BILLY GLADSTONE Drum Set Unique - Worlds Finest Example

[@cfalzerano1]

I've owned this set for nearly 30 years and I NEVER got it to sound this good. Steve is a great player and tuner and this vid more than proves his talent. He sent me the following message, "This has to be THE BEST drum set I ever played. When I play it I feel as if I was born on the throne behind the kit. It's got the spirit of Billy in there. I hope I did it justice." BIG YES to that!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Thanks Chet!!!

[@tobysemain]

@@stevemaxwelldrums It's so beautiful I can't stand it. I love watching you play drums on all your videos too. Especially on the Holy Grail of drum collecting. I was wondering exactly what color is the sparkle wrap? It looks more complex than your typical vintage silver sparkle. Almost has a champagne hue with a hint of green. Is that all from light exposure and age? Or do you think it was kept in dark conditions so the wrap was never exposed to sunlight and kept it's original color? If any drum company makes drum wrap in that color...sold!

[@boogingtonthunderwood8969]

Speechless. To the vast majority of guys, an actual B. Gladstone kit was just a mythical entity that we’d all heard existed. Unbelievable to be able to actually both see AND hear these, complete with ALL calf, as they SHOULD be. Thank you, you guys!!!!

[@thomasmoje5926]

Wonderful! The level of craftsmanship and detail in those drums just amazing. They sound so warm and full. Wish manufacturers would go back to internal mufflers on drums particularly toms and basses. So easy to adjust sound to fit the venue without having to resort to duct tape and moongel muffling. Thanks for bringing a video of these wonderful drums to us.

[@MrAaronfowler]

Speechless. Wow... Thank you and great playing. Thanks again.

[@geoffnelson4777]

If I'm correct...Gladstone's personal kit, the one that, due to a flood, destroyed the bass drum (the snare and both toms survive), was the kit he made for himself to play publicly, in '52? Joe Morello was quoted as saying Billy came thru San Francisco ca. spring/early summer of '57 w/My Fair Lady and that the two would get together every night after the show. It is presumed, then, that Billy was playing that kit and that the engraving refers to that show. Speaking of Morello, although he had seen Billy play in '45, they first crossed paths in '54 when Billy went to the Hickory House to catch Morello - at the time playing a year old Silver Sparkle WFL kit. Morello related that Billy offered to make him a snare but Morello wanted him to cover it in silver sparkle but Billy wouldn't do it. I wonder when the offer was made and also if Morello was the only drummer to turn down a hand-built snare and also if Morello could have played it with his WFL kit with the Marian McPartland Trio or prohibited not to...He related that he put up a Gretsch snare one night at the Hickory House and got a call from Ludwig the next morning!...Morey Feld perished in a fire at his home on 28 Mar '71 at 55. He played with Goodman, while I'm not sure if Cozy Cole did, so that's the Goodman connection. I wonder if the kit was sold to Goodman and Feld happened to be on the band then and about the circumstances of him taking possession of the kit, gifted by Goodman? Sold to Feld by Goodman? The Goodman/Feld kit is associated with Cozy Cole's 6x14 white pearl. Does that mean that the Feld kit's 6x14 is out there? That leaves the Sticks McDonald kit that was lost in a fire and the Beimel Kit. There are photos of Shelly Manne playing a Gladstone kit ca. 1950 with Kenton. Not a 5th kit? GREAT VIDEO!

