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.
Slingerland Radio King Drums - 1938 And 1950 Gene Krupa Super Deluxe Ensembles
The drum set is a little over 100 years old, the modern drum set that we are familiar with today is less than 100 years old. After the Civil War, the drum set was created out of necessity. Around 1890…
1928 Ludwig “Ludwigold” The “Rajah-Supreme” Trap Set
Drum finishes are an interesting part of drum history. In 1926, Ludwig introduced a textured gold sparkle painted finish called “Stipelgold.” This was quickly replaced in 1927 with the “New Ludwigold Iridescent Display Finish.” In 1927, the Ludwig drum company…
What do Charlie Watts, Simon Phillips, and Thomas Lang All Have in Common?
There’s never been a more unlikely group of drummers corralled to record an album than the curious trio of Charlie Watts, Simon Phillips, and Thomas Lang. In 2009, Austrian producer Peter Viehweger assembled some of LA’s finest players to record…
The Evolution of the Hi-Hat
The history of how the modern day hi-hat was invented is a subject that many drummers and drum historians will continue to debate. In this article, I am going to give you historical facts and present actual examples of the…
Ringo Starr’s “Now and Then” WFL Set
By Donn Bennett Like most musicians of my generation, I was deeply influenced by The Beatles. For years I obsessively studied Ringo Starr’s playing and the minute intricacies of his various drum kits. By the mid-1980s my obsession led to…
1928 Ludwig Rialto and 1933 Ludwig Pioneer Trap Kits
The drum set has come a long way from the simple trap kits of the 1920s and 30s. Ironically, many drummers today are returning to these very simple sets for busking (type) gigs, favoring the convenience and ease of packing…
Rick Allen’s Def Leppard Collection
It was a thrill when I got a call from the iconic Def Leppard. They started out in 1976 like countless teenage bands in Sheffield, England. Over 100 million albums later, they are still going strong, selling out stadiums all…
Two 1930s Slingerland Green Trap Kits
Here’s a little history of how Slingerland got into the drum business. In the 1920’s the banjo was very popular in music of day. Up until 1927 Slingerland was a banjo company. Ludwig had been a drum company since 1909.…
HalBlaine’s 1950s Rogers “Constellation” Drum Set
The set that started it all… By now, studio drummer Hal Blaine’s legend is pretty well known. He is widely considered the most recorded musician of all time. His extraordinarily prolific career spanned four decades from the the 1950s through…
Walter G. Howe’s 1930’s Leedy Black Onyx Trap Set with Sentinel Silhouette Head
Northup Drums Museum is proud to present a time capsule drum kit that has everything including star power from the 1930’s! Let’s learn about this beautiful kit and it’s famous owner. Walter G. Howe of Boston, Massachusetts was a Leedy…
Steve Smith’s 1980 Sonor Phonic Kit
In early 1980 Journey was preparing to hit the road to support their album Departure which included the hit single “Any Way You Want It.” By that time, the band was a headline act playing arenas across North America and…
1930-39 Leedy Butterfly Girl Trap Kit with Rolling Console
The year is 1930, the place is Bridgeport, Conn. Composer and drummer Oscar F. Knablin plays this set of drums at the Fox-Poli Theater. How do we know this? Oscar was kind enough to write this information on the inside…
Tommy Aldridge’s 1977 Sonor Phonic, Pat Travers Band Drum Set
It’s no wonder that Tommy Aldridge is a rock drumming legend. As early as 1972 he set a new standard for hard rock drumming. His pioneering double bass drumming, plus his unique combination of power, precision, energy, and visual excitement,…
Rare and Collectible Snare Drums
Northup Drums Museum has over 100 snare drums on display that span over 100 years from the major American drum companies, Ludwig, Slingerland, Leedy, Gretsch, Rogers and others. The snare drum is an essential part of the drumkit and a…
