Are drum pads over? Depends on whom you ask.

There’s a guy who’s part of The Pad [group] on Facebook, who has been posting his unbelievable finds of cool drum pads he’s gotten for a steal.

So I went looking on FB marketplace to see what’s out there.

The key is to change your location and extend the search area out to the maximum 500 miles, and switch up the city once a week or so.

Bear in mind that most of what’s being listed is intended for local pickup, so you’ll need to reach out to the seller and inquire about shipping and acceptable forms of electronic payment. Most will still prefer local cash pickup, but sometimes you get lucky and they’ll consider shipping.

I’ve found that if I make a reasonable offer that includes shipping, then suggest how they might package it to save weight and money, sometimes they’re open to the idea.

Meanwhile, are really cool, purpose-built practice pads over?

It depends on whom you ask. I found these on FB Marketplace and the asking prices are a little astonishing. Like these guys either bought the pad new and then played the crap out of it, or they got the pad used and are passing it on after deciding it wasn’t their ideal.

These pads are being sold at a serious discount off their original new prices. Some are highly collectible, and are hanging out in small towns off the beaten path where no one knows they’re there.

Since I am narrowing down and winnowing down my pad collecting these days, I’ll toss this info up for anyone who’s hungry for a new, cool practice pad. As in all things, Your Mileage May Vary. If you ask about shipping or offer a lower price, remember to mind your manners and don’t get hissy if the seller says no.

Happy hunting.

Worlds collide.

I was a professional bicycle mechanic for thirty years.

I’ve been a lifelong drummer.

Here’s where my passions intersected several years ago.

Bicycle patch practice pad, with its very own presentation box.

Oversized truck tube patches for the playing surface (I used three, layered on top of each other; the two inside had their edges trimmed away in order to lay better under the top patch). Repurposed scrap wood, old bike industry and music ephemera and packing material were used for the pad and the presentation box.

Probably the weirdest thing I’ve ever made, and I’m glad I did.

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Drummer

I love rudimental drumming. It’s one of my lifelong musical loves. There’s hardly a day when I don’t pick up my sticks and chop a little, even on the days when I struggle with depression and arthritis pain. There’s something about feeling the beautiful mathematics of it all that brings a sense of order to my heart and mind.

Living where I do, it’s a solitary pursuit.

Sure, there are other drummers here in Portland, but by and large slamming out NARD or Wilcoxon solos is not a hot draw. So here I am on a beautiful summer day, chopping out rolls and clams as cleanly as my creaky hands will allow.

And it still pushes a button deep inside that brings me a quiet joy.

(Crazy Army with improvised variations, on my Drumslinger Marcher Series pad.)

Happy chopping.

#diddleseveryday

#crazyarmy

#rudimentaldrumming

Vintage Corner: mystery sticks

New to me. 

I bought a large assortment of sticks in order to obtain these two pairs.

I have no clear idea about the wood, maker or vintage.

Both pairs around 16” long.

Thicker set measures 18mm diameter at center of grip, 13mm at fattest part of tip.

Slimmer set is 16mm diameter at center of grip, 11.5mm at fattest part of tip.

Fatter sticks almost 80g each.

Slimmer sticks 55g each.

(On cheap postal scale)

Both pairs matched reasonably well in weight. Fatter pair matches in pitch as well, in spite of the repair. (I wonder if the fatter pair might be mahogany? They seem like the right color.)

One stick in the thicker pair showed a long-ago repaired crack, which was not evident when I tapped to hear the sound. I especially like the weight and feel of this thicker pair.

They are light in weight and I assume they were made for concert use. To my uneducated eye they seem like circa 1910s or 20s. I’m hoping for a few friends who are stick geeks to weigh in on more details.

I like them.

UPDATE: Drumslinger 10” Marcher Series practice pad

New to me: first generation Drumslinger 10” Marcher Series pad.

Bought it used for a great price, cleaned it up and swapped in a new head. This thing CHOPS!  And it fits in my bag easily.

I know that there have been concerns about Drumslinger’s delivery issues over the past several years. Some folks have even made unfair comparisons to The X Who Shall Not Be Named. Guys, it’s not even close. Drumslinger Percussion is One Guy, making sturdy, beautiful, craft-built practice pads one at a time. Life happens. Recovery takes time. Backorders ARE being filled and new pads ARE being made.

I sent a pad to be repaired and refurbished earlier this year. The total turnaround was around ten weeks, tucked in around backorders and new pads. I was thrilled with the results. And I will gladly tell anyone how good Drumslinger pads are. 

