I work very hard on doing solo`s that are exciting and interesting to hear.I`m still learning all the time and want to use what I learn on how to play better. Of course I have learned so much on being a Big Band leader and knowing what it takes to make the music feel good and exciting as a drummer. Very kind words about me and thanks so much for your comment.
What I did was to play in the Buddy Rich style and not copy what he played. His style was to use your technique and just use your idea to make the solo clean and exciting.I`m always thinking of new ways to play. Thanks Arneldo for your comment.
I have been playing this same Slingerland drum set for 50 years now. No way back in 1970 when I bought them,did I think I would have my own Ken Loomer Big Band and use these very drums. So easy to tune them up for that big open warm sound needed to play the music that I do. Thanks Augusto for your comment.
It's so nice to hear an honest recording of a kit in a room. Sound like my late 60's Rogers kit I had as a kid. It's just quality! and you are are a great drummer!
What you hear is the real sound of these classic Slingerland drums with only one mic in the back of the room. With the right tuning for drummers who like a wide open full sound, the drums project so well because of how these Slingerland drumshells are made. Thanks Mark for your comment.
Slingerland Drums Buddy Rich Tuning with my Ken Loomer Big Band ua-cam.com/video/kMAybt8yjL0/v-deo.html Buddy Rich Tuning on my new Pearl Masters Drums ua-cam.com/video/XYpfRfueJ64/v-deo.html
I don't feel like even looking at my drumkit after seeing your beautiful Slinglerland kit. Nicest wrap on the greatest configuration kit in tribute to the greatest of all time Buddy Rich. Thanks for posting, and letting us dream.
The best part of owning this Slingerland BR drum set is that I get to use it with my Ken Loomer Big Band. The sound out of these drums with the music I play just fits it so well. Here is a video you can check out of my Big Band with these drums ua-cam.com/video/MM-OXmNhzO0/v-deo.html Thanks for your comment.
Very interesting Ken, nicely done. Thank you. I got to see Buddy play many times here in New York- I stood about 15-20 feet in front of his drums at a show they did on a discotheque dance floor in the early 80s in Midtown Manhattan. I could physically feel the air coming off of the drums, the man exerted massive physical power and energy into the drums, without really hitting brutally hard like a rock drummer. He always gave him a little something extra in his New York shows because he was a Brooklyn guy originally. Anyway, his sound and tone was truly fantastic. You could feel the Chi energy (Martial arts term: physical energy) coming off the drums, I felt the bass drum in my chest (no mics).
Everything you said about Buddy is true.I got to see him a little over a 100 times and loved going to New York City in the 70`s to watch Buddy with that great Big Band. It was always about the music first for Buddy. I fell in love with Big Band music because of him and now I have my own Ken Loomer Big Band.I have posted lots of my Big Band concerts on UA-cam. Here is a link to my tribute to Buddy with the 100`s of pictures I took of him from seeing Buddy from 1969 to 1986 ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Thanks Greg for comment.
So glad to hear from a drummer who likes this type of big open sound drum tuning.I never liked the dead sound on drums or bass drums with blankets and pillows inside them. Thanks for your comment Bren.
Like Buddy,I love a live drum sound that is big and open with a clear tone to them that will project well to the people. No tape on the heads or pillows and towels inside the bass drum to kill the sound. Even the great John Bonham wanted his bass drum sound to be as big and open as possible. He never put anything inside the bass drum and of course never a hole in the front head. Thanks for your comment.
Hi ken andy here from Adelaide South Australia 🇦🇺 just watched your tuning segment again to familiarise myself tuning my buddy rich slingerland wich I had shown you some time back, I got a lot out of your explanation now that I’ve been playing my slingerland for the last 18 months, it’s helped me out considerably thanks.will send a clip soon of me playing, I think I’ve improved since the last time..anyway we are still giging in my blues band..cheers
I`m glad you have learned a lot from watching this video . You have an excellent set of drums. Those Slingerland Buddy Rich model with the tuning I have explained will make your drums sound big and open with a full tone. I look forward to seeing you play those drums. Wonderful you are playing your blues gig in Australia. I just posted a new video of my Big Band ua-cam.com/video/bdh1P-6LqMc/v-deo.html My Slingerlands doing the job of me driving the Big Band. All my best to you Andy.
I was lucky enough to have seen Buddy Rich perform over a 100 times and just loved his drum set sound. It was about time to post a video on how he got his amazing drum sound. Thanks for your comment.
Ken after watching some of Buddy's videos you did a great job on his tuning you clearly hear his snare sing and his bass booming . You always make good videos on drums and Drumming . Your a excellent drummer.
I got to hear the real Buddy Rich drum sound since i saw him live over a 100 times. Many times I was only a few feet away and can hear his drums sing with that huge open sound that he had. His drums projected so well with this tuning. Buddy always played to make his Big Band so exciting to hear.That is what I try to do with my Ken Loomer Big Band is to make my drums sound as good as possible and make the music feel good with my playing. I always honor Buddy by playing some of his great Big Band charts so the people of today get to hear it live. Thanks Stephen for your comment.
Ken, I really enjoyed this video I learned a lot about Buddy's tuning and really love your sound that you capture even though you are in a regular size room your drums sound huge sort of between Buddy and Bonham... especially that bass drum it sounds just like Led Zeppelin Levee Breaks truly awesome sounding drums and you took such great care of them! Most guys go through several drum sets you have kept the same drum set all these years that blows me away! By the way you were saying that Buddy only used diplomat heads which I never realized because he was a hard player and other people have told me that he may have used an emperor on his snare drum and ambassador's on his toms because he beat on them so hard sometimes a diplomat head would easily break and get all dinged up very easily with that kind of playing night after night and I thought he used coated heads because he use brushes not just on the snare drum but on the bass drum and tom toms sometimes so smooth white heads cannot work with brushes just wondering if you can explain further... I am trying to learn as much as I can to capture the big band sound and you are a huge help with that! By the way your chops and the way you swing them are really incredible you are a great ambassador to the swing era of jazz IMHO the best era of music in history. Thanks, Bob
Glad you like this video about the way Buddy Rich tuned or tension his drums. I have 100`s of video`s of my Ken Loomer Big Band with me using these Slingerland drums in all kinds of concerts that I have performed in. Most of the time I never use mic`s on the drums so you hear the natural tone of each drum in whatever room I`m playing in and how well the drums projected. Yes Buddy Rich used coated Remo Diplomat heads on his snare drum and toms. He wanted the most open sound possible. He always carried spare drum heads so no problem if he broke one during a concert. What I said in the video was that I used Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads on my Slingerland drums. Like I said in the video,when I bought these Slingerland drums back in 1971,all the toms had Slingerland Smooth White heads on them. For me these smooth white heads gives me the most open and full tone possible.When I use these Slingerland drums with my Big Band,I want to make sure the people will be able to hear the full open tone of each drum.Thanks Bob for your comment.
Ken, thanks for your response so if he used coded diplomats on the top I assume then he also use diplomats on the resident side as well? If you use brushes which I assume you occasionally do how can you do that with the smooth heads or do you have a coated head on your snare drum?
Like I said,I use Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads on all of my toms.For the snare drum I use the new Remo Ambassador White Suede head which is like a smooth white head except they ruff up the head for brushes. Here is a video of me doing a brush solo using this Remo White Suede head ua-cam.com/video/rqwyM7iaeF4/v-deo.html Yes Buddy used Remo coated diplomat heads for the top and bottom of his toms.
@@KenLoomer adding up that BR used ambassador smooth white heads in the bass drum, batter and resonant, also diplomat coated hazy in the snare side to be more precise.
The good news Lil is that DW bought the Slingerland Drum Company and I`m hopeful they will be making the shells the same way Slingerland did. Of course drummers can buy Slingerland drums on e-bay and get that big Slingerland sound now.
@@KenLoomer That would be really cool, BUT I expect them to, if they revive the brand, go with a modern gazillion ply setup in which the glue is more important than the wood :( I love my 1955 Radio King outfit, and nothing modern will ever come close.
Wonderful Mike you have a Slingerland Radio King drum set. I`m hoping DW will make something close to what Slingerland made.I have a Radio King 5.5 x 14 inch snare that sounds great with the solid maple shell. Looking forward to the new line of Slingerland drums.
Hi Ken. Thanks for the great videos that you put up. I am registered blind and I love drums and drumming myself. I am not a professional but I do have an electronic set which I play around on from time to time. I really love the way that you talk things through as well. I also play the African Jembe in my church worship group. Keep up the great work. From Gareth Smyth in Belfast Northern Ireland.
First of all,thanks so much for enjoying this video Gareth. As a blind person,it`s so wonderful you enjoy drumming.I know the great Joe Morello who played with Dave Brubeck was blind. Good to hear you get to play in your church in Belfast Ireland. I would love to go to Ireland one day. All my best to you Gareth and thanks for your comment.
OMG Ken! so good to see you! This video came up randomly on my feed this morning. You probably don't remember me, but we met at the Jazz Cellar a long, long time ago and you gave me a few lessons at your house. Glad to see you're still at it and I hope this message finds you well! 🥁
So wonderful to hear from you Danny.The Jazz Cellar days were excellent and I remember you from that time. When The Jazz Cellar closed back in 2000,I decided to form my own Big Band. I must of posted over 500 of my concerts I have done with my Ken Loomer Big Band on UA-cam. Here is just one of them ua-cam.com/video/kMAybt8yjL0/v-deo.html Well 20 years later I`m swinging with my band. Of course right now all the venues are closed because of the virus. Are you still drumming? All my best to you Danny.
@@KenLoomer I had put down the drums for a number of years; but now that my kids are grown, a couple of guys I work with have encouraged me to start playing again. We had a jam session going for a while, but of course that's been on hold. Losing Neil Peart was definitely a blow as well, but I'm back at it trying to get my chops back. Are you still in the Tampa Bay area? We'd love to come see you play once the world is right-side up again. Take care!
Wonderful you are back to drumming again.Yes I`m still in the Tampa bay area and of course as a musician have played all over Florida and at time out of state.But as you very well know because of the virus all venues I have played at is closed. Don`t know when it will open up again. Great to hear from you and maybe when things get back to normal,you can go to one of my concerts. All my best to you Danny.
This explains a lot. I assumed coated ambassadors for years. The last BR kit I played was a 76. FAT tone compared to modern shells. IIRC, the only time I saw Buddy use the 2nd floor tom for anything besides a towel rack was "Hawaiian war chant."
The shells on these Slingerland drums were just amazing for the type of open sound I love so much.It had the 3 ply maple,polar,maple wood with the solid maple re-enforcing rings to them. Now that DW bought the Slingerland Drum Company,I hoping they make those shells again. Like I said,Buddy liked the most open sound possible,so he used the coated diplomat heads. A few other video`s of Buddy playing on the 2nd floor tom.One was the drum battle with Gene Krupa.Buddy was all over that 2nd floor tom.Another was on the Tonight Show when he did just a drum solo,no band and he used that 2nd floor tom.I saw him live a few times using that 2nd floor tom. But 90% of the time it was to hold the towel or a drink on it.I like to use my 2nd floor tom all the time. Good to hear from you Scott.
I have to make another comment that snare buzz roll near the end was amazing, and your kit sounds better that all the over mic,ed over EQ drums Iv heard on UA-cam in the last 10 years.
Very easy to do a buzz roll on a snare drum that is wide open and no tape or moon gel on it.You can get a very smooth even sound with this type of tuning. What you hear is the natural sound of my Slingerland drums from only the camera stereo mic in the back of the room. Thanks Linda for your comment.
KenLoomer Thank You Ken that’s exactly why I have my Slingerland set tuned very similar to yours, now if I could just learn to play like you I’d have it made. Lol
Like what the late great Buddy Rich said,I`m mostly concern on how my drums will project to the people.He wanted a live sounding drum set,not the dead sound so many drummers of today use with tape on the heads and pillows inside the bass drum. Thanks Rogue for your comment.
I`m very lucky that I got to see Buddy Rich perform live a little over 100 times. The reason I have my Ken Loomer Big Band is because I learned from Buddy if you want to do something you believe in,it`s possible to get it done. Here is a link to many of the pictures and concerts that I saw Buddy perform during his amazing life as a drummer ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Thanks Chip for your comment.
Since I have received so many request to do a tuning video, I really enjoyed making this one. The feedback has been very positive and drummers have learned a lot on how to get this type of open drum sound. Thanks for your comment.
@@KenLoomer Your approach makes understanding how to attain that beautiful open sound easy to grasp and those Slingerlands sound warm and big. I like that you mention John Bonham and acknowledge his contributions to modern drumming.
One of the best snare drums for me is that 4x14 inch Slingerland BR model with the straight edge chrome over brass hoops.The sound is crisp with great rim shots that projects so well.Thanks John for your comment.
That Slingerland Buddy Rich drum set is one of the best drum sets ever made. I use them all the time with my Ken Loomer Big Band. Here is a new video of me playing those drums with my Big Band ua-cam.com/video/Cy8rU5lGfJk/v-deo.html Thanks Ann for your comment.
Great vid Ken! I saw Buddy many times and that band and his drums DID project! Didn't matter if they were Ludwig or Slingerland. Always a jaw dropping experience huh?
So wonderful Brian you got to see and hear Buddy Rich with that amazing Big Band live so many times.Buddy knew the kind of drum sound he wanted and most important to him was that the drums project to the people and that they can feel and hear his drumming clearly.No dead sound for Buddy at all! With my Big Band I want my drums to be alive and project to the people.I have learned so much from Buddy about music and how to best bring it to the people.I became a lover of Big Band music after seeing the Buddy Rich Big Band and with hard work,I now have my own Big Band.Thanks Brian for your comment.
I live in the state of Florida and of course do travel sometimes out of state since I`m in the music business. All of my Big Band concerts are in Florida. Thanks Brian for watching my video`s.
So many drummers asked me how Buddy got his drum sound,so I made this video since I got to know Buddy Rich a little bit and of course saw him perform so many times. Thanks Tom for your comment.
You are one of the rare young drummers today that has a Buddy Rich Slingerland 80N drum set. Plus you really know how to play drums.Glad this video was helpful to you.By the way,where do you live?Are you playing in a jazz band now?All my best to you CrazyGasMaskMan with your drumming.
I had so many drummers asking me on how I tuned my drums and of course how Buddy Rich got his great drum sound. He hated dead sounding drums and wanted the people to hear his drums in a clear way that projected well in any concert that he played in. Glad this video was helpful to you Chuck.
Thanks Ken, excellent info on BR "tensioning". Great tone, took me back to another time. And your playing was superb! If I could do that I come out of retirement and play the drums again... yeah...I can only wish to play like that! I think I saw Buddy in the back room nodding his approval. I've been trying to tune my Rogers Dynasonic properly and thought the ring I was getting at the edges was not good...now I know it is fine! Only thing to add for that BR "style" would be to occasionally play the rear skin of the bass with your right hand stick... ; ) Thanks!
