DREAM KIT UP FOR AUCTION

Auction photo showing incorrect mounting.

According to Neil Peart News on Facebook, the original candy-apple-red Tama drum set played by the master himself on Signals, Grace Under Pressure and Power Windows is being auctioned by Julien's Live.  This highly-valued and often-worshiped dream-of-a-drumset was the all-encompassing, unbelievable, inconceivable, grandiose grand prize of the 1987 Modern Drummer drum solo contest.  Apparently the ungracious, sacrilegious moron who won the contest (and conveniently provided Neil with the awesome idea of sampling musical chords to revamp his own drum solos), STORED the priceless treasure in his basement until 1999 when he SOLD the damn thing on eBay for a mere $26,000.  The second owner displayed it until 2002 when he also sold the kit on eBay for a picayune pittance of $14,000.  Some people have no respect.

Long story short, the third dummy sold it for an undisclosed insulting amount to some schlub who now, because of his lack of appreciation for perfect pieces of percussionary Peartwork, is yet again making this holy grail of drumkit history available to be properly pampered, revered and maintained by an appreciative fifth owner who will show it the love and admiration it so deserves.  I think if I can sell my youngest child on the black market quickly enough I will be able to offer a suitable bid.  Of course, there are also plenty of convenience stores around that I could rob.  By any means necessary, I say.  I wonder if they would consider my right arm or my left nut?  I've always heard those items offered in trade.

Badge of Honor

Now, because I am one of those obsessive admirers who has been a fan of Mr. Peart forever, I am able to review these auction materials and  critique them with some authority.  Let me make a few observations of my own and offer a few opinions and corrections on my little insignificant blog here.

First of all, there seems to be conflicting information as to whether this kit is a Tama "Artstar" or "Superstar" model.  The truth of the matter is, while Neil's kit sports "Superstar" badges, his kit was actually a custom job (of course) wherein Tama actually made the shells thinner so as to resonate more to Neil's liking.  He also had them "Vibra-Fibed," which means the Percussion Centre of Fort Wayne, Indiana, sprayed a thin layer of fiberglass and resin on the insides.  According to Neil, "This helps to improve the natural warmth and resonance of the drums, while it sharpens the attack to give greater projection."*  These modifications led Tama to introduce the "Artstar" line immediately thereafter, so Neil's "Superstar" kit was actually a prototype "Artstar" model.

Zildjian Promo Poster

Studying the photographs posted on the auction site, I notice something wrong right away.  Neil never mounted his 12 and 13" toms on the right bass drum and the 15" on a stand. The 12" should be mounted on the left bass drum using the modified tom mount inserted into the offset tom hole (where the 10 and 12" concert toms are mounted in the topmost photo) and the 13/15" should be supported by the right kick.  In other words, everything should be shifted left here: the tom stand goes with the concert toms, the modified mount holds the twelve, and the standard mount on the right kick holds the 13/15".  If you study the Zildjian promotional poster or Modern Drummer magazine photos from that era (as I have done for countless hours), you will see that there is no doubt that I am absolutely right and painfully obsessed over this pointless issue.

Auction photo.

Moving right along, the two single-headed drums on the floor are matching wood timbales and the small 16x14" bass drum was the customized "kick in the rear" that supported the hexagonal Simmons pads when Neil first branched out into electronics.

The auctioneers made a few mistakes in their comprehensive description, but of course they could never be as learned in Peartlore as I.  The 20-inch "headless" shell is indeed the gong bass drum that Neil used with this setup in the fashion of a second floor tom, but the "22-inch red drum head and accompanying rim" that they claim went to a second gong bass that was not part of the contest prize are actually parts for the 20.  Neil used this oversized head and rim on his 20" gong bass to give it more of a tympani sound.

Rear view of Neil's new Tamas, 1982. 

While it is true that Neil did originally have a 22" gong bass drum (also with an oversized head) that he initially used in addition to the 20 for the Signals album (as evidenced in this photo from that year's souvenir tour book), for P/G and Power Windows the 22 was removed to make room for the new electronic drum pads.  This huge drum was not part of the contest prize because by 1987 it had not been used for many years.  No one but Neil knows for sure where it is now, but I'm guessing his basement. I wish he'd put that baby up on eBay.

Here is a blurb from the 1982 Signals Tour Book:

"Well, well! Hello again for another tour! (This is getting to be habit forming!) I've got some new drums to tell you about. Once again, they are Tamas; with the custom candy-apple red finish, the brass plated hardware, and the Vibra-Fibing of the inner shells performed by the Percussion Center of Fort Wayne. The sizes remain the same: two 24" bass drums, 6", 8", 10", and 12" concert toms, 12", 13", 15", and 18" closed toms, and 20" and 22" gong bass drums. My snare is still the same old wood-shell Slingerland, and I am using the Tama wooden timbales with great satisfaction."


Contrary to the auctioneers' claim, this kit description written by Neil Peart himself reveals that the pair of timbales actually were part of this Tama ensemble when he first began using it, but were subsequently removed when the electronics took over.  A review of several photos reveals Neil still had a single timbale at this left thigh afterwards, but it was a metal one.

By the way, GREAT shot of the bell tree there!

Despite these major errors in the auction description, I would still not be upset if someone who loved me a whole lot purchased this amazing kit for me. After all, it was my birthday just a short while ago.  I would take it, set it up for display and add back all the traditional percussion that was replaced by the Simmons: the orchestra bells, tubular bells, bell tree, bar chimes, crotales, etc. Then it would be almost as cool as my drum set.
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*Neil's comment from the "Farewell to Kings" Tour Book.

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POST UPDATE: According to the Julien's website, this kit sold for $35,000.00!!!  Now THAT'S more like it!  Congratulations to the winner.....and can I come over to your house and see it?!
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