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QFD PRIVATE COLLECTION

  • 1930s Ajax Fidelity Console
  • 1945c Ajax Jack Parnell DeLuxe
  • 1950s Trixon / Broadway Set
  • 1950s/60s Ajax Blue Elegance
  • 1968c Slingerland Stage Band
  • 1975/76 Premier Phil Collins
  • 1980s Gretsch Power Jazzette
  • 1982 Ex Phil Collins Pearl BLX
  • 1982c Pearl BLX DLX 13 Piece
  • 2017 George Way Duco Tradition Tuxedo
  • 2018 Custom George Way Walnut
  • 2018 George Way Acacia Ex Carter McLean
  • 2020 Custom Electronic 2Box

Snare Collection

  • Ajax Boosey & Hawkes etc
  • DW
  • Fibes
  • George Way
  • Gretsch
  • Ludwig
  • Pearl
  • Slingerland

Cymbal Collection

  • Avedis / Zildjian
  • Bosphorus
  • Ibrahim Diril
  • Manabu Yamamota
  • Paiste
  • Sabian
  • UFIP

Print Collection

  • Catalogs & Brochures
  • Vintage Books
  • Vintage Magazines

PAST DRUMS AND KITS

  • 1920c Suitcase Traps
  • 1920s Ajax Traps
  • 1922c Jedson Traps
  • 1930s CarltonButterfly Console
  • 1948c Ajax De-Luxe
  • 1948c Slingerland Radio King
  • 1958 Slingerland Krupa Junior
  • 1958c Ajax Crosshatch Pearl
  • 1959 Slingerland Radio King
  • 1959? Ajax Blue Sparkle
  • 1960 Slingerland Gene Krupa
  • 1960s Ajax Mardi Gras
  • 1960s Ajax Stratford Besson
  • 1960s Del Rey Blue Sparkle (3)
  • 1960s Del Rey Blue Sparkle (4)
  • 1961 Trixon Luxus
  • 1961 Trixon Speedfire
  • 1961 Trixon Twin Set
  • 1966c Pearl Arbiter
  • 1967c Ajax Nu Sound Forte
  • 1970s Beverley Gold Sparkle 1
  • 1970s Beverley Gold Sparkle 2
  • 1973c Premier B303
  • 1977-81 Premier Phil Collins
  • 1980s Apollo Percussion
  • 1982c Pearl BLX 24" 4pc #112
  • 1983 Pearl DLX7500 4pc #101
  • 1983 Pearl DLX7500 6pc #112
  • 1983-7 Pearl DLX Custom#112
  • 1984 Pearl DLX Cust 4pc #112
  • 1986 Pearl DLX7500 4pc #108
  • 1987 Pearl DLX18-3 Jazz #112
  • 1988 Pearl DLX20-5 Cust #112
  • 1988 Pearl DLX20-6 Jazz #112
  • 1994 Ex Pink Floyd DW Set
  • 1997 Pearl ELX Export
  • 2008c Premier Artist Legend
  • 2009 Gretsch Catalina Ash
  • 2010 2Box DrummIt 5
  • 2011 Mapex Chris Adler Kit
  • 2013 Natal Custom Fusion20
  • 2014 Tama Metro Jam
  • 2014 Tama SLP 14x6.5
  • 2015 C&C Player Date I
  • 2016 Trixon Cocktail Elite Set
  • Gretsch Renown Autumn Burst
  • Gretsch Renown Blue Burst
  • Mapex V Series Wax Oak

2020 Custom Electronic 2Box

MODULE:
2Box DrumIt Five Module
Roland RT Triggers

DRUMS:
18" x 7" Tama Club Jam Bass drum
12" 2Box DrumIt Five SnarePad
14" x 7" Tama Club Jam floor Tom
12" x 5" Tama Club Jam Snare / Floor Tom
10" x 6.5" Tama Club Jam Tom Tom
10" x 4" Tama Mini-Tymp
8" x 4" Tama Mini-Tymp


