My '65 Leedy Cocktail Drum

Cary Nasatir · Post by **Cary Nasatir** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 6:32 pm

I acquired my '65 Leedy set in 1976 in Oakland California. I bought it as a lark off a guy who "didn't know why he had bought it in the first place." It took a while, but I started using it here and there at rehearsals and finally played it on a gig where I had to play a cocktail hour in a lobby of a San Francisco hotel and then run to another gig down the street within a half hour. The look on the faces of my fellow musicians made me wish I had a camera. 
 
I regularly use my set with a Klezmer group of which I am a member, as well as a duo act. The looks are still the same from people who have never seen one or from other drummers who only "heard" of them! I have changed the set very little from when I first got it. The original tom head was calf and has been replaced by a blue Evans oil filled hydraulic (I bought quite a few for my stash as the drum is out of round and won't take a standard head). The Evans used a plastic rim and is somewhat pliable. The original batter is a Leedy on the bottom. I retired the top Leedy batter head some time ago in favor of an Aquarian. I played it New Years Eve 2000 with a Big Band at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. I was part of a quartet within the big band who played on the big band's breaks. The "other" drummer was not amused! 
 
<img src="http://www.cocktailangst.com/drum/image ... 
Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub19.ezboard.com/ujohnmettam.sh ... ge=EN>John Mettam</A> at: 1/16/01 9:39:45 pm

mike · Post by **mike** » Sat Jan 20, 2001 8:09 pm

Cary- 
 
Nice! 
I just purchased the same drum about a week ago! 
Mine is in white marine pearl. The bongo still has the calf head on it and I got the original shipping card from Leedy in Chicago. I also have the original pedal mechanism that attached to the leg of the drum but no pedal to go with it. Substituting parts made it work, but not all that great, so I use a standard reversed pedal. I would like to know more about your drum and any interesting info you have......my email is m_labeau@hotmail.com 
 
Cheers! 
 
Mike LaBeau

Cary Nasatir · Post by **Cary Nasatir** » Thu Jan 25, 2001 11:14 pm

That's great Mike. Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. John Forwarded your message to me. I'd be curious to know if your cymbal arm is bent or straight. 
What would you like to know about mine? 
Cheers 
Cary

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My '65 Leedy Cocktail Drum