Looking for Information about drummers who recorded with Acrolite

I was watching a few snare related clips a couple of days ago, and a clip about Acrolite showed up in my search. The clip stated that around early 2000's drummers rediscovered Acrolite and they used it in recordings.

So, I searched Google to find out who has recorded with Acrolite. Google search came back with a few links but I did not see any definite answers.
I tried Chatgpt next. Chatgpt gave the wrong answer in the first try. My guess is that it did not parse the question correctly to get to the correct information. So, I typed what I have read about the snare that John Bonham used. This time Chatgpt came back with a different answer and mentioned Dave Grohl and Jim Keltner. I am very cautious about these answers because we are dealing with an early version of a software. Does anyone know which drummers and albums were recorded with Acrolite?

I wouldn't be trusting any AI on any statement of fact. Or get receipts if you do-- get a citation and look it up.

Edit: looks like we're back on track.

I tend to find Microsoft's Copilot a better platform for this kind of work, as it cites its "work" which you can then follow back to check on. In the case of this session, the number one answer - James Gadson - is spot on. The #2 and #3 answer both actually point to the same source through different repostings - and that article mentions Ringo and Buddy but does not actually connect them with using an Acrolite. Is this a better result? Yes. Even though only one of the three answers is correct, you have at least some correct information - and the ability to see where the AI is looking to find answers.

should a asked me

"Remember 5th grade band?... Well one day...Bob was walking toward Band Room and......"

alparrott said:

I tend to find Microsoft's Copilot a better platform for this kind of work, as it cites its "work" which you can then follow back to check on. In the case of this session, the number one answer - James Gadson - is spot on. The #2 and #3 answer both actually point to the same source through different repostings - and that article mentions Ringo and Buddy but does not actually connect them with using an Acrolite. Is this a better result? Yes. Even though only one of the three answers is correct, you have at least some correct information - and the ability to see where the AI is looking to find answers.
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Thanks for the pointer about the Copilot. Having a link to the original source of the answer is really helpful.

The thread is more about finding out which drummers used Acrolite in recordings than what Google or Chatgpt provided. Perhaps my point did not come across, but I will be more explicit next time around.

The statement that Acrolite was used in recordings has been out there for quite some time, but I could not find any good answers. So, I ventured out to find the answer on the Internet land. Usually relevant threads from DW and other drum related forums show up in searches, but I did not see the answer that I wanted from the search. Now there are new answers from Copilot that are totally different than Chatgpt.

striker said:

Thanks for the pointer about the Copilot. Having a link to the original source of the answer is really helpful.

The thread is more about finding out which drummers used Acrolite in recordings than what Google or Chatgpt provided. Perhaps my point did not come across, but I will be more explicit next time around.

The statement that Acrolite was used in recordings has been out there for quite some time, but I could not find any good answers. So, I ventured out to find the answer on the Internet land. Usually relevant threads from DW and other drum related forums show up in searches, but I did not see the answer that I wanted from the search. Now there are new answers from Copilot that are totally different than Chatgpt.

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When I asked Copilot to list some more drummers who used Acrolites on recordings, it also claimed Grohl and Bonham used Acros. Additionally, it listed Gadd and Matt Cameron. Notable that AI will use Reddit and internet forum pages as sources - which, as we can see here, is only a step up from Quora in reliability

why do you guys want to know that.. Back in the day a Supra was not expensive or out of reach so few thought to use an Acro it was a suitcase student drum..into the 90s there may've been during it resurgence via the internet some usage but prior? hm

jda said:

why do you guys want to know that.. Back in the day a Supra was not expensive or out of reach so few thought to use an Acro it was a suitcase student drum..into the 90s there may've been during it resurgence via the internet some usage but prior? hm nah

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Good point. That clip that I mentioned also states that the Acrolite started to get noticed again around early 2000's. It is obvious that before this date it was relegated as a good bargain snare for the weekend garage sales!

I am personally intrigued about all this. Acrolite has a reputation that it is - "The little inexpensive snare drum that could". I purchased an Acrolite look alike snare last year - the Yamaha Aluminum Recording Custom. I posted a clip a while back that a producer was asked about comparing snare drums for recording, and he picked his top snares. However, he was also very excited when he heard Acrolite's cousin, the Black Galaxy Acrolite. He said something to the effect that the Black Galaxy Acrolite is already EQ'ed and you can not go wrong recording with that snare.

striker said:

"The little inexpensive snare drum that could"

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Slingerland Gretsch maybe Rogers had same similar aluminum 8L lesser priced models. It was 'a mid 60s thing' back then.
Before domestic companies farmed out overseas their lesser priced line (which became a whole nother thing unto itself..)

Acrolite had maybe the 'prettier' catalog feature pictures maybe
and was tied into with a Clubdate set outfit..

And Ludwig was very popular maybe the most popular in those same 60s eras School districts
Could trip over them if you opened a Band Closet*

*I made that up.

This was the first launch



didn't even have a hi hat 1967

and I know some would "kill" for that set (on the right) today


It was a selling feature (the tin can I mean Aluminum snare drum)

Prior in 1963



it was wood then in 67 they figured gleaming aluminum would attract more buyers.

