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Collector's Corner

Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.

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The History of the Bass Drum Pedal and Sock Pedals

As a drum collector I quickly became fascinated with early bass drum pedals and how they evolved over time to what we know today as the modern-day bass drum pedal. The bass drum is the driving force of our musical…

By Tim Northup
Sep 1, 2025

Alex Van Halen Signature Snares

It’s difficult to describe the massive influence that Alex Van Halen had on generations of drummers. His explosive energy, thunderous double bass technique, and unique snare sound combined with his blazing speed and showmanship helped redefine the drummer’s role in…

By Donn Bennett
Aug 1, 2025

The 100 Year History of the Modern Drum Set

It’s difficult to imagine that the drum set of today has only been in existence for just over 100 years. The history of the modern drum set began in the late 1800’s, with a drummer being able to play the…

By Tim Northup
Jul 1, 2025

More from the Frankie Banali Collection

Frankie Banali was best known as a member of Quiet Riot, the Los Angeles based metal band whose 1983 breakout album Metal Health was the first heavy metal album to top the Billboard album chart. They racked up huge hits…

By Donn Bennett
Jun 1, 2025

1928 Leedy Ship Silhouette and Indian Scene Trap Drum Sets

The year 1928 is a very important year in drum history at the Northup Drums Museum. Many of our early trap drum kits with factory painted heads are from the 1928-30 era. From about 1924 to 1940 both the Leedy…

By Tim Northup
May 1, 2025
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David Garibaldi's Drums and Cymbals

Since David Garibaldi retired from Tower of Power, (but certainly not from drumming), he’s still writing, teaching, recording, performing, pushing his own limits, and exploring new styles of music. David’s career with Tower of Power spanned 55 years. He left…

By Donn Bennett
Apr 1, 2025

1929 Ludwig Winter Scene, 1929 Mountain and Lake Gold Sparkle Trap Sets

This month we are featuring two 1929 Ludwig Trap Sets, both with original factory painted scenes on the bass drum heads. These are two wonderful examples of a working professional drummer’s set from that era. These two sets also show…

By Tim Northup
Mar 1, 2025

Todd Sucherman's Entire Pearl Styx Kit

After 53 years, 17 albums and countless world tours, Styx is rocking harder than ever and playing over 100 shows every year. They’ve sold 54 million records and are the only band to ever release four consecutive triple-platinum albums. Todd…

By Donn Bennett
Feb 1, 2025

The Rikki Rockett Poison Drum Collection

Rikki Rockett co-founded Poison in 1983 with his longtime pal Bret Michaels. The band slugged it out for years in their hometown of Mechanicsburg, PA before heading to west to CA. Their debut 1986 album Look What the Cat Dragged…

By Donn Bennett
Jan 1, 2025

The Year’s Best of the Northup Drums Museum

Here at the Northup Drums Museum in Oneonta, NY, we specialize in vintage drums from the 1920s-70s, as well as collectible drums from today. All the drums are on display so you can actually play them! Our collection is always…

By Tim Northup
Dec 1, 2024

Tommy Lee’s Motley Crue Girls, Girls, Girls, Tour Pearl Free Floating Snare Drum, Drastic Plastik Trigger Pads, and Tour Artifacts.

This Pearl snare drum is one of two custom Free Floating snares that Tommy Lee used on Motley Crue’s 1987 Girls, Girls, Girls Tour. Both snares were 6.5 x 14 Free Floating models with custom red hardware. One snare has…

By Donn Bennett
Nov 1, 2024

1929 Leedy Conn Tuxedo Trap Set with Butterfly Silhouette Painted Head

As we look at the history of the three leading American drum companies of the 1920s and 30s, Leedy, Ludwig, and Slingerland; their story leads us to the creation of the very rare drum kit in this article. In 1896,…

By Tim Northup
Oct 1, 2024
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The Carmine Appice Motherlode

Drummer, singer, songwriter, soloist, band leader, author, educator, innovator… It’s nearly impossible to describe Carmine Appice’s massive influence on the drum world. He sits near the top of Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the Top 100 Drummers of All Time,…

Donn Bennett
Sep 1, 2024

1941 WFL Ray Bauduc De Luxe Marble Capitol Outfit

Dixieland jazz, also referred to as traditional jazz, hot jazz, or simply Dixieland originated in the early 1900’s in New Orleans. The stock market crash of 1929 started the Great Depression and lasted for next decade. During that time a…

Timothy Northup
Aug 1, 2024
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