New Vintage Drum Set Battle | Rogers vs George Way

Well, you know what they say — nothing beats the classics. If you’re a huge fan of vintage drum sets or just anything about drums, then I’m sure that you would absolutely love this article!

Today, we’re going to talk about two of the most iconic drum companies in history: Rogers and George Way. Established in 1849 and 1956 respectively, these two drum companies had already influenced countless icons and personalities in the world of percussion. And speaking of impact, two of the most promising drum sets during those golden ages were the Rogers Towers and George Way Tuxedos. Each of these vintage drum sets was way ahead of its time — which is why it’s only fitting for them to be reincarnated and see the light of the new age.

So, are you ready? Come with me as we go onto a little bit of Back to the Future action and reveal the latest upgrades of Rogers and George Way vintage drum sets!

First up is this George Way Tuxedo Studio 3PC Drum Set featuring a beautiful “Kaddy Green” finish. This is a masterful revival by one of the most prominent icons in the drum industry — Ronn Dunnett. The vintage drum set consists of a 22x14 bass drum, a 13x9 tom, and a 16x16 floor tom. These kits are extremely limited, so make sure to get your hands on one as soon as you can because stocks really run out fast!

The legendary George Way Tuxedos are known to have the coolest of looks, the best of sounds, and the finest of craftsmanship on the market. They are made of 4-ply, electronic-bonded maple/poplar shells and 2-ply reinforcement rings with 30° bearing edges. The George Way hardware is engineered perfectly to adapt well to any musical situation. For instance, the thin and gloss-finished shells produce a classically fat and warm tone with good sensitivity. Allowing any drummer to become versatile and bring out his best performance all the time.

Oh, you think that’s it? Well, there’s a whole lot more! These George Way Tuxedo vintage drum sets are also finished with AAA chrome plated parts. They also feature the classic streamlined lugs, double-edged and triple-flanged hoops, Waybest arch drum spurs, coated tom batter heads, and finally — clear, pre-muffled bass drum batter heads. The best part? This badass vintage drum set can be yours for just $1785!

The best snare drum to go along with the George Way Tuxedo Studio vintage drum set? It’s no other than this 14x7 George Way Tuxedo Studio Snare Drum also featuring a classic “Kaddy Green” finish. This handsome snare drum matched the top-notch sound of the vintage drum set and performs really great on any stage. So don’t miss the chance to have it on your drum arsenal for only $575!

Our next vintage drum set is this stunning Rogers Tower Limited Edition 3PC Drum Set sporting a majestic “Satin Black/Gold Duco” finish that absolutely turns heads. First of all, the features of this kit are just flat-out impressive — a proprietary 5-ply maple/poplar shell, maple reinforcement rings, and 45° reverse round-over bearing edges. This allows the vintage drum set to produce warm and resonant tones projecting across a wide tuning range, perfect for any kind of performance.

Oh, but wait — there’s more! The Towers series also features Rogers’ classic center-mount lugs, 2.3mm hoops, signature script logo badge, and the trademark Fruitwood-stained interiors. It also comes equipped with Bi-directional mounting brackets, Ultra-Matic tom arms, modern retractable bass drum spurs, and a Beavertail center lug design. See? This beautiful vintage drum set from Rogers may seem retro — but it comes PACKED with features that can compete with modern-day creations.

The vintage drum set consists of a 22x10 bass drum, a 12x8 tom, and a 16x16 floor tom. Oh, and a single tom arm is also included in the package. Can you imagine? For just a little bit over $2000, this astonishing vintage drum set can be all yours!

The 14x5 Rogers Tower Limited Edition Snare Drum is the most fitting partner for the 3PC masterpiece of a vintage drum set we talked about earlier. It also comes with a “Satin Black/Gold” finish that absolutely stands out. And a list of top-grade features to go along as well. Oh, and you can get this for only $505!

For one, the Adjustment Knob acts as a built-in equalizer that allows you to slightly dampen the resonance of the shell. Its Halo Mounting System also unlocks your freedom of full resonance. Lastly, this downbeat drum set features a Chamber Specific Design wherein the shell’s plies get progressively thicker, and the bearing edges graduate as the diameter increases.

Combining all of these, you get a perfectly formulated kit that can ultimately bring out your best performance and create an amazing symphony! Whether you’re planning to go dry on a jazz gig or turn up the roof in a full-packed arena, this downbeat drum set is perfect for you.

This kit is available at the Drum Center of Portsmouth for only $2159. It comes with a 20x16 bass drum, a 12x8 rack tom, and a 14x14 floor tom. Don’t miss out on this spicy “Tuscan Red” lacquer beauty!

And there you go! Those two vintage drum sets were the latest iterations of some of the most iconic percussion kits in history. And you know what? You can buy them both here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth — the LARGEST independently-owned drum store. IN. THE. WORLD!

Hey, hey, hey. Did you really think that we’d miss the chance to give you a closer look at the actual performance and sound quality of these vintage drum sets? Absolutely no chance! Catch the live performance of both of these beautiful vintage drum sets featuring high and low-tuning setups by checking out this video. Let our drum experts show you the performance of each of these vintage drum sets!

Are you still looking for more remarkable drums and percussion instruments to add to your collection? Feel free to visit our website www.drumcenternh.com or subscribe to our YouTube channel Drum Center of Portsmouth for more amazing content. See ya around!