My first 'real' drum set was a Whitehall brand 5-piece in a sort of 'white/black onyx pearl' finish, which I purchased in 1971. As I recall they had quite nice shells and the drums sounded great. I later found out they were a 'stencil kit' actually made by Pearl. 'MIJ stencil kits' generally get a bad rap but those drums were decent.
They sound f*ckin amazing ! I used to have a whole bunch of mystery drums back in the 70's, don't even remember where they went. I love drums, wish I could get all the sets sitting in people's basements, or attics, or out in the garage or barn !
I've been a collector and restorer of MIJ kits for 30 years and it's sad that your video didn't address the fact that the companies that put out these cheaper drums became world leaders in the drum market, while wiping out many of the competition like Rogers, Slingerland, Camco etc. Many drum companies had substandard hardware in the 50s and 60s and even early 70s. Ludwig's years of flaking chrome issues for one. Rogers was an innovator in better hardware but still died until it's recent rebirth a few years ago. As for the drum lugs on these kits, most lugs were built like tanks with really only 2 designs being problematic. Your video seems to mock these drums rather than address the importance of them in the 60s and early 70s. High end drums were out of many people's reach at that time on a regional scale and these MIJ companies new how to market and shop their product. We could at least play drums without going broke and they were easy to get ;-) These kits are still highly collectable now and affordable and with some TLC and new head combinations can get great sounds from them. Re-cutting bearing edges also gives some of these drums a new voice. The big picture is.... these kits are still around and in good shape which is testament to at least some being of better quality than others ;-) I recorded an album with a 1977 Hoshino MIJ kit. Worked for me ;-) Click the link to hear the kit on the album. th-cam.com/video/XbpYyvYzeFQ/w-d-xo.html
Yeah I also collect. I’ve had several American drums with cheap hardware such as Tom mounts for one. Also Ludwig floor Tom leg mounts were notorious for loosening up.
When you “test” this drums on flat wall room full of shit everywhere and no real mics and still sounds pretty good you know they would kill it in a real studio
As a knowledgeable vintage drum collector, including MIJ Stencil kit, most of this is borderline insulting to listen to. Why post a video talking about something you don't know about. Even that book... those of us that know that book and the author laugh at the lack of knowledge in that book.... talk to Ken Hayes in Rhode Island.... a true expert. Also some of us own high quality MIJ kits that rival anything of the day, thick heavy shells, incredible sound etc
I agree I have a vintage pearl and they sound awesome in the studio. I guess they’re pearl because they come with the battleship lugs and they’re gold grain my question would be why my 22 bass drum comes with 10 lugs per side instead of 8 which is the common set up for thunder king outfit. I just love that kit I hope I can keep it in the family for ever
Just got a 60s Apollo MiJ kit. Brass hardware, teardrop lugs. Looks better and is better made than Ludwigs of the same era. Bass drum spurs are brass too.
th-cam.com/video/N0UHmA-6zao/w-d-xo.htmlsi=A4p_MFlyvsAYiBDS I traded two Pacific LX toms for a 5 piece 60's Japanese Pearl Challenger Mahogany kit in blue sparkle (video attachment). I slapped some Remo Pinstripes and Evans G1 resos and it gets a nice punch with some nice lows. I play pop and skate punk music and this kit keeps up with the tone i like. I also have an Olympic Japanese gold sparkle 20in Kick that is nice and Punchy. In this video I'm using a "stencil" Bruno Conqueror 14x5.5 Steel snare that was made by Pearl and someone in a thread compared it to a Ludwig Supraphonic that he had. The Challenger came with a 12 & 13 rack tom ,14 snare, 14 floor and a 20in Kick.
Some are built better than others. I've had some really shitty ones. I have a 16" bass drum in wmp with wood hoops and inlays. Single tension. That's a keeper.
Terrible quality drums. Shells are cheap Luan wood. Horrible cut bearing edges,Wood shells have lots of filler in them on some shells i have seen. The drums look cool and have cool looking wraps. You have to recut the bearing edges or even take a sander to them to make them better and tune them the best you can.Some Japanese drums are better than others.Quality control was horrible on many of these drums.The chrome plating was horrible on many except the Dixie/Tempro stencil kits on some years the chrome looked great.
My first 'real' drum set was a Whitehall brand 5-piece in a sort of 'white/black onyx pearl' finish, which I purchased in 1971. As I recall they had quite nice shells and the drums sounded great. I later found out they were a 'stencil kit' actually made by Pearl. 'MIJ stencil kits' generally get a bad rap but those drums were decent.
A lot of the older Japanese shells had the wood grain running vertically instead of running around the shell with the curve.
