Vintage Snare.com

In the jazz and rock world alike, Vintage Gretsch Drums, enjoy a rich legacy. Kits and parts are highly sought after pieces by modern players in search of vintage sound. The "Round Badge Classic" was one such model that was played by Jazz greats such as Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Max Roach and others and helped to bring the Gretsch name into the forefront of drumming world. Modern greats such as Bill Stewart, Charlie Watts, and Phil Collins all play Gretsch kits. Gretsch's roots date back to the late 19th century when Friedrich Gretsch opened his first shop in Brooklyn NY. Read the rest of this entry »

Ludwig's Black Beauty snare is their most widely known and sought after vintage snare. Particularly the more dated versions (i.e. more vintage), which fetch interest from both collectors and drummers. On Ebay these models can fetch a pretty high price tag and bidding wars are common. As for the sound and tone of the drums, Vintage Ludwig's are hard to beat. Plastic wraps are used for the drum finishes on vintage Ludwig designs. One highly sought after option is Ringo Starr’s classic oyster black pearl finish. If you're looking for that classic vintage sound then vintage ludwig drums are well worth it. Just make sure you check out the seller history and feedback before buying. Read the rest of this entry »

One way to authenticate vintage snare drums is via serial number.  Researching the serial number can tell you a lot about a drum set, including the year it was made.  However, some vintage snare drums do not have serial numbers.  This is true of all Slingerland drums that were made from 1928 to 1962.  However, in October of 1962, the company started putting serial numbers on their drums, making it much easier to identify them.  Even though some people say Slingerland serial numbers do not correspond to specific manufacture dates, that’s not exactly true. Read the rest of this entry »

When looking at the role of the snare in popular music one has to include the classic snares produced by Rogers. Their sweet vintage styings and looks make them highly sought after collectors items. However many modern drummers in search of that retro vibe look to a Rogers snare for that classic tone. Roger's snare drums where most popular in the fifties and sixties right alongside Gretsch. Models like the Rogers Powertone Snare Drum are highly stylized pieces and their sized vary from year to year. You can find some of these items on Ebay in the $200-$500 range. We are featuring several models below for your consideration. Read the rest of this entry »

Snare drums are quite important to the drummer and to the group or orchestra, too.  They are made up of a number of different items, including tension rods, lugs, hoops, snare wires, top and bottom heads, and a shell.  Each of these parts is important and can tell a lot about the drum.  Snare drums can be found in many different sizes and makes, too, and some of the older vintage snare drums are quite collectible.  How can you tell if a snare drum is a vintage drum or not?

First, look at the shell.  What is it made of?  Today, many snare drums are made out of wood, but vintage snare drums may be made from other material, including steel, copper, or brass.  However, there are some wooden vintage snare drums.  If the shell is made from wood, look for discoloration.  Also look to see if the paint or the wrap that goes around the drum has any bubbles or cracks in it.  Temperature changes and humidity cause these bubbles and cracks to develop over several years and can be a sign that you’ve found a vintage snare drum.

Second, look for any type of metal.  Metal is also affected by the passage of time.  In this case, look for oxidation or any type of corrosion.  Often, these signs may be difficult to find at first, but you may be able to spot a few little dots of corrosion or rust here and there.

Finally, look for anything that may date the snare drum.  This includes a company logo or a serial number.  In fact, serial numbers are the best and easiest way to identify a vintage snare drum.  You can take any serial number you find and do either an online search for it or look it up in a reference manual if one is available.

When you first bought it, your drum set may have been considered top of the line.  However, as the years go by, drum sets go from modern to old to vintage.  With so many different models and makes out there, it can be hard to keep up with which drum kits are now considered vintage.  Do you know if your drum kit is?  If you collect vintage snare drums or other types of vintage drums, you may like to know why people find vintage items interesting.

Just like vintage cars or other vintage products, there are reasons why someone owns a  vintage drum kit.  Most of the time, these vintage items are unique or special in some way.  For some people, it’s the time period that draws their attention.  For others, it’s the fact that they own something that is no longer made.  Either way, vintage products have their draw.

Another factor that makes vintage snare drums and other drums so popular is the fact that famous drummers played that particular make or model.  Vintage Ludwig drums, for example, are quite popular because Ringo Starr played them.  All it took was drummers seeing him playing his Ludwig kit on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Overnight, Ludwig drums became an instant classic.  The same is true of Gretsch, a drum company that became popular thanks to jazz drummers like Louie Bellson.

So, is your drum kit vintage?  To find out, you can do an internet search to see what makes/models are now considered vintage.  You can also contact the drum kit’s manufacturer or speak to vintage drum experts.  Once you’ve determined if you have a vintage drum kit, you can decide if you want to continue playing it or if you’d like to simply display your vintage find.