Glad you liked this video Frank. Never to late to get back into drumming and come out of retirement. Since I still make my living playing with my Big Band and Jazz Quartet, it`s a job I love. Here is a video I posted of my Big Band a few weeks back you will like ua-cam.com/video/Vz5CLDz-ebo/v-deo.html The Slingerland drums have the same tuning as in this video and sounds great playing with a swinging Big Band. Thanks so much for your comment.
Glad you liked this Buddy Rich tuning video.By the way,I saw some of your video clips and i`m so happy to hear your Big Band doing the music of Buddy Rich. Are you from Italy? Wonderful you have a Slingerland Buddy Rich drum set. This video should help you get the right drum sound for your BR kit.Keep up the excellent drumming and thanks for playing the great music of Buddy Rich.
We both like that full open clear sound from the drums with no muffling. You are hearing the real sound from the drums. I never tried a 48 strand snare. Will that choke the bottom head being so wide? Thanks Steven for your comment.
Thank you for your reply! I have been playing 48 strand for 35 years on 6 different snare drums but have actually never did a comparison to hear the difference but now I must!!!! I’ll let you know if it chokes
@@stevenkalata7119 Gretsch is the only company in the past that used that type of strand. It`s called the Gretsch Wide Power Snares. They don`t make them anymore. What brand of snares are you using? Who makes them?
As you may or may not know, DW purchased the Slingerland name earlier this year. I'm guessing John Good has devoted every waking moment to this new endeavor. The last I heard, DW/Slingerland is supposed to have kits in production and for sale in 2021. I'm guessing they will have new Slingerland offerings at the 2021 NAMM Show this coming January. We shall wait and see.
DW bought the Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson back in 2019.I`m sure DW will do an excellent job of making classic Slingerland drums.From what I heard,they will start making the Radio King snare drums which Slingerland first made in the 30`s. Lets hope Covid 19 will not stop DW from making those new Slingerland drums for the 2021 NAMM show.
I`m using the rare Slingerland Buddy Rich model 4x14 inch snare drum with the chrome over brass straight edge hoops in this video. For a closer look at this 4x14 inch snare drum click here ua-cam.com/video/7OFmlaosk-0/v-deo.html What I love about this snare drum is that it projects so well the big open sound that I like so much. Thanks Steve for your comment.
That is wonderful you have a 61 Slingerland drum set.It has that classic Slingerland drum sound that I`m sure you love to play.Thanks Bill for your comment.
This 4x14 inch Slingerland Buddy Rich model snare drum has no internal dampening muffler.As a matter of fact,Buddy Rich only request that none of his drums have a tone control muffler on them.
Ken is one great big band drummer who leads his own big band ..a rarity in this day and age So listen up young drummers Ken knows his Slingerland Knows his jazz
Young drummers... do whatever you want, and you may be the next marvel. Never listen to old guys who tell you to "listen up kids". They are trouble for musicians. Listen and learn anyway you like, just do.
I never knew when I got this Slingerland Buddy Rich drum set back in 1971 that one day I would have my own Ken Loomer Big Band and be using these very drums. Now into my 18th year of my Big Band,these drums sound amazing for the type of music I want to play. Thanks for your comment.
¡Gracias, maestro! aunque casi no entiendo el idioma inglés, no fue impedimento para captar las ideas de lo que Ud. dice y las prácticas de ajuste de los tambores además de las demostraciones que hizo. Julio -- Argentina --
I`m glad you got the ideas of what I was saying in this tuning video. You as a drummer knows best what kind of drum sound you want. I always liked the big wide open sound of the drums. No muffling, but the real sound of the drums with this tuning. Thanks so much or for your comment.
Great to hear from you Mike. I had so many drummers write to me asking how I tune my drums and of course how Buddy Rich got his great drum sound.So here is that video. I hate the dead sounding drums with drummers putting tape on the heads or pillows and towels inside the bass drum with a big hole on the front head.Drums need to sing just like your guitar Mike.You don`t put tape on your strings for that dead sound. Of course not. You are one of the best guitar players I have ever heard. A true musician who plays at the highest level. Anyone who wants to hear a world class guitar players ,go to the Mike Pachelli UA-cam channel.
Old Drums are still Great ! Before ,Now & in Future ! Interestingly also is, that same types of Heads are used for the Tom's as the Top & Bottom Head ... no clear Reso Head ... as a lot of Drummer using ... so i think i also could do same with Remo Ambassador White Coated Heads & take them for Top & Bottom Head .......
Buddy for the last 5 years of his career play a 40`s Slingerland Radio King drum set. So he for sure loved the old drums and said that Slingerland Radio King snare drum was the best he ever played. Nothing wrong with using the same heads for the top and bottom of the toms. These Slingerland drums I bought back in 71 had the Slingerland Smooth White heads for the top and bottom of the toms.
interesting, I find I bought what you recommend... before I knew these details about Buddy... ambassador on the snare and diplomat around the kit... plus a set of Remo roto's... not traditional I know but they sound great, & great fun. I put them between the hats & first tom, which is placed in the centre of the BD. I still have the three kit toms just not traditionally placed. I love having my snare at the same angle you have there, do you use a ring dampener on the snare? I found a new trick yesterday, as I don't use dampeners on my kit except a tshirt in the BD. I bought those blue gel pads... useless, but they came on a sheer piece of plastic, a little square that the blue blobs stuck to. Well, after I'd tried all the blue blobs and cast them into the bin... I let the small plastic sheet fall on to my snare... I hit it... found my new snare (rock) sound. :) Jazz I leave it well ringing... no one puts my ring in the corner...
Wonderful you found a drum set up that works for you. I never use a ring dampener on my drums. I want the most wide open sound possible like Buddy Rich. Just a felt strip on the 24 inch bass drum so you hear a real note and not just a thud like most bass drums today. Glad you found the right tuning for your drums for the type of music you play.
As you might know Greg,Buddy only used that 2nd floor tom to hold his towel or drink. On a few rare times did Buddy play that 2nd floor tom.Back in the 30`s when Buddy first endorsed Slingerland drums,they only made a 16x16 inch floor tom,so he had two of them.He just copied Gene Krupa`s drum set-up which had two 16x16 inch floor toms..Very easy to lower the pitch of the 2nd floor tom like in this video,so no need to have the larger floor tom.
I have a Slingerland Kit from around 1973 same set up except the kick is a 22 the color Is Black Marine Pearl and it just sounds so good played wide open except one felt strip on the kick, not muffled to death and over processed like today’s drums. Ps I use a 24 in Paiste so the L arm won’t hold it have use a stand.
So wonderful to hear from another drummer who likes this type of open sound. Slingerland made some of the best drums ever in the 70`s. Your drums have the maple,polar,maple 3 ply shell with solid maple re-enforcing rings.I`m sure your Slingerland drums sound great Linda with your tuning.
Buddy Rich never used a Rogers snare drum when he played Slingerland drums. The snare drum I`m using in this video is the 4x14 inch Slingerland BR model that Buddy played from 69 to 71.At times Buddy would use a Fibes snare drum with his Slingerland set. Thanks for your comment.
I don`t have a Fibes snare drum like what Buddy played. I knew Bob Grauso very well the man who founded Fibes drums and made that snare drum for Buddy Rich. He would come to my Big Band concerts and we always had a great time together. He did give me his Fibes snare drum which was the same as what Buddy used, but with an all maple shell. I always thought the fiberglass shell was to bright sounding. It a rare snare drum and he sighed it for me. I need to make a video on that snare one day.
Slingerland did manufactured their own drum heads. They called it the Sound King heads. They even had a patent on the Slingerland drum heads because of the way they mounted the mylar plastic to the metal rim. Slingerland also made their own Calf drum heads if you wanted those instead of the new mylar heads.
@@KenLoomer thank you for the information, Ken. I had always assumed that Slingerland farmed out the manufacture of those heads and just put their name on them. So does D drum now own those drum head patents?
@@frederickbaugher8361 Now that DW owns Slingerland, but really it`s Roland since they bought out DW drums and all the other companies that DW had, they own the Slingerland patents.
on a different note , jo mcsweeny was asked to refresh buddys set on a stop over in Boston. he went to the bus and im not making this up, its straight from him, the snare was still attached to stand batter head down in the belly of the bus. jo said that some of the tensioning rods were frozen in place. he attributes this to buddy sweating profusely. fibes, rogers slingerland whatever . the buddy' s sound was all in his hands. " buddy how can you play in those boots"? " man if you can play you can play". (paraphrased) meaning buddy can get his spund out of a pancake. and it wasnt the sound or technical it was his FIRE baby. nobody has ever burned like buddy. each stroke a lightning strike each note , he meant it and aint backing down .... fire.
So wonderful to hear these stories about Buddy. Buddy knew what kind of sound he wanted out of the drums, no matter what brand of drums he was using. Plus he knew how to tension his drums to get the sound he wanted. Joe MacSweeney was the person who restored the Slingerland Radio King drums for Buddy back in 1983. Since Buddy did not break down or set up his drums, his road tech guy must of just stored the snare drum with the stand on in the storage part of the Buddy bus. Don`t know why he did not put the snare in the fiber case. If Buddy knew he just put the snare like you said with the stand on in the bus storage, he would be fired. Buddy had the feel for the music he played and knew how to drive a band like no other drummer. Thanks for your comment.
yeah ! thanks for the response. you are probably already hip to Donny if you know Joe. But Donny Osborne knows buddy on a deeper more personal level than perhaps any other living human. Donny may yet be teaching in Portland . buddy got Donny his first big gig- Mel Tourme: who did know buddy better than any other living human. the stories Donny would tell... lessons with Donny consisted of trading fours Donny playing the Buddy figures and i trying to copy him. fun. frustrating. challenging. all of that. Donny would refer to buddy as " Him", then go on to fire off these fabulous drum patterns. anyway thanks for these videos. another story i heard from someone likely donny is that Buddy and Joe morello were in the same town near the Bay area, and buddy was driving his Jag and Joe of course a passenger. Buddy told Joe that Joe was the greatest hands in the game. Joe was flattered, but of course that could lead to a huge debate. joe did have perfect hands. he simply used them to drive the band differently. wish i could recall who told me that. Buddy held Joe in highest esteem, i did hear that from Donny.
@@pugetlexus I got to see Donny Osborne a few times with Mel Torme. Great drummer and like you said, knew Buddy very well. I got to know Buddy and he was always so kind and nice to me. The reason why I have my own Big Band is because of Buddy. I told him one time I wanted to have my own Big Band because I loved the music he played so much. He told me, "Ken don`t ever let anyone tell you can`t have your own Big Band to play the music you love. Just work hard and do it". Well I did work hard and now I`m in my 20th year as a Big band leader. I have posted 100`s of my Ken Loomer Big Band concerts on my channel. Buddy was just fun to be with. He even gave me a drum lesson and I got to play on his drums. To see the pictures of me and Buddy and me playing his Slingerland drums, check out this video ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Wonderful you got some drum lessons from Donny. I know he had a heart attack a few years back and is not playing that much anymore. I know for sure Buddy loved Joe Morello playing. He always spoke very highly of Louie Bellson who I also knew very well. Thanks for taking the time to write about your stories of Buddy.
@@KenLoomer thx fer this. slingerland era would have been when? late 70's? ive lost touch with Donny. should ask around. it was not a usual thing for buddy to give lessons for sure . how do you teach when youre a natural? communication can be not so easy when you just do it. blessings on you for that. its been my experience that a great drummer achieves his greatness only after having driven a big band. no other setting requires mastery of ALL of the skills needed to play the assemblage of tones we now call a drumset. big band forces that all on the drummer. i mean , god, poor davey tough, driving Benny's band - with brushes ferchristsake. papa jo pushing Counts band and all the true giants of our craft sat the chair on the riser herding 17 cats.... big band and disco are drummers bands . congratulations on 20 years. no easy thing but of the greatest of joy when all the cats are swinging. its an accomplishment to be justifiably proud of. Bellison in my view was the flipside coin of buddy. technically they were peers, and equals. i do feel that buddys urgency, his fire and almost one could use the word rage on the stand made the distinguishing marks. there was a fire in buddy to push it so hard as to almost collapse to tune. to see how much he could get out of it himself and the band. and it makes sense, when you have mastered the instrument whats left but to totally dominate the tune and extract everything you can from it? pour your heart into it. demand payment for the sacrifice. i love watching buddy and Louie on carson. buddy came off the riser just dripping. louie had driven buddy hard and didnt give an inch great great drummers and big band drummers at that
@@pugetlexus Buddy used Slingerland drums again starting from January 1968 to April 1978. Then went to Ludwig, and and back to Slingerland with his Radio King drums in 1983 to the end of his life. My biggest joy is being a drummer Big Band leader and playing the music I want to do. Hard work is what I`m all about when it comes to having my own Big Band and Jazz Quartet. Of course I have learned from all the great drummers of the past and present. Then I add my feel to the music and let the people decide if they enjoy what I`m doing with my bands. Well so far I`m doing great and at 69 still playing all the time. I do some teaching, but something you can`t teach is feel for the music you play .I was on the road with the Tommy Dorsey band in the 90`s and learned so much playing the same charts Buddy did in the 40`s.Tthen I wanted to have my Big Band playing the charts I liked best with the musicians I know who could play them. You can check this video of my Big Band doing a chart I liked at my tempo ua-cam.com/video/MM-OXmNhzO0/v-deo.html Best feeling for me as a drummer playing with so many excellent musicians! Amazing I got to know both Buddy and Louie Bellson. Louie even sent to me some of his charts which I have posted on my channel. I have enjoyed your comments and all my best to you @pugetlexus.
Bonham and Rich had the same type of big open sounding bass drum sound using the felt strips. No pillows or a hole cut on the front head for that dead sound.
Real Rich sound Ken😀 I just wonder how much sound difference brass hoops makes compared to today's cheaper, steel hoops? I love the crisp snare Buddy had to have to get his articulate technique across. Are the wires loose,medium or tight tension by the way?
The brass chrome covered Slingerland hoops made a big difference in sound for sure. They have more ring to them so when you do rim shots,it sings.Of course most drummers I hear today like the dead sounding snare drum with moon gels or tape on them. The snare wires always have a medium tension to them so the snare drum will not choke the sound of the drum.In this video,I`m using the rare 4x14 inch BR model Slingerland snare with the brass straight edge hoops.A very crisp sounding snare that projects so well. Thanks John for your comment.
