Rogers drums were famously played by drummers including Mick Avory, Dave Clark, Brian Downey, Mick Fleetwood, Al Jackson Jr., Sam Lay, Earl Palmer, and Marky Ramone
Do they still make Rogers drum kits?
Yes, Rogers drum kits are back in production as of 2026, following the brand's relaunch in 2017
They stopped making them in the 1980s, but after Joseph Chen bought the rights in 2013 and brought the brand back, Rogers now sells handcrafted snare drums and is slowly expanding into full kits. Vintage Rogers sets—especially the classic Rogers Dyna-Sonic snare and Swiv-O-Matic tom mounts—are still highly sought after by collectors. If you're after a modern kit, specialty shops like the Drum Center of Portsmouth carry the Covington Series.
What happened to Rogers Drum Company?
After shutting down in the 1980s, Rogers was revived in 2017 by Joseph Chen under a new handcrafted production model based in California
Chen, who was then-president of Dixon Drums, picked up the brand rights in 2013 and relaunched it as a high-end maker focused on snare drums. Using vintage-style hardware and shell-building methods straight out of the 1950s–60s, Rogers restarted production in a California workshop close to Fullerton—the same town where the company first started. Today, the brand operates under Drum Workshop, Inc., which handles manufacturing and distribution.
Where are Rogers Covington drums made?
Rogers Covington drums are handcrafted and finished at a California workshop near Fullerton
Every Covington Series kit is built, lacquered, and inspected in that same California workshop. The series is sold through the Drum Center of Portsmouth and uses Rogers’ proprietary shell process. While production isn’t cranked out on an assembly line, these kits keep the brand’s vintage soul alive while meeting today’s build standards. Stock is limited, so if you’re interested, check directly with the retailer.
Who was the first drum company?
Ludwig Drum Company is widely recognized as the first to produce a modern drum set
Founded in Chicago back in 1909, Ludwig changed the game in 1918 with the Jazz-Er-Up—a complete kit with bass drum, pedal, snare, cymbals, and even a woodblock. That design basically invented the modern drum set as we know it. Sure, people have been banging on drums since the 6th century B.C., but Ludwig’s 1918 release was the real turning point. The company’s still going strong today, making it one of the oldest continuously operating drum makers around.