They sound f*ckin amazing ! I used to have a whole bunch of mystery drums back in the 70's, don't even remember where they went. I love drums, wish I could get all the sets sitting in people's basements, or attics, or out in the garage or barn !
I had a star drums when I was a kid.thair worth fixing up. If you like vintage m.I.j. Drums I would love to find one 🥁🇯🇵
I have an 1974 luddie black cortex with a 20” floor Tom and just acquired 22” triple flange rims for the next floor Tom 😁
Those are some massive toms!
I've been a collector and restorer of MIJ kits for 30 years and it's sad that your video didn't address the fact that the companies that put out these cheaper drums became world leaders in the drum market, while wiping out many of the competition like Rogers, Slingerland, Camco etc. Many drum companies had substandard hardware in the 50s and 60s and even early 70s. Ludwig's years of flaking chrome issues for one. Rogers was an innovator in better hardware but still died until it's recent rebirth a few years ago. As for the drum lugs on these kits, most lugs were built like tanks with really only 2 designs being problematic. Your video seems to mock these drums rather than address the importance of them in the 60s and early 70s. High end drums were out of many people's reach at that time on a regional scale and these MIJ companies new how to market and shop their product. We could at least play drums without going broke and they were easy to get ;-) These kits are still highly collectable now and affordable and with some TLC and new head combinations can get great sounds from them. Re-cutting bearing edges also gives some of these drums a new voice. The big picture is.... these kits are still around and in good shape which is testament to at least some being of better quality than others ;-) I recorded an album with a 1977 Hoshino MIJ kit. Worked for me ;-) Click the link to hear the kit on the album.
th-cam.com/video/XbpYyvYzeFQ/w-d-xo.html
Yeah I also collect. I’ve had several American drums with cheap hardware such as Tom mounts for one. Also Ludwig floor Tom leg mounts were notorious for loosening up.
love my mij tempro kit
When you “test” this drums on flat wall room full of shit everywhere and no real mics and still sounds pretty good you know they would kill it in a real studio
As a knowledgeable vintage drum collector, including MIJ Stencil kit, most of this is borderline insulting to listen to. Why post a video talking about something you don't know about. Even that book... those of us that know that book and the author laugh at the lack of knowledge in that book.... talk to Ken Hayes in Rhode Island.... a true expert. Also some of us own high quality MIJ kits that rival anything of the day, thick heavy shells, incredible sound etc
thank you for the feedback!
Hello, I'm in the market for MIJ drums and I'd like to have a conversation...how can I reach you?
I agree I have a vintage pearl and they sound awesome in the studio. I guess they’re pearl because they come with the battleship lugs and they’re gold grain my question would be why my 22 bass drum comes with 10 lugs per side instead of 8 which is the common set up for thunder king outfit. I just love that kit I hope I can keep it in the family for ever
What a waste of time.Not knowledgeable at all.
Hi. I own a royal star pre tama kit (22, 12, 13, 16) with re rings. Sound's very good! 👍I'm so happy with that kit 🙂
Good choice!
Just got a 60s Apollo MiJ kit. Brass hardware, teardrop lugs. Looks better and is better made than Ludwigs of the same era. Bass drum spurs are brass too.
th-cam.com/video/N0UHmA-6zao/w-d-xo.htmlsi=A4p_MFlyvsAYiBDS
I traded two Pacific LX toms for a 5 piece 60's Japanese Pearl Challenger Mahogany kit in blue sparkle (video attachment). I slapped some Remo Pinstripes and Evans G1 resos and it gets a nice punch with some nice lows. I play pop and skate punk music and this kit keeps up with the tone i like. I also have an Olympic Japanese gold sparkle 20in Kick that is nice and Punchy. In this video I'm using a "stencil" Bruno Conqueror 14x5.5 Steel snare that was made by Pearl and someone in a thread compared it to a Ludwig Supraphonic that he had. The Challenger came with a 12 & 13 rack tom ,14 snare, 14 floor and a 20in Kick.
Some are built better than others. I've had some really shitty ones. I have a 16" bass drum in wmp with wood hoops and inlays. Single tension. That's a keeper.
Terrible quality drums. Shells are cheap Luan wood. Horrible cut bearing edges,Wood shells have lots of filler in them on some shells i have seen. The drums look cool and have cool looking wraps. You have to recut the bearing edges or even take a sander to them to make them better and tune them the best you can.Some Japanese drums are better than others.Quality control was horrible on many of these drums.The chrome plating was horrible on many except the Dixie/Tempro stencil kits on some years the chrome looked great.