Arbiter Snare Drum

This is part of my personal collection. A very unique drum because of its tensioning system. Each drum head is tensioned with a drum key on a single screw mechanism. It really works!

1960's Fibes Crystalite Snare

This is a smoke colored Crystalite Fibes snare drum, 5"X14". It is a very sweet snare drum and why I sold it is now a mystery to me! It was in excellent condition, mint really and now I wish I had it back! Now gone, but not forgotten!

80's Fibes AFT Snare

This is a drum I had for a short time and sold to make money to buy another snare at the time. Another drum I wish I'd never sold! This one is a copper over fiberglass with Fibes' special hookup for a Nickel snare strainer. Fibes now uses a Trick set up and this one was also a very sweet snare drum. Alas, gone but not forgotten! I still have Animal though.

Fibes COF

This drum is STILL in my collection! Buddy Rich used a Fibes chrome over fiberglass snare while he was endorsing Slingerland drums. A fact that caused a lot of heartburn for Don Osborne who ran Slingerland during the early 70's. Buddy's drum sported the rectangular badge, not the square one. However, the sound of this drum is fantastic! Very articulate and it can be VERY loud too!

1975 Slingerland Kit

This is currently my gigging kit as seen BEFORE I restored and modified it. The wrap looks okay in the photo, but it was not in good condition; having been stored for some time in somebody's basement. It had some minor water damage and some poor condition hardware. Originally an Avante kit with three bass mounted toms, I changed the setup to two rack toms.

1975 Slingerland Kit

This is the AFTER shot; restored and modified. Covered with a white satin flame wrap; somewhat rare to find today. It has about 60% new old stock hardware and a few after market stick saver rims. These are the classic 3-ply maple shells with maple reinforcing rings. As Buddy would say, "They're killah!"

Another Stage View

Same '75 Slingys, just another look!

1968 Slingerland Artist Snare

Another one that I sold, but made way for a vintage set of Rogers drums. This snare drum came in both single ply and 3-ply composition. Buddy Rich used a single ply Artist snare drum for a while and his had the straight flange "stick chopper" hoops. This drum is a very articulate drum with the Gene Krupa extended snare strainer system and Zoomatic strainer. This drum is in white marine pearl and is a three ply shell with re-rings. It now calls the midwest home. Loved that drum!

1965 Rogers Kit

Here's my newest project. Bringing these babies back to show condition. These are 1965 Rogers Cleveland Holiday drums. Rogers were considered the Cadillac of American drums in the 60's. Included in this set is an early 60's chrome over brass, 7 line Dynasonic snare drum. It alone is worth nearly what I paid for the whole kit! The chrome on this set is in very good condition and it's going to be a beautiful restoration when I'm done. After photos will be coming soon.

Slingerland COM TDR Snare

The Slingerland TDR, total dynamic response, was their answer to the Fibes SFT and the Dynasonic, both of which used an extended snare system. It has extended snare wires and uses three air vents to give the drum a dryer, more articulate sound. I outfitted this one with reproduction "stick chopper" hoops, the straight flange style. The hoops are chrome over brass and the drum is a maple ply shell with a chrome wrap. I sold this one recently and it was a very fine sounding drum. Buddy Rich helped develop this model and used one with white marine pearl wrap.

The TDR strainer butt

The TDR extended snare wires and maple ply shell