I’m super happy to add this little guy to my stable.

 

Make it better: Volkwein Music Tom’s Pad

I bought this pad last year upon the recommendation of a couple friends who love theirs.

Tom’s Pad, a beefed up version of the original Remo tunable practice pad, is produced by Volkwein’s Music that came out several years ago and which has improved upon the Remo pad in multiple ways

It has a sturdy wooden base, a metal rim and firmer foam stuffing under the Remo head. 

It screws onto an 8mm threaded stand, and that’s fine as far as it goes.

But this pad weighs more than twice what the old Remo pad does, and that’s a lot of weight to balance on a threaded cymbal stand.

Playing it on a tabletop, or stacked on top of another practice pad, is a viable and good option. Except that the base’s threaded receptor doesn’t allow the pad to sit level and it wobbles a bit on a flat surface.

So I pondered a solution. And I found it on another of my pads.

This is a vintage Ludwig tunable pad, a really nice pad in especially nice condition. And when I got it, I saw that the previous owner had modified it to solve the exact same issue, which presents on these old Ludwig pads when the original feet go missing.

So I looked at the Tom’s pad and decided that I could do the same fix.

I got some rubber tips from the hardware store, figured out the placement and went to town. The wood screws self-threaded with some effort and when I was done it solved the issue beautifully.

  

I sent the photos of my repair to Volkwein’s. 

Maybe they’ll respond, maybe not. 

But the pad sure sits better on the tabletop now.

Sometimes it pays to haggle: Drumslinger 10" Marcher pad

I've really been enjoying my refurbished Drumslinger Percussion marcher Series pad. It's well made, has an excellent, consistent response that supports the kind of playing I do, and is very sturdy. With a 12" playing surface and a 14" base, it's definitely best used on a tabletop or in a drum stand. Mine lives in my studio on such a stand and it's been my daily go-to pad since getting it back in late May.

I hadn't thought about getting a second Drumslinger pad until this used pad showed up at an online auction site. At 10", it's smaller and would be a practical choice for a more portable pad.
Plus, while I love what Bill does with practice pad design and construction, he's not a young man and won't be making these forever. So getting a second Drumslinger pad isn't a bad idea for the serious practice pad enthusiast.

(Note: I have owned and used Rudimental Drummers Travel pad, a very nice, quiet pad which has an 8" head. I found that size too small for my needs, and eventually gifted it to a former student. In terms of size and design, The Drumslinger Marcher pad also resembles the RamPad Marching Series -- also a 10" pad but with a base made of hard plastic. The plastic base, while offering a lighter weight pad, simply doesn't hold up to regular use and transport, and while I appreciated the Rampad, I will never own one again. I'm happy to carry the extra weight (in a padded bag) in order to have a more durable pad.)

I'd been watching this online auction for weeks, and finally decided to make a move.

The pad, originally listed as a "Drumslinger Marching Corps pad" and described by the seller as "V[ery] fine", actually shows a fair amount of wear, including several significant dents in the head and what may be the beginning of tiny rust particles on the rim. I watched the listing and waited for a few weeks, then added it to my watch list. The next day, I got an electronic offer to buy it for $100. 

I checked Drumslinger's web site to see what a 10" marcher was going for new. The base price is $89.

So I messaged the seller and politely declined his offer.

I waited. The pad was relisted at this price, with a new listing title: "Drumslinger Marching Pad" (removing the word "Corps") and at the same price as before. It sat there for another three weeks, so I made an offer for $50, backing up my offer with facts.

"This is actually a 10” Marcher Series pad w/standard rim and fewer tuning bolts than the Corps Series pad has. Offer reflects this pad’s condition and the New pad price of $89 at the Drumslinger site. Thanks and happy drumming."

I waited. The next day, I was rewarded with an invoice for my purchase, indicating that the seller accepted my offer. My total with postage came to $64. The pad should be here next week.

I've already obtained a new Remo Emperor head to swap in. I'll dismantle the pad, clean it up and reassemble it. I think it will be a great pad to take along when I want to chop at length away from home.
(Photos from the seller's listing.  I will post photos of the cleaned up pad in a future post.)

In the end, sometimes it pays to haggle. Know what you are buying, know what it's worth and whether or not you can refurbish it to your satisfaction before taking the leap. And when making the offer, back it up with facts and be polite, even if your offer is turned down.

Happy drumming!