The Hague · Since 2010

    The Drum Vault

    Curated drums · Timeless sound

    Every drum has a story of its own.

    Acoustic drum kit in warm light in the drum school studio
    IManifest

    Some instruments inspire you to play harder. Others invite you to listen more softly.

    The Drum Vault is a carefully curated collection of drums, snares and cymbals that we use for lessons, recordings, maintenance and — soon — rental to professionals.

    It's not the drums that are special. It's the choices behind them. Every instrument is here for a reason: a sound, a feeling, a reminder of why drumming is beautiful. We maintain them ourselves, tune them ourselves and play them every day.

    The Drum Vault is not a collection of the most expensive or oldest drums. It is a carefully curated collection of instruments that shaped me as a drummer and still inspire me every day. Some are rare, some are irreplaceable, and some have simply made thousands of hours of music.

    Read the whole story — Why The Drum Vault

    Curated, not collected.

    Not every drum kit receives a TDV number. Only instruments that add something to the story of The Drum Vault are included.

    Played, not displayed.

    These instruments are meant to be played. They are maintained, tuned and used during lessons, recordings and — where appropriate — professional rental.

    IICollection

    The Collection

    Curated in The Hague

    We do not collect rare instruments for the sake of rarity. We choose instruments that invite you to play attentively — instruments with a voice of their own, built for nuance, dynamics and character.

    Collection I — American Icons

    The instruments that helped shape the sound of the modern drum set.

    TDV — 001Founder Piece

    Ludwig Super Classic

    White Marine Pearl · 1960s · 13/16/22

    The Beginning

    Some instruments you choose. Some instruments choose you.

    This was my first vintage Ludwig and the drum set where it all began. I bought it when I was sixteen — my first real step into the world of vintage drums, and still the kit I have probably spent the most hours behind.

    From rehearsal room to studio, from small cafés to big stages: this Ludwig has been my steady musical partner for years. It has seen more rehearsals, recordings and gigs than any other instrument in The Drum Vault.

    It may not be the rarest kit in the collection, but it is the most important one.

    Vault Notes

    “If I could keep only one drum kit from the collection, this one would be very hard to let go.”

    Warm · Open · Full · FamiliarBest for: Studio · Live · Soul · Rock · Singer-songwriter
    TDV — 002

    Ludwig Super Classic

    White Marine Pearl · 1960s · 12/16/20

    The most compact vintage Ludwig in the collection. Open, warm and exceptionally musical. The 20" bass drum responds quickly and stays controlled, which makes this kit feel at home in jazz, soul, indie and studio recordings where nuance matters more than volume.

    Warm · Open · Responsive · VintageBest for: Jazz · Soul · Singer-songwriter · Studio
    TDV — 003

    Ludwig Super Classic

    Black Oyster Pearl · 1960s · 13/16/22

    A 100% original Black Oyster Pearl example. An instrument that not only sounds remarkable, but also represents an important piece of drum history. The famous Oyster finish became known worldwide through the British beat music of the sixties.

    Dry · Woody · Historic · OrganicBest for: Vintage recording · Classic rock · Studio

    Collection II — Modern American Craft

    Exceptional instruments are still being built today.

    Alongside the vintage Ludwigs, the collection includes builders like George Way, Dunnett and Sugar Percussion. Modern American craftsmanship, with the same musicality the vintage instruments were chosen for.

    TDV — 004

    George Way Walnut Collection

    Walnut · Cordia outer layer · 20/12/13/14/16

    Modern craftsmanship, vintage roots

    A special instrument earns its place not because it is old, but because it inspires.

    Although The Drum Vault is known for vintage drums, this George Way kit is a fine example of why age has never been the point.

    The combination of a walnut shell with a Cordia outer layer gives this kit a warm, full sound with plenty of definition. It feels modern, yet breathes the same musicality I look for in vintage instruments.

    This kit is regularly used when a modern sound is called for, without losing the character I care so much about.

    Warm · Full · Refined · DynamicBest for: Studio · Modern jazz · Pop · Fusion · Singer-songwriter
    TDV — 104

    George Way Walnut

    14 × 8

    Deep, powerful and still musical. The extra depth creates enormous body without losing articulation.

    TDV — 103

    Dunnett Monopoly Maple

    14 × 6.5

    Precision, dynamics and control. A modern boutique snare with an exceptionally wide tuning range.

    TDV — 105

    Sugar Percussion

    Wood hoop snare

    A boutique instrument with an outspoken warm and natural character. The wooden hoops give rimshots and cross sticks a sound of their own.

    Collection III — Signature Snares

    The snare defines the drummer's character.