CYMBALS:
Custom Zildjian Gen16 JMan 20" Ride
Custom Zildjian Gen16 JMan 14" Hi-Hats
Smartrigger 16" Crash Ride
Smartrigger 14" China
Smartrigger 13" Crash
Smartrigger 13 Crash

Custom Electronic Drum Kit

BACKGROUND:
My electronic drum journey has spanned many decades and I embraced the concept fully.
From the early Roland drum machines in the 1980’s, through the majority of Roland TD kits from the TD-3 through to the TD-20 as well as Yamaha sets, I owned them all.

In 2008, I set up my own electronic drum retail company, ‘eDrum Attic’ which over the five years, grew to a renowned international company.

Long the way in 2010, I found an early 2Box DrumIt open sound drum system module and their sampled sounds in the module were so far beyond anything Roland was offering.

I purchased a full set and was so impressed I became an official retailer for the brand and by the end of year two, I was in the top 3 retailers of the brand.

By 2013, a shift in the market and a 3 week contract to Tour Manage Phil Collins’ son Simon changed everything.

That three week contract just kept extending and led to me managing Simon’s personal and professional career. Something had to give and I decided to close eDrum Attiic.

For a few years, I had used the DrumIt Five module (which I had modified) with a Mapex acoustic set with mesh heads and that kit saw me through three years of high level function band shows.

Over the years I have used many types of drums and cymbals with the module, but as of 2020, this is a set I am very happy with.

It gives me a mix of acoustic low volume cymbals with that real feel that trigger sampled cymbals and a smaller foot print ‘large’ set of seven drums and six cymbals.

It isn’t a replacement for an acoustic kit, It offers me something different and I have even recorded with it using Cubase.

A very nice set to have in the collection.

Custom Electronic Drum Kit
Custom Electronic Drum Kit

1950s Trixon / Broadway Set

For restoration. Details to follow...

2018 George Way Acacia Ex Carter McLean

GEORGE H. WAY EX CARTER MCLEAN SIGNATURE ACACIA DRUM SET

DRUMS:
20 x 14" Bass Drum
14 x 14" Floor Tom
12 x 8" Tom Tom
14 x 7" Carter McLean Signature Snare Drum

CYMBALS:
22" Istanbul Agop 22" 30th Anniversary Ride 2156g
2017 20" M.Yamamoto Crash Ride 1783g Custom Signed 'Spizzclone' (25/10/17)
2017 18+" Istanbul Mehmet Tony Williams Signature Tribute Crash (05/250)
1960's 14" Avedis Zidjian Hi-Hat Cymbals Top 1108g / Bottom 1167g

If you have any questions, please contact me.



BACKGROUND
I purchased this kit on September 27th September, 2018
This drum set was used by Carter McLean at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London on September 26th & 27th, 2018 and the drums were loaded straight from the stage into my car to enter my collection.

I had discovered Carter's incredible talent a few years earlier and we had started communicating along the way.

In later September of 2018, Carter flew to the UK to perform a series of shows with Charlie Hunter along with some drum clinics.

It had been agreed that I would lend Carter my own George Way Carter McLean Signature 14.7" Acacia Snare Drum for the week long tour to save him bringing his own over the Atlantic and as a result, I attended all of the events and really got to know Carter in person.

Not only is Carter a truly gifted drummer, he is one of the nicest people working in the industry and it was an absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to spend the week with him.

If you are not familiar with his work, please check him out at CarterMcLean.com

Carter's new Signature George Way drum set was premiered at Ronnie Scott's Club and I fell totally in love with the set, so much so, a deal was done and it was brought from the stage to my car by none other than Carter himself.

As events would transpired, Carter would shortly after elect to move to Ludwig drums where his is now an ambassador for their fabulous drum sets.