As for my set, and the build quality, hardware plating, and functionality, all the hardware is good, except the Hi-Hat Stand and BD Pedal from that era is quite "ancient", and a must to upgrade to your favorite flavor or three. I have 3 BR Cymbal Stands, very clean. But there is an Achilles Heel, the Rack Tom Holder, and that Tom Rod with the White Plastic Ball. Sure, infinite adjustability, until it's gouged to death, or cracked. Now what? My take, is if you think you're Keith Moon, or plant Elbows in a Reggae Band, it's best to plant the Rack Tom on a separate Stand. When I got my set, had to go through that and found superficial damage to that Plastic Ball, with cooties hanging that I cleaned up with a razor sharp exacto knife. No cracks thankfully. My set had almost no use, but then again some hasty past set ups. I later was able to acquire 3 NOS Ball Mount Rods, and idiotically sold 1. I still have 2 unused, and as you can imagine, I cannot part with them unless you're offering me an exotic car or other fine toy in a sale-trade! As a side note, why would such have to be weak plastic? With an original part in hand, I'm sure some machine shop could cobble something up? I remember an old saying my Teacher Phil Stanger used to say to me for the first couple of years, "If you wanna Bang, I'll give you 2 Hammers!" :-) Phil was a great drummer, and a great teacher.
I love my Slingerland Dynamo Hi-Hat stand. Very heavy built for 1968. Very smooth action and with the spike legs, it never moves. I have also played the Tempo King bass pedal for over 50 years and never a problem with it. I like a strap pedal way better than the chain pedals. Super fast for my foot technique. Never had a problem with my set-o-matic tom arm. Still works great. I bought like 15 years ago some extra Slingerland tom mount ball. So I have them in case I need them. All my stands still look new. Here is a video showing up close my Slingerland 80N drums and hardware ua-cam.com/video/V05oBtOPA5E/v-deo.html Wonderful you had a great drum teacher. I`m sure you must be an excellent drummer. Thanks so much for your comment.
Hi Ken, Watching some of your other videos, I see you mention a number of enhancements you have for these drums, evidence you've been at this for quite a long time indeed. I'm guessing you have 3 Slingerland Bass Drums in WMP?! Unreal! I did something pretty stupid years ago. I bought a mint condition WMP 9x13 Tom, and Randy Seifert had given me a NOS Dual Tom Mount, no doubt was sitting in Barrett's Basement. I later sold both a few years later! That was a grave mistake I made. I think I only paid $250 for the Tom, and pretty much sold it for around that price. Forget what I sold the Tom Mount for, maybe $100 was all. It was perfect, no wear. Honestly, I did have it all in the set, played it, and did not like it, not this special hardware arrangement and how all mounted up.
I don`t know what you mean by saying "I see you mention a number of enhancements you have on these drums". What enhancements? I have 4 Slingerland bass drums in Marine Pearl. A 20,22, 24, and 26 inch size. I have video`s of me playing on all of them on my channel. You should of kept that 9x13 Slingerland tom in mint condition. We all make mistakes.
Hi Ken: Your drums sound fantastic. I also have a WMP 13, 16, 24 with a matching snare. My drums are the 1978 5ply and they also sound great. Have you ever played a 5ply kit? If so: do you find they project more and have a little more attack? Thanks again for a nice video.
Wonderful you have a Slingerland BR drum set Jim. I do have a Slingerland BR drum set made in 1977 with the 5 ply shell. Here is a video I made showing both versions that Slingerland made ua-cam.com/video/V05oBtOPA5E/v-deo.html Another video of me playing on my 5 ply shell Slingerland BR drum set ua-cam.com/video/F-fWQoBAiC0/v-deo.html As you might know,a thicker shell will project a little more and have a brighter tone.Like a thicker cymbal will have a brighter sound and will have more volume. The 3 ply shell with the solid re-enforcing rings will have a warmer sound. Of course I always have a very big open sound to my Slingerland drums which I like the best. Thanks Jim for your comment.
@@KenLoomer Hi Ken. I saw your video with that 5ply 26" BD. That kit sounded very nice as well. My kit is 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24. I also have a 3ply set of 12, 13, 16FT single head set of toms. They sound great for certain things. I have many tom mounts and stands so I can setup pretty much what I want. I just need that extra 16" double headed FT like Buddy had. I would prefer an 18" but would take the 16" like he had. I have seen nice comments about you before on Facebook but people say you are not on Facebook. The Slingerland page / White Marine Pearl page would sure love to have you if you ever get a Facebook page. Thanks again for the reply and I hope you have a Happy New Year. Jim T.
My 3 ply 80N came with original heads. When you played your 13” tom I was sat here watching mouth wide open. Mine sounds almost identical. I’m wanting to treat my BR kit to new heads and this video is golden as are the comments and replies. I was set on Diplomat’s then Ambassador coated . Listening to what you have to say here has me questioning myself again and considering going down the same path. Remo Ambassador ‘smooth’ Hey Ken - My BR kit came with a 3 ply WMP snare with missing strainer. I also have a Nashville RK which kicks serious butt ! Last week I picked up a 14x5 COW 8 lug - Zoomatic - COS stick saver’s. Man it sounds AWESOME Only bought it for the Zoomatic to transfer over to the 3 ply and have a spare set of hoops but loathed to strip it now . I can’t decide which snare I prefer now ! What are your cymbal weight’s Ken ? When you say medium tubing, You say you tube so just before JAW Do you push the centre of the head then tighten the head so wrinkle disappears ? Hope your healthily and busy working with KL big band !
Your Slingerland 80N drumset has that great 3ply shell with the maple rings which makes for that great wide open full tone sound out of your toms. Yes Remo Ambassador heads are great for these shells. I would keep that sound king Slingerland chrome over brass snare drum and try to find a zoomatic strainer on e-bay for your 3 ply artist model snare drum. For my A Zildjian crash cymbals, I use a medium thin 18 inch on the right side and a thin crash 18 inch on the left side. Ride is a A Zidjian 20 inch medium-heavy ping. Of course 13 inch or 14 inch New-Beat for hi-hat. Then a 6 inch thin splash. Bass drum tuning with the 2 inch felt strips is like you said a medium turn of the rods so no wrinkles on the head. I`m feeling great at 68 and working all the time with my bands.It`s all about the music for me and making it exciting with my drumming. All my best to you with your drumming.
@@KenLoomer Great to hear from you Ken. That 14x5 I just bought is COW not brass. It was listed as Chrome on Steel - I thought is was a Festival when I bought it . Opened the box and BAM ! COW - 5 PLY - REALLY digging it .
@@KenLoomer You know Ken it really is. So much so I’m hard pressed to pick a winner out that and the Nashville Steambent. I still need a strainer for my 3 ply WMP though. Considering on of those Indie SB1 for it. I’ve seen a gorgeous looking Slingerland Artist BR 4x14 WMP but it’s from the WSS period - think 5 ply - 7mm made in Taiwan ? 16 offset lug’s. But it’s silly expensive in my opinion.
@@Bigsbeee You will be able to find a zoomatic strainer for your Slingerland snare drum .I always see some on e-bay. A real 4x14 Slingerland BR snare made in the Niles factory will cost a lot of money.
I use the very simple Slingerland Tempo King pedal with a wood beater. This is a strap pedal which I like best for the bass drum technique that I have.
@@anthonymark1635 I always use a mole skin patch where the wood beater strikes the head. Here is a video showing my foot pedal at the 11:45 mark that I use with my Slingerland drums ua-cam.com/video/V05oBtOPA5E/v-deo.html
Thanks again Ken, really appreciate the help as it is getting harder and harder to interact with drummers who are knowledgeable and get it! If you know what I mean.
I like the fact that Jerry Seinfeld used the BR bus tape on his TV show. I saw a video that Jerry did to explain what shows he used it on. I understood why Buddy would get mad if the musicians were not giving 100% to the music.
I have tried both the coated Remo Ambassador and coated Remo Diplomat heads before. For me the Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads sound the best for all of my toms. It`s has a warm wide open sound that works best for me. You can try the heads you want and hear what they sound like with your drums. I`m sure you will find the best heads for your style of drumming and the sound you want.
Hello Ken, so is it right that you have a 1968, a 1970, a 1971 and a 1976 Slingerland Buddy Rich Set ? ( One with the 26" BD )...and on Top of this a Ludwig Buddy Rich Drumset ? Wow, that's quite an impressive collection and even more impressing because the drum sets are still in pristine condition. Congrats. Is it right, that Buddy in the last years of his career when he had no endorsement deal used a Slingerland Set with a 26"x14" ( or even 28" ? ) bass drum ? I read somewhere that this particular set was a restored old Slingerland that was gifted to him...don't know if I'm right on this one but it may have been a present from the Drum Shop in New York that was run by Frank Ipolito back in the days. What's slightly remarkable is that the last Slingerland set he played that was gifted to him didn't have the blue tinted typical Slingerland wrap that was used by Slingerland from I believe 1968 on. It's just a "normal" white pearl or White Marine Pearl. MAybe you have some infos on all that, too. By the way, thanks for all your great videos and keeping the music of Buddy alive with you Big Band.
Don`t know where you got your info Avaloctus,but most what you said is wrong. What I have is a 1970,71 76,and 1977 BR kit which has the 26 inch bass drum.From 1983 to 87,the last years of BR carreer,he played a restored Slingerland Radio King drum set given to him by Joe MacSweeney of the Eames drum company. This had the 14x26 inch bass drum. Also he recovered this Radio King drum set with the Slingerland Marine Pearl with the blue tint on it. I should know since I saw Buddy Rich live many times in person during those years. As you know,because of Covid 19,I had to stop playing with my Big Band.But I know one day when this is over with,I will be back. Thanks for enjoying my video`s,and I have still put on new ones from my house like this one on my 1938 GK Radio King snare ua-cam.com/video/0qcazuP3PAM/v-deo.html
@@KenLoomer Ah, o.k., thanks for correcting my mistakes. ' hope you're healthy and that you soon will be able to play again with your Big Band bringing Buddy's music to the people. All the best to you.👍🏽
@@Avaloctus So far I have not been sick with the Covid 19. I`m in great health and have started doing a few jobs. But it will be a long time before things get back to normal.All my best to you also and happy drumming!
Great content! But - what concerns the muffling of Bonhams Bassdrum - please have a brief look on this UA-cam video as well: JOHN BONHAM'S BASS DRUM SOUND ** THE RITCHIE RING MUFFLER **
I`m sure John Bonham tried out many ways to tune up his bass drum through the years on what he liked best. It was never a dead sounding bass drum for sure. Back then so many drummers had no front head and used pillows to have that dead sound. I loved John Bonham bass drum sound for sure!
Hello Ken, May I ask how you tune your Emperor batter head and your Emperor reso head ( in relation to one another ) ? You clearly mentioned how you tune your Tom and Snare heads ( in relation to one another ) .... but it would be interesting to know how you tune your bass drum heads from scratch. Do you first tight them " finger tied " and if, how many turns do you apply to the t-rods on the batter and reso head ? I'm asking this also because, since the Emperor is a 2 ply head, my experience from tuning them is that if you don't tune/tension them to a certain amount, the two plys " hit " each other or at least you can hear them touching themselfs. So tuning " JAW " ( just above wrinkles ), the tuning (jaw) is the lowest tuning possible, that ( My guess would be that it only works in a closed mic situation with 1 or 2 mics picking up the bass drum heads ) does/ will not work, because of the " rubbing/rambling of the 2 plys of the Emperor heads. Tuning my 24x14" 5 ply maple bass drum with Emperors ( smooth white ones ) wide open, with just a 2" felt strip running vertical behind the batter head....and not getting the sound of the 2 plys " rambling/scratching/touching themselves ", making unwanted noise.... the only option I have discovered is to tighten them up quite a good bit, so that they are tight enough that the 2 plys don't produce unwanted noise by touching themselves anymore. The overall tension/tuning on both heads is quite high....but I still play " deadstrokes " with my pedal, meaning I can bury the beater if I want to, without that he " comes on and off the head " like it's the case with relly high tuned bass drums that only allow for letting the beater touch the head one time and then going back in a neutral ( not buried )position. Listening to your video via a set of good headsets that don't " colour " the sound, your bass drum sounds very good, very low and without the typical " basketball sound " you often get when you try to tune/tension up your bass drum. ( Mostly with one ply heads like 10mil Ambassadors or equivalent ones from other companies ) Maybe you could share your tuning method with the 2 ply heads on this lovely Slingerland set. ( for exampme.....tension/t-rods first figer tied, then one complete 360 degree turn on all of them, a half turn ( 180 degree on the other head....... and so on. ' guess you know what I mean. ) For me, after listening to your advice, going with 2 ply smooth white Emperors, front and bottom, unported, I'm very happy with the sound,...... but sometimes, depending on the floor the drums are setup on.... my bass drum seems to sound higher than my 2 16x16" stand toms. At home, with a rug underneath the drumset, it is ( of corse )a completely different situation. I even considered, try using an Ambassador smooth white or coated as batter/reso heads, unported, 1 or 2 felt strips setting the drumset up on a thick rug/carpet so that I can tune the bass drum a bit more down wirhout having to deal with the above mentioned 2 plys of the Emperors touching themselfs and making unwanted noise(s). Like I already said, your (bass) drum(s) sound absolutely great in this video ( any many more👌🏽) , it's not my intention to bash anything regarding your tuning of your bass drum using 2 ply heads,... .....I'm just asking a question after tinkering around myself for a long time now, not getting the sound out of my bass drum I want....... and hope that you may be/are willing to help me ( and probaly some other Loomer/Rich fans, too ), have a hint or a clue......how to fix this problem with the " flapping / touching noise(s) of the 2 play Emperors. I'd really appreciate, if you'd help on some way, regarding this problem. Keep on playing with your great Big Band, spredding the music of Buddy and other greats from this phenomenal era of music. 🎵🥁🎶🎺🎵🎷🎶🎸🎵🎹.....📡📡📡
When I use my Remo Emperor bass drum heads,it is very easy for me to tension them up for that big open sound. For the back head,I put on the two inch felt strip and just tighten the t-rods very tight at first. Then using a drumstick,I hit the head and loosen each t-rod to get a low end sound.All by ear.I do the same for the front head.Back head I would say has a little bit looser tension to it. That is my bass drum sound. Nothing wrong with you trying out different heads for your toms. As you know,I like the big open sound for my drums that will project very clearly. Since I work all the time and my drums are playing in all different types of rooms, my tension or tuning works best for me in all of these rooms I work in.As you can hear in so many of the concert video`s I have posted,the drums sound great with this tuning no matter what room I`m playing in.I just did a Big Band show last night and my Slingerland drums sounded great.Of course it helps if you know to play them also.Happy drumming!
When I use my Remo Emperor bass drum heads,it is very easy for me to tension them up for that big open sound. For the back head,I put on the two inch felt strip and just tighten the t-rods very tight at first. Then using a drumstick,I hit the head and loosen each t-rod to get a low end sound.All by ear.I do the same for the front head.Back head I would say has a little bit looser tension to it. That is my bass drum sound. Nothing wrong with you trying out different heads for your toms. As you know,I like the big open sound for my drums that will project very clearly. Since I work all the time and my drums are playing in all different types of rooms, my tension or tuning works best for me in all of these rooms I work in.As you can hear in so many of the concert video`s I have posted,the drums sound great with this tuning no matter what room I`m playing in.I just did a Big Band show last night and my Slingerland drums sounded great.Of course it helps if you know to play them also.Happy drumming!
