Equipment

Drum Set #1

1960ʼs Gretsch “Round Badge” Kit
(I used these drums on my recording, “In the Pocket”)

9” x 13” tom (calf skin heads)
16” x 16” floor tom (calf skin heads)
14” x 20” bass Drum (fiberskyn 3 batter; Remo ambassador front head)
5.5” x 14” snare (calf skin heads)

Cymbals: (not sure what I used on "In the Pocket". Perhaps...)

20” Zildjian (modern) K light ride
18” Istanbul Crash (used as a ride)
14” Zildjian 1960ʼs (or so) “A”ʼs
For certain: 16” extra Sabian crash with rivets
Ludwig Speed King Pedal
Vic Firth SD10 Swinger Drum Sticks
Regal Tip Rubber Handle Retractable Brushes

Drum Set #2

Max Roach used a similar kit

Gretsch “Progressive Jazz” Round Badge kit in Silver Glass Glitter finish.
(The drums that Jimmy Cobb and I used on Leoniekeʼs “Debut” recording)

8” x 12” tom (both heads, Evans G1 coated)
14” x 14” floor tom (Evans G1 batter, Remo ambassador bottom,)
14” x 20” bass drum (Gretsch logo front head, American Vintage batter head)
5.5” x 14” snare (American vintage medium batter; American vintage resonant head)
21” Istanbul “Mel Lewis” Agop Ride with 2 rivets
20” Zildjian (modern) K light ride
14” A Zildjian& Cie “vintage” Hi Hats
Ludwig Speed king Pedal
Vic Firth SD10 Swinger Drum Sticks
Regal Tip Rubber Handle Retractable Brushes

Drum Set #3

Sonor Force Custom drum set purchased new in 1997. (This is a middle-of-the-road but good sounding kit) These are drums were used on Shelli LaTorre, Carol Hamersma and Dave Hessel Recordings. For Shelli, I used Fiberskin 3 heads and used the Slingerland snare with Remo ambassdor top and diplomat bottom (on one or two tracks, I used the studioʼs Slingerland Radio King 6.5” x 14” snare)

14” x 18” bass drum
8” x 12” tom
14” x 14” floor tom
Snares: Slingerland 5.5” x 14” artist snare (1960ʼs) in Champagne Sparkle finish or
Craviotto 5.5” x 14” solid maple snare drum (seen in photo above)
21” Istanbul “Mel Lewis” Agop Ride with 2 rivets
18” Paiste 602 Thin Flat Ride Seven Sound Set #4
14” “K” istanbul hi hats
Ludwig Speed king Pedal
Vic Firth SD10 Swinger Drum Sticks
Regal Tip Rubber Handle Retractable Brushes

Drum Set #4

1960ʼs Slingerland Champagne Sparkle jazz Kit - These are the drums that I expect to be using on a majority of upcoming gigs.

14” x 18” Bass Drum in original Black lacquer
14” x 14ʼ floor tom in champagne sparkle
8” x 12” tom in champagne sparkle
5.5ʼ x 14” snare in champagne sparkle

Drum Set #5

1970(?) Slingerland in White Marine Pearl

14” x 24” Bass Drum
16” x 16" floor tom
16” x 16" floor tom
9” x 13” tom
5.5ʼ x 14” snare
22" Zildjian 1960's Rock Ride (beautiful cymbal-John Riley really liked this one)
18" Istanbul (Mehmet Agop) Thin crash (1374 grams)
16" Extra Thin Sabian (early Sabian) crash
14" K istanbul Hi Hats
10" Istanbul (Mehmet) sultan splash cymbal (254 grams)
Ludwig Speed king pedal

Perhaps the Slingerland 80N Buddy Rich model kit. (see Buddy's kit center photo)
Factory color, sizes, legs and bass drum mounted cymbal arms are identical. The sound is absolutely amazing-warm and resonant-perfect to drive a big band!
Because of the larger bass drum diameter, the tom is high. Everything, including the seat must be raised. Going from my smaller kits to this is like going from driving a sleek sports car to climbing aboard a tractor trailer! (See height difference in lowest photo)

Xylorimba