Virtual Drum Museum
Certain outfits define their period and musical genre. My virtual museum is an attempt to combine all the variables such as brand, size, construction, plating, finish, heads, etc. into a collection of definitive kits.
1940's Swing
Gene Krupa worked with Slingerland in the mid 1930's to develop 'Tunable Toms' with lugs top and bottom.
1940's Slingerland Radio King Krupa De Luxe Outfit
GENE KRUPA WRAP: Marine Pearl SHELLS: Mahogany 1x3-ply bent, scarf joint, maple rings H/W: Nickel over brass, surface mount, flush base HOOPS: Single flanged with clips HEADS: Single ply top and bottom SIZES: Standard, Traditional 14" x 7" Snare Drum, matching 1-ply wood, 8 lug 26" x 12" Bass Drum, consolette 13" x 9" Tom-Tom, mounted 16" x 16" (x2) Tom-Tom, with legs |
1950's Be-Bop
Gretsch popularised smaller bass drums with Dave Tough in the 1940's as music moved into smaller venues.
1950's Gretsch Broadkaster 'Birdland' Outfit PX4025
MAX ROACH WRAP: Glitter or Sparkle SHELL: Maple 3x1-ply laminated, butt joints, no rings H/W: Chrome, surface mount, consolette, semi-flush base HOOPS: Die cast HEADS: Single ply coated top, clear bottom SIZES: Jazz/Bop X4175 14" x 4 Snare Drum, matching wood, 8 lug X4249 18" x 14" Bass Drum, consolette X4415 12" x 8" Tom-Tom, mounted X4417 14" x 14" Tom-Tom, with legs |
1960's Beat
Modern Pop was invented by the Beatles. Ringo picked Ludwig for the look, not the sound.
1960's Ludwig Super Classic Outfit 980P
RINGO STARR WRAP: Oyster or Ripple SHELL: Maple 5-ply laminated, butt joints, rings, reso-cote H/W: Chrome, surface mounts, consolette, semi-flush base HOOPS: Triple flanged HEADS: Single ply coated top, clear bottom SIZES: Standard, Traditional 400 14" x 5" All-Metal Snare 922 22" x 14" Bass Drum, consolette 944 13" x 9" Tom-Tom, mounted 950 16" x 16" Tom-Tom, with legs |
1970's Rock & 'Avant-Garde'
Dave Clark added an English Rogers 12" tom next to his 13", the wrong way round, and the 5 piece kit became a standard offering.
1970's Rogers Londoner 5 Outfit
DAVE CLARK WRAP: Solid colour wrap, sheet metal wrap SHELL: Maple 5-ply laminated, butt joints, rings, painted int. H/W: Chrome, pierced mounts, semi-flush bases HOOPS: Triple flanged HEADS: Single ply coated top, clear bottom SIZES: Standard/Large, Traditional 14" x 5" Snare Drum Dynasonic 22" x 16" Bass Drum, Double Tom-Tom mount 12" x 8", 13" x 9" Tom-Toms, mounted 16" x 16" Tom-Tom, on legs |
In Abbey Road studios they removed the bottom heads for recording and the Concert Tom was re-born, the correct choice for big kits.
1970's
PHIL COLLINS WRAP: Solid colour wrap SHELL: Steel, Acrylic, Laminated wood H/W: Chrome, L-Arms, tripod bases HOOPS: Triple flanged, no bottom hoops HEADS: Single ply clear with black dot,no bottom SIZES: Standard, Traditional, many tom-toms 24" x 14" Bass Drum 14" x 5" Snare Drum 10" x 8", 12" x 9", 13" x 10", 14" x 11" Single-headed Tom-Toms 16" x 16", 18" x 16" Single-headed Tom-Toms, on legs |
1980's Fusion
Steve Gadd used his 14" mounted tom for a floor tom, fitted hydraulic heads to birch shells and invented the Fusion kit.
1980's Yamaha Recording Custom Outfit 592
STEVE GADD WRAP: None - laquered finish SHELL: Birch 3x2-ply laminated, butt joints, no rings H/W: Chrome, long lugs, pierced shell, omni-ball, tripod bases HOOPS: Triple flanged HEADS: Clear double ply coated top, clear single ply bottom SIZES: Fusion, Shallow 400 14" x 5" Ludwig Metal Snare, 10-lug beaded 922RC 22" x 16" Bass Drum, twin mount 910RC 10" x 9", 912RC 12" x 10" Tom-Toms, mounted 914RC 14" x 11", 915RC 15" x 12" Tom-Toms, mounted |