@@KenLoomer Hello Ken, first of all, thanks for your answer. From what you described, tuning the Emperors isn't too far away from the way I tune them. ( I had a good laugh about your last sentence, where you mention that it helps if you are able to play the tuned drums either😂👍🏽👍🏽. Absolutely !!!! ) Thanks for taking the time and sharing all this knowledge and your great videos of your gigs !🎶🥁👍🏽📡📡📡📡.....let the world know that this kind of great music is still being played. I wish you all the best. Stay strong, stay healthy. ( 😇..and if you know someone who may want to sell a solid footboard Rogers Swiv-O-Matic bass drum pedal...... I would appriciate it if you'd let me know and hook me up with the seller. ) Grretings,.....👌🏽🥁
Hey ken great video . You say the drums are tuned to a medium tension can u elaborate please sir. That definition could be different for many people. Is it a certain number of turns equally for reso/ batter heads. I just love that open sound.Just would like to know what medium tension is. Thank you very much. MAN those drums are GREAT looking!!
The way I get a medium tension for my toms when I first put on a new head,I tension it up first so no wrinkles on the head. This will give it a low sound.Then one full turn on each lug for a medium tension.This is the same way for the bottom head.That way I get a full open sound that will project very well. If you take great care of your drums,they will look and sound wonderful all the time. People do the same with classic cars,so why not drums.Thanks for your comment Michael.
The last time I saw Buddy Rich was in 1986. He was of course using all A Zildjian cymbals. The left crash was a 18 inch thin, the right crash was a 18 inch medium thin. Ride was a 20 inch heavy so you can hear every beat very clearly over the brass. Hi hat was a 13 inch New Beat. Splash was a 6 inch thin. He also had a 22 inch swish knocker. Thanks Michael for watching the video and enjoying it.
I use the Sony HDR-SR11 HD Handycam camera which I have had for the past 8 years now. This camera has an input for mic`s,so I use the Tascam XY Stereo Microphone which is great for live performance. What you hear is the real true sound of these drums. Tascam makes great mic`s and you can hear the full range of sound of my drums with this mic. No special mixing at all in my set-up.
I use the 5.5x14 inch Slingerland snare drum a lot more than the 4x14 inch model. Both are excellent sounding snare drums,but the 5.5x14 has a fatter sound which I like very much.
@@jacko222333 I must of seen Buddy Rich live over a 100 times. He always used the Remo Diplomat heads.Never saw him beak a head when playing.Of course he always carried extra heads.I made a video showing pictures I took of Buddy from the many concerts that I saw of Buddy from 1969 to 1986. Here is the video ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Hearing the way he tuned his drums live made me wanting to have that same full open tone.
I`m a Big Band leader who has posted 100`s of my performance on UA-cam. Here is one video you can check out of my Ken Loomer Big Band with me playing on the same drums as in the video you watched ua-cam.com/video/kMAybt8yjL0/v-deo.html Thanks Don for your comment.
The back bass drum head I use a medium tension.For the front head I lower the key rods as low as it can go before the wrinkle of the head. Just like how I tune my 2nd floor tom. The top head is medium tension and bottom head has a lower tension.
Nothing wrong with your opinion Jimmy.If you don`t like the big open drum sound and the crisp snare drum that was the Buddy Rich sound,that is ok.Every drummer can tune their drums to what they like best. I know even great rock drummers like John Bonham who said he tuned his drums liked Buddy Rich since he loved the big open sound.Bonham even had his 26 inch bass drum wide open with no muffling. I like the Buddy Rich tuning since I`m into wide open full drum sound.
He talks a lot, writes a lot, he takes a lot of time to show the drums, but when it comes to performing it he shows little or nothing... You have to have a lot of dynamics and speed to execute that rhythm.
I have no idea what your comment is about. This video is about tuning the drums for that BR sound. What is writes a lot? Who writes a lot? Dynamics and speed to execute what Rhythm? He takes a lot of time to show the drums. I took no time to show the drums. It was just a camera on a tripod with a one angle shot in front of the drums. If you could explain your comment which is hard to understand, that would be helpful.
That`s the best way to get your point across is by saying it many times. I`m sure you remember what I said.Anyway,I understand where you are coming from.Glad you liked what I said about this type of drum tuning.
Hey Ken that's if you're playing Jazz. I have to cover Motown, Beatles, some Oldies and a few Country songs, so I prefer an open MEDIUM tuning on my set works for all these styles just fine.
You as the drummer knows best what kind of tuning you need for the type of music you play. Drummers like John Bonham, Steve Smith had this type of wide open tuning for playing rock, so it`s not just for jazz.
I have always used a wood beater on my pedal since this gives me a great impact sound for this type of bass drum tuning. Of course drummers like Buddy Rich,Joe Morello,Louie Bellson,Sonny Payne always used a wooden beater. Thanks for your comment Juan.
@@findesemana1989 The old way of protecting the beater impact spot, especially with a hard beater, was to glue on a pad of Dr.Scholl's moleskin, a pad designed for sore feet! Go figure, it sounds great. I saw JR Robinson use one just a few years ago.
Quite possibly the best natural bass drum sound I've ever heard.Smooth white Emporers front and back w/ 2" felt strip on batter only? Amazing, Ken!! Love your vintage kits and sound tips. And I'm a rock drummer!
So wonderful to hear from a rock drummer who likes to have a big open sounding bass drum with no pillows,dead ringer heads on both bass drum heads. The great John Bonham always had a very wide open natural sounding bass drum.He had no felt strip or muffling of any kind.I loved his playing and sound of his drums.Thanks Marc for your comment.
@@KenLoomer I've been a fan of Gregg Potter for over 20 years, but thru him and you are discovering the genius of Buddy. Loving it.So Buddy used smooth Ambassadors front and back with felt strips? Did you try that? Why did you opt for the Emporers? I am loving how your kick sounds. I use all Ludwig 14x26 kicks, myself. I'm a new of yours, Sir. And want to see more of your vintage drum collection in spotlight!1 Great videos! Love your passion for Mr. Rich!!
The reason for me using the Emperor Smooth White Bass drum head is the fact it`s a two ply head and will last longer. With only a felt strip to help control the overtones,I get a very wide open warm sound out of my bass drum.I`m not into the dead sound with the power stroke 3 bass drum heads. I have video`s of me playing live all of my vintage drums.I have over 900 video`s,so lots to check out if you want. I don`t collect drums just to look at them,but to play them at my gigs. Thanks Marc for your comment.
What a beautiful kit, and it brought back a lot of memories for me 1: my Dad taking me to see Buddy play, back in the early 70's on Long Island (Colony Hill). 2: My folks had bought me a Slingerland, early 70's kit, light blue marine pearl; 22" bass, 8x12, 9x13, 16 x16 toms, and that Buddy Rich 4" snare. I remember now, they all came with the smooth white Slingerland branded heads, top & bottom, and the felts on the bass heads. Like a fool, I sold them a decade later to buy guitar equipment. Fast forward 30 years; I'm strolling through Sam Ash one day with $$$ in my pocket (from just selling a guitar) and I see the same era set sitting there, disassembled, but complete, in that lovely faded White Marine Pearl. I set them up, played them a bit, forked over my $$$ (~600 I think), took them home, gave every piece a full restoration, and enjoy them to this day. This set I will keep! I have the Krupa, chrome over brass 5" snare..... and later on I also found a matching, faded white pearl Hollywood Ace snare on ebay. I now remember how immediately responsive and cracking that 4" snare is! Wow! I wouldn't mind one of them also! Thanks for the video. Keep on drummin'!
A wonderful story Gregory on how you found that Slingerland drum set at Sam Ash and restored it. I know you are enjoying playing it so much now.Slingerland is a huge part of drum history! So many of the best drummers played Slingerland.I had no idea that one day I would use these very drums with my Ken Loomer Big Band.It has the perfect sound for the type of music that I play.Thanks so much for your comment.
Since these Slingerland BR model drums are rare now,I will always take great care of them.I still use them all the time with my Ken Loomer Big Band. So easy to tune these classic Slingerland drums for that big open warm tone that I love. Thanks for your comment.
To hear the tone of the different heads, you should place your hand on the bottom head (resonant) while striking the top head (batter) and vice versa for striking the bottom head. This gives you the actual tone of the specific head that you're striking. Great video for information about Buddy's tuning. Thanks Ken.
It`s about passing on what I know to other drummers who like this type of tuning. I had so many drummers ask me about my tuning,so I made this video. Thanks Shueon for your comment.
I buy the Remo Smooth White drum heads which you can see at the Remo website.They explain how the drum head is made and all the models of smooth white heads Remo makes. Yes it has a shinny white surface.
Whoa!!! I sure do hear Buddy’s fabulous Slingerland Drums and your cymbals are fantastic! I really enjoyed this a lot Ken..... Buddy would be your Fan! Thanks and Blessings!
I think Buddy would be most happy that I as a drummer decided to do all the work of having my own Big Band and that I play some of his great music at my concerts.Buddy Rich was all about the music and playing his drums to drive the band to make it sound as good as possible. Here is a link of my Big Band playing one of his very rare charts ua-cam.com/video/I-bz6g9HSK8/v-deo.html I`m using the same Slingerland drums as in this video.Thanks so much for your comment.
Hi Ken, I;m surely no huge collector of Snare Drums, but have 4 nice Snares to fill in on my Barrett Set. The set came with an NOS 5x14 COB Sound King, 10 lug. I assume this was likely another of Barrett's he had stashed away in a box. I then bought a mint-spotless 5x14 Buddy Rich TDR from Steve Maxwell at a show years ago. I then did a trade with my Set's seller, a mint Big R Dynasonic I had, for the mint prototype Deems Spitfire 6.5x14 COB. Lastly , I did score a really superb condition Slingerland WMP Artist, I paid a good price for that one, 8-Lug, multi-ply shell. All 4 drums are of course Niles Silver Black Badges. When acquiring these drums, first thing always is I go through them, any Slingy Heads came off, stored, plus I do have a small variety of various NOS Heads for all sizes, 13", 14", 16". Heads of choice that 3 of my Snare Drums have, are Remo Diplomats top and bottom. Batter Head of choice, and they are quite hard to find, the 14" Diplomat M5 Coated. This is a 5mil Head. I have about another 10 of these heads stashed, brand new.
All excellent Slingerland snare drums that you have. I really like that Slingerland TDR snare that I have with the straight edge hoops and the snares going across the entire bottom head. Do you have any video`s of you playing any of your Slingerland drums? Wonderful you have NOS Slingerland heads. I only have one. Cool looking box with Buddy on the cover. Thanks Mark for your comment.
Glad you enjoyed this video on how the great BR tension his drums. Us drummers love to share this type of info to all drummers who want to try out different ways to tune a drum set. Thanks for your comment.
Great video! I would have the rack toms bottom head slightly looser and maybe the top head too to sound a bit more like Bill wards rack tom on the live Paris 1970 video. Those floor toms are amazing though!
The great part about being a drummer is that you get to tune your toms the way you like it.Since I play mostly jazz and have my own Big Band like Buddy Rich,the small tom is better to tune up higher for me to cut through the brass since I never mic up my drums. It`s a very open sound which I want to project out to the people. Thanks for your comment.
Bill Ward is an excellent rock drummer.As you know,Buddy Rich influenced so many rock drummers like John Bonham,Gregg Potter,Keith Moon,Carmine Appice,Danny Seraphine just to name a few.
ive seen countless solos from countless drummers and yours are among the greatest if not the greatest.
I work very hard on doing solo`s that are exciting and interesting to hear.I`m still learning all the time and want to use what I learn on how to play better. Of course I have learned so much on being a Big Band leader and knowing what it takes to make the music feel good and exciting as a drummer. Very kind words about me and thanks so much for your comment.
That was a great explanation of BR's tuning. What impressed me was your "channelling" of Buddy Rich's soloing!
What I did was to play in the Buddy Rich style and not copy what he played. His style was to use your technique and just use your idea to make the solo clean and exciting.I`m always thinking of new ways to play.
Thanks Arneldo for your comment.
What perfect combination here. A great set with a great drummer.
I have been playing this same Slingerland drum set for 50 years now. No way back in 1970 when I bought them,did I think I would have my own Ken Loomer Big Band and use these very drums. So easy to tune them up for that big open warm sound needed to play the music that I do. Thanks Augusto for your comment.
It's so nice to hear an honest recording of a kit in a room. Sound like my late 60's Rogers kit I had as a kid. It's just quality! and you are are a great drummer!
What you hear is the real sound of these classic Slingerland drums with only one mic in the back of the room. With the right tuning for drummers who like a wide open full sound, the drums project so well because of how these Slingerland drumshells are made. Thanks Mark for your comment.
Such a good sound on that kit. Great tone from great feel
Slingerland Drums Buddy Rich Tuning with my Ken Loomer Big Band ua-cam.com/video/kMAybt8yjL0/v-deo.html Buddy Rich Tuning on my new Pearl Masters Drums ua-cam.com/video/XYpfRfueJ64/v-deo.html
I don't feel like even looking at my drumkit after seeing your beautiful Slinglerland kit. Nicest wrap on the greatest configuration kit in tribute to the greatest of all time Buddy Rich. Thanks for posting, and letting us dream.
The best part of owning this Slingerland BR drum set is that I get to use it with my Ken Loomer Big Band. The sound out of these drums with the music I play just fits it so well. Here is a video you can check out of my Big Band with these drums ua-cam.com/video/MM-OXmNhzO0/v-deo.html Thanks for your comment.
Very interesting Ken, nicely done. Thank you. I got to see Buddy play many times here in New York- I stood about 15-20 feet in front of his drums at a show they did on a discotheque dance floor in the early 80s in Midtown Manhattan. I could physically feel the air coming off of the drums, the man exerted massive physical power and energy into the drums, without really hitting brutally hard like a rock drummer. He always gave him a little something extra in his New York shows because he was a Brooklyn guy originally. Anyway, his sound and tone was truly fantastic. You could feel the Chi energy (Martial arts term: physical energy) coming off the drums, I felt the bass drum in my chest (no mics).
Everything you said about Buddy is true.I got to see him a little over a 100 times and loved going to New York City in the 70`s to watch Buddy with that great Big Band. It was always about the music first for Buddy. I fell in love with Big Band music because of him and now I have my own Ken Loomer Big Band.I have posted lots of my Big Band concerts on UA-cam. Here is a link to my tribute to Buddy with the 100`s of pictures I took of him from seeing Buddy from 1969 to 1986 ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Thanks Greg for comment.
Buddy was a martial artist
Great video Ken, that big open sound is just what we would have heard from Buddy, thanks.
So glad to hear from a drummer who likes this type of big open sound drum tuning.I never liked the dead sound on drums or bass drums with blankets and pillows inside them. Thanks for your comment Bren.
Nice, Man those drums sound great Ken.
Like Buddy,I love a live drum sound that is big and open with a clear tone to them that will project well to the people. No tape on the heads or pillows and towels inside the bass drum to kill the sound. Even the great John Bonham wanted his bass drum sound to be as big and open as possible. He never put anything inside the bass drum and of course never a hole in the front head. Thanks for your comment.
