JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum Vintage Rodgers!

Saw a mid 60's blue sparkle Rogers drum kit today, (holiday model - 22" bass drum, one 12" rack tom, and one 16" floor). The snare was a new little piccilo though, and not matching in color. This friend has a Rogers Powertone crome snare in his collection that I would rather have if I buy that kit,, and "if" he is willing to sell it. (Would be more of course than $415. total). The kit is reconditioned to like new. Comes with one old Avedis Zildjian 22 crash/ride and good new stool. No high hat, but I can buy two old 15' Avedis symbols from him and get a stand on my own. Same with more symbols, (he has them) and maybe I would get another tom.

If I get this kit, it will be well after Christmas for obvious reasons. But he wants only $415, since we kind of know each other. (Charging only cost for the new heads, snare and and it's stand, and the standard kit he bought cheap.

Would I be taking advantage of him? He put a lot of time into them, but says it's his labor of love. Is that basic 4 piece kit with a new stool worth a lot more than $415. though?

UPDATE: (12-04-02): I have the drums! And my good friend Ron is loaning me 3 Avedis Zildjian symbols, and the same make hi-hats, all with great stands!

John


[This message has been edited by dhsongs (edited 12-04-2002).]

John,

Back then it was Rodgers/Slingerland/Gretsch and Ludwig...a lot simpler choice than today!
(And yes, blue sparkle was the most popular choice as I remember)

I guess there's 2 ways to estimate the value...as a nicely refurbished antique, or as a very old/outdated drumset. I can see you're appraising it the first way, which is understandable considering the amount of work your friend put into it, as for me, I would look at it the 2nd way, but that's just me. In any case, I would think the bottom line is if he's willing to sell it for that price then you're not taking advantage of him?

Another thing, does the set have the original hardware or has he found some modern equipment to hold it together? I think the biggest improvement in modern drumkits is the heavy-duty hardware. My first set was a 4pc. Gretsch from the '60s...the bass drum pedal had a leather strap (which eventually broke), the bass drum spurs were little rubber tipped deals and the bass drum would consistently "creep" away on me, and the ride cymbal stand was attached to the bass drum with a ridiculously tiny wingnut...the cymbal stand would just work loose and fall if the tune we were doing went more than 5 minutes. I don't know what the hardware is like on the kit you're looking at but if it's like what I have described this would be a major consideration for me...the old style hardware was exremely flimsy and downright impractical compared to what's around today. I just couldn't deal with it now if I had to, even though I've always been a "light" player.

Chris

Great thoughts Chris!

The hardware is original, ("Swiv-O-Matic"), and was the most advanced hardware of that time. It is still considered very strong and is fully adjustable. Now having the drums, (editing this post), the pedal is OK, but I'll look for a Rogers "Swiv-O-Matic" foot pedal and a "Dyna-Sonic" snare. They are really incredible snares, and go for around $1200. I would like to find a good deal of that snare,, or at least to get a Rogers "Powertone".

Looks as if this kit was not taken out of previous houses though.

It will be used just in my little home studio/office, with maybe doing some songs over with the real drums, verses the keyboard drums I've been using. But mainly, for just playing with all kinds if songs,, ours and the past ones I used to love to play with when I was 13 to about 17. And for exercise, and stress release, and FUN!

I would rather have a double tom with seperate mountings,,,, as this has one tom mounted from the bass drum. A long way to the floor tom! Maybe I can get a stand alone tom stand for two toms! Hmmmmmm!

Thanks for the advice about if he is happy with that price, then it's OK. Makes sense, NOW!

Yeah,,if I was a drummer only and planning to play out, I would too go for the newer kits, with all the options they now offer. It will be just cool for me to have someting from a time I grew up from. They DO really sound great too. Construction is solid in those Rogers. Everything is thick! The shells are coated with a grey material, (improved shells), and are made by a company called "Keller Wood Products", in New Hampshire.

Thanks again!

John


[This message has been edited by dhsongs (edited 12-04-2002).]