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Looking for Information about drummers who recorded with Acrolite
- Thread starter striker
- Start date
Jeremy Bender
Platinum Member
A pox on Artificiial Intillegence. Here's an Acrolite in the real world...
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jda
Diamond Member
best thing I can say about a an Acrolite (been aware of since what 1967 (so not explicitly new versions) is like - as above- a well worn in sound comparable to the baseball glove you used summer after summer as a kid. Well worn in -soft pliable form fit adapted to your hand
like a pliable well worn-in baseball glove
when you were 6
like a pliable well worn-in baseball glove
when you were 6
Drummingdog
Active Member
Jim Keltner, Josie. Then never used again
That snare was a Vistalite...
Drummingdog
Active Member
So many snares… so little time
JoeVermont
Well-known Member
I recently supported a community chorus performance and decided to use my early 70's Acro'. Low volume setting, school auditorium, coated ambassador on top - it sounded perfect for that situation. To your point.... it was like playing for school band all over again, for which it was intended. I've tried using the Acro' and Blackro' (yes, I have both) on my classic rock, and party band gigs. They sound OK, but just not robust enough.
Anectodically, Hal Blaine occasionally used an Acro but I cannot find any documentation of that. Pretty much every picture you see of him he has a Supra.
Uncle Albert
Active Member
Walk this way 
striker
Silver Member
Thank you @Uncle Albert
Yesterday I put the question to the new AI search tool from Google called Gemini. Before anyone scolds me for using an AI tool, please hear me out. I did not use Gemini to accept what it says on face value. I used it as a "better search tool" because its collated answers are well formatted, and you can see the links to the web sites where it gets its data from.
The link to the Stax Recording Studio Museum web site was one of the links. There is a video clip of the Stax Museum virtual tour, and at 3:38 mark they start to talk about Al Jackson, and a fellow drummers plays Jackson's black Rogers kit with the Acrolite snare drum. Here is the link to the virtual tour web site:
https://staxmuseum.org/stax-museum-virtual-tour/
Uncle Albert
Active Member
This dude rippin nicely . Acro sounds mint
Uncle Albert
Active Member
Here’s another nice vid Acro in the main slot. Aced the Motown sound
GretschedHive
Gold Member
brady
Platinum Member
Don't give Ludwig any ideas!! The humble Acrolite is expensive enough!!!
Supraman5x14
Member
Clive Bunker...
Chris Whitten
Platinum Member
Anecdotally I've heard from some pro drummers I respect that a vintage Acrolite is a fantastic snare for recording.
Regarding who used and when, there are so many variables. When I've made an album I've usually used multiple snares, just for fun, variation and to suit the producer's needs. I used to take a dozen different snares to every session, we might also use a snare the studio had laying around, we might rent something in. Most of the time a drummer won't remember what snare was used on which recording.
The simple answer to Acrolite curiosity is to buy one, try it and see if you like it. They are at the cheaper end of studio standard drums and they have already depreciated as much as they are ever going to. Most likely going to increase slightly in value overtime.
So there is nothing lost in buying a 60's or 70's Acrolite in 2025.
Regarding who used and when, there are so many variables. When I've made an album I've usually used multiple snares, just for fun, variation and to suit the producer's needs. I used to take a dozen different snares to every session, we might also use a snare the studio had laying around, we might rent something in. Most of the time a drummer won't remember what snare was used on which recording.
The simple answer to Acrolite curiosity is to buy one, try it and see if you like it. They are at the cheaper end of studio standard drums and they have already depreciated as much as they are ever going to. Most likely going to increase slightly in value overtime.
So there is nothing lost in buying a 60's or 70's Acrolite in 2025.
Elvis
Silver Member
IIRC, I think Kenny Aronoff recorded most of John Cougar's Scarecrow album with an Acrolite.
Supraman5x14
Member
Here's some video from 1973 of Dale Griffin with Mott the Hoople playing an Acrolite live. Not sure if he recorded with one, but notice the attachment of the snares to the butt plate with a strap, possibly packaging tape. Common modification by the mid-70's.
Cool group of the era.
Cool group of the era.
JimmyM
Diamond Member
He also used a 402.