Hi ken andy here from Adelaide South Australia 🇦🇺 just watched your tuning segment again to familiarise myself tuning my buddy rich slingerland wich I had shown you some time back, I got a lot out of your explanation now that I’ve been playing my slingerland for the last 18 months, it’s helped me out considerably thanks.will send a clip soon of me playing, I think I’ve improved since the last time..anyway we are still giging in my blues band..cheers
I`m glad you have learned a lot from watching this video . You have an excellent set of drums. Those Slingerland Buddy Rich model with the tuning I have explained will make your drums sound big and open with a full tone. I look forward to seeing you play those drums. Wonderful you are playing your blues gig in Australia. I just posted a new video of my Big Band ua-cam.com/video/bdh1P-6LqMc/v-deo.html My Slingerlands doing the job of me driving the Big Band. All my best to you Andy.
Love the vintage gear you got in that house. Including the curtain and carpet.
You forgot the vintage drummer which is me.
Amazing! You nailed the kit set up, sounds just like Buddy's, GJ.
I was lucky enough to have seen Buddy Rich perform over a 100 times and just loved his drum set sound. It was about time to post a video on how he got his amazing drum sound. Thanks for your comment.
Ken after watching some of Buddy's videos you did a great job on his tuning you clearly hear his snare sing and his bass booming . You always make good videos on drums and
Drumming . Your a excellent drummer.
I got to hear the real Buddy Rich drum sound since i saw him live over a 100 times. Many times I was only a few feet away and can hear his drums sing with that huge open sound that he had. His drums projected so well with this tuning. Buddy always played to make his Big Band so exciting to hear.That is what I try to do with my Ken Loomer Big Band is to make my drums sound as good as possible and make the music feel good with my playing. I always honor Buddy by playing some of his great Big Band charts so the people of today get to hear it live. Thanks Stephen for your comment.
Ma786sai Dua you are a drummer connected directly to Heaven
Ken, I really enjoyed this video I learned a lot about Buddy's tuning and really love your sound that you capture even though you are in a regular size room your drums sound huge sort of between Buddy and Bonham... especially that bass drum it sounds just like Led Zeppelin Levee Breaks truly awesome sounding drums and you took such great care of them! Most guys go through several drum sets you have kept the same drum set all these years that blows me away! By the way you were saying that Buddy only used diplomat heads which I never realized because he was a hard player and other people have told me that he may have used an emperor on his snare drum and ambassador's on his toms because he beat on them so hard sometimes a diplomat head would easily break and get all dinged up very easily with that kind of playing night after night and I thought he used coated heads because he use brushes not just on the snare drum but on the bass drum and tom toms sometimes so smooth white heads cannot work with brushes just wondering if you can explain further... I am trying to learn as much as I can to capture the big band sound and you are a huge help with that! By the way your chops and the way you swing them are really incredible you are a great ambassador to the swing era of jazz IMHO the best era of music in history. Thanks, Bob
Glad you like this video about the way Buddy Rich tuned or tension his drums. I have 100`s of video`s of my Ken Loomer Big Band with me using these Slingerland drums in all kinds of concerts that I have performed in. Most of the time I never use mic`s on the drums so you hear the natural tone of each drum in whatever room I`m playing in and how well the drums projected. Yes Buddy Rich used coated Remo Diplomat heads on his snare drum and toms. He wanted the most open sound possible. He always carried spare drum heads so no problem if he broke one during a concert. What I said in the video was that I used Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads on my Slingerland drums. Like I said in the video,when I bought these Slingerland drums back in 1971,all the toms had Slingerland Smooth White heads on them. For me these smooth white heads gives me the most open and full tone possible.When I use these Slingerland drums with my Big Band,I want to make sure the people will be able to hear the full open tone of each drum.Thanks Bob for your comment.
Ken, thanks for your response so if he used coded diplomats on the top I assume then he also use diplomats on the resident side as well? If you use brushes which I assume you occasionally do how can you do that with the smooth heads or do you have a coated head on your snare drum?
Like I said,I use Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads on all of my toms.For the snare drum I use the new Remo Ambassador White Suede head which is like a smooth white head except they ruff up the head for brushes. Here is a video of me doing a brush solo using this Remo White Suede head ua-cam.com/video/rqwyM7iaeF4/v-deo.html Yes Buddy used Remo coated diplomat heads for the top and bottom of his toms.
@@KenLoomer adding up that BR used ambassador smooth white heads in the bass drum, batter and resonant, also diplomat coated hazy in the snare side to be more precise.
Great explanation and sound…and playing!👍👍
If you like that big full open tone for your drums, this is the way to do it. Thanks Mark for your comment.
step 1: buy a slingerland
step 2: done
The good news Lil is that DW bought the Slingerland Drum Company and I`m hopeful they will be making the shells the same way Slingerland did. Of course drummers can buy Slingerland drums on e-bay and get that big Slingerland sound now.
@@KenLoomer That would be really cool, BUT I expect them to, if they revive the brand, go with a modern gazillion ply setup in which the glue is more important than the wood :( I love my 1955 Radio King outfit, and nothing modern will ever come close.
Wonderful Mike you have a Slingerland Radio King drum set. I`m hoping DW will make something close to what Slingerland made.I have a Radio King 5.5 x 14 inch snare that sounds great with the solid maple shell. Looking forward to the new line of Slingerland drums.
@@KenLoomer thats great news! ironic that slings are the best looking while dw are the worst looking.
@@sticksbass I do not like DW lugs....
Hi Ken.
Thanks for the great videos that you put up. I am registered blind and I love drums and drumming myself. I am not a professional but I do have an electronic set which I play around on from time to time. I really love the way that you talk things through as well. I also play the African Jembe in my church worship group. Keep up the great work. From Gareth Smyth in Belfast Northern Ireland.
First of all,thanks so much for enjoying this video Gareth. As a blind person,it`s so wonderful you enjoy drumming.I know the great Joe Morello who played with Dave Brubeck was blind. Good to hear you get to play in your church in Belfast Ireland. I would love to go to Ireland one day. All my best to you Gareth and thanks for your comment.
solo Slingerland tiene ese sonido formidable , los mejores bateristas de Rock clasico , contaron con estos gigante sonido de tambores
I agree with you Juan.Slingerland always had that big open sound which projects so well.
OMG Ken! so good to see you! This video came up randomly on my feed this morning. You probably don't remember me, but we met at the Jazz Cellar a long, long time ago and you gave me a few lessons at your house. Glad to see you're still at it and I hope this message finds you well! 🥁
So wonderful to hear from you Danny.The Jazz Cellar days were excellent and I remember you from that time. When The Jazz Cellar closed back in 2000,I decided to form my own Big Band. I must of posted over 500 of my concerts I have done with my Ken Loomer Big Band on UA-cam. Here is just one of them ua-cam.com/video/kMAybt8yjL0/v-deo.html Well 20 years later I`m swinging with my band. Of course right now all the venues are closed because of the virus. Are you still drumming? All my best to you Danny.
@@KenLoomer I had put down the drums for a number of years; but now that my kids are grown, a couple of guys I work with have encouraged me to start playing again. We had a jam session going for a while, but of course that's been on hold. Losing Neil Peart was definitely a blow as well, but I'm back at it trying to get my chops back. Are you still in the Tampa Bay area? We'd love to come see you play once the world is right-side up again. Take care!
Wonderful you are back to drumming again.Yes I`m still in the Tampa bay area and of course as a musician have played all over Florida and at time out of state.But as you very well know because of the virus all venues I have played at is closed. Don`t know when it will open up again. Great to hear from you and maybe when things get back to normal,you can go to one of my concerts. All my best to you Danny.
@@KenLoomer found your website, will keep in touch via email - hopefully we'll be able to see you play out before too long!
@@KenLoomer do you have an upcoming gigs list? love to come out and see you!
This explains a lot. I assumed coated ambassadors for years. The last BR kit I played was a 76. FAT tone compared to modern shells. IIRC, the only time I saw Buddy use the 2nd floor tom for anything besides a towel rack was "Hawaiian war chant."
The shells on these Slingerland drums were just amazing for the type of open sound I love so much.It had the 3 ply maple,polar,maple wood with the solid maple re-enforcing rings to them. Now that DW bought the Slingerland Drum Company,I hoping they make those shells again. Like I said,Buddy liked the most open sound possible,so he used the coated diplomat heads. A few other video`s of Buddy playing on the 2nd floor tom.One was the drum battle with Gene Krupa.Buddy was all over that 2nd floor tom.Another was on the Tonight Show when he did just a drum solo,no band and he used that 2nd floor tom.I saw him live a few times using that 2nd floor tom. But 90% of the time it was to hold the towel or a drink on it.I like to use my 2nd floor tom all the time. Good to hear from you Scott.
Fantastic!
Glad you like it!
I have to make another comment that snare buzz roll near the end was amazing, and your kit sounds better that all the over mic,ed over EQ drums Iv heard on UA-cam in the last 10 years.
Very easy to do a buzz roll on a snare drum that is wide open and no tape or moon gel on it.You can get a very smooth even sound with this type of tuning. What you hear is the natural sound of my Slingerland drums from only the camera stereo mic in the back of the room. Thanks Linda for your comment.
KenLoomer Thank You Ken that’s exactly why I have my Slingerland set tuned very similar to yours, now if I could just learn to play like you I’d have it made. Lol
Great video Ken. Such a sensible concept. Thanks again.
Like what the late great Buddy Rich said,I`m mostly concern on how my drums will project to the people.He wanted a live sounding drum set,not the dead sound so many drummers of today use with tape on the heads and pillows inside the bass drum. Thanks Rogue for your comment.
Fantastic! You're like the encyclopedia on Buddy!
I`m very lucky that I got to see Buddy Rich perform live a little over 100 times. The reason I have my Ken Loomer Big Band is because I learned from Buddy if you want to do something you believe in,it`s possible to get it done. Here is a link to many of the pictures and concerts that I saw Buddy perform during his amazing life as a drummer ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Thanks Chip for your comment.
Your passion and love is evident! Great little vid, thanks
Since I have received so many request to do a tuning video, I really enjoyed making this one. The feedback has been very positive and drummers have learned a lot on how to get this type of open drum sound. Thanks for your comment.
@@KenLoomer Your approach makes understanding how to attain that beautiful open sound easy to grasp and those Slingerlands sound warm and big. I like that you mention John Bonham and acknowledge his contributions to modern drumming.
That snare drum is perfect! Thanks for answering everyone's comment on your videos Ken
One of the best snare drums for me is that 4x14 inch Slingerland BR model with the straight edge chrome over brass hoops.The sound is crisp with great rim shots that projects so well.Thanks John for your comment.
That kit is a
beauty!!!!!!!!!!
That Slingerland Buddy Rich drum set is one of the best drum sets ever made. I use them all the time with my Ken Loomer Big Band. Here is a new video of me playing those drums with my Big Band ua-cam.com/video/Cy8rU5lGfJk/v-deo.html Thanks Ann for your comment.
Great vid Ken! I saw Buddy many times and that band and his drums DID project! Didn't matter if they were Ludwig or Slingerland. Always a jaw dropping experience huh?
So wonderful Brian you got to see and hear Buddy Rich with that amazing Big Band live so many times.Buddy knew the kind of drum sound he wanted and most important to him was that the drums project to the people and that they can feel and hear his drumming clearly.No dead sound for Buddy at all! With my Big Band I want my drums to be alive and project to the people.I have learned so much from Buddy about music and how to best bring it to the people.I became a lover of Big Band music after seeing the Buddy Rich Big Band and with hard work,I now have my own Big Band.Thanks Brian for your comment.
@@KenLoomer I am well aware of you and your videos.. Enjoy them very much! Jealous too!! You are east coast?
I live in the state of Florida and of course do travel sometimes out of state since I`m in the music business. All of my Big Band concerts are in Florida. Thanks Brian for watching my video`s.
@@KenLoomer West Texas here. Good to know if I get out that way. 'Might get to hear your great band someday!
Phenomenal video, Ken! Well explained.
So many drummers asked me how Buddy got his drum sound,so I made this video since I got to know Buddy Rich a little bit and of course saw him perform so many times. Thanks Tom for your comment.
This is so helpful information! Thank you for posting!
You are one of the rare young drummers today that has a Buddy Rich Slingerland 80N drum set. Plus you really know how to play drums.Glad this video was helpful to you.By the way,where do you live?Are you playing in a jazz band now?All my best to you CrazyGasMaskMan with your drumming.
@@KenLoomer Thank you, I'll do my best to make my drum sound better. And I live in Japan!
Thanks Ken........very helpful. (Chuck)
I had so many drummers asking me on how I tuned my drums and of course how Buddy Rich got his great drum sound. He hated dead sounding drums and wanted the people to hear his drums in a clear way that projected well in any concert that he played in. Glad this video was helpful to you Chuck.
Thanks Ken, excellent info on BR "tensioning". Great tone, took me back to another time. And your playing was superb! If I could do that I come out of retirement and play the drums again...
yeah...I can only wish to play like that! I think I saw Buddy in the back room nodding his approval. I've been trying to tune my Rogers Dynasonic properly and thought the ring I was getting at the edges was not good...now I know it is fine! Only thing to add for that BR "style" would be to occasionally play the rear skin of the bass with your right hand stick... ; ) Thanks!
Glad you liked this video Frank. Never to late to get back into drumming and come out of retirement. Since I still make my living playing with my Big Band and Jazz Quartet, it`s a job I love. Here is a video I posted of my Big Band a few weeks back you will like ua-cam.com/video/Vz5CLDz-ebo/v-deo.html The Slingerland drums have the same tuning as in this video and sounds great playing with a swinging Big Band. Thanks so much for your comment.
Thanks Ken !!!
Glad you liked this Buddy Rich tuning video.By the way,I saw some of your video clips and i`m so happy to hear your Big Band doing the music of Buddy Rich. Are you from Italy? Wonderful you have a Slingerland Buddy Rich drum set. This video should help you get the right drum sound for your BR kit.Keep up the excellent drumming and thanks for playing the great music of Buddy Rich.
Awesome sound so full and open! I tension my snare in similar fashion except I play 5x14 and prefer 48 strand snares
We both like that full open clear sound from the drums with no muffling. You are hearing the real sound from the drums. I never tried a 48 strand snare. Will that choke the bottom head being so wide? Thanks Steven for your comment.
Thank you for your reply! I have been playing 48 strand for 35 years on 6 different snare drums but have actually never did a comparison to hear the difference but now I must!!!! I’ll let you know if it chokes
@@stevenkalata7119 Gretsch is the only company in the past that used that type of strand. It`s called the Gretsch Wide Power Snares. They don`t make them anymore. What brand of snares are you using? Who makes them?
As you may or may not know, DW purchased the Slingerland name earlier this year. I'm guessing John Good has devoted every waking moment to this new endeavor. The last I heard, DW/Slingerland is supposed to have kits in production and for sale in 2021. I'm guessing they will have new Slingerland offerings at the 2021 NAMM Show this coming January. We shall wait and see.
