I’ve always been a big fan of vintage drums. The sound, the look, the overall vibe they provide. Designing the Black Label Drums is a direct result of my love of old school tubs, and that comes through in both the aesthetics and the sound. The 2010 Chicago Drum Show in May was full of inspiring vintage pieces. Below are a couple of my favorite kits from the show, most dating from the earlier years of drum building and an inspired era of design:
This pair of Ludwig Psychedelic Red kits were in amazing shape, with no fade and stunning chrome. Prone to fading, kits in this condition are rare…and not often found in pairs:
An all original 1952 Gretsch White Pearl set, with a Gold Satin Flame kit peeking out behind it:
Round-Badge Gretsch drums in Tangerine Glass Glitter have long been some of my favorite drums. Something about the color/hardware/sizes/etc. works perfectly:
This George Way kit was one of the sharpest kits at the show. All original hardware and chrome in stunning condition, the aesthetics of this kit were perfect:
Long before DW, there was Camco:
This set of Trixon drums was one of the coolest kits at the show, in my humble opinion. The wrap and a bit of the hardware is unoriginal, but even with the modifications you can’t deny the vintage German vibe of the Trixon egg-shaped bass and conical toms, check it out:
Posted 1 month, 4 weeks ago. Add a comment
Just returned from a great trip to the 2010 Chicago Drum Show hosted by Rob Cook and Rebeats. Our appearance this year was a last-minute helping hand to our good friend Andy who runs Drum Supply House out of Nashville. Had a great time, an overwhelmingly positive response to the Deluxe Cocktail Kit we brought, and it is always good to catch up with industry friends. The custom color on the cocktail kit below is a pearl from the ColorWraps line of custom colors. Literally anything is possible, and we’ve got some exciting things in the works. If you’re looking for a custom sparkle, fade, burst, or graphic, drop us a line. The sky is the limit, and over the next few months we’ll be posting some incredible kits that should get your creative juices flowing!
Posted 2 months, 1 week ago. 2 comments
The Southern Drum Show this past weekend in Nashville was a great success! Tons of drummers came in from surrounding states and joined the heavy local scene to make for a great show. It was a blast to meet some new guys, catch up with some old industry pals, and get amazing reviews on our gear. If you couldn’t make the show, here’s some shots of what we had on display:
The Stauffer Percussion Booth, right next to the great Vaughcraft guys:
This kit was a show-stopper, with many saying it was the classiest old-school style setup there. Pre-aged marine pearl with inlayed wood hoops, a real beauty:
Close up of the new Black Label badge on the Burnt Sienna jazz setup:
The Black Label jazz setup in Burnt Sienna satin lacquer. Classic hardware, sizes, and a rail mount. “Modern Classic” gear for the vintage lovers that need a drum built with modern durability and precision:
The worlds first Hybrid/Chamber Kit, featuring the Phattie CustomShop Badge:
Each shell features 23-ply bearing edges with a custom 3-ply Birch inner shell, and a quarter-inch hair chamber between the acrylic and birch sections of the shell. Within the chamber is hand-stenciled artwork accented by color-matched custom powder coating. Amazing sounding drums that turned heads all weekend:
You can never go wrong with a little Tangerine Glass Glitter:
Props to Hutch for letting us steal his kit for the weekend, this was another eye-catcher:
Nothing pulls people into a booth quite like flashing drums…aside from glowing red, this kit features a custom triggered LED setup that strobes when the drums are hit. Throw in a glowing hood ornament, and nobody will notice if you drop your sticks while rockin’ this beauty:
The original Dragon Snare #1 from the Sounds Like Art lineup made an appearance. We’ll be sure to bring the full lineup of different finish options next time around, this was definitely the most asked about snare in our booth:
The original Sounds Like Art Series I snare made an appearance as well:
Thanks to George at Not So Modern Drummer for putting together such a great show, and for all those that attended and hung out over the weekend. We had a great time, saw some great gear, and can’t wait until next year!
Posted 1 year ago. 1 comment