The George Way Carter McLean Signature drum set would thereafter become just a regular model within the George Way range thus making this kit one of just a handful of true Carter McLean Signature sets with this one having being personally used by Carter in London




The George H. Way Signature Carter McLean Acacia Drum Set features 4-ply Acacia shells with reinforcement edge rings, GW Radial Design bearing edges, Double end Streamline lug casings (6-lug configuration for rack tom, and 8-lug for floor tom and bass drum), Way Double Edge-Double Flange hoops, Waybest arch spurs, Die-cast bass drum claws with t-handles, AAA chrome plating on all metal parts, and Dunnett Res-O-Tone drumheads.

This drum set has a natural Acacia gloss finish with chrome hardware.




At the end of the tour as we parted ways, Carter was kind enough to surprise me with a wonderful signature on my snare when he returned it!



This drum set is beyond sublime and quickly became my personal go to set of drums even overriding a custom Walnut set of George Way drums that I had purpose built!

If you have any questions, please contact me.

2018 Custom George Way Walnut

GEORGE H. WAY SIGNATURE WALNUT DRUM SET

DRUMS:
20 x 14" Bass Drum
16 x 16" Floor Tom
14 x 10" Tom Tom
12 x 8" Tom Tom
10 x 8" Tom Tom

CYMBALS:

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

If you have any questions about this kit, please contact me.

BACKGROUND:
I custom ordered this kit on March 8th, 2018 but unfortunately, it was almost a year before I was able to finally take delivery!

A fabulous set of drums and only my second custom order set of which, ironically the first (in 1985) I never got to play even once!....  


If you have any questions about the kit, please contact me.

1980s Gretsch Power Jazzette

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE / BOP DRUM KIT 

DRUMS:
18x16" Power Rosewood Bass Drum M4244 #144354 (circa 1983/4)* 
(With factory installed Pratt muffler.)
15X14" Power Rosewood Floor Tom M4421 #20866 (circa 1985/86)*
12x8" Rosewood Tom Tom M4415 #108911 (circa 1980/81)*
10x6" Tom Tom M4414 #120012 (circa 1980/81)@
14x8" Power Rosewood Snare Drum  M4155 #133707 (circa 1983/84)+ 
(6 ply Maple 20 lug)

* Original Factory matched set - One owner until 1980's - 2015
+ Purchase new by myself 2nd February, 1985
@ Formally owned by Ric Byer (O5Ric)

If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.



1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

CYMBALS:
Currently I am using the following:
2011 20" Bosphorus Traditional Original Ride Cymbal (Ex Roy Holliday)
2014 19" Ibrahim Diril HammerXL Series Crash
2017 18+" Istanbul Mehmet Tony Williams
Signature Tribute Crash (05/250)
1960's 14" Avedis Zidjian Hi-Hat Cymbals Top 1108g / Bottom 1167g

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
2018 Tama HP50 Classic Bass Drum Pedal
1980's Gretsch tom mount (original with the set)
1950/60's Premier 289 Hi-Hat Pedal
1950/60's Premier 304 cymbal Stands x 3

BACKGROUND:
I purchased 3/5ths of this drum set on the 19th February, 2018, but the history of the snare drum dates back to 1985 when I purchased it new.

This is a set that was made in history and somehow, by fate / karma / luck, whatever you wish to call it, has come together 30+ years later.

It is a very long story, so I will save the more detailed version for a blog post that I will link to from this page shortly.

For now, I will say it all started back in 1984.
The previous year, Phil Collins had switched from the Pearl Concert Tom BLX set that I now own to Gretsch and by the time he and I next met up, I had returned to playing the drums and was in the market for a new set.

He recommended the Gretsch 14x8" Power snare to me, but as it didn't appear to be stocked in the UK, I had to order one, finally taking delivery on the 2nd February 1985 from Pro Percussion in Kentish Town, London.


1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS
1980's GRETSCH POWER JAZZETTE SNARE QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS
1980's GRETSCH POWER JAZZETTE SNARE QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

Within a few months, I had joined a band called Pride Of Passion that contained some former members of Marillion and our first show was at the legendary Marquee Club in London.

