Ampeg B15 rebuild

[øøøøøøø]

Lots of people were tuning higher in that era (think Max Roach, etc).

So it makes sense that the drums would really "speak" there.

What's interesting about tuning on drums from this era is that calf heads afford such a wider range of tuning. You can tune a 14" floor tom or an 18" bass drum much lower than you ever could with mylar heads

[JSett]

Yeah, they definitely sounded way way better in more of a Jazz/big band tuning where there wasn't microphones to re-enforce their volume so the higher pitches cut and carry through a room better.

I've never tried actual calf heads though, and I'm likely too heavy-handed a drummer for them. I'd like to have the opportunity to try them one day, if only for a little play about as an experience.

[øøøøøøø]

Calf heads almost never split from playing them hard.

They split when they’re taken from warm/humid to cold/dry without detuning first.

That’s why Remo mylar heads were branded Weather King; Ludwig mylar heads were Weather Master, etc.

Calf heads demand you fully detune each time you transport them and retune before each session

[JSett]

Oh okay, I always assumed they were kind of delicate. Not sure why.

It makes sense about the humidity thing actually.

[øøøøøøø]

They’re pretty durable!

Essentially, they’re leather

[hulakatt]

I've never owned a Rogers or CamCo, I'd really like to! I actually passed on a great Rogers kit to get my '66 Ludwig kit a few years ago. Both at the same store, same price but the Ludwig was in sizes I preferred and the Rogers were 20",16",13". Both came without a matching snare.

I also have a '64 Gretsch kit I slowly restored, they are pretty unique.

[øøøøøøø]

All of them have their strong points. I’d love to own one of each if I had the space!

But two drum kits is probably already one too many for me (I also have a Vistalite kit in 22 12 13 16 + matching snare)

[hulakatt]

I gigged an old 70's Vistalite for a while, loved it! It was a partial with a 22" bass, a 16" floor tom, both in red and an old Supraphonic snare. Ran it with 14" hats. a 22" ride and 17"/18" crashes up high. It was all I needed to have a good time.

[øøøøøøø]

I need to get an acrolite or supraphonic for home one of these days.

Motivation has always been low since pretty much everywhere has one or the other.

[hulakatt]

I've had my acro for a few years and really been enjoying it! I just recently picked up an Supra after not having one for years and I missed it.

[øøøøøøø]

I like the regular, common aluminum Supras more than the valuable, rare brass ones.

[JSett]

I like the regular, common aluminum Supras more than the valuable, rare brass ones.

I had a Black Beauty for a while but sold it as I preferred the snap of my Acrolite. I don't think I could go back to a wooden snare unless I wanted to play some particular style that would benefit from it.

[Dr Tony Balls]

On the snare tip.....awhile ago I had a Premier snare that appeared to be a sort of copy of a Supra and it was great and at least at the time a less expensive option. Not sure about now, though. Looked like so:

[JSett]

On the snare tip.....awhile ago I had a Premier snare that appeared to be a sort of copy of a Supra and it was great and at least at the time a less expensive option. Not sure about now, though. Looked like so:

There's a pile of 4 or 5 of these at our rehearsal space, they're great snares.

[øøøøøøø]

Those premier snares aren’t steel?

I don’t know why, I just always assumed they were steel