So older drummers, what were they like back in the day? Tell me about the heads, the pedals, the stands, everything!
The reason I ask this is because I just finished watching an old video of Ginger Baker soloing and his drums sounded like carboard, and his cymbals sounded like dull discs of metal. Were they all like that?
Firstly,I'd like to address your comment about Baker.Out of all the top drummers around at the time,Bakers open tuning,and use of non traditional sized drums and cymbals made his kit sound very un- cardboardy.His Zildjian 50's - 60's cymbals ranged from 8" splash up to 22" Rides.I would kill for his hats and that old ride,which he still used today.
His cymbals always sounded great,with a wide range in size,weight and tone mounted on stacked stands.He was also the pioneer of flat mounted toms.
He also used two different custom sized bass drums ,20x11 and 22x11.Both tuned wide open,Jazz style and both to different notes.
You must have been listening to a bad piece of audio.Try listening to Live Cream,or the Wheels of Fire album.Studio recordings were very different in the day.
Baker like Bonham,Ringo,and more that a few other drummers also used Rogers Swiv-o-matic hardware and tom mounts which I think even today,holds up well,and was the first successful ball and socket design.
As far as pedals,the Ludwig speed king,was king,But the Rogers swiv-o-matic was a good pedal,the Ghost pedal,Gretsch floating action and the best kept secret was the French ASBA Caroline pedal.There were NO double pedals.
Drum heads were single or double ply mylar,and made by Remo,Ludwig,Slingerland,Rogers Gretsch.Priemer, and Evans.Remo ambassadors and Ludwig weathermasters coated were the most popular.
Ludwig Atlas/Hercules and Rogers swiv-0-matic "swan leg" stands were the most popular,with varoius makers "Buck Rogers" snare stands.
So re listen to some of the other stuff out there,and remember,some of it is 40-50 years old,and recorded on analog 4 channel reel to reel 1/4" and 1/2 and one inch machines,and various cassette and 8 track tape machines.
Steve B