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Hi Geoff, Your Joe Morello comment is right on. Coincidentally, Chet and I discussed Joe Morello when we sat down and talked. This came from the fact that we wondered why Billy would have chosen silver sparkle for this drum set because, as we know, Billy preferred natural or stained wood and not wrap finishes. (Billy did WMP for the Benny Goodman kit, but that was Benny, so how do you say ‘no’? And he did WMP for the Cozy Cole snare to match his kit). Chet and I both know about the conversation between Billy and Joe, and we truly did wonder if this set was made specifically for Joe by Billy, especially since silver sparkle was Joe’s color. And, it could be that it just never made its way to Joe and instead went to Billy’s star pupil Saul Leslie Beimel. Of course, we have no way to substantiate this, so we left it out of the video, but who knows?? Also, the Shelly Manne kit that was used with Kenton is a Gretsch Gladstone, not one of Billy’s 4 kits. (Chick Webb also had a Gretsch Gladstone set). These aren’t the same as the 4 kits Billy made. They have the earlier Gretsch Gladstone single post snare lug, and the tom and bass lug configurations are different, as well as differences in many other features. These were much earlier than the Billy sets. These are also quite rare however, but not nearly as valuable. Shelly of course had a proper ‘Gladstone’ snare when Billy started building them. He and Buster Bailey had the first two.

[@kevinsloan5570]

Steve - your smile at 10:45 says it all ! Thank you .

[@robs639]

Fantastic sounding kit and excellent playing. Be warned though people, Steve is a superb technician who would be able to make a soggy cardboard box sound fabulous.

[@LuisGarcia-oh1tk]

Hi Steve always such a pleasure hearing you play and what you have to say and your tuning is fabulous...

[@the_camera_eye_8898]

amazing sounding kit. thanks for sharing this with us.

[@patxilebrancon5393]

I have inmediately fallen in love of its sound, so sweet and warm!

[@itsjim2875]

Fabulous! - both the kit and the player! Thanks, Steve!

[@matthewpaluch777]

🤔Not only is the kit Vintage but HISTORIC! Thanks for sharing Steve & Chet!

[@Keefralei]

The smile on Steve's face at the last stroke said it all. Wow

[@ghostandbell2006]

When you arrive at a moment and know you've arrived

[@garyglynn6124]

Looks Great and lots of warm amazing tone in them,And great playing aswell Steve!!

[@jazzdrumguy5044]

Steve, what an incredible kit, your playing is stellar as always, and what a pure tone tuned so well! Thanks for the history lesson and for making this video....bravo!

[@richardjones1629]

Here's a question... Recently, going through some old Carl Palmer road cases, from the 90s, I came across an envelope marked, (in Carl's handwriting) "Gladstone Drums Photos". In that envelope was another envelope addressed to Carl's accountant, from Terry Heilman (former US Army Sergeant drummer and collector) containing photos of what appears to be this very same kit - along with a note thanking the accountant for his request for photos. It appears that this set was one Carl was interested in purchasing at the time. Is this the same drumkit as the photos I have acquired? Was this ever owned by Sergeant Heilman? The photos I have don't show the kit set up, but it is a silver sparkle and is identical to this one.

[@davehunter935]

Thanks Steve for another great kit demo! Dave, East Lothian, Scotland

[@AECJ1]

I get a good impression from my Boston Acoustics computer speakers what the room tone might be for those drums. Full expressive controlled and personal

[@glengamble526]

Incredible kit..and great playing, Steve!

[@madjack1950]

Lovely sound and great technique !

[@kbb3007]

I've had that Gladstone curiosity since reading Chet Falzerano's book. Gladstone's drums are the stuff of legend for me since I don't have any way of playing them. I was fortunate enough to see one of Arnie Lang's reproductions in person, though. Thanks for taking the time to showcase this kit because it really is special.

[@bherward]

Amazing set...!! Steve...any info on the ply layup, bearing edges etc. and construction methods. They sound incredible.

[@joesavage2.078]

Beautiful art Steve

[@arturosaenz9120]

Now that's a clean tone that snare is awesome

[@davidreidy5750]

That snare♥️🤖⚡

[@JamZorro]

Great Sounding Kit and Playing!... (thanks for sharing this)

[@raykingstonmusic]

Is this the same kit recently donated to PASIC? It would be wonderful if this kit was sampled as one-hits at multiple dynamics at a top-notch studio for preservation - and, hell, why not for distribution - proceeds to PASIC! 😀

[@DZNTZ]

Thanks for this gift! Somehow the mojo came right through, I feel like I’ve been transported back in time for a profound experience. I’ve taken a sip from the holy grail. Absolutely amazing. Thank you 🙏

[@jeffcurtin6185]

Incredible sounding drums. Just all around wow. Really enjoyed hearing you play them, and thanks for making this video to share the experience!

