As noted in previous posts, there’s not a lot of information online about Yamaha’s short-lived Custom Drums line from the mid-1990s. Most of what I’ve found has been from other Custom Drums owners who stumbled on my site looking for information about their drums. I had heard about the Custom Drums catalog that came out … More Yamaha Custom Drums Color Book
I’ve been focusing mostly on collecting snare drums over the past few years – they’re cheaper than full drum sets, take up less space, cost less to ship (and are easier to sneak in the door when my wife isn’t looking). And I wasn’t really looking to add another kit to my basement studio, which … More 1972 Ludwig Standard – Blue Strata
All of the drums I’ve picked up in recent years have been used – due mostly to my interest in vintage gear and the seemingly endless number of great drums that pop up at the local drum shop or online. Well, that’s not entirely true. I have purchased one new drum in the past 26 … More Dunnett Model 2N Brass Snare
The drum that started my little collecting hobby two years ago was a 1968 Ludwig Acrolite. It’s basically a gateway drum – cheap, plentiful, sounds great – and it set me on the road of learning about the last 100 years of drum making and building a collection of essential snare drums. And as I’ve … More 1969 Ludwig Standard Acrolite Finish
As a Canadian drummer and wannabe collector, I have a particular soft spot for Ayotte drums. Often heralded as the first boutique drum company, it was founded by Ray Ayotte out in Vancouver in the early 1980s. The drums that came out of his shop are universally praised for their exceptional craftsmanship, with beautiful wood … More 1990s Ayotte Custom Snare Drum
