What is the best known kit?

[fijjibo]

Hey guys.

looks like humble fijjibo has come up with another thread idea......

sorry if its been done before....


Ok, what would you say is the most instantly recognizable drum kit?
(to non-drummers too)

My bet would be Ringo's luddies, every non-drummer would know that kit if they saw it.

What would you say?

[Fat Elvis]

I would say John Bonham's or Buddy Rich's kit. To me, they are somewhat unique in set up and sizes to them. Ringo's 4 piece does not look unlike many of the other 4 piece kits of the era. Without the Beatles logo on the front, there is no way i could identify that as ringo's specifically.

[gusty]

neil peart and mike portnoys kits are quite well known, not as much as the other 3 though.

[bighaibigdrums]

Bonham's Vistalites.
Lar's white and black Tama's

[Wegadrummer]

Carter Beaufords kit..

[Mista Bob]

Without a doubt, Bonham's Vistalites.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Buddy Rich with his logo on the reso head.

[nhzoso]

Carter Beauford??? Most Non- drummers don't even know who he is.

I would say Animals

[MECHT4NK]

best recognizable to non-drummers would be terry bozzio's kit I think

[gmrakich]

Ringo....hands down...not even close. The entire world was exposed to the Beatles...tons and tons TV..Ed Sullivan, Top of the POP and other BBC stuff, Help and Hard Days Night...all this happened ina very short period of time. That kit was part of main stream culture. LUDWIG sold over 200,000 Ringo kits world wide in a 6 year span...the EXACT kit. Got to be Ringo. Ringo is the King...all hail.

[fijjibo]

Thanks for all the replies, please keep them comin'

[Spreggy]

My kids would recommend Peart's, that's proably about it. The problem with Ringo's is every school kit in the free world pretty much looks like it.

[fijjibo]

My kids would recommend Peart's, that's proably about it. The problem with Ringo's is every school kit in the free world pretty much looks like it.

I would disagree.

the colour is recognisable, as is the BEATLES logo on the reso head.........

[rendezvous_drummer]

Kieth Moon's kit is very recognizable. Of course you have Bonzo's, Terry Bozzio's, Buddy Rich's kits which are unmistakable.

[Ironcobra]

well this thread dosn't make sence, if they recognise the kit, they obviously know something about drumming.......how would a non drummer know what bonham's kit looks like

maybe i just dont understand it but i would say pearts kit just cuz its so huge with such a wide variety, no one can forget that look

i dont know if this would make much sence either but like a yamaha beginers kit, everyones gotta have one of those in their school, plus its a big name that everyone knows

[bighaibigdrums]

well this thread dosn't make sence, if they recognise the kit, they obviously know something about drumming.......how would a non drummer know what bonham's kit looks like

maybe i just dont understand it but i would say pearts kit just cuz its so huge with such a wide variety, no one can forget that look

i dont know if this would make much sence either but like a yamaha beginers kit, everyones gotta have one of those in their school, plus its a big name that everyone knows

Most nondrummers wouldnt look at Pearts kit and go hey thats Pearts. But there are so many Zep and Beatles fans that dont play drums who have seen Bonzos and Ringo's kits so often they would recognize them.

[toxegendrummer]

i would have to say that bonzo's vistalites are the most well known...because theyre just so unique and unlike anyothers kit...

[joeybeats]

Ringo....hands down...not even close. The entire world was exposed to the Beatles...tons and tons TV..Ed Sullivan, Top of the POP and other BBC stuff, Help and Hard Days Night...all this happened ina very short period of time. That kit was part of main stream culture. LUDWIG sold over 200,000 Ringo kits world wide in a 6 year span...the EXACT kit. Got to be Ringo.

I agree 100%. Number two, whatever it is, is far behind. Joey

[Class A Drummer]

In order,

Peart
Ringo
Bonzo.

imo. I mean, who else has a set like Neil Peart's?


Edit- besides those like 25 people that bought the replicas. And even so, i can guarentee more people own Ringo's and Bonzo's set of Neils.

[Drummer Karl]

I would say

Ringo Starr`s
Bonzo`s
Buddy Rich`s

Well, they are all classic drummers, many people (also non-drummers) know them but overall their set-up aren`t so complex, for a non-drummer it would be difficult to recognize them I think.

General kits which are very recognize-able are for example Bozzio`s monster, Simon Phillips` green Tama Maple, ?uestlove`s small set-up.

Karl

[Gravy]

I agree with rendezvous about Keith Moon's set, it's very recognizable as Moonie's.

After that I'd say Ringo, just because of the swarm of popularity that followed the Beatles, and the mass exposure it had.

[caprisun3484]

i'd say Ringo just because the Beatles were so insanly popular. also everyone knows Ringo due to his personality so most would probably know his kit

[Deathmetalconga]

The double-bass, 9+ piece kits associated with '80s butt rock. I guess that would include Tommy Lee's.

[Fat Elvis]

I would disagree.

the colour is recognisable, as is the BEATLES logo on the reso head.........