DW bought the Slingerland Drum Company from Gibson back in 2019.I`m sure DW will do an excellent job of making classic Slingerland drums.From what I heard,they will start making the Radio King snare drums which Slingerland first made in the 30`s. Lets hope Covid 19 will not stop DW from making those new Slingerland drums for the 2021 NAMM show.
Your snare is BIG, sounds like a field marching snare....SWEET ...thanks/
I`m using the rare Slingerland Buddy Rich model 4x14 inch snare drum with the chrome over brass straight edge hoops in this video. For a closer look at this 4x14 inch snare drum click here ua-cam.com/video/7OFmlaosk-0/v-deo.html What I love about this snare drum is that it projects so well the big open sound that I like so much. Thanks Steve for your comment.
Fantastic ! Thanks. I play 1961 Slingerland like Frankie Dunlops given to him by GENE KRUPA
That is wonderful you have a 61 Slingerland drum set.It has that classic Slingerland drum sound that I`m sure you love to play.Thanks Bill for your comment.
Does the buddy snare have any sort of internal dampening?
This 4x14 inch Slingerland Buddy Rich model snare drum has no internal dampening muffler.As a matter of fact,Buddy Rich only request that none of his drums have a tone control muffler on them.
Ken is one great big band drummer who leads his own big band ..a rarity in this day and age
So listen up young drummers
Ken knows his Slingerland
Knows his jazz
Young drummers... do whatever you want, and you may be the next marvel. Never listen to old guys who tell you to "listen up kids". They are trouble for musicians. Listen and learn anyway you like, just do.
@@morbidmanmusic lol ..guess. you are so well-established..no one gave you advice ..moron
Nice kit and open drum sound
I never knew when I got this Slingerland Buddy Rich drum set back in 1971 that one day I would have my own Ken Loomer Big Band and be using these very drums. Now into my 18th year of my Big Band,these drums sound amazing for the type of music I want to play. Thanks for your comment.
¡Gracias, maestro! aunque casi no entiendo el idioma inglés, no fue impedimento para captar las ideas de lo que Ud. dice y las prácticas de ajuste de los tambores además de las demostraciones que hizo. Julio -- Argentina --
I`m glad you got the ideas of what I was saying in this tuning video. You as a drummer knows best what kind of drum sound you want. I always liked the big wide open sound of the drums. No muffling, but the real sound of the drums with this tuning. Thanks so much or for your comment.
Very nice, thanks
Glad you liked what I did on this video. Thanks for your comment.
WoW - Very interesting & detailed description!
Great to hear from you Mike. I had so many drummers write to me asking how I tune my drums and of course how Buddy Rich got his great drum sound.So here is that video. I hate the dead sounding drums with drummers putting tape on the heads or pillows and towels inside the bass drum with a big hole on the front head.Drums need to sing just like your guitar Mike.You don`t put tape on your strings for that dead sound. Of course not. You are one of the best guitar players I have ever heard. A true musician who plays at the highest level. Anyone who wants to hear a world class guitar players ,go to the Mike Pachelli UA-cam channel.
Old Drums are still Great ! Before ,Now & in Future ! Interestingly also is, that same types of Heads are used for the Tom's as the Top & Bottom Head ... no clear Reso Head ... as a lot of Drummer using ... so i think i also could do same with Remo Ambassador White Coated Heads & take them for Top & Bottom Head .......
Buddy for the last 5 years of his career play a 40`s Slingerland Radio King drum set. So he for sure loved the old drums and said that Slingerland Radio King snare drum was the best he ever played. Nothing wrong with using the same heads for the top and bottom of the toms. These Slingerland drums I bought back in 71 had the Slingerland Smooth White heads for the top and bottom of the toms.
interesting, I find I bought what you recommend... before I knew these details about Buddy... ambassador on the snare and diplomat around the kit... plus a set of Remo roto's... not traditional I know but they sound great, & great fun. I put them between the hats & first tom, which is placed in the centre of the BD. I still have the three kit toms just not traditionally placed. I love having my snare at the same angle you have there, do you use a ring dampener on the snare? I found a new trick yesterday, as I don't use dampeners on my kit except a tshirt in the BD. I bought those blue gel pads... useless, but they came on a sheer piece of plastic, a little square that the blue blobs stuck to. Well, after I'd tried all the blue blobs and cast them into the bin... I let the small plastic sheet fall on to my snare... I hit it... found my new snare (rock) sound. :) Jazz I leave it well ringing... no one puts my ring in the corner...
Wonderful you found a drum set up that works for you. I never use a ring dampener on my drums. I want the most wide open sound possible like Buddy Rich. Just a felt strip on the 24 inch bass drum so you hear a real note and not just a thud like most bass drums today. Glad you found the right tuning for your drums for the type of music you play.
Great video Ken. Why didn’t Buddy use a 18” second floor tom instead of a 16?
As you might know Greg,Buddy only used that 2nd floor tom to hold his towel or drink. On a few rare times did Buddy play that 2nd floor tom.Back in the 30`s when Buddy first endorsed Slingerland drums,they only made a 16x16 inch floor tom,so he had two of them.He just copied Gene Krupa`s drum set-up which had two 16x16 inch floor toms..Very easy to lower the pitch of the 2nd floor tom like in this video,so no need to have the larger floor tom.
I have a Slingerland Kit from around 1973 same set up except the kick is a 22 the color Is Black Marine Pearl and it just sounds so good played wide open except one felt strip on the kick, not muffled to death and over processed like today’s drums. Ps I use a 24 in Paiste so the L arm won’t hold it have use a stand.
So wonderful to hear from another drummer who likes this type of open sound. Slingerland made some of the best drums ever in the 70`s. Your drums have the maple,polar,maple 3 ply shell with solid maple re-enforcing rings.I`m sure your Slingerland drums sound great Linda with your tuning.
Wow the snare is immense. I thought he used Rogers snares with his slingerlands? But that's crazy good.
Buddy Rich never used a Rogers snare drum when he played Slingerland drums. The snare drum I`m using in this video is the 4x14 inch Slingerland BR model that Buddy played from 69 to 71.At times Buddy would use a Fibes snare drum with his Slingerland set. Thanks for your comment.
Have you got the Fibes snare drum that Buddy played?
I don`t have a Fibes snare drum like what Buddy played. I knew Bob Grauso very well the man who founded Fibes drums and made that snare drum for Buddy Rich. He would come to my Big Band concerts and we always had a great time together. He did give me his Fibes snare drum which was the same as what Buddy used, but with an all maple shell. I always thought the fiberglass shell was to bright sounding. It a rare snare drum and he sighed it for me. I need to make a video on that snare one day.
Which drum head manufacturer made the Slingerland heads? I would be surprised if Slingerland manufactured them in house.
Slingerland did manufactured their own drum heads. They called it the Sound King heads. They even had a patent on the Slingerland drum heads because of the way they mounted the mylar plastic to the metal rim. Slingerland also made their own Calf drum heads if you wanted those instead of the new mylar heads.
@@KenLoomer thank you for the information, Ken. I had always assumed that Slingerland farmed out the manufacture of those heads and just put their name on them. So does D drum now own those drum head patents?
@@frederickbaugher8361 Now that DW owns Slingerland, but really it`s Roland since they bought out DW drums and all the other companies that DW had, they own the Slingerland patents.
🥁😎🥁.
If you like the sound of these Slingerland drums, this is the video to watch to get that tuning.
on a different note , jo mcsweeny was asked to refresh buddys set on a stop over in Boston. he went to the bus and im not making this up, its straight from him, the snare was still attached to stand batter head down in the belly of the bus. jo said that some of the tensioning rods were frozen in place.
he attributes this to buddy sweating profusely.
fibes, rogers slingerland whatever . the buddy' s sound was all in his hands. " buddy how can you play in those boots"? " man if you can play you can play". (paraphrased) meaning buddy can get his spund out of a pancake.
and it wasnt the sound or technical it was his FIRE baby. nobody has ever burned like buddy. each stroke a lightning strike each note , he meant it and aint backing down .... fire.
So wonderful to hear these stories about Buddy. Buddy knew what kind of sound he wanted out of the drums, no matter what brand of drums he was using. Plus he knew how to tension his drums to get the sound he wanted. Joe MacSweeney was the person who restored the Slingerland Radio King drums for Buddy back in 1983. Since Buddy did not break down or set up his drums, his road tech guy must of just stored the snare drum with the stand on in the storage part of the Buddy bus. Don`t know why he did not put the snare in the fiber case. If Buddy knew he just put the snare like you said with the stand on in the bus storage, he would be fired. Buddy had the feel for the music he played and knew how to drive a band like no other drummer. Thanks for your comment.
yeah ! thanks for the response. you are probably already hip to Donny if you know Joe. But Donny Osborne knows buddy on a deeper more personal level than perhaps any other living human.
Donny may yet be teaching in Portland . buddy got Donny his first big gig- Mel Tourme: who did know buddy better than any other living human. the stories Donny would tell...
lessons with Donny consisted of trading fours Donny playing the Buddy figures and i trying to copy him. fun. frustrating. challenging. all of that. Donny would refer to buddy as " Him", then go on to fire off these fabulous drum patterns. anyway thanks for these videos.
another story i heard from someone likely donny is that Buddy and Joe morello were in the same town near the Bay area, and buddy was driving his Jag and Joe of course a passenger. Buddy told Joe that Joe was the greatest hands in the game. Joe was flattered, but of course that could lead to a huge debate. joe did have perfect hands. he simply used them to drive the band differently. wish i could recall who told me that. Buddy held Joe in highest esteem, i did hear that from Donny.
@@pugetlexus I got to see Donny Osborne a few times with Mel Torme. Great drummer and like you said, knew Buddy very well. I got to know Buddy and he was always so kind and nice to me. The reason why I have my own Big Band is because of Buddy. I told him one time I wanted to have my own Big Band because I loved the music he played so much. He told me, "Ken don`t ever let anyone tell you can`t have your own Big Band to play the music you love. Just work hard and do it". Well I did work hard and now I`m in my 20th year as a Big band leader. I have posted 100`s of my Ken Loomer Big Band concerts on my channel. Buddy was just fun to be with. He even gave me a drum lesson and I got to play on his drums. To see the pictures of me and Buddy and me playing his Slingerland drums, check out this video ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Wonderful you got some drum lessons from Donny. I know he had a heart attack a few years back and is not playing that much anymore. I know for sure Buddy loved Joe Morello playing. He always spoke very highly of Louie Bellson who I also knew very well. Thanks for taking the time to write about your stories of Buddy.
@@KenLoomer thx fer this. slingerland era would have been when? late 70's? ive lost touch with Donny. should ask around. it was not a usual thing for buddy to give lessons for sure . how do you teach when youre a natural? communication can be not so easy when you just do it. blessings on you for that.
its been my experience that a great drummer achieves his greatness only after having driven a big band. no other setting requires mastery of ALL of the skills needed to play the assemblage of tones we now call a drumset. big band forces that all on the drummer. i mean , god, poor davey tough, driving Benny's band - with brushes ferchristsake. papa jo pushing Counts band and all the true giants of our craft sat the chair on the riser herding 17 cats....
big band and disco are drummers bands . congratulations on 20 years. no easy thing but of the greatest of joy when all the cats are swinging. its an accomplishment to be justifiably proud of.
Bellison in my view was the flipside coin of buddy. technically they were peers, and equals. i do feel that buddys urgency, his fire and almost one could use the word rage on the stand made the distinguishing marks. there was a fire in buddy to push it so hard as to almost collapse to tune. to see how much he could get out of it himself and the band. and it makes sense, when you have mastered the instrument whats left but to totally dominate the tune and extract everything you can from it? pour your heart into it. demand payment for the sacrifice.
i love watching buddy and Louie on carson. buddy came off the riser just dripping. louie had driven buddy hard and didnt give an inch great great drummers and big band drummers at that
@@pugetlexus Buddy used Slingerland drums again starting from January 1968 to April 1978. Then went to Ludwig, and and back to Slingerland with his Radio King drums in 1983 to the end of his life. My biggest joy is being a drummer Big Band leader and playing the music I want to do. Hard work is what I`m all about when it comes to having my own Big Band and Jazz Quartet. Of course I have learned from all the great drummers of the past and present. Then I add my feel to the music and let the people decide if they enjoy what I`m doing with my bands. Well so far I`m doing great and at 69 still playing all the time. I do some teaching, but something you can`t teach is feel for the music you play .I was on the road with the Tommy Dorsey band in the 90`s and learned so much playing the same charts Buddy did in the 40`s.Tthen I wanted to have my Big Band playing the charts I liked best with the musicians I know who could play them. You can check this video of my Big Band doing a chart I liked at my tempo ua-cam.com/video/MM-OXmNhzO0/v-deo.html Best feeling for me as a drummer playing with so many excellent musicians! Amazing I got to know both Buddy and Louie Bellson. Louie even sent to me some of his charts which I have posted on my channel. I have enjoyed your comments and all my best to you @pugetlexus.
Thank you Ken. Excellent video.
I had so many drummers asking me to do a tuning video,so this is the one I did.Glad you liked it.Thanks for your comment.
Remo smooth whites are great heads, since there isn't a coating that wears off like coated ones do.
Nice Job
I enjoyed making this tuning drum video on my classic Slingerland drums.Thanks George for your comment.
Bonham used a felt strip always, on every kit- and 2 on the Vistalites
Bonham and Rich had the same type of big open sounding bass drum sound using the felt strips. No pillows or a hole cut on the front head for that dead sound.
Real Rich sound Ken😀
I just wonder how much sound difference brass hoops makes compared to today's cheaper, steel hoops?
I love the crisp snare Buddy had to have to get his articulate technique across. Are the wires loose,medium or tight tension by the way?
The brass chrome covered Slingerland hoops made a big difference in sound for sure. They have more ring to them so when you do rim shots,it sings.Of course most drummers I hear today like the dead sounding snare drum with moon gels or tape on them. The snare wires always have a medium tension to them so the snare drum will not choke the sound of the drum.In this video,I`m using the rare 4x14 inch BR model Slingerland snare with the brass straight edge hoops.A very crisp sounding snare that projects so well. Thanks John for your comment.
As for my set, and the build quality, hardware plating, and functionality, all the hardware is good, except the Hi-Hat Stand and BD Pedal from that era is quite "ancient", and a must to upgrade to your favorite flavor or three. I have 3 BR Cymbal Stands, very clean.
But there is an Achilles Heel, the Rack Tom Holder, and that Tom Rod with the White Plastic Ball. Sure, infinite adjustability, until it's gouged to death, or cracked. Now what?
My take, is if you think you're Keith Moon, or plant Elbows in a Reggae Band, it's best to plant the Rack Tom on a separate Stand.
When I got my set, had to go through that and found superficial damage to that Plastic Ball, with cooties hanging that I cleaned up with a razor sharp exacto knife. No cracks thankfully. My set had almost no use, but then again some hasty past set ups.
