Bringing back the Concert toms

[RushDrums24]

Just finished bringing this beast back to life, its (mostly) a Premier Elite concert tom kit from the late 70's, 6" through 15" Concert toms, 16" Floor tom and 22x14" Bass drum. The 10" is actually a Crown tom from the 80s but looks and sounds the part, and holds a lot of sentimental value for me, so thats become part of the kit.

The single headed concert toms have started to become fashionable again (partly thanks to one Nate Smith) but i've long loved the sound of them. Very clear and punchy and the Code Law (donut) heads really give each tom a clear note.

Pictured with a Natal Maple, and a Natal COB snare, and my ever changing combination of Zildjian and Sabians.

[RushDrums24]

[insane65]

That’s a beautiful blast from the past kit! Reminds me of the wall of concert toms I played in the 80’s. Well done!!

[TMdrums]

That’s a beautiful blast from the past kit! Reminds me of the wall of concert toms I played in the 80’s. Well done!!

Agree, awesome looking kit Charlie! In the late 70's early 80's I use to drool over the Ludwig Octoplus Concert Drum Kit! Enjoy your set and open sounds!

[RushDrums24]

That’s a beautiful blast from the past kit! Reminds me of the wall of concert toms I played in the 80’s. Well done!!

Agree, awesome looking kit Charlie! In the late 70's early 80's I use to drool over the Ludwig Octoplus Concert Drum Kit! Enjoy your set and open sounds!

Thanks guys, was a lot of fun to put it together for sure, and even more fun to play!

[Drumming-4-Life]

As you know, I never stopped loving concert toms. Your concert tom mega kit is beautiful! Which tom doesn't "match"? The 3rd one, slightly above and to the right of the hihat? Regardless, it looks like a cohesive set of drums to me. Bravo!

[RushDrums24]

As you know, I never stopped loving concert toms. Your concert tom mega kit is beautiful! Which tom doesn't "match"? The 3rd one, slightly above and to the right of the hihat? Regardless, it looks like a cohesive set of drums to me. Bravo!

Same here, its a sound and a vibe i've always loved, and i've long wanted a set to use on sessions and appropriate gigs (So when that Genesis tribute band comes along, i'm ready! ).

You spotted it alright! Yeah that one is a bit special, its an orphan tom from a kit my grandfather used back in the 80s with a folk/pop band called Martin Stephenson & The Daintees, (when Concert toms were the 'in' thing), and thus it was used on a few UK tours aswell as TV appearances on the likes of the 'Old Grey Whistle Test'. The kit was sold on back in the 80's but I assume as a 3 piece, as we found this tom in a case in our storage about 10 years ago. I was supposed to be touring through October to December (though who knows what'll happen) with the Daintees, which is a huge honour, and a strange case of it all coming full circle, so to use some of this kit, and that tom, will be really special to use on the shows. So I opted to leave it as is, you can't tell from the photos (as the shells and finish were the same), but the 8" was actually a premier Projector concert tom, with 4 extra holes drilled to accommodate the Elite lugs I had fitted, and the 12" was rewrapped by a friend of mine over here, who did a superb job, to tie the kit together.

[Kevaruka]

Kit looks amazing Charlie. Big fan of Premier Concert Toms

[Mike Foreman]

Awesome kit. That's a very Peter Criss set up you have going. It looks like you'll need to play lefty on your tour (if/hopefully it happens) to really bring it full circle.

[DrumandFly]

Awesome. Loved it when Neil had the the 6-12 Concert tom setups.

[RushDrums24]

Awesome kit. That's a very Peter Criss set up you have going. It looks like you'll need to play lefty on your tour (if/hopefully it happens) to really bring it full circle.

Haha not sure i'll go that far! You're right about it coming full circle though!

Awesome. Loved it when Neil had the the 6-12 Concert tom setups.

Likewise, I may try that setup at some point soon, we'll see

[Drumming-4-Life]

Likewise, I may try that setup at some point soon, we'll see

You've got the 6-12 rack toms covered, but the 15" rack tom will be more of a challenge to set up comfortably.

[RushDrums24]

You've got the 6-12 rack toms covered, but the 15" rack tom will be more of a challenge to set up comfortably.

Would be interesting for sure. The big setup will only last a couple of weeks I think, then i'll cut it back to a 2 up 2 down or something for a bit I think.

[dale w miller]

Love the flashback, especially the old Premier lugs. It looks well maintained too.

Why do I always see dotted heads on concert toms?

[Drumming-4-Life]

Why do I always see dotted heads on concert toms?

You don't ALWAYS see that...



But seriously, I almost always used CS heads on my 6" concert toms; it was my only chance at being able to strike them in the middle. For me, the dot catches my eye, and gives me a target to aim for. Otherwise, when I have a drum that small, and off to my side, it's difficult to hit it in the center, especially when you turn quickly to the side to play them. 8" and larger, I don't seem to have that trouble. I like the plain clear heads for concert toms otherwise, they allow the small concert toms to sing more.