    TDV — 101

    Ludwig Hammered Black Beauty

    14 × 6.5 · 100th Anniversary

    A modern classic. Dark, rich and extremely sensitive. The hammered brass shell creates a combination of warmth and definition that works in almost any musical context.

    TDV — 102

    Ludwig Club Date Snare

    Black Oyster Reissue · 14 × 5.5

    A tribute to the classic Club Date series. Vintage looks with modern reliability.

    Detail of a Ludwig drum kit in the studioClose-up of a snare drum with tension rods
    From the studio — collection photography to follow.

    Collection IV — Dutch Heritage

    Instruments with a story from The Hague.

    This may well be the most personal part of The Drum Vault. Westend was a well-known name in the Dutch drum world for years, with deep roots in The Hague. As a drum school from The Hague, keeping these instruments alive feels special.

    TDV — 201

    Tony Nusser Westend Kit

    Late 1950s

    A rare Dutch classic. Not just a drum kit, but a piece of music history from The Hague.

    TDV — 202

    Westend Snare

    1940s

    One of the oldest instruments in The Drum Vault.

    TDV — 203

    Westend Snare

    1950s

    A beautiful example of how the Dutch drum industry developed after the war.

    TDV — 204

    Westend Snare

    1960s

    Shows how Westend evolved towards the modern drum set.

    Collection V — Legacy Pieces

    Instruments with an exceptional provenance.

    TDV — L001Legacy Piece

    Premier Metal Snare

    1960s

    According to its documented provenance, this snare comes from the collection of Buddy Rich. Within The Drum Vault it is valued not only for its sound, but above all for the story it carries. Documentation and provenance are kept together with the instrument and form an important part of its history.

    Collection VI — Cymbals

    Cymbals are the voice of the drum set.

    Within The Drum Vault the cymbals matter just as much as the drums. The collection is built around warm, musical instruments full of character, selected over many years for studio, stage and teaching.

    TDV — C001

    Zildjian Avedis Hi-Hats

    14" · 1960s

    The oldest hi-hats in the collection. A classic Avedis sound: warm, lively and with just enough "chick". A reference for jazz, pop and soul for decades.

    Warm · Crisp · Vintage · Musical
    TDV — C002

    Zildjian Kerope Collection

    15" hi-hats · 18" · 20" · 22" crash rides

    The heart of the modern cymbal collection. The Kerope series combines the character of old Turkish cymbals with the reliability of a modern instrument. Dark, buttery and exceptionally dynamic.

    Dark · Complex · Smoky · Organic
    TDV — C003

    Zildjian K Constantinople

    20" Medium Thin Low

    A ride with a low pitch and a wide, controlled wash. Ideal when the cymbal should become part of the music instead of sitting on top of it.

    Low · Complex · Expressive · Dry
    TDV — C004

    Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Collection

    14" hi-hats · 18" crash · 17" trash crash

    A completely different colour within the collection. Short, dry and modern. Perfect when definition matters more than sustain.

    Dry · Fast · Controlled · Modern
    TDV — C005

    Zildjian Crash of Doom

    Perhaps the most headstrong cymbal in the collection. Unpredictable, explosive and full of character. Not made to sound polite, but to add emotion.

    TDV — C006

    Funch Ride

    22" · Rivets

    A boutique ride with a warm, almost floating sustain. The rivets give the cymbal a subtle sizzle that works beautifully with brushes, ballads and atmospheric music.

    Airy · Sizzling · Warm · Handmade

    Appendix — Vault Objects

    Not just instruments, but the objects that complete the story.

    TDV — A001

    Ludwig Canister Throne

    White Marine Pearl · 1960s

    More than a drum throne. In the sixties, the Ludwig Canister Throne was a clever combination of throne and storage case. Original examples in White Marine Pearl are rare today, especially when they match a complete Ludwig set from the same period. Within The Drum Vault this throne is a permanent part of the White Marine Pearl collection.

    Original · Functional · Iconic · Period correct

    Every instrument will find its own place here step by step — with stories, photos and sound. Feel free to come back and see what has been added.

    Slow down —
    do it again.

    The motto of the drum school, and of this collection
    IIIListen

    Curious how these instruments sound?

    You hear them during lessons and in the studio. Want to work on the sound and tuning of your own kit? Have a look at the Drum Sound Session. Or simply drop by and listen.

    Discover the Drum Sound SessionGet in touch
    IVServices
    03Coming soon

    Rental

    Rental of instruments from the collection, for studio and stage.

    04Coming soon

    Recording Room

    Record on a great-sounding, well-tuned kit.

    Journal

    New stories from The Drum Vault — coming soon.