Great playing, and you also tuned these really well. I used to a have a big Rocker II kit- 8 through 15" power toms, 16" floor and double 24x14" kicks (strangely enough, that size was only ever cataloged for the Rockers, not the IIs). These drums are absolutely gems- aside from some of the hardware and wrap issues you touched on. They sound just as good, if not better than the higher-end Ludwigs of the era, in part because the hardware is so light the shells can really resonate. Glad someone else appreciates these for what they are... total sleepers!
Nice! I'm putting together a small kit of odds and ends with just pieces I really love. Impression hats, AAX Omni ride, a broken Byzance classic splash that I use as a crash (it sounds boss), PDP snare, Ludwig Rocker bass drum... and I just ordered a 16x16 Rocker floor tom to complete my mini setup. Here's hoping that floor tom sounds as good as yours.
I just acquired a Rockers bass drum shell just like yours, only it was from the first run of production, and the shell has zero imperfections, yet it has the same Ludwig Granitone coating.. Doing a re-wrap on it .. Your kit sounds pretty sweet, btw !
I've seen a couple of your videos. I like the effort you put into the videos. It's great to hear all of the specs and history, and then to actually hear you play the drums. Nice tuning and the drums sound great. Keep 'em coming.
Thanks, I have no editing software so I usually end up doing several takes. So by the time I get to the actual playing I've said the whole history part about five times.
*** EDIT *** I just got to the part where you state that you installed those spurs. Oops! It seems very rare to see one of the Granitone Rocker bass drums that not only has the beefier spurs, but is also virgin. Very cool.
Austin Orsini, I bought the shells for $80. In a yard sale across the street from where I grew up. There they were, sitting in the dirt and direct sunlight. Came with one double tom stand, two cymbal stand bases and a broken hi hat stand, all rocker II. I picked up the snare for around $60 on eBay. The original snare would have been 5x14.
These sound killer like cannons! Loved the Eric carr reference! I would definitely cut that crack out of the crash cymbal so it doesn't spread. It still sounds good. Also saw the drum stick drop and you kept going! I know how that goes and I was loving watching you just get right back into it. For real I didn't expect these drums to sound this good !
I did eventually sell this kit after replacing about four more tom lug casings and one bassdrum lug casing. They tend to break just above where the screws thread in. While it’s true that the classic lugs fit, it’s an expensive endeavor with that many toms.
@@awesomefanger I hate when that happens. I used to have a drum shop near me. and he had drawers and buckets full of lugs and hardware. If I needed it he had it. Charged me $2 or more a piece tho
Back in the day I had a huge white Rocker kit similar layout to Eric Carrs kit in Heavens on Fire video. Had the classic lugs. Paiste cymbals. Black Evans hydraulic sounded great. Nice tuning and playing. Thanks for sharing years ago.
I have two sets of Rockers. Stripped off the crummy wraps and sanded the wood. Applied wipe on poly and let that grain shine. Looks as good as it sounds.
They can be ugly by now, but WOW, some of the best sounding drums I've EVER heard. They tune up REALLY well. And they play very well, too. Only downside with old stuff is the hardware turns into a nightmare.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Yep. The lugs in particular are absolute crap. On the toms however, the Ludwig Super Classic lugs are a direct replacement. I also know a couple of guys who have replaced the lugs with tube lugs. On my kits, I still have the old lugs. Over time I have replaced the lug inserts with brass ones which do NOT strip out. Also, I have replaced the bass drum legs with Ludwig Atlas legs (one hole had to be routed larger). And I replaced the tom mount with a newer Atlas mount. So far, the new hardware has held up quite well.
These drums are still the shit these days..they rock like their series name says!Can you someday share your great tunning skills and make a video of it?Thanks!
I’ll have to get a set of new heads and show off how I learned to tune. Local music shop guy showed me and I still employ his method for a rock drum sound.
The Gibraltar bass drum spurs fit, they are a little further back than normal but cover op the elongated hole left by the disappearing spurs. I did have to drill an extra hole on each side.
I STILL HAVE MY 10 PIECE ROCKER KIT I PURCHASED NEW FROM BIASCO MUSIC SHITCAGO 1987...I HAVE PLAYED MANY KITS THAT EVERYONE THINKS ARE SO GREAT THAT CANT HOLD A CANDLE..SONOR TAMA DW....THE ONLY TWO ON PAR WERE YAMAHA AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE PEARL KIT MADE..THE KIT WAS 1200 THE ZYLDIAN Z CYMBALS AND ALL BOOM STANDS AND HARDWARE COST ME 1200..LOL
Yeah thats what i was going for. I really feel almost any drum can be tuned high and sound okay. I like the lower tunings for sure. Maybe i’ll do some higher tunings in future videos.
Nice sounding kit man . I have a double bass set of Rockers in white almost mint condition I am actually trying to sell because I couldn't get a decent sound. Maybe I should try the Ambassador and Diplomats. That kit sound bad ass Good playing too !
OMG. Too bad I'm already at four now! That's my dream kit. They may be ugly ah by now, but wow, do they sound and play really nicely. Not sure about not getting a good sound...? I've yet to have that issue with Lugwig. The Vistalite for example, pretty much tunes itself. Minus their tending to FALL off those stupid floor tom legs, just about the perfect kit. And I'm up to 4. Lol. They all do something different, that's why.
Sweet review! What kind of bass spurs did you use to "retro-fit" the kick drum? Would any brackets/spur or did you seek out specific spurs? Thanks for any input ^^
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 couches are very overated..one is responsible for smashing up my laptop screen..always waiting to pounce..can't trust em!..
You're missing it. Trust me, I've played these. Very comfy to play and sound great. You can't tell on this format, either. New heads. Proper finicky tuning by one of THOSE guys who's DAMNED good at it. Some damping. I REALLY hate, "PONG, pong, pong," coming out of the snare... :) jmo.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 i like open snares, especially 6.5” i am using a P3 so there’s some muting. choked snares all sound about the same with the din of a rock band. Gated or excessively muted kick and snare just doesn’t do it for me. I like a note. But to each their own.
It's Pies-tee. NOT pays-tee. Never ever. That's like saying "Neumann." It's "Noy-mahn." Otherwise you can't be in the club. Now, Neil Peart is pronounced "Peer-t." But EVERY drummer I've ever seen ALWAYS says "Pert" again within 5 minutes of saying "Peer-t" just to prove they know the right pron. The one time. Lol
I believe Ludwig during this era described it as “maple and North American hardwoods” so just maple on the putter plys? According to the vintage drum guide: “Toms and Snare are 4-ply select American Wood veneers with maple interior (the select american veneers were in fact north carolina poplar and these were the first of the shells made in the new monroe north carolina factory) and the bass drum is 6-ply which were a combination of maple and poplar. (select American veneer info Ludwig-dude)
Great playing, and you also tuned these really well. I used to a have a big Rocker II kit- 8 through 15" power toms, 16" floor and double 24x14" kicks (strangely enough, that size was only ever cataloged for the Rockers, not the IIs). These drums are absolutely gems- aside from some of the hardware and wrap issues you touched on. They sound just as good, if not better than the higher-end Ludwigs of the era, in part because the hardware is so light the shells can really resonate. Glad someone else appreciates these for what they are... total sleepers!
Love the way these drums sound. Huge.and the kiss songs too.
Yes the 4 ply shells sing, especially with emperors.
Ludwig/Paiste player too. Favourite Drummer being Eric Carr. Love the War Machine/Calling Dr.Love Drum licks!!!.
Nice! I'm putting together a small kit of odds and ends with just pieces I really love. Impression hats, AAX Omni ride, a broken Byzance classic splash that I use as a crash (it sounds boss), PDP snare, Ludwig Rocker bass drum... and I just ordered a 16x16 Rocker floor tom to complete my mini setup. Here's hoping that floor tom sounds as good as yours.
Great playing! And great sounding drums
I just acquired a Rockers bass drum shell just like yours, only it was from the first run of production, and the shell has zero imperfections, yet it has the same Ludwig Granitone coating.. Doing a re-wrap on it .. Your kit sounds pretty sweet, btw !