I later was able to acquire 3 NOS Ball Mount Rods, and idiotically sold 1. I still have 2 unused, and as you can imagine, I cannot part with them unless you're offering me an exotic car or other fine toy in a sale-trade!
As a side note, why would such have to be weak plastic? With an original part in hand, I'm sure some machine shop could cobble something up?
I remember an old saying my Teacher Phil Stanger used to say to me for the first couple of years, "If you wanna Bang, I'll give you 2 Hammers!" :-)
Phil was a great drummer, and a great teacher.
I love my Slingerland Dynamo Hi-Hat stand. Very heavy built for 1968. Very smooth action and with the spike legs, it never moves. I have also played the Tempo King bass pedal for over 50 years and never a problem with it. I like a strap pedal way better than the chain pedals. Super fast for my foot technique. Never had a problem with my set-o-matic tom arm. Still works great. I bought like 15 years ago some extra Slingerland tom mount ball. So I have them in case I need them. All my stands still look new. Here is a video showing up close my Slingerland 80N drums and hardware ua-cam.com/video/V05oBtOPA5E/v-deo.html Wonderful you had a great drum teacher. I`m sure you must be an excellent drummer. Thanks so much for your comment.
Good info Krn.
For drummers who like this type of open big drum sound,this is the way to tune up your drums.Thanks for your comment John.
Hi Ken, Watching some of your other videos, I see you mention a number of enhancements you have for these drums, evidence you've been at this for quite a long time indeed.
I'm guessing you have 3 Slingerland Bass Drums in WMP?! Unreal!
I did something pretty stupid years ago. I bought a mint condition WMP 9x13 Tom, and Randy Seifert had given me a NOS Dual Tom Mount, no doubt was sitting in Barrett's Basement. I later sold both a few years later!
That was a grave mistake I made. I think I only paid $250 for the Tom, and pretty much sold it for around that price. Forget what I sold the Tom Mount for, maybe $100 was all. It was perfect, no wear.
Honestly, I did have it all in the set, played it, and did not like it, not this special hardware arrangement and how all mounted up.
I don`t know what you mean by saying "I see you mention a number of enhancements you have on these drums". What enhancements? I have 4 Slingerland bass drums in Marine Pearl. A 20,22, 24, and 26 inch size. I have video`s of me playing on all of them on my channel. You should of kept that 9x13 Slingerland tom in mint condition. We all make mistakes.
Hi Ken: Your drums sound fantastic. I also have a WMP 13, 16, 24 with a matching snare. My drums are the 1978 5ply and they also sound great. Have you ever played a 5ply kit? If so: do you find they project more and have a little more attack? Thanks again for a nice video.
Wonderful you have a Slingerland BR drum set Jim. I do have a Slingerland BR drum set made in 1977 with the 5 ply shell. Here is a video I made showing both versions that Slingerland made ua-cam.com/video/V05oBtOPA5E/v-deo.html Another video of me playing on my 5 ply shell Slingerland BR drum set ua-cam.com/video/F-fWQoBAiC0/v-deo.html As you might know,a thicker shell will project a little more and have a brighter tone.Like a thicker cymbal will have a brighter sound and will have more volume. The 3 ply shell with the solid re-enforcing rings will have a warmer sound. Of course I always have a very big open sound to my Slingerland drums which I like the best. Thanks Jim for your comment.
@@KenLoomer Hi Ken. I saw your video with that 5ply 26" BD. That kit sounded very nice as well. My kit is 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24. I also have a 3ply set of 12, 13, 16FT single head set of toms. They sound great for certain things. I have many tom mounts and stands so I can setup pretty much what I want. I just need that extra 16" double headed FT like Buddy had. I would prefer an 18" but would take the 16" like he had. I have seen nice comments about you before on Facebook but people say you are not on Facebook. The Slingerland page / White Marine Pearl page would sure love to have you if you ever get a Facebook page. Thanks again for the reply and I hope you have a Happy New Year. Jim T.
I love Slingerland because of Vinnie Appice.
Of course his brother Carmine Appice at one time also played Slingerland drums.
My 3 ply 80N came with original heads.
When you played your 13” tom I was sat here watching mouth wide open.
Mine sounds almost identical.
I’m wanting to treat my BR kit to new heads and this video is golden as are the comments and replies.
I was set on Diplomat’s then Ambassador coated .
Listening to what you have to say here has me questioning myself again and considering going down the same path.
Remo Ambassador ‘smooth’
Hey Ken - My BR kit came with a 3 ply WMP snare with missing strainer.
I also have a Nashville RK which kicks serious butt !
Last week I picked up a 14x5 COW
8 lug - Zoomatic - COS stick saver’s.
Man it sounds AWESOME
Only bought it for the Zoomatic to transfer over to the 3 ply and have a spare set of hoops but loathed to strip it now .
I can’t decide which snare I prefer now !
What are your cymbal weight’s Ken ?
When you say medium tubing,
You say you tube so just before JAW
Do you push the centre of the head then tighten the head so wrinkle disappears ?
Hope your healthily and busy working with KL big band !
Your Slingerland 80N drumset has that great 3ply shell with the maple rings which makes for that great wide open full tone sound out of your toms. Yes Remo Ambassador heads are great for these shells. I would keep that sound king Slingerland chrome over brass snare drum and try to find a zoomatic strainer on e-bay for your 3 ply artist model snare drum. For my A Zildjian crash cymbals, I use a medium thin 18 inch on the right side and a thin crash 18 inch on the left side. Ride is a A Zidjian 20 inch medium-heavy ping. Of course 13 inch or 14 inch New-Beat for hi-hat. Then a 6 inch thin splash. Bass drum tuning with the 2 inch felt strips is like you said a medium turn of the rods so no wrinkles on the head. I`m feeling great at 68 and working all the time with my bands.It`s all about the music for me and making it exciting with my drumming. All my best to you with your drumming.
@@KenLoomer Great to hear from you Ken. That 14x5 I just bought is COW not brass. It was listed as Chrome on Steel - I thought is was a Festival when I bought it . Opened the box and BAM ! COW - 5 PLY - REALLY digging it .
@@Bigsbeee So you got the chrome wrap over the 5 ply shell Slingerland snare drum. Those are great sounding drums. Enjoy it!
@@KenLoomer You know Ken it really is.
So much so I’m hard pressed to pick a winner out that and the Nashville Steambent.
I still need a strainer for my 3 ply WMP though.
Considering on of those Indie SB1 for it.
I’ve seen a gorgeous looking Slingerland Artist BR 4x14 WMP but it’s from the WSS period - think 5 ply - 7mm made in Taiwan ?
16 offset lug’s.
But it’s silly expensive in my opinion.
@@Bigsbeee You will be able to find a zoomatic strainer for your Slingerland snare drum .I always see some on e-bay. A real 4x14 Slingerland BR snare made in the Niles factory will cost a lot of money.
Hi Ken, what Bass Drum pedal and beater do you use for that wonderful sound you get? thanks.
I use the very simple Slingerland Tempo King pedal with a wood beater. This is a strap pedal which I like best for the bass drum technique that I have.
Thank you, Best regards, Anthony.@@KenLoomer
Hi Ken, bedsides the Slingerland pedal and wood beater, do you put some kind of patch where the beater strikes the head? Thanks.
@@anthonymark1635 I always use a mole skin patch where the wood beater strikes the head. Here is a video showing my foot pedal at the 11:45 mark that I use with my Slingerland drums ua-cam.com/video/V05oBtOPA5E/v-deo.html
Thanks again Ken, really appreciate the help as it is getting harder and harder to interact with drummers who are knowledgeable and get it! If you know what I mean.
THE BUS TAPES!
I like the fact that Jerry Seinfeld used the BR bus tape on his TV show. I saw a video that Jerry did to explain what shows he used it on. I understood why Buddy would get mad if the musicians were not giving 100% to the music.
Have you ever tried Coated Ambassador or Diplomat Coated ? I'm using Coated Ambassador right now but going to try both Smooth and Dip's.
I have tried both the coated Remo Ambassador and coated Remo Diplomat heads before. For me the Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads sound the best for all of my toms. It`s has a warm wide open sound that works best for me. You can try the heads you want and hear what they sound like with your drums. I`m sure you will find the best heads for your style of drumming and the sound you want.
Hello Ken,
so is it right that you have a 1968, a 1970, a 1971 and a 1976 Slingerland Buddy Rich Set ? ( One with the 26" BD )...and on Top of this a Ludwig Buddy Rich Drumset ?
Wow, that's quite an impressive collection and even more impressing because the drum sets are still in pristine condition.
Congrats.
Is it right, that Buddy in the last years of his career when he had no endorsement deal used a Slingerland Set with a 26"x14" ( or even 28" ? ) bass drum ? I read somewhere that this particular set was a restored old Slingerland that was gifted to him...don't know if I'm right on this one but it may have been a present from the Drum Shop in New York that was run by Frank Ipolito back in the days.
What's slightly remarkable is that the last Slingerland set he played that was gifted to him didn't have the blue tinted typical Slingerland wrap that was used by Slingerland from I believe 1968 on. It's just a "normal" white pearl or White Marine Pearl.
MAybe you have some infos on all that, too.
By the way, thanks for all your great videos and keeping the music of Buddy alive with you Big Band.
Don`t know where you got your info Avaloctus,but most what you said is wrong. What I have is a 1970,71 76,and 1977 BR kit which has the 26 inch bass drum.From 1983 to 87,the last years of BR carreer,he played a restored Slingerland Radio King drum set given to him by Joe MacSweeney of the Eames drum company. This had the 14x26 inch bass drum. Also he recovered this Radio King drum set with the Slingerland Marine Pearl with the blue tint on it. I should know since I saw Buddy Rich live many times in person during those years. As you know,because of Covid 19,I had to stop playing with my Big Band.But I know one day when this is over with,I will be back. Thanks for enjoying my video`s,and I have still put on new ones from my house like this one on my 1938 GK Radio King snare ua-cam.com/video/0qcazuP3PAM/v-deo.html
@@KenLoomer Ah, o.k., thanks for correcting my mistakes.
' hope you're healthy and that you soon will be able to play again with your Big Band bringing Buddy's music to the people.
All the best to you.👍🏽
@@Avaloctus So far I have not been sick with the Covid 19. I`m in great health and have started doing a few jobs. But it will be a long time before things get back to normal.All my best to you also and happy drumming!
I didn't say that you are or were sick. I just said I hope you're healthy.... good to hear that you are. Keep it up, Ken. Love your playing !👍🏽✌🏽🙂
Great content! But - what concerns the muffling of Bonhams Bassdrum - please have a brief look on this UA-cam video as well:
JOHN BONHAM'S BASS DRUM SOUND ** THE RITCHIE RING MUFFLER **
I`m sure John Bonham tried out many ways to tune up his bass drum through the years on what he liked best. It was never a dead sounding bass drum for sure. Back then so many drummers had no front head and used pillows to have that dead sound. I loved John Bonham bass drum sound for sure!
Hello Ken,
May I ask how you tune your Emperor batter head and your Emperor reso head ( in relation to one another ) ?
You clearly mentioned how you tune your Tom and Snare heads ( in relation to one another ) .... but it would be interesting to know how you tune your bass drum heads from scratch. Do you first tight them " finger tied " and if, how many turns do you apply to the t-rods on the batter and reso head ?
I'm asking this also because, since the Emperor is a 2 ply head, my experience from tuning them is that if you don't tune/tension them to a certain amount, the two plys " hit " each other or at least you can hear them touching themselfs.
So tuning " JAW " ( just above wrinkles ), the tuning (jaw) is the lowest tuning possible, that ( My guess would be that it only works in a closed mic situation with 1 or 2 mics picking up the bass drum heads ) does/ will not work, because of the " rubbing/rambling of the 2 plys of the Emperor heads.
Tuning my 24x14" 5 ply maple bass drum with Emperors ( smooth white ones ) wide open, with just a 2" felt strip running vertical behind the batter head....and not getting the sound of the 2 plys " rambling/scratching/touching themselves ", making unwanted noise.... the only option I have discovered is to tighten them up quite a good bit, so that they are tight enough that the 2 plys don't produce unwanted noise by touching themselves anymore.
The overall tension/tuning on both heads is quite high....but I still play " deadstrokes " with my pedal, meaning I can bury the beater if I want to, without that he " comes on and off the head " like it's the case with relly high tuned bass drums that only allow for letting the beater touch the head one time and then going back in a neutral ( not buried )position.
Listening to your video via a set of good headsets that don't " colour " the sound, your bass drum sounds
very good, very low and without the typical " basketball sound " you often get when you try to tune/tension up your bass drum. ( Mostly with one ply heads like 10mil Ambassadors or equivalent ones from other companies )
Maybe you could share your tuning method with the 2 ply heads on this lovely Slingerland set.
( for exampme.....tension/t-rods first figer tied, then one complete 360 degree turn on all of them, a half turn ( 180 degree on the other head....... and so on. ' guess you know what I mean. )
For me, after listening to your advice, going with 2 ply smooth white Emperors, front and bottom, unported, I'm very happy with the sound,...... but sometimes, depending on the floor the drums are setup on.... my bass drum seems to sound higher than my 2 16x16" stand toms.
At home, with a rug underneath the drumset, it is ( of corse )a completely different situation.
I even considered, try using an Ambassador smooth white or coated as batter/reso heads, unported, 1 or 2 felt strips setting the drumset up on a thick rug/carpet
so that I can tune the bass drum a bit more down wirhout having to deal with the above mentioned 2 plys of the Emperors touching themselfs and making unwanted noise(s).
Like I already said, your (bass) drum(s) sound absolutely great in this video ( any many more👌🏽)
, it's not my intention to bash anything regarding your tuning of your bass drum using 2 ply heads,...
.....I'm just asking a question after tinkering around myself for a long time now, not getting the sound out of my bass drum I want....... and hope that you may be/are willing to help me ( and probaly some other Loomer/Rich fans, too ), have a hint or a clue......how to fix this problem with the " flapping / touching noise(s) of the 2 play Emperors.
I'd really appreciate, if you'd help on some way, regarding this problem.
Keep on playing with your great Big Band, spredding the music of Buddy and other greats from this phenomenal era of music.
🎵🥁🎶🎺🎵🎷🎶🎸🎵🎹.....📡📡📡
When I use my Remo Emperor bass drum heads,it is very easy for me to tension them up for that big open sound. For the back head,I put on the two inch felt strip and just tighten the t-rods very tight at first. Then using a drumstick,I hit the head and loosen each t-rod to get a low end sound.All by ear.I do the same for the front head.Back head I would say has a little bit looser tension to it. That is my bass drum sound. Nothing wrong with you trying out different heads for your toms. As you know,I like the big open sound for my drums that will project very clearly. Since I work all the time and my drums are playing in all different types of rooms, my tension or tuning works best for me in all of these rooms I work in.As you can hear in so many of the concert video`s I have posted,the drums sound great with this tuning no matter what room I`m playing in.I just did a Big Band show last night and my Slingerland drums sounded great.Of course it helps if you know to play them also.Happy drumming!
