 20-12-14 with a Tower snare... and I now have a kid starting college. Maybe we can work something out.
I am certain I would actually cry packing up this little kit... I play it everyday and love it... but life is life. If you decide a Rogers kit is the way to go let me know.
That is pretty fantastic. What can you tell us about those particular heads?
The Skyntones are REMO's latest attempt at a calf head and it's their best so far. They have a skin feel under the stick, not as plastic as their Fiberskyns. They only come in one weight currently and it plays between an Ambassador and a Diplomat even though it's a 10mil film.
The Renaissance head film was developed for tympani. It has a resin impregnated surface that makes it warmer than a clear head. I don't care for them as batter heads.
I've also paired the Skyntones with coated Diplomat resos and that combo sounds great as well.
The Skyntones are REMO's latest attempt at a calf head and it's their best so far. They have a skin feel under the stick, not as plastic as their Fiberskyns. They only come in one weight currently and it plays between an Ambassador and a Diplomat even though it's a 10mil film.The Renaissance head film was developed for tympani. It has a resin impregnated surface that makes it warmer than a clear head. I don't care for them as batter heads.I've also paired the Skyntones with coated Diplomat resos and that combo sounds great as well.
That's great information orangemi. Kinda makes me want to get a set and put them on ... something. Which brings us back to the original post. What would we put those on if we could?
OK. You asked for opinions. I'm all about opinions. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. Most major American drum manufacturing took place within an hour of my house. Rogers were made 300 miles from me, and Gretsch had a distribution warehouse in Chicago in the same building with my favorite drum shop. I have owned many drum sets since getting my first one in 1957.
I have had a love affair for over fifty years while owning and playing 50's and 60's Slingerland drums. Several years ago, I "discovered" Leedy drums by Slingerland, and love turned into lust because they are my all time favorite Slingy drums with sexy Art Deco lugs. I have also owned and played Rogers drums dating back to the first pro drum set I ever bought--a 1961 Rogers Holiday set ordered from a home town music store. I have owned and played Gretsch and Ludwig sets. My experience leeds me to rate my preferences for vintage drums that I have owned, and still do own, with 20-12-14 or 20-12-16 configurations thusly:
1. 50's and 60's Slingerland (currently own 3)
1-A. Slinger Leedy 1956-1965 (their entire life span) (currently own 3)
2. 1960's Rogers Swivomatic Beaver Tail Lug era (One W&A set has Rogers components)
3. Walberg & Auge Worcester Mass. era 60's with Rogers Beavertail Lugs (currently own 2)
4. Camco Oaklawn period 60s (DW wishes they were Camco) (none at present)
5. Gretsch Round Badge 60's drums (two W&A sets have mostly Gretsch components)
99. Ludwig from any time period (currently own one as trade bait)
You've probably already considered this but I will say it anyway.
I'm thinking a 50's Gretsch 3ply in 22/13/16 with a nice 6.5" snare?
I'm in the middle of that right now. It took me 7 months to get the shells and I still have two - only two! - small pieces of era-correct hardware to buy.
I put most of the hardware, the hoops and some heads on the drums to give it a test run before the painting stage and wow! = very nice! But, I don't have other kits (brands) to compare - just saying what I have and I like it.
Going this same route you may be able to put together a reasonabley priced ($1500+) shellpack if you bring together some orphans.??? The 3ply shells as you know are getting harder to come by so if you're thinking of it - better sooner than later expense-wise = supply-n-demand pricing.
"I'm looking for some drums that will be able to be tuned lower than the Gretsch. I understand that they will not be able to be tuned as low as a 13,16,22 kit."
Slingerland 3 ply mahogany/poplar/mahogany with single ply re-rings and the classic full round over bearing edge.Clapping Happy2
Yes - My error.....I got carried away ....I see you're looking for a 20/12/14 and I was referring to a 22/13/16...
But,
My late 50's Gretsch kit = 20/12/14 is awesome tuned low - maybe not as loud and thunderous as my Purewood African Mahogany 22", but great just the same.
My 20" shellpack is not as easy to tune as my 2011 Custom USA shellpack (18/12/14) because the ft heads are a tight fit. If they were NOT a wrap.....a natural finish.....that would be a different story however. My drums have calfhide heads and I think that allows for a warmer deeper tone all around. I do have an eMad on the 20 and 22 bass drums - the eMad is much nicer.....easier to tune than the natural hide and a punchier low end.
Have you considered a Teardrop kit in those sizes ??
Wow, lots of responses. Thanks fellas. I'm still undecided but I think I might focus in on a Slingerland kit. They are the most affordable and every youtube video I watch sounds great. I do love Slingerland snares. I think I'm pretty patient, so I'll keep an eye out for something that makes me go boing.
Oddball, I haven't a clue about Sonor. Might have to change that!
This makes me go boing.