The Supra was just a heavier drum with the chrome plating and 2 extra lugs tamped the over tones down a bit Gave more tone substance tone.
The Acro was like the beige four door Valiant w/o power steering and vinyl bench seat stripped down
Funny they didn't offer a Six Lug for even cheaper money
(I see Gretsch did maybe Slingerland did too offer a 6L alum)
Internet create's a lot of fantasies

71



still without a hi hat pedal...

AI for facts is like truth for liars.

Leave AI for generating work flows and memes.

Yes like to see the Buddy Rich Acrolite pic. Maybe it's out there.. some where..

jda said:

Yes like to see the Buddy Rich Acrolite pic. Maybe it's out there.. some where..

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Thanks for the details about the historical background of Ludwig Acrolite. I think some people have written books about the history of drum companies. Someone should write a book about the popular snare drums that are always talk of the town. I will be the first to put an order for that book.

But, in your post there is a lot to unpack. Here is another question - Which company was the first to manufacture an Aluminum snare? Was Acrolite a copycat of another snare or was it THE ORIGINAL Aluminum snare?

From your post it looks like Ludwig was very good at marketing their snares by good presentations in their catalog and selling their snares at the school level. Most or at least some of those young drummers became lifelong Ludwig customers.

The last thing about Acrolite is the sound. Here is a recent clip from Rick Dior. Look at the deal he got for $20 dollars!! Compare the sound of the Aluminum Slingerland to the 1960's Acrolite. To me the Acrolite sounds better. Perhaps a lot of other people found the early Acrolite sound more appealing, and that could be another reason for its popularity.

P.S. @Thomas I have removed the Chatgpt screenshot, rephrased the first post, and updated the title. Hopefully this thread can be moved to the General Discussion. I leave the final decision to the moderators.

@jda I knew you will catch this about Rich and Acrolite.

The Acro was being used by pros way before 2000. Kenny Aronoff used one on Lonesome Jubilee back in ‘87…

striker said:

Here is another question - Which company was the first to manufacture an Aluminum snare? Was Acrolite a copycat of another snare or was it THE ORIGINAL Aluminum snare?

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There were cast aluminum snares in the 1920s... maybe earlier. The rolled sheet aluminum snares
came later. The WWII production of airplane aluminum probably led to that.
There are some early aluminum snares in this thread:

jda said:

why do you guys want to know that.. Back in the day a Supra was not expensive or out of reach so few thought to use an Acro it was a suitcase student drum..into the 90s there may've been during it resurgence via the internet some usage but prior? hm nah

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Yep Acrolites were dirt cheap. Drum shops wouldn't accept them as a part ex because there was that many of them. They sell for £500+ here new I laughed the first time I saw that in a shop. I've got a prototype that I cleaned up a couple of years ago which I got in a straight swap.

I've always wanted to know what happened to all those unwanted acrolites

Acro has been used in studios way back. More recently a lot of alt country records of the 90s and 2000s are notable too.
Wilco, the Jayhawks, off top of my head Patrick Keeler of the Raconteurs recorded with one. Also on some Jack White solo records.

I have mentioned this story on here before but.......many people love the Acro, and clearly with proper heads and tuning it will sound like a snare drum but........you couldn't pay me to play one today......

Back when I was a student in the early to mid 80's our common Elementary School had a whole closet full of Acrolites as they were as everyone said the cheapest student model that was given to us to play once we graduated off the wood and rubber practice pad. As such, we had a whole closet of them.....stacked floor to ceiling in 2-3 stacks.

Since I was passionate about drums at the time I was allowed to go to the music room instead of recess to play drums during that time. Well one day I rushed in and threw open both doors to the drum closet/locker and 2 of the floor to ceiling stacks of Acrolites crashed down on me with all the noise and fanfare one would imagine 20+ haphazardly stacked snares could make.......I think a couple lugs or rims cut me up a bit too.....ever since then I effing despise Acrolites.

That being said, I LOVE my Universal Brass Ludwig which may actually be less expensive to acquire today.......so there is that.

River19 said:

I have mentioned this story on here before but.......many people love the Acro, and clearly with proper heads and tuning it will sound like a snare drum but........you couldn't pay me to play one today......

Back when I was a student in the early to mid 80's our common Elementary School had a whole closet full of Acrolites as they were as everyone said the cheapest student model that was given to us to play once we graduated off the wood and rubber practice pad. As such, we had a whole closet of them.....stacked floor to ceiling in 2-3 stacks.

Since I was passionate about drums at the time I was allowed to go to the music room instead of recess to play drums during that time. Well one day I rushed in and threw open both doors to the drum closet/locker and 2 of the floor to ceiling stacks of Acrolites crashed down on me with all the noise and fanfare one would imagine 20+ haphazardly stacked snares could make.......I think a couple lugs or rims cut me up a bit too.....ever since then I effing despise Acrolites.

That being said, I LOVE my Universal Brass Ludwig which may actually be less expensive to acquire today.......so there is that.

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Attacked by Acrolites.