When I use my Remo Emperor bass drum heads,it is very easy for me to tension them up for that big open sound. For the back head,I put on the two inch felt strip and just tighten the t-rods very tight at first. Then using a drumstick,I hit the head and loosen each t-rod to get a low end sound.All by ear.I do the same for the front head.Back head I would say has a little bit looser tension to it. That is my bass drum sound. Nothing wrong with you trying out different heads for your toms. As you know,I like the big open sound for my drums that will project very clearly. Since I work all the time and my drums are playing in all different types of rooms, my tension or tuning works best for me in all of these rooms I work in.As you can hear in so many of the concert video`s I have posted,the drums sound great with this tuning no matter what room I`m playing in.I just did a Big Band show last night and my Slingerland drums sounded great.Of course it helps if you know to play them also.Happy drumming!
@@KenLoomer Hello Ken,
first of all, thanks for your answer.
From what you described, tuning the Emperors isn't too far away from the way I tune them.
( I had a good laugh about your last sentence, where you mention that it helps if you are able to play the tuned drums either😂👍🏽👍🏽. Absolutely !!!! )
Thanks for taking the time and sharing all this knowledge and your great videos of your gigs !🎶🥁👍🏽📡📡📡📡.....let the world know that this kind of great music is still being played. I wish you all the best. Stay strong, stay healthy.
( 😇..and if you know someone who may want to sell a solid footboard Rogers Swiv-O-Matic bass drum pedal...... I would appriciate it if you'd let me know and hook me up with the seller. )
Grretings,.....👌🏽🥁
Hey ken great video . You say the drums are tuned to a medium tension can u elaborate please sir. That definition could be different for many people. Is it a certain number of turns equally for reso/ batter heads. I just love that open sound.Just would like to know what medium tension is. Thank you very much. MAN those drums are GREAT looking!!
The way I get a medium tension for my toms when I first put on a new head,I tension it up first so no wrinkles on the head. This will give it a low sound.Then one full turn on each lug for a medium tension.This is the same way for the bottom head.That way I get a full open sound that will project very well. If you take great care of your drums,they will look and sound wonderful all the time. People do the same with classic cars,so why not drums.Thanks for your comment Michael.
@@KenLoomer is a full turn 180 or 360?
@@sticksbass A full turn for the lug is 360 degrees.
Great video, Ken!
What cymbals did Buddy use?
The last time I saw Buddy Rich was in 1986. He was of course using all A Zildjian cymbals. The left crash was a 18 inch thin, the right crash was a 18 inch medium thin. Ride was a 20 inch heavy so you can hear every beat very clearly over the brass. Hi hat was a 13 inch New Beat. Splash was a 6 inch thin. He also had a 22 inch swish knocker. Thanks Michael for watching the video and enjoying it.
@@KenLoomer Thanks, Ken!
Hi Ken. What camera and mics did you use to make this video? Any special mixing? Thanks.
I use the Sony HDR-SR11 HD Handycam camera which I have had for the past 8 years now. This camera has an input for mic`s,so I use the Tascam XY Stereo Microphone which is great for live performance. What you hear is the real true sound of these drums. Tascam makes great mic`s and you can hear the full range of sound of my drums with this mic. No special mixing at all in my set-up.
Do you like generally 14x4 snares more than say 5 to 5'5inches?
I use the 5.5x14 inch Slingerland snare drum a lot more than the 4x14 inch model. Both are excellent sounding snare drums,but the 5.5x14 has a fatter sound which I like very much.
where do u buy smooth white ambassadors or evans g1?
I order the Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads at my local Sam Ash music store.Also you can buy them at Amazon.
We’re the snares tight or was there some gravel ?
The snare tension on the bottom head is medium tight.With this tuning I get no snare buzz on the toms.
Ambassador or diplomat?You said both.
Buddy Rich used Diplomat heads for the toms and snare drum. Ambassodor head for the bass drum.
@@KenLoomer Diplomats would never have lasted a set.
@@jacko222333 I must of seen Buddy Rich live over a 100 times. He always used the Remo Diplomat heads.Never saw him beak a head when playing.Of course he always carried extra heads.I made a video showing pictures I took of Buddy from the many concerts that I saw of Buddy from 1969 to 1986. Here is the video ua-cam.com/video/BTsnnA6nlvk/v-deo.html Hearing the way he tuned his drums live made me wanting to have that same full open tone.
Smooth white you said?
If you read what I wrote about this video,I explain in detail the heads I use.But yes it is the Remo Smooth White Ambassador heads for all the toms.
who is this guy? he is very good wow
I`m a Big Band leader who has posted 100`s of my performance on UA-cam. Here is one video you can check out of my Ken Loomer Big Band with me playing on the same drums as in the video you watched ua-cam.com/video/kMAybt8yjL0/v-deo.html Thanks Don for your comment.
Thanks for posting this! What tension were you using on the front and back of heads of the bass drum?
The back bass drum head I use a medium tension.For the front head I lower the key rods as low as it can go before the wrinkle of the head. Just like how I tune my 2nd floor tom. The top head is medium tension and bottom head has a lower tension.
KenLoomer Thanks. 😀
Ever heard of British Drummer Brian Bennett?
No I have not heard of this British drummer.His he a jazz or rock drummer? He has his own Band?
For the record I always thought buddies drums sounded horrible.
Nothing wrong with your opinion Jimmy.If you don`t like the big open drum sound and the crisp snare drum that was the Buddy Rich sound,that is ok.Every drummer can tune their drums to what they like best. I know even great rock drummers like John Bonham who said he tuned his drums liked Buddy Rich since he loved the big open sound.Bonham even had his 26 inch bass drum wide open with no muffling. I like the Buddy Rich tuning since I`m into wide open full drum sound.
Remo only
All the drum heads I use for this BR drum set are Remo.
You forgot to tell us how to tune the bass drum. It's sound is great, but you didn't tell us.
Go to the 14 minute mark in this video where I talk about the tuning of the bass drum and the type of bass drum heads I use.
Sorry. Probably onset of Alzheimer's. Thanks. WRG.
@@williamgunnarsson Thanks for watching this video William. Glad to be of help to you.
He talks a lot, writes a lot, he takes a lot of time to show the drums, but when it comes to performing it he shows little or nothing... You have to have a lot of dynamics and speed to execute that rhythm.
I have no idea what your comment is about. This video is about tuning the drums for that BR sound. What is writes a lot? Who writes a lot? Dynamics and speed to execute what Rhythm? He takes a lot of time to show the drums. I took no time to show the drums. It was just a camera on a tripod with a one angle shot in front of the drums. If you could explain your comment which is hard to understand, that would be helpful.
I'll give you $500 for your drumset. 😊
You did not say which drum set? On my channel I have played on so many kits that I own.
Great ...but man u repeat yaself....
That`s the best way to get your point across is by saying it many times. I`m sure you remember what I said.Anyway,I understand where you are coming from.Glad you liked what I said about this type of drum tuning.
Man,I ain't played drums in 55 years, watching this makes me want to bang those bongos again.😊
It`s never too late to start playing drums again. Just go for it!
Hey Ken that's if you're playing Jazz. I have to cover Motown, Beatles, some Oldies and a few Country songs, so I prefer an open MEDIUM tuning on my set works for all these styles just fine.
You as the drummer knows best what kind of tuning you need for the type of music you play. Drummers like John Bonham, Steve Smith had this type of wide open tuning for playing rock, so it`s not just for jazz.
fantastic video ! not to forget the wooden bass drum beater and moleskin patch.
I have always used a wood beater on my pedal since this gives me a great impact sound for this type of bass drum tuning. Of course drummers like Buddy Rich,Joe Morello,Louie Bellson,Sonny Payne always used a wooden beater. Thanks for your comment Juan.
Moleskin patch?
@@findesemana1989 The old way of protecting the beater impact spot, especially with a hard beater, was to glue on a pad of Dr.Scholl's moleskin, a pad designed for sore feet! Go figure, it sounds great. I saw JR Robinson use one just a few years ago.
Quite possibly the best natural bass drum sound I've ever heard.Smooth white Emporers front and back w/ 2" felt strip on batter only? Amazing, Ken!! Love your vintage kits and sound tips. And I'm a rock drummer!
So wonderful to hear from a rock drummer who likes to have a big open sounding bass drum with no pillows,dead ringer heads on both bass drum heads. The great John Bonham always had a very wide open natural sounding bass drum.He had no felt strip or muffling of any kind.I loved his playing and sound of his drums.Thanks Marc for your comment.
@@KenLoomer I've been a fan of Gregg Potter for over 20 years, but thru him and you are discovering the genius of Buddy. Loving it.So Buddy used smooth Ambassadors front and back with felt strips? Did you try that? Why did you opt for the Emporers? I am loving how your kick sounds. I use all Ludwig 14x26 kicks, myself. I'm a new of yours, Sir. And want to see more of your vintage drum collection in spotlight!1 Great videos! Love your passion for Mr. Rich!!
The reason for me using the Emperor Smooth White Bass drum head is the fact it`s a two ply head and will last longer. With only a felt strip to help control the overtones,I get a very wide open warm sound out of my bass drum.I`m not into the dead sound with the power stroke 3 bass drum heads. I have video`s of me playing live all of my vintage drums.I have over 900 video`s,so lots to check out if you want. I don`t collect drums just to look at them,but to play them at my gigs. Thanks Marc for your comment.
@@KenLoomeryour dead wrong about Bonhams bass drum
What a beautiful kit, and it brought back a lot of memories for me 1: my Dad taking me to see Buddy play, back in the early 70's on Long Island (Colony Hill). 2: My folks had bought me a Slingerland, early 70's kit, light blue marine pearl; 22" bass, 8x12, 9x13, 16
x16 toms, and that Buddy Rich 4" snare. I remember now, they all came with the smooth white Slingerland branded heads, top & bottom, and the felts on the bass heads. Like a fool, I sold them a decade later to buy guitar equipment. Fast forward 30 years; I'm strolling through Sam Ash one day with $$$ in my pocket (from just selling a guitar) and I see the same era set sitting there, disassembled, but complete, in that lovely faded White Marine Pearl. I set them up, played them a bit, forked over my $$$ (~600 I think), took them home, gave every piece a full restoration, and enjoy them to this day. This set I will keep! I have the Krupa, chrome over brass 5" snare..... and later on I also found a matching, faded white pearl Hollywood Ace snare on ebay. I now remember how immediately responsive and cracking that 4" snare is! Wow! I wouldn't mind one of them also! Thanks for the video. Keep on drummin'!
A wonderful story Gregory on how you found that Slingerland drum set at Sam Ash and restored it. I know you are enjoying playing it so much now.Slingerland is a huge part of drum history! So many of the best drummers played Slingerland.I had no idea that one day I would use these very drums with my Ken Loomer Big Band.It has the perfect sound for the type of music that I play.Thanks so much for your comment.
Fantastic Ken, what an incredible set of drums!👏🏻👍😀
Since these Slingerland BR model drums are rare now,I will always take great care of them.I still use them all the time with my Ken Loomer Big Band. So easy to tune these classic Slingerland drums for that big open warm tone that I love. Thanks for your comment.
To hear the tone of the different heads, you should place your hand on the bottom head (resonant) while striking the top head (batter) and vice versa for striking the bottom head. This gives you the actual tone of the specific head that you're striking.
Great video for information about Buddy's tuning. Thanks Ken.
That is excellent info on how to hear the tone of the heads you are tuning SPACEMAN. Thanks for your comment.
Fantastic job! Well done. Very impressive technique and stick control! Nice to see 😎
It`s about passing on what I know to other drummers who like this type of tuning. I had so many drummers ask me about my tuning,so I made this video. Thanks Shueon for your comment.
what brand has 'smooth white'? are they like clear but shinny white?
I buy the Remo Smooth White drum heads which you can see at the Remo website.They explain how the drum head is made and all the models of smooth white heads Remo makes. Yes it has a shinny white surface.
Whoa!!! I sure do hear Buddy’s fabulous Slingerland Drums and your cymbals are fantastic! I really enjoyed this a lot Ken..... Buddy would be your Fan! Thanks and Blessings!
I think Buddy would be most happy that I as a drummer decided to do all the work of having my own Big Band and that I play some of his great music at my concerts.Buddy Rich was all about the music and playing his drums to drive the band to make it sound as good as possible. Here is a link of my Big Band playing one of his very rare charts ua-cam.com/video/I-bz6g9HSK8/v-deo.html I`m using the same Slingerland drums as in this video.Thanks so much for your comment.
Hi Ken, I;m surely no huge collector of Snare Drums, but have 4 nice Snares to fill in on my Barrett Set. The set came with an NOS 5x14 COB Sound King, 10 lug. I assume this was likely another of Barrett's he had stashed away in a box.
I then bought a mint-spotless 5x14 Buddy Rich TDR from Steve Maxwell at a show years ago. I then did a trade with my Set's seller, a mint Big R Dynasonic I had, for the mint prototype Deems Spitfire 6.5x14 COB.
Lastly , I did score a really superb condition Slingerland WMP Artist, I paid a good price for that one, 8-Lug, multi-ply shell.
All 4 drums are of course Niles Silver Black Badges.
When acquiring these drums, first thing always is I go through them, any Slingy Heads came off, stored, plus I do have a small variety of various NOS Heads for all sizes, 13", 14", 16".
Heads of choice that 3 of my Snare Drums have, are Remo Diplomats top and bottom.
Batter Head of choice, and they are quite hard to find, the 14" Diplomat M5 Coated. This is a 5mil Head.
I have about another 10 of these heads stashed, brand new.
All excellent Slingerland snare drums that you have. I really like that Slingerland TDR snare that I have with the straight edge hoops and the snares going across the entire bottom head. Do you have any video`s of you playing any of your Slingerland drums? Wonderful you have NOS Slingerland heads. I only have one. Cool looking box with Buddy on the cover. Thanks Mark for your comment.
Dude you're a kick ass demonstrator and explanatory teacher. Interesting history lesson too.
Glad you enjoyed this video on how the great BR tension his drums. Us drummers love to share this type of info to all drummers who want to try out different ways to tune a drum set. Thanks for your comment.
Great video! I would have the rack toms bottom head slightly looser and maybe the top head too to sound a bit more like Bill wards rack tom on the live Paris 1970 video. Those floor toms are amazing though!
That is to say with Black Sabbath. It always surprises me how much buddy influenced him
The great part about being a drummer is that you get to tune your toms the way you like it.Since I play mostly jazz and have my own Big Band like Buddy Rich,the small tom is better to tune up higher for me to cut through the brass since I never mic up my drums. It`s a very open sound which I want to project out to the people. Thanks for your comment.
Bill Ward is an excellent rock drummer.As you know,Buddy Rich influenced so many rock drummers like John Bonham,Gregg Potter,Keith Moon,Carmine Appice,Danny Seraphine just to name a few.