[@Bob-nu3xe]

stunning tone/kit great work Steve !

[@markmidwinterdrums]

So much great history here! Love it! Thanks Steve!

[@jwjeffrey]

That's a sweet press roll you have!

[@malcolmpalm]

A priceless work of art, and a National treasure.

[@rhythmfield]

Seriously some of the most beautiful sounding drums I’ve ever heard and I’ve heard a LOT

[@ludwigflip]

You play so well, Steve.

[@SKragseth]

Beautiful!!!!

[@cjansenATL]

Great kit.

[@DR.Detroit11]

just sick..only here can you find this stuff.

[@cbasbwoyETP]

the snare is s sensitive! unreal drums and great playing

[@normandydrumstudios]

One of the best touch I’ve ever heard

[@akmalaslam3167]

That Snare ❤️

[@the6ig6adwolf]

No doubt this kit is the holy grail to any serious player/collector.

[@timwaterson]

Steve this is Freaking Awesomeness Love the Muffling adjustments allowing to pitch change the Drums and your Playing is Outstanding

[@itsallinthewrists4251]

The perfect sounding drumkit does not exi-...wait

[@supmet2]

What a unique sounding kit.

[@peterpiece2102]

Majestic!

[@michaelcavazuti3270]

wow you don't get much better then that! So both Carl Palmer and Charlie Watts owned this kit? If so why did they ever sell it?

[@Trays7940]

Those sound freakin' awesome!

[@MrVtwinTorque]

Speechless…..

[@whydidwedothat]

So cool

[@josephstafford8537]

Sounds so damned good!

[@josephstafford8537]

and once that kick drum is opened up! OMG

[@boogingtonthunderwood8969]

Mind-boggling!

[@Mike-ol7xp]

WOW, Just,................... WOW!!!!!

[@jeremycalifornia]

Steve I want to grow up to be like you man I hope I can move like that when I am your age hence the reason why I still play the drums

[@BADEAU011]

Great,great,great!!!!!

[@strettoasino9006]

Not often that Charlie Watts and Carl Palmer are talked about in the same breath...

[@readwritejazz3483]

What is the wood construction of this kit?

[@cfalzerano1]

3 ply Gretsch shells made in the Brooklyn factory in the 50's.

[@willshaughnessy8515]

Wow Steve What' a rare treasure and flown in from Italy by Chet. Read his books as you know im.a now dedicated Gretsch guy and rightfully so being born and bred in Brookkyn ... What's written on the snare head ?

[@cfalzerano1]

Messages from Stan and Jerry of Pro Drum who helped my wife Judith tuck the head. "Peace and Love" and "Keep Swinging"

[@willshaughnessy8515]

@@cfalzerano1 that's apropos ...Billy was pure genius..stick holder Imagine/ any of chick webbs sets survive ,,?

[@roybeckerman7843]

Cracking snare..👍🏿

[@sticksbass]

superb.

[@nathanzaworski2780]

Steve Maxwells is the best. You want professional help with anything vintage drums, he’s your guy.

[@GK-rw2op]

How much did the set go for ?

[@cfalzerano1]

Richard Maschal, a student of Saul Leslie Beimel corrected my pronunciation "Saul pronounced his name Bye-MEL, not BYE-Mel."

[@thecrippledrummer]

No words.

[@kevincallanan2584]

I want those drums

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

Nice

[@michaeldutill9921]

I wish they made a fiber- wood rim for skins , smoother resonance?

[@jglasernyc]

i'll trade you my 1970's clear Ludwig vistalite kit for these! 5x14 snare, 8x12 & 9x13 rack toms, 16x16 , 16x18 floor toms and 14x22 bass drum. Yes I'm joking, but i do own that Ludwig kit!