My new Premier drum kit had (still) not been delivered, so a borrowed set from my cousin sat around the stunning new Gretsch snare at that debut gig and the shows that followed.

1980's GRETSCH POWER JAZZETTE SNARE QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS PRIDE OF PASSION GRAHAM COLLINS

As will be detailed in the blog, my drumming days ended soon after, but for 24 years until I picked up the sticks once more, only that Gretsch snare and one other drum remained with me.

The Gretsch snare has remained one of my most prized drums, yet ironically, despite having this large collection of drum sets and many others now gone, since my much interrupted return to playing began, the snare oddly remained unattached to a drum set.

Perhaps waiting for it's true time to shine?..
 
Over the last few years I have seen perhaps only 2-3 Gretsch Rosewood 1980's sets become available in the UK.

Always in rock sizes, such as the following set that I even had my hand on the phone ready to call, but once again, I had stepped back from making a purchase as I knew I was after something different without knowing what.

1980's GRETSCH ROSEWOOD DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

In February 2018, that all changed....
I saw a stunning looking 1970's Gretsch set in Walnut that had (sadly for me) just been advertised and purchased without me spotting it. The walnut looked so close to my Rosewood set, I thought I would look at that as an option.

Ironically, it didn't take long to locate a very rare set, although in America. Tony the kit's owner could not have been more helpful in answering all of my detailed questions and a deal was struck to ship it over to the UK.

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

Upon arrival, I was stunned just how similar my Rosewood was to the set in Walnut. The matching Jasper shells sung beautifully together, I could not have been happier!

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

As with all of the drum sets in my collection, researching the back story and history where it can be obtained, is not only great fun, but also often elevates the drums to a new level of inspiration when you sit and play them and think about what they have seen and heard in their lifetime.

This set actually has a limited history, but one or two elements make it very interesting.

The bass drum, floor tom and upper tom were owned from new and factory handpicked in the 1980's by a Latin Jazz drummer who was living in the Chicago area.

The set was obtained from an estate sale by Drugan's Drums in August of 2015, but it is not known if the owner was merely selling up or had in fact passed away.

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

The description included the following....

"For your viewing pleasure is this beautiful 1980 Gretsch bop outfit in stunning Rosewood. 

These drums come from the original owner & have been VERY well cared for. 

These drums are 100% original with the exception of the heads on the 12" tom & the bottom head of the floor tom (both bass heads & top floor tom head are originals). 

These are of course all 6 ply Jasper shells. 

This is one of the best sounding sets we've ever played in these sizes - they undeniably have "That Great Gretsch Sound". 

While this set was definitely all purchased together by the original owner & is a factory matched set, the 12" tom was built slightly earlier & displays the earlier drop G stop sign badge while the rest of the set has the square badges. 

1980's GRETSCH SSB CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

It is quite common in the very early 80's for factory sets to come with mixed badges as this was a transitionary time for Gretsch badges."


Needless to say it took just two days for the drum set to sell. The buyer decided to keep the drums just a few months before a deal was agreed and later completed at the Chicago Drum Show in May 2016 when Tony purchased the set for his own collection.

You may notice that one word in the description above is highlighted?
That is why the drums were a perfect match for my snare, they were in fact Rosewood and not Walnut!

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

From around 1983, Gretsch had offered a number of configurations of a set they called the 'Power Jazzette' and both the bass drum and floor tom were from that Power range, curiously as was my snare.



Then I read much to my amazement that despite the Bop / Jazz sizes, the 14x8" snare was the snare sold with this set! Fate / Karma / Luck?...

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

To replicate my 'standard' go to set up, prior to the set arriving from America, I had also grabbed a period matching Gretsch Walnut 10x6" tom.

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

The arrival of the small tom confirmed the Walnut / Rosewood finish difference, albeit not that great a difference, perhaps age has played a part there?