I've seen a couple of your videos. I like the effort you put into the videos. It's great to hear all of the specs and history, and then to actually hear you play the drums. Nice tuning and the drums sound great. Keep 'em coming.
Thanks, I have no editing software so I usually end up doing several takes. So by the time I get to the actual playing I've said the whole history part about five times.
*** EDIT *** I just got to the part where you state that you installed those spurs. Oops!
It seems very rare to see one of the Granitone Rocker bass drums that not only has the beefier spurs, but is also virgin. Very cool.
This kit sounds really good.
Great tuning and great playing
I love my rockers I've had them since I was a kid 1987 I think is when I got them
Mine is from the mid 80’s plastic chrome five piece rocker kit with remo pinstripes
I’ve got one from 1982 chrome over wood coated ambassadors & power stroke 3 on the kicker/ matching hi hat stand
Austin Orsini, I bought the shells for $80.
In a yard sale across the street from where I grew up. There they were, sitting in the dirt and direct sunlight. Came with one double tom stand, two cymbal stand bases and a broken hi hat stand, all rocker II. I picked up the snare for around $60 on eBay. The original snare would have been 5x14.
These sound killer like cannons! Loved the Eric carr reference! I would definitely cut that crack out of the crash cymbal so it doesn't spread. It still sounds good. Also saw the drum stick drop and you kept going! I know how that goes and I was loving watching you just get right back into it. For real I didn't expect these drums to sound this good !
I did eventually sell this kit after replacing about four more tom lug casings and one bassdrum lug casing.
They tend to break just above where the screws thread in. While it’s true that the classic lugs fit, it’s an expensive endeavor with that many toms.
@@awesomefanger I hate when that happens. I used to have a drum shop near me. and he had drawers and buckets full of lugs and hardware. If I needed it he had it. Charged me $2 or more a piece tho
Back in the day I had a huge white Rocker kit similar layout to Eric Carrs kit in Heavens on Fire video. Had the classic lugs. Paiste cymbals. Black Evans hydraulic sounded great.
Nice tuning and playing. Thanks for sharing years ago.
I love the Paistes!
I have two sets of Rockers. Stripped off the crummy wraps and sanded the wood. Applied wipe on poly and let that grain shine. Looks as good as it sounds.
They can be ugly by now, but WOW, some of the best sounding drums I've EVER heard. They tune up REALLY well. And they play very well, too.
Only downside with old stuff is the hardware turns into a nightmare.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Yep. The lugs in particular are absolute crap. On the toms however, the Ludwig Super Classic lugs are a direct replacement. I also know a couple of guys who have replaced the lugs with tube lugs.
On my kits, I still have the old lugs. Over time I have replaced the lug inserts with brass ones which do NOT strip out. Also, I have replaced the bass drum legs with Ludwig Atlas legs (one hole had to be routed larger). And I replaced the tom mount with a newer Atlas mount. So far, the new hardware has held up quite well.
And of course the drums sound great (as do your grooves).
Very well done, thank you! Nice kit!!!
top class great drummer .. super drum kit
Love the sound of the snare drum 🥁
props for the Clive Burr shoutout
Enjoyed this video. Awesome drumming. Awesome kit. Awesome drum tuning.
plays a bass solo to show off the drums. love it!!!
fair warning is my favourite VH album.
wow, great kit. It reminds me of my high school years. They still sound great man!
love this.
I don't miss spring lugs or the wrech-adjusted tom stands.
sound great !
Carr jam. And I still love you!!
These drums are still the shit these days..they rock like their series name says!Can you someday share your great tunning skills and make a video of it?Thanks!
I’ll have to get a set of new heads and show off how I learned to tune. Local music shop guy showed me and I still employ his method for a rock drum sound.
The Gibraltar bass drum spurs fit, they are a little further back than normal but cover op the elongated hole left by the disappearing spurs. I did have to drill an extra hole on each side.
I Like It!
These are amazing!
That's funny, I do that Alex Van Halen beat a lot when doing mic checks.
I have my kit set up the exact same but different drums
I STILL HAVE MY 10 PIECE ROCKER KIT I PURCHASED NEW FROM BIASCO MUSIC SHITCAGO 1987...I HAVE PLAYED MANY KITS THAT EVERYONE THINKS ARE SO GREAT THAT CANT HOLD A CANDLE..SONOR TAMA DW....THE ONLY TWO ON PAR WERE YAMAHA AND THE MOST EXPENSIVE PEARL KIT MADE..THE KIT WAS 1200 THE ZYLDIAN Z CYMBALS AND ALL BOOM STANDS AND HARDWARE COST ME 1200..LOL
what cymbals are those? they sound so good.
I know it's a preference thing but I think the toms are all tuned too low. But again I acknowledge the element of vive la difference. Peace all.
Yeah thats what i was going for. I really feel almost any drum can be tuned high and sound okay. I like the lower tunings for sure. Maybe i’ll do some higher tunings in future videos.
Correction: these are 4 ply toms, 6 ply bass drum. Same as the "super classic" Monroe shells.
Nice sounding kit man . I have a double bass set of Rockers in white almost mint condition I am actually trying to sell because I couldn't get a decent sound. Maybe I should try the Ambassador and Diplomats. That kit sound bad ass Good playing too !
OMG. Too bad I'm already at four now! That's my dream kit. They may be ugly ah by now, but wow, do they sound and play really nicely.
Not sure about not getting a good sound...? I've yet to have that issue with Lugwig. The Vistalite for example, pretty much tunes itself. Minus their tending to FALL off those stupid floor tom legs, just about the perfect kit. And I'm up to 4. Lol.
They all do something different, that's why.
Sweet review! What kind of bass spurs did you use to "retro-fit" the kick drum? Would any brackets/spur or did you seek out specific spurs? Thanks for any input ^^
*would any bracket or spur style work or did you seek out those specifically?
I used the Gibraltar spurs, they are the same that ludwig used in the late 80's-2000's.
Paiste 2002 15"sound edge hi hats, 2 18" 2002 crashes, 18" 2000 china, 18" 2002 china, 20" 2002 power ride.
War machine!!
And the big fill from Calling Dr. Love.
Snuck some Peter Criss in there.
i'll take it! maybe a little late,of course it's 2017 now! lol
Me, too! I'll FIND room!! I don't really need a sofa, lol
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 couches are very overated..one is responsible for smashing up my laptop screen..always waiting to pounce..can't trust em!..
All these people saying they sound great, be truthful and honest.......it could be any old kit!
Yes more often than not head selection and tuning are what make a kit sound good. And you can’t make bad cymbals sound good.
You're missing it. Trust me, I've played these. Very comfy to play and sound great.
You can't tell on this format, either.
New heads.
Proper finicky tuning by one of THOSE guys who's DAMNED good at it.
Some damping. I REALLY hate, "PONG, pong, pong," coming out of the snare... :) jmo.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 i like open snares, especially 6.5” i am using a P3 so there’s some muting. choked snares all sound about the same with the din of a rock band. Gated or excessively muted kick and snare just doesn’t do it for me. I like a note. But to each their own.
How much did the shells cost you?
What about the inlaid’s silver sparkle or gray inlaid’s .
The kit had no bass drum hoops or claws when I bought it at a yard sale. I found those black metal hoops at the local pawn shop.
is this maple?
“Select hardwoods” but I’ve heard maple and poplar.
ian paice
@Larry Niles I think he was responding to the “name other Ludwig and Paiste players” I would never claim to even come close Ian’s feel.
It's Pies-tee. NOT pays-tee. Never ever.
That's like saying "Neumann." It's "Noy-mahn." Otherwise you can't be in the club.
Now, Neil Peart is pronounced "Peer-t." But EVERY drummer I've ever seen ALWAYS says "Pert" again within 5 minutes of saying "Peer-t" just to prove they know the right pron. The one time. Lol
But what about lood-wig and Lud-wig?
is this maple?
I believe Ludwig during this era described it as “maple and North American hardwoods” so just maple on the putter plys?
According to the vintage drum guide: “Toms and Snare are 4-ply select American Wood veneers with maple interior
(the select american veneers were in fact north carolina poplar and these were the first of the shells made in the new monroe north carolina factory) and the bass drum is 6-ply which were a combination of maple and poplar. (select American veneer info Ludwig-dude)