Oh, well i was assuming this would be an excersize in not having the logo head -- well than for that matter, i say:

its a tie between every major band's drummer's kit as long as they have a logo head on it. I mean who would look at a kit with an aerosmith logo on it and say "i have no idea who that drummer plays for" .....?

[drummerchick435]

Well I think this sums it up:

[Jusstickinaround]

Ringo....hands down...not even close. The entire world was exposed to the Beatles...tons and tons TV..Ed Sullivan, Top of the POP and other BBC stuff, Help and Hard Days Night...all this happened ina very short period of time. That kit was part of main stream culture. LUDWIG sold over 200,000 Ringo kits world wide in a 6 year span...the EXACT kit. Got to be Ringo. Ringo is the King...all hail.

Ditto! Ringo's Black Oyster Pearl was unique to him and ofcourse the Beatles logo. I asked my girlfriend who is a big Zepplin fan and she said she could only recognize Ringo's kit. So there you go, scientific proof, Ringo played the most recognizeable kit.

[frank0072]

I think Lars' Black & White Tama, but that's because that was the only drumkit I would recognize when I wasn't a drummer yet. The funny thing is that I've got a wanna-look-alike kit like Lars' now :)

[fijjibo]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Keep em comin'

(looks like the thread has been moved and its name changed)

(why?)

[they_call_me_diesel]

The best known kit has to be Mike Portnoy's "Siamese Monster". It's huge! Anyone would remember seeing it.

[Chunkaway]

Ringo's kit for the simple fact that more people have seen the Beatles than any other band....ever.

[T.Underhill]

The best known kit has to be Mike Portnoy's "Siamese Monster". It's huge! Anyone would remember seeing it.

I disagree. I believe any non-drummer or music non-aficionado would be hard pressed to recognize ANYONEs kit, yes even Ringo's. The more you work up the ladder to more knowledgeable people they'd recognize his first or maybe Peart's. Other than that people don't pay attention to that stuff. Bozzio, Philips, Portnoy, out of the question. Who listens to Bozzio's drumming and knows it's him? Not many and they don't see him in concert either so no matter how big his kit is they'll have no idea. Print out pictures and show your fellow students, coworkers and you'll see what I mean.

[Skitch]

I would say Ringo's Ludwigs


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Budiesel]

Ringo's Ludwigs

2020202020202020

[fijjibo]

Yep, I think that the overal response is ringo.

Thanks for all the replies.

Btw, I still have a question:

I can understand why the thread was moved from the general discussion area, but why was the name changed?

cheers

[fijjibo]

Bumpage.......

lol


any more thoughts?

I still think Ringo is in the lead......

[drummerchick435]

Btw, I still have a question:

I can understand why the thread was moved from the general discussion area, but why was the name changed?

cheers

I don't mean to be a mod here but you should handle questions about the moderation of DW through private messages.

[d.c.drummer]

If you stop a random guy on the street. He's probalby going to draw something that looks like a basic 5 peice or 4 peice. Id say a kit belonging to a certain person would probably ringo starrs. EVERYONE knows him.

[pcmckay]

I would have to go with Ringo's Ludwig's. Did you know that the day after they first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show Ludwig recieved thousands of orders for four piece Black Oyster Pearl kits.

[Skitch]

Ringo's 4 piece! As far as brand I would have to say either Ludwig or Pearl. They have been around seemingly forever!




Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Pete Stoltman]

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, have to agree with Ringo. Black oyster pearl four piece = Ringo no question. Many of the other sets mentioned may be unique but even as a drummer if I saw some of these kits that have been mentioned I don't know that I would recognize them offhand. Bonhams vistalite Ludwigs sure, Buddy's Slingerland set, yep. Moons Premiers especially the custom painted "Pictures of Lilly" set would qualify. I could probably even do a quick association with Gadd's black Recording Custom Yamaha's. Frankly I'm a little surprised nobody else mentioned those or did I miss it? I think a lot of jazz guys would also recognize Tony Williams yellow Gretsch set but not too many folks outside the drum industry.

[fijjibo]

I don't mean to be a mod here but you should handle questions about the moderation of DW through private messages.

No worries, thanks drummerchick.

I was going to drop nutha a line, but I dont think ill bother now, it'll only cause trouble....

[EternalArcadia]

this may be a little off topic, but at the guitar center in my area, theres this massive gold drum kit right when you walk in and is says that theres only 1000 in the world or something like that. whats up with that.

[IDDrummer]

Well, after asking some of the non-drummers I know, the only brand they could come up with was Ludwig.

Among drummers, obviously, you'll get more varied answers.

[fijjibo]

this may be a little off topic, but at the guitar center in my area, theres this massive gold drum kit right when you walk in and is says that theres only 1000 in the world or something like that. whats up with that.

Yes, off topic.....

try a new thread, all I can think of is the new Tama starclassic

Well, after asking some of the non-drummers I know, the only brand they could come up with was Ludwig.

Among drummers, obviously, you'll get more varied answers.

You went and asked specially?
Thank you.

Thats just what I wanted people to do. cheers.

[IDDrummer]

You went and asked specially?
Thank you.

Thats just what I wanted people to do. cheers.

Yeah, nothing formal. I just saw your thread and then asked a few people that I ran into. Seems they knew Ludwig because of A) Ringo and B) Bonham.

