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Rufus “Speedy” Jones’ Slingerland White Marine Pearl double bass kit

Rufus “Speedy” Jones earned his nickname while playing for the big bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Rufus was never an overly subtle player; he could always be counted on to light a fire under other players. Rufus used the kit shown here when he played for Duke Ellington. It’s a 1970 Slingerland kit with two 14 x 22 bass drums, two 9 x 13 toms, a 16 x 16 floor tom, and a chrome over brass snare drum. The drums are finished in a White Marine Pearl wrap, and all the stands are original Slingerland models. Although Louie Bellson had pioneered the use of two bass drums in the late 1940s, it was still a rarity in big band performance in the 70s. But Rufus Jones made the most of them.
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