In 1977 my dad bought me a 5pc Londoner kit in black. I still remember walking up these long steps to where the music store kept the drums. The salesman opened the door, and there was the eye candy! Three kits before me. A red one, blue one, and black. Dad said pick your color! I was 11 yrs old, and I thought I died and went to heaven! I chose black of course. In my teenage years I sold them for a “bigger and better kit”. Very bad move. Maybe someday I’ll find another kit like it.

They still sound great and are so easy to tune.

Tuned nicely

I agree....these Big R drums are badass too...just as good as the ole Script Rogers....matter of taste & Opinion....which ever floats ya boat !!

Beautiful!

I have a "Big R" set that I believe was made in 1978/79.It's XP8 with 12,13,16,22, in natural maple finish. I have had it since around 1981 and just gigged with it several times in 2021.

Nice kit. I love these drums a lot. Rogers needs to come back using the same shells design. The drum world needs a little shake up right now

Great Solo The tuning on these is perfect. This is the way drums should sound in my opinion !!!!

Nice kit!

hey bob. Really interesting to here the cool history behind these. Really do enjoy your vids.

great!

I have a Pacific Blue Big R Londoner 5 kit that I got new in high school in 1976, and in 1980 I bought a Metallic Silver Big R Londoner 5 kit circa 1977. The Pacific Blue is in pristine condition, but I used the Metallic Silver kit on the road. I think that George Way invented all of the great Rogers hardware.Rogers used to have an ad for its Memory Lock hardware that showed a male gymnast doing tricks on the double tom holder on the bass drum.

Nice kit..I have a 'script badge' kit in steel grey ripple finish from mid-1960's Cleveland tags (made in Covington, Ohio) and 'Swivomatic' hardware which I absolutely love but I do have a 'big R' 9 x 13" tom from Fullerton era (Memriloc mount) which is also an excellent drum. The 'Big R' series with the Memriloc hardware were built like tanks. Nice kit and nice playing. Can't beat those old Rogers drums.

Great vid! Nice set!

My first kit. Got it in 92. I had it 8 years. Mine was in like a Ferrari red. I wish I would have kept it.

Love that finish..I believe they called it 'butcher block'? All the Rogers drums from 'Cleveland' era through late 70's are great. I do have a single 9 x 13" tom 'big R' badge with XP-8 shell which I bought to add on to my 60's vintage kit but I replace it later when I found a 9 x 13" 'script badge' tom in steel grey ripple finish to match my kit. I found the XP-8 shelled tom to sound great but had a more 'open'/'resonant' sound compared to the earlier style shelled tom with the reinforcement rings on the inside. I guess they went to the XP-8 shells later on to update the sound with the times. All great drums.

I LIKE IT, I LIKE IT!

Reminds me of the old Ludwig 'Butcherblock' cortex wrap from the 70's and 80's...a bit darker

Had a Londoner kit I bought new in '67. Note*.....had*. Chrome Dyna-Sonic.

thought they were Wildwoods at first....still, a sweet set !

Hey Bob cool kit. They sound great!!! Not in love with the big modular hardware. Everything is cool.

I've got a set that is from 1972 that are large sizes 13 and 14 mounted toms, 16 and 18 floor toms and a 24in. kick. They are script logo. I remember asking before what is the difference between those and the big R badge ones like you have and have always been told the shells are the same but you just said yours are maple and birch. I always assumed mine were all maple. Not that it is going to matter much other than satisfy my own curiosity (we drummers are curious creatures as I'm sure you're well aware).

Good video! Is that a Powertone snare?

1976 Memriloc was the very first excellent heavy duty hardware system. Roy Burns and Dave D didn't patent it, and naturally, Pearl stole the idea.

The front end of the solo has some Elvin in it. What is that chop at 5:03? Nice going Bob!

The Post CBS Rogers are so uncool... They marked the end of a great drum company.

It's sad to see that kit. I watched the brand slowly die '69-'80.