[fijjibo]

Yeah, nothing formal. I just saw your thread and then asked a few people that I ran into. Seems they knew Ludwig because of A) Ringo and B) Bonham.

Ok, you still did a great job.

Ive asked some people, and they know ludwig and pearl.

Pearl probably because of the drummers on talk shows.....

[PureRockFury]

In no order...

John Bonham
Ringo
Lars Black/White Tama kit
Neil Peart
Buddy Rich
Keith Moon
Billy Cobham

[fijjibo]

In no order...

John Bonham
Ringo
Lars Black/White Tama kit
Neil Peart
Buddy Rich
Keith Moon
Billy Cobham

yeah, but would a non-drummer know what Cobhams set looks like?

[Fat Elvis]

yeah, but would a non-drummer know what Cobhams set looks like?

most non-drummers dont even know who billy cobham is.

[fijjibo]

most non-drummers dont even know who billy cobham is.

True.

Ringo is still in the lead.......

[tamadrummer132]

i dont think it would be pearts, beacuse before drums i never even heard of peart or rush for that matter. They arent a well known band. They are no U2, beatles, or led zep. They are an instrumentally advanced band with weird lyrics that people who arents musicians dont really like..

[KONA]

I would also go with Ringo's kit. I was 14 when I saw him on Ed Sullavan - I was hooked. I've read lots over the years about how Ludwig sold huge #'s of those kits right after that show. The right place the right time!

Speaking of Ringo.......................
Just as an aside: Carl Palmer commissioned British Steel to build a stainless steel kit for ELP's tour in 1974. I was at one of those concerts but too far away to see any detail on the drums - I only remember that they looked spectacular even from a distance.
I've read the bass drum wieghs over 300 lbs. and an engraver carved hunting sceens on the shells. Those drums were auctioned off - Ringo Star wanted them but someone else beat him to it. I've read that Ringo did eventually end up with those drums.

[BellsOfRhymney]

Best sounding (by far) is old Gretsch ..head and shoulders above the rest, followed by old Ludwig and Slingerland.

[furbeedog@gmail.com]

whichever set i'm playing in 15 years lol

[KONA]

Yes - the Gretsch have quite a rep for their sound. Their hardware sucked in the 60's and 70's, but then again most hardware did - with few exceptions.

To add to my post regarding Ringo acquiring Carl Palmer’s stainless steel kit. Palmer played a large Gretsch kit before those stainless drums. That stainless kit was pretty well know in the-day. It ended up in a British Museum before being sold as I described in my former post.

Again, along with many responding to this poll, I think Ringo's Ludwig kit is probably the best know kit generally. When you narrow it down to "What is the best known kit" amongst drummers - then - we have a mixed bag of choices obviously. It depends what type of music you play; most jazz drummers – young and old – can recognize Buddy’s kit. Rock drummers on the other hand, young and old, usually can recognize Bonzo’s kit and Ringo’s Ludwigs.

There are a lot of well know drum kits out there, but I think by far the most widely known, even by non drummers, is Ringo’s Ludwig kit as shown on the Ed Sullivan show in February of 1964.

Others may disagree and that’s alright with me, these are just my thoughts regarding the question here.

Thoughts?

[Vintagedrummer]

I can't believe no one has posted this one yet....


ANIMAL's kit!!!

[iamtak]

I think it we are pretending to be non-drummers we should bear in mind that no sane non-musician likes Dream Theatre or any fusion or studio drummers, and would probably not recognize their kits. Hell, im a big Josh Freese fan and I have no idea what his current kit looks like.

On Ringo Starr: Black oyster four piece Ludwigs mean only one thing... Ringo. I recall a thread a while back where someone had a "Ringo Bonham" kit, a one up two down kit in black oyster, Ludwig of course. Now that guy may have simply been a fan of both drummers and wanted to type out their names, or recognized the associations people would make based upon the appearance of their drums.

How's about Anton Fig? Millions of nondrummers see his drum set every weekday night. I bet a few people could recognize it, not nearly as many as Ringo of course.

[fijjibo]

I can't believe no one has posted this one yet....


ANIMAL's kit!!!


Your right man!!!

Anyone who was a kid (duh!) will know animals kit.


And thanks for bumping the thread for me, lol

[ammarolli]

Buddy Rich kit.. amazing sound

[PineyplayParadiddles]

I think that if theyd heard of Terry Bozzio, they would instantly recognise his kit, but i think that it would be Ringos Ludwigs on top.

[fijjibo]

Buddy Rich kit.. amazing sound

It is a great kit, but it looks like any other big band drummers kit.

Buddy himself is recognizable, as is Gene Krupa, but sadly their kits may not be instantly recognizable to the non-drummer.



This is turning into a great thread!!!! It makes me as happy as Dom Famularo at a wedding!!! lol

So, from what I have seen now:

1, Ringo Starr
2, John Bonham
3, Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy
4, Terry Bozzio.

Keep the ideas coming....

[Skitch]

The sad part is we are getting to a point where most non-drummers and non-musicians even know who John Bonham was !

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw