Snare of the day

Rogers Tower

Today’s featured snare drum is this stunning Rogers Tower in Blue glass glitter…

While the wood shell Dynasonic snare drum  has become the Holy grail and the Powertone more common, the Tower has remained a ‘closet classic’. This particular drum is in amazing, original condition – the wrap is in really great, bright, sparkling condition whilst the chrome hardware shows little signs of wear.

This drum dates to the mid 1960’s (1964-1967) with original grey interior and Cleveland tag. It tunes up with ease and sounds great – a nice bright open sound with great stick response right across the playing surface. To me it sounds like classic Rogers. More information and photos on the website.

Snare of the day

Rogers Super Ten

Featured snare drum today is this lovely Rogers Super Ten…

This drum is fairly rare to come across in the UK, a 14 x 6.5″ chrome over steel shell with all original hardware. If you’re looking for that classic American Rock low tuned thud, then this drum could be your answer. The internal dampener/muffler is nice, just touching the head slightly reduces the need for gels on the batter head.

Tune it up mid-high and you get great stick response and a lovely crack!

Many seek the Ludwig 402 as their go to 6.5″ snare drum, and overlook other worthy contenders such as this. More photos and info about this drum on the website.

Snare of the day

Rogers Dynasonic, 6.5″

 

Fairly rare to come across a 6.5″ Dynasonic, so I thought I’d share this lovely snare drum today.

14 x 6.5″ Chrome over brass shell with original hardware and Big R Rogers USA badge. The cradle on this drum is complete with a set of wires, fitted with Remo heads it tunes up and sounds great.

Today, as when the Dynasonic was introduced, drummers will either claim it is the most responsive snare drum they have ever played, or will dismiss it as being too fiddly to set up and get a good sound. The basic premise was to have a drum with floating snares which allowed tension without putting any pressure on the head. This would require the shell to have no snare beds, which were believed to reduce volume and tone and create choking.

Maybe you’ve never played one? Come and visit us and change that! Common in a 5″ shell, rare in a 6.5″ – this is the only one we’ve ever had in the shop!

Also available at Nick Hopkin Drums website with Worldwide shipping.

Snare of the day

Rogers Tower

Today’s featured snare drum is another from the Rogers drum company, a Tower in blue sparkle.

This mid 1960’s snare drum is in great condition, the wrap in excellent shape with no dull spots or fade to the colour. The chrome is also in excellent condition and all hardware is original.

The drum features the Sta-Tite snare strainer with the V facing downwards dating the drum somewhere between 1964 and 1967. Grey interior and Cleveland tag authenticate the originality of this drum.

Fitted with Aquarian head sand Puresound wires, it tunes up easily and sounds great. More information and images on the website.

Snare of the day

Rogers Dynasonic 8″ Maple

Today’s featured snare drum is another first through the shop in the 5 years we’ve been open. An early 80’s  Rogers  Maple Dynasonic.

This drum was the last of the Dynasonics, appearing in the 1983 catalogue. It’s fairly rare to see on the market, especially in the UK – this drum being a 14 x 8″ shell.

Featuring the Rogers USA Big R badge, all hardware is original; ‘Beaver tail’ lugs with black plinths, snare frame with a set of wires, ‘clock face’ strainer and internal tone control muffler.

This drum is in great condition. A couple minor scratches to the shell, and a dent in the badge, that’s all. Tunes up nicely and sounds great. Seldom seen in the UK. More info on this drum on our website.

Kit of the week

Rogers Big R Spanish Gold

This weeks featured kit is something you don’t see everyday, particularly here in the UK. A Rogers Big R set in Big sizes – 24,13,14,18 – in Spanish Gold.

This set landed at the shop this week, and took my breath away as I took the drums out of the cases. First off, I love the colour – have you ever seen anything quite like it? Cased it’s whole life there is no fade to the wrap and the chrome is great, so I’d put this as collectors condition – although it really must be played because you should hear it!

 

Fitted with original Rogers heads this set hold lots of vintage charm, but in these sizes it has to be heard to be believed. 5 ply maple shells with re-rings,  in these sizes,  gives the big, fat warm sound you’d expect. I don’t like to compare brands, as we currently have some really great sets in the shop, but this really is something special. A 24″ and 18″ on a 4 piece set is just immense!

Some people didn’t like the change from the Swivomatic  to this chunkier Memrilok hardware, but its actually very good. If you can get past the oversized tubular bass drum legs, the rest is very practical. The memriloks allow you to set tom arms and floor tom legs precisely, making set up a dream.

The kit is available on our website with Worldwide shipping, but if you’re in the UK i’d urge you to make an appointment to come to the shop and hear this kit for yourself.

It’s jaw dropping!

Snare of the day

Rogers Super Ten

OK, so we had a stack of Rogers drums land at the shop on Monday, so today’s featured snare drum is a Rogers Super Ten.

The Super Ten snare drum was manufactured between 1973 and 1983 and offered as a chrome over steel shell in depths of 5″ and 6.5″.  This particular drum is a 14 x 6.5″ in great condition. Original hardware throughout; 10 lugs, Rogers hoops, tone control muffler, clock face snare strainer. Fitted with Remo heads and 42 strand snare wires, this snare tunes up nicely and has great response tuned higher and a big, fat warm sound tuned low.

A great sounding drum, a nice alternative to the popular Ludwig 402. More information on our website where we offer Worldwide shipping on all products.

Snare of the day

Rogers Powertone Blue Onyx

After receiving a visit today from Alan Drew, one of the leading authorities on Vintage Rogers drums (and a renown collection) I thought it only right to feature a Rogers snare drum today. And what a stunner this one is…

Here we have a very fine example of a wood shell Powertone from the 1960’s. These drums were introduced in the mid 1960’s, replacing the Holiday models and in production until 1970.

This drum is finished in a stunning Blue Onyx wrap in amazing condition. All hardware is original, the Clockface strainer dating this drum pre-1967. The interior of the shell is original grey with a Cleveland, Ohio label. Rogers script badge intact with original pins.

This snare drum arrived in our shop last week and is fitted with Aquarian heads and Puresound wires. It tunes up nicely and sounds great. More info and photo’s of this drum at Nick Hopkin Drums where we offer Worldwide shipping.