I've been playing the drums since I was 11 years old. I actually took snare lessons from a nun (yes, I was raised Catholic, but I don't think I suffered too much damage) during 6th grade. I did the Jr. High & High School band thing, played in a couple "garage bands" and played with a band briefly while in the Army. I was fortunate enough to get into a real live regular gig-playing type band in 1980 and played several years in the local bar scene (a "weekend warrior" though - I had to do a "real" job to support my family). I gave up the bar scene when I went back to college in the mid '80s. But since I minored in music, I played in several different types of bands there and was fortunate enough to study with a couple of very good drumming instructors. I am currently involved with a few bands in various stages of development, some working and some works in progress.
I play ONLY Ludwig drums (my first Ludwig kit was a '50s WFL black diamond pearl set that I bought with paper route money at age 13) and currently own five outfits:
2013 Silver Sparkle Maple Legacy Classic set (14x18 BD, 14x14 FT, 8x12 MT) - one of my gigging kits.
2017 White Marine Pearl Mahogany Legacy Classic set (14x24 BD, 16x16FT, 9x13 MT) - another gigging kit.
1968 Mod Orange (Bum Wrap re-wrap) set (14x22 BD, 16x16 FT, 9x13 MT) - yet another kit in the rotation.
1965 Oyster Black Pearl set (14x22 BD, 16x16 FT, 9x13 MT) - my "RINGO" kit! All original and built within a week of Ringo Starr's 1965 Beatles tour kit (the "Shea Kit" as Ringo calls it). Super cool! This one will pretty much stay in the home studio.
And finally, what I call my "kick-around" kit: a mix of 1980s and/or 1990s USA made Classic Maple and Rockers shells (14x22 BD, 16x16 FT, 8x12 MT) re-wrapped in Bum Wrap Drumco's version of Ludwig "Psychedelic Red" and equipped with Ludwig Classic lugs and repro Blue & Olive badges for a 1970s retro-cool look. I use these for gigs when I play outside if weather looks sketchy, in smoky venues or if I need to furnish a kit for events that other drummers might use. Or if I just want to use them 'cause they look cool!
I also am fortunate to own this decent collection of ten snare drums:
1. a 2021 51⁄2x14 Silver Sparkle Mahogany Legacy Classic Jazz Festival
2. a 2019 51⁄2x14 Black Oyster Pearl Mahogany Legacy Classic Jazz Festival
3. a 2013 5x14 chrome Brass Edition
4. a 1957 51⁄2x14 WFL White Marine Pearl model
5. a 1971 5x14 chrome Supraphonic
6. a 1974 5x14 Acrolite
7. a 1964 51⁄4x14 Red Sparkle Pioneer model
And just for the hell of it, three field drums:
8. a beautiful 1930s Ludwig & Ludwig 12x15 Mahogany with vintage calfskin heads
9. a 1967 10x14 Mahogany (used as decor and one the grandkids can bang around on).
10. a 1970s 12x15 stainless steel field model (displayed in my living room because musical instruments look cool as decor).
I can't decide which one I like the best - they all have their own beautiful voices - and it would be kinda like trying to choose which of your children you like best! I do use all of them some time or another (except for the field snares - they serve as part of my music-themed decor).
My hardware is a mix of 1970s vintage Ludwig Atlas, new Atlas Classic stands for gigging ('cause they are lightweight & easy to carry - it matters when you're gettin' older), good ol' lightweight '60s flat-base cymbal, snare, and hi-hat stands, and 2 Ghost & several Speed King BD pedals. All of my cymbals are Zildjians of varying vintage, from the 1960s to 2000's.
I don't have the pictured chrome ones any more (e-Bayed 'em a while back). I have owned several other Ludwig kits over the years and loved them all (Vistalites, other 3-plies, 4-plies, 6-plies, single-headed, "power" sized, huge kits, etc) and have now settled on using just 4-pieces with anywhere from 4 to 7 cymbals. Click on the thumbnails below for pics of my stuff (as I post them, anyway)...
Here is a picture of me from aforementioned High School band days (I was a freshman when this was taken).
"What a geek!"
Below are some pics of some of formerly owned drums. Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
1965 BOP
1970s SBP
2000s RSP
Some Links to Drum Stuff
A link to my (unfortunately defunct) blues-based band, "The Blind Playboys", web page.
A link to "Panacea", another band web page (on hiatus for now).
A link to "Touch of Grey", another (currently defunct) band web page.
Ludwig Drum Company home of my favorite drums. (Alas no longer made in Chicago since the mid 1980s, though)
Avedis Zildjian & Company home of the best made (at least in my opinion) cymbals on earth.
The Not So Modern Drummer a cool site for vintage drum players.
