Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Hi all

I had an SDS8 set back in the 80's, bright yellow, and they were truly awesome.  Whilst I understand they were inferior to the rest of the Simmons range in that they were analogue, they still had an awesome sound, and were totaly unique.  I went out and bought an 80w bass amp with twin 10" drivers. When I told the salesman what I intended to use it for, he told me I was dreaming, and that it wouldn't last 10 minutes.  I still have the amp today - and it's still works! - but it never did the Simmons sound justice.  My only regret was I never really got to play them through a decent sound system.

Of course the SDS8 pads just had a flat back, whereas I reckon that the SDS7/SDS9 3-dimensional shape looked much better. The rubber surface was fairly comfortable to play.  The only other Simmons I only ever got to use was (I think) an SDS5 riot-shield surface, and can imagine they would have been much harder to use from a comfort perspective.

I can understand why that guy's asking the price he is: cos he's the original owner, so is emotionally attached to them. They look to be in good condition, but the market will decide what they are really worth.

I sold them in the mid-90's, and have since tried to track them down but sadly have so far been unsuccessful.

I truly cannot believe why someone is not making them in their original form, but with today's electronics.  And not the Guitar Center type, either. As in, hexagonal, with the rubber or similar modern surfaces; and modernised selection of all the sound parameters, etc.

You guys that are trying to build 'clones' from scratch are legends too.  bring back the 80's!!!

cheers,

Gwyn (NZ)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Here here, bring back the 80's! I loved the 3d hexagon pads. Didn't one of the Japanese rivals try and make a shaped pad kit that just looked like a really angry insect? Having said that I do love the custom pads that Neil Peart uses for the electronic side of his kit, even though he no longer uses Simmons.

Don't know if your allowed to post links here but in the spirit of the 80's check out Terry Williams abuse of his Simmons pads in Espresso Love, The Mans too Big and Solid Rock in the following Dire Straits in 85 gig.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC3FCS-NtAI

That guy hits those drums hard.



--- On Fri, 12/18/09, Gwyn Clarke <gwyn.clarke@...> wrote:

From: Gwyn Clarke <gwyn.clarke@...>
Subject: [Simmons Drums] I wish..
To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, December 18, 2009, 12:53 AM







 



  


    
      
      
      Hi all



I had an SDS8 set back in the 80's, bright yellow, and they were truly awesome.  Whilst I understand they were inferior to the rest of the Simmons range in that they were analogue, they still had an awesome sound, and were totaly unique.  I went out and bought an 80w bass amp with twin 10" drivers. When I told the salesman what I intended to use it for, he told me I was dreaming, and that it wouldn't last 10 minutes.  I still have the amp today - and it's still works! - but it never did the Simmons sound justice.  My only regret was I never really got to play them through a decent sound system.



Of course the SDS8 pads just had a flat back, whereas I reckon that the SDS7/SDS9 3-dimensional shape looked much better. The rubber surface was fairly comfortable to play.  The only other Simmons I only ever got to use was (I think) an SDS5 riot-shield surface, and can imagine they would have been much harder to use from a comfort perspective.



I can understand why that guy's asking the price he is: cos he's the original owner, so is emotionally attached to them. They look to be in good condition, but the market will decide what they are really worth.



I sold them in the mid-90's, and have since tried to track them down but sadly have so far been unsuccessful.



I truly cannot believe why someone is not making them in their original form, but with today's electronics.  And not the Guitar Center type, either. As in, hexagonal, with the rubber or similar modern surfaces; and modernised selection of all the sound parameters, etc.



You guys that are trying to build 'clones' from scratch are legends too.  bring back the 80's!!!



cheers,



Gwyn (NZ)



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





    
     

    
    


 



  






      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Gwyn Clarke skrev:
> I had an SDS8 set back in the 80's, bright yellow, and they were truly 
> awesome.  Whilst I understand they were inferior to the rest of the 
> Simmons range in that they were analogue, 

You mean _superior_! :D

> Of course the SDS8 pads just had a flat back, whereas I reckon that the 
> SDS7/SDS9 3-dimensional shape looked much better. 

The next thing you got wrong... ;) But I guess it's a matter of taste. I 
love the mk 1's.

> I can understand why that guy's asking the price he is: cos he's the 
> original owner, so is emotionally attached to them. They look to be in 
> good condition, but the market will decide what they are really worth.

Very good point. And... it's a full, working setup too. Sold, one by 
one, it could fetch a good price still though this is rediculous. There 
was a music store in Stockholm who wanted 800 euros for a standard SDS-8 
set, and it sold...

> I truly cannot believe why someone is not making them in their original 
> form, but with today's electronics.  And not the Guitar Center type, 
> either. As in, hexagonal, with the rubber or similar modern surfaces; 
> and modernised selection of all the sound parameters, etc.

I think/know that part of the problems are patents and rights to the 
name. But who knows what the future might bring?

> You guys that are trying to build 'clones' from scratch are legends 
> too.  bring back the 80's!!!

That's the spirit! And you call analogue inferior... ;)

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se
www.myspace.com/machinepop

Jonathan McSorley skrev:
> Don't know if your allowed to post links here but in the spirit of the 
> 80's check out Terry Williams abuse of his Simmons pads in Espresso 
> Love, The Mans too Big and Solid Rock in the following Dire Straits in 
> 85 gig.
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC3FCS-NtAI 

[moderator mode on]
General link dumping and you tube extravaganza isn't OK, but occasional 
links to related matters sure are. This was annoyingly long for anyone 
thinking Dire Straits was already boring back then...

We try to keep a good spirit and the discussions going. There have been 
few flame wars over the years...
[moderator mode off]

-- 
electronically yours, jesper

- -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
www.electronic-obsession.se
www.myspace.com/machinepop