[@mezdrums]

Mind blown

[@berniedresel]

Wow!

[@totigerus]

Did Gladstone invent internal mufflers? I always assumed it was Gretsch.

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

Internal mufflers (AKA tone controls) have been in use since the early 1900s. Ludwig used them on their snares, as did Slingerland, Leedy and others, as did Gretsch from the 40s forward. They were also common on toms from the 40s onward, and Gretsch also offered one for the bass drum. To me, they are extremely useful. They allow you to dial in a bit of muffling which can be so helpful depending on the venue. Think in terms of this: A high ceiling, perhaps lots of windows, tile floor, etc. This is a room where sound bounces all over the place. The tone control lets you dial out a bit of the overtones and to lessen the projection a bit, and you don’t need to change tuning to do it. And, this allows you to play more “freely” in that big room. These days players use the likes of moon gel since most modern drums do not have tone controls. One of the reasons they are not included is because some people feel that they “rattle”. That’s a personal thing and I have no issue with that, but when I listen to all of the 50s and 60s recordings whether jazz or rock, all of those major brands had tone controls and I don’t hear any rattling. Anyhow, Gladstone did not invent the tone control. What he did invent was the unique tone control used on his snare drums. The function was essentially the same as any other lever-action tone control, but on his tone control there was a backing plate by the lever which had numbers on it. This was there to allow you to recall specific muffling needs depending on the music you were playing. You could essentially make a note on the drum part score to write in the tone control setting you wanted for a specific passage. Given the wide variety of music Gladstone would have to play, this makes sense and is a very useful tool.

[@totigerus]

@@stevemaxwelldrums Wow! Thanks for the elaborate reply Steve. Interesting stuff!

[@nathan13531]

what kind of heads are those?

[@nathan13531]

nice playing by the way

[@cfalzerano1]

KALFO heads

[@DaGretschguy]

Gasp!! ❤️

[@carlupthegrove262]

WOW!!!!!

[@danielchernau3503]

Wow.

[@mossmonaco9061]

E P I C ❤️

[@davidhuckstep9703]

Wow

[@poetdrummer]

dang!

[@gibsondrummer]

I wish i were a wealthy man

[@MrAaronfowler]

Yes lol. The mean lean. Heck. I don't know what a flat snare is. Heck. I'd hurt myself. I need the mean lean

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

I'd call and ask, but I know I can't afford it.

[@michaeldutill9921]

Now the snare you want a snappy sound metal rims M

[@bassplate]

Nine-lug floor tom like some old Sonors.

[@michaeldutill9921]

It’s the wooden hoops I’ll bet absorbing the vibration wood , for a smooth residence think about it…… your bass drum alway you want a smooth responce ? ..apply that to TOMS’s no funky ring !

[@rhythmfield]

Seriously - this should be delivered by a paid driver/security guard type person, somebody should pay for that type of delivery… This time, skip standard shipment Like UPS or USPS… Just a suggestion

[@stevemaxwelldrums]

This definitely won’t be shipped standard. For an item of this value we use the same people who move gear for the Stones. We always use them for the most valuable items.

[@rhythmfield]

@@stevemaxwelldrums I figured you’d do the right thing with this incredible instrument. These are literally quite possibly the finest drums I’ve ever heard in terms of warmth and resonance and character. My recent Lang-Gladstone snare from you is one of the best drum purchases I’ve made. I’ve put new calf heads on it, top and bottom (Stern “slunk” head bottom/snare side) and now it really sounds like a snare drum-now all my mylar-headed drums feel like imposters.

[@bikerider4326]

This all sounds great, but it's no good for the every day person who loves to drum. How about showing off drum sets for the "common" man/woman/boy/girl.

[@supmet2]

At first the sound wasn't working for me, but after listening for a few minutes I came to love the sound.

[@supmet2]

Especially the snare drum...

[@LukeTang-t8l]

Wow!