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

Ironically, even with my two additions, the whole set spans the same early 1980's period.

12x8" Tom             #108911 circa 1980/81 Drop G SSB 'Stop Sign' Badge 
10x6" Tom             #120012 circa 1980/81 Drop G SSB 'Stop Sign' Badge
14x8" Power Snare  #133707 circa 1982/3 USA Square Badge
18x16" Power Bass Drum  #144354 circa 1983/4 USA Square Badge
15X14" Power Floor Tom   #20866 circa 1985? USA Square Badge 
FACTORY MATCHED

The fate / karma / luck story ironically does not end there...
I enquired after any known history of the 10x6" Tom Tom and the seller informed me that he had never used it and had bought it to go with his own Walnut Gretsch set the was in restoration.

He had however purchased it from none other than Ric Byer (05Ric) who I know very well through our internet discussions.

I've been a big fan of his musical output for 10 or more years and some of you may already know of his work with Gavin Harrison (GH05), the Snow Giants and of course his own incredible solo releases as 05Ric.

A multi-instrumentalist, his incredibly delicate and musical drumming style had caught my attention and made him one of my favourite drummers. Along with his unique Gretsch based custom drum set and use of a beautiful Spizzichino cymbal, his playing was mezmorizing.

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS RIC BYER 05RIC

Ric had owned the small Gretsch Tom since 2007 when he bought it as part of an 18x14" Bass drum, 13x9" Tom, 10x6" tom drum set from Drum Shack in London. 

In early 2017, Ric had moved back to his favoured 16x12" bass drum and built his new custom Gretsch around that, selling the 10x6” in March 12th, 2017, but it had appeared on much of his recorded drum work for the previous 10 years.

I thoroughly recommend you check out Ric's work and the 10x6" tom I now have in my set can be viewed in the video below along with numerous others from his sessions and live work.

If you have read this far, you will now understand how special this drum set is and that somehow it seems it destined to come together. 

The legendary Jasper shells sing beautifully and are a unique sound within my collection with the bright but dry punchy attack from the toms that define 'that great Gretsch sound'.

1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

Tony Williams remains a firm favourite of mine and The New Tony Williams Lifetime 'Believe It' album is a total classic with 'Fred' sitting in my all time favourite tracks list.

His Gretsch 1970's /1980's SSB drums are as iconic to me just as the Gene Krupa and Radio King drums are for Slingerland and to now own a set of drums with that legendarry sound and history, is very special indeed. 

Tony played a 'similar' 12/14/18" sized set up until the mid 1970's and this set very much reminds me of that.

It occurred to me while playing the set that the cymbals I have chosen have that 'Tony Williams sound', especially the Avedis Zildjian Hi-hats which sound remarkably like Tony's with mine coming with a set of drums I have from the 1960's.

An opportunity also arose to add one of the extremely limited Istanbul Mehmet 18" Tony Williams Tribute Crash cymbals to the set (05/250) and naturally that had to be done..

These limited edition cymbal sets were released in 2017 and were crafted from Tony's own cymbals with the crash being just over 18" in size. Mine is from the 5th set of the 250 made. A perfect edtion to the Gretsch outfit.

Tony Williams Istanbul Mehmet Signature Crash Quite Frankly Drums Gretsch


1980's GRETSCH CUSTOM POWER JAZZETTE BOP DRUM KIT QUITE FRANKLY DRUMS

Without question, this is a top five, possibly even a top 3 favourite set in my collection and one that I simply cannot hear enough of!

It was well worth the 33 year wait to find such a stunning and unique home for my treasured 14x8" Gretsch Power snare.


 

If you have any information about the kit or indeed any questions, please contact me.


 

More Articles ...

  1. 2017 George Way Duco Tradition Tuxedo
  2. 1968c Slingerland Stage Band
  3. 1950s/60s Ajax Blue Elegance
  4. 1930s Ajax Fidelity Console

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