PLAYING AND RESTORING DRUM SETS

I'm always on the lookout for old Ludwig drums sets. I grew up in Illinois and have always had an affinity for the brand. We had an old Ludwig dealer in the downtown where I grew up. It's an old company that has since moved out of Chicago, but the older sets were made there before they move in the 80's. I restored a 1965 Super Classic set in blue sparkle and built out a 70's style blue and olive badge green sparkle set just like John Bonham would have played with Zeppelin. Playing is a great way to get into your head, disappear and play along with some of your favorite songs. Here are a few photos.

I've been fascinated, obsessed and in love with playing guitar ever since my neighborhood friend introduced me to it when I was 15. Walking to the local music store was a weekly trip for both of us. We didn't drive, but we lived a few blocks away from a local dealer that had a two story music store loaded with things we could ooh and ahh about all day long. We spent hours looking, hours playing and a lifetime talking about instruments, amps and effects. We still stay in touch and talk about what's new and all those instruments we used to have over the years. Here are a few photos of things I've run across in the past couple of years and a few I've been fortunate enough to keep.

Here are some images captured during trips around the country. Some were taken while I was traveling for work and others are from where I live here in Central Florida. I love the simplicity of using an iPhone to capture moments that feel like a Polaroid mixed with a touch of digital.