PART TWO:
Think that was just it? Oh no, far from it. This guy also had got his hands on a pair of vintage Istanbul made K Zildjian hi-hats, which measured 15" in diameter. Typically of hi-hats of that era, the centre holes are smaller in diameter, and you wouldn't be able to fit them on a modern hi-hat clutch, unless you expanded the holes....but if you did, you'd devalue theirworth on the vintage market should you decide to resell them. They sure sounded sweet. He also had a pair of pretty old US made Zildjian cymbals, both 18" with no visible markings apart from the Zildjian stamp pressed into the metal, so neither of us knew which was a ride or which was a crash, but after fooling around with them as we were hanging out chatting, we felt the one with a slightly bigger bell was a bit more ride like. Actually both would have suited a minimal bebop set, crash and ride them both, and the hi-hats would have fitted right in. I asked what else did he have in their cases. George opened a few up to show a Rogers Holiday set finished in Black Onyx. Unlike one or two that I've seen around the place, this one had no 'tobacco stain' aging of the light segments of the wrap, looked as fresh as the day it came out of the factory. The bass drum hoops had a little wear, but not much that you'd notice. Plus the hoops still had the strips of Black Onyx wrap intact and in great condition still. Sizes were 22x16" bass", 12x8", 13x9" and 16x16" toms, plus a chrome over brass Powertone snare, all in fantastic condition. Oh, he was keeping that one (can't blame him), but he had one more surprise for me....
A late 70's Pearl wood/fibreglass composite set, finished in black, with the original Pearl pedal, the original cymbal stands with no sign of rust on them, a 10 lug aluminium snare (I'm pretty sure it's aluminium...sounded great though) together with the original snare stand, also in great condition. The only thing not original is the hi-hat stand (some no-name brand....but I might pair this kit with a Rogers hi-hat stand that I've seen around the place). One thing about this kit......it's loud! Damn it cuts, but yet surprisingly it has a nice rounded tone to it too. The last time I played such a 70's Pearl set was at a school that I used to teach drums at....those kids had no idea of the kind of set they were lucky to play on. That one too was also finished in black, only the bass drum was smaller (20", as opposed to the 22" on this one I was looking at). So after playing around with this set, the Sabian ride and the two Paistes, we worked out a deal.
$500 for the lot. So....$30 for the Sabian B8 Pro Ride, $200 for the two vintage Paiste 2002 Crashes, and $270 for the Pearl Wood/Fibreglass kit. I put $70 down for the kit, which I'll pay off after a few weeks, and took the three cymbals.
And then.... a tap on the shoulder.
"Oh, have this crash....it goes with the Sabian Ride. (It was a 16" Sabian B8 Pro Crash.)
"Have it? Like for nothing?"
"Yeah. The $500 you're paying couldn't have come at a better time. I got hit with a $400 parking fine this morning and the wife was at me for it. So now I can pay it no problems, and she can get off my back. You came in at just the right day. Besides, you're a good guy, and you really know your gear. Those cymbals and drums couldn't have gone to a better home."
'Twas indeed a good evening. If that wasn't a case of good luck, I don't know what is.
Some more pics:
The freebie Sabian:
The $30 one:
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