NOBLE & COOLEY STAR SERIES 5 PIECE DRUM KIT, OWNED BY CHRIS WHITTEN, PIANO BLACK

We are proud to announce that we are now accepting offers for this one-of-a-kind Noble & Cooley Star Series drum kit, owned and extensively used by legendary drummer Chris Whitten. This iconic kit, hand-built & designed by Noble & Cooley’s Jay Jones & Bob Gatzen, holds a special place in music history, having been played on some of the world’s biggest stages. For fans of Chris Whitten, Dire Straits, and Noble & Cooley, this is a truly rare opportunity to own an exclusive piece of drumming history.

A Forward from Dan - 'My Introduction to Noble & Cooley Drums & Chris Whitten'

I was 11 years old in the summer of 1990 and on June 30th Paul McCartney took to the stage at Knebworth. While most people probably had their eyes on Paul, my attention was fixated on his drummer, Chris Whitten. Chris's playing was so groovy yet powerful, and the sound of his kit immediately got me. Every hit seemed perfect, his snare sound was unreal!

I took in every detail of his setup and over the years wore out a VHS recording of that iconic performance. Chris’s kit looked so cool, arranged perfectly on a Pearl rack, with an array of brilliant finish Zildjians perfectly placed around him. But what really fascinated me was his drum kit. I’d never seen or heard drums like these before. Super short depths, futuristic fittings and a sound to die for. I found out quickly afterwards that his drums were the Noble & Cooley Star series drums, that were being hand made with a Solid Shell construction making them extremely expensive and exclusive. By the end of that same year I got to see an N&C Horizon series ply shell drum set at my Dad's drum store which I believe was the first kit to arrive for commercial sale here in the UK, the Horizon is another phenomenal kit but my dream was always to see a Star but other than Chris's kit, none had made it to the UK due to their limited numbers and high import costs.

After that performance at Knebworth, I started following Chris's career closely. A couple of years later, in 1991, he joined Dire Straits for their On Every Street tour, and I was even more impressed by how he adapted his drumming to cover the many live and studio drummers that went before. What made this tour particularly notable was that Chris had the immense task of taking on the new album studio parts recorded by Jeff Porcaro. Jeff’s drumming on the On Every Street album was masterful, and Chris honoured those recorded parts whilst bringing his own unique feel and power to it on stage. Another incredible testament to his versatility as a drummer and of course, he continued to play Noble & Cooley drums, which only deepened my admiration for both him and the drums.

Years went by, but that performance and those drums always stayed with me. When we started Drumazon in 2016 I wanted to look Noble & Cooley up and found that Jay & Carol Jones were still running the business with their son Nick who had joined them in the early 2000's. Naturally, when I was curating the brands we would stock, Noble & Cooley had to be part of it. They weren’t just drums to me, they reminded me of Chris' playing, my Dad's store in the 1990's and all the nostalgia that accompanied that. We were blessed to exclusively supply them here in the UK and were honoured to host Nick & Valerie Jones on our stand at the UK Drum Show in 2019, the first time they had attended an exhibition here in the U.K.

Now, after all these years, Drumazon has something that feels like a dream come true: Chris Whitten’s personal Piano Black Noble & Cooley Star Drum Kit which we are offering for sale. Sharing his kit with others feels like a full-circle moment, a way of passing on the passion for Chris's playing and my love for these original Noble & Cooley drums designed and built by the wonderful Jay Jones and late Bob Gatzen. Sadly the Jones family stepped away from N&C in 2022 so it feels even more special to have drums here from that Golden Era, the drums that Chris put on the World Stage for them.

About Chris's Noble & Cooley Star Series Drum Kit:

We present one of the most exclusive Noble & Cooley drum kits ever produced: the iconic Star Series, owned and made famous by Chris Whitten. For those unfamiliar, the Star kit is a unique, steam-bent solid shell maple kit, with the bass drum featuring an 8-ply maple construction. Produced for a brief period in the late '80s and early '90s, this kit is distinguished by its short stack toms, single nodal point lugs, and furniture-grade finish.

This particular set, made in 1988, is likely among the first ever produced and is a fully original 5-piece kit, finished in a stunning Piano Black Lacquer. The chrome hardware is in immaculate condition, and the kit retains its original Black Purecussion RIMS mounting systems with Collarlock Brackets.

Chris's kit includes a 22" x 16" bass drum, 10" x 6", 12" x 6", 14" x 7", and 16" x 8" toms. Also shown in the pictures is Chris's 14" x 5" Solid Shell Maple snare drum in matching Piano Black Lacquer which is available for sale subject to a separate negotiation, With only 24 to 28 Star kits produced in total, this kit’s exclusivity is unmatched. Chris used this kit extensively on stage with Dire Straits, see the videos below to witness him in action with this kit, which he has cherished and used both live and in the studio for over 30 years.

Like the Solid Shell Maple snare drums, Star series toms were crafted from a single ply of New England Maple at the Noble & Cooley factory. Each drum features double reinforcement rings and a single nodal point for each lug. The original N&C die-cast hoops and chrome-plated brass tube lugs are still present. Noble & Cooley were pioneers in incorporating RIMS systems as standard on all their drums, a feature that has since become common practice in the industry.

The Star bass drums are constructed from an 8-ply Maple shell with dual reinforcing rings. This kit includes the Pearl SP-20 spurs, which were standard at the time. The bass drum also features a unique dual nodal point chrome-on-brass tube lug design, engineered for greater strength and durability.

Noble & Cooley STAR drums epitomize the brand’s commitment to innovation and quality, crafted from the finest materials with no compromises. They deliver a full, rich, and pure sound that exemplifies the essence of solid shell drums. This kit is not only the most collectible Noble & Cooley kit that has ever been offered for sale, but is also robust enough for regular use. Its durability is evidenced by its excellent overall condition over the past 30-plus years, ensuring exceptional performance for many more decades to come. An incredible opportunity for fans of Chris Whitten, Dire Straits, and Jones / Gatzen era Noble & Cooley.

Provenance: Owned and extensively used by Chris Whitten: Both live with Dire Straits and in the studio on numerous high profile sessions..
Tom Sizes: 10" x 6", 12" x 6", 14" x 7", and 16" x 8" — all Solid Shell.
Bass Drum: 22" x 16", featuring an 8-ply New England Maple construction.
Finish: Stunning Piano Black Lacquer.
Tom & Snare Construction: Solid Shell Toms crafted from one-piece steam-bent New England Maple.
Bass Drum Construction: 8-ply New England Maple with dual reinforcement rings.
Lugs: Chrome on brass single nodal point tube lugs on the toms, and dual nodal point tube lugs on the bass drum.
Hoops: Original N&C die-cast mounts throughout,
Mounting System: Purecussion Black RIMS mounts and Collarlock brackets on the toms.
Heads: New Evans heads fitted throughout, including a new period-correct display head.
Exclusivity: One of only 24-28 Star kits ever made, and arguably the most famous.
Manufacturing Date: Bass drum and toms hand-built in 1988
Craftsmanship: One of the finest drum kits ever made, hand-built by Jay Jones and his team at the N&C factory in Granville, Massachusetts, USA.
Condition: Pre-loved, rated 9/10. Incredible condition for a 30+ year old kit, with only slight and typical age-related wear on the bass drum hoops.
Taking Offers: Please forward offers to us directly at info@drumazon.com

Please note: The kit is shown with snare drum, stands and cymbals for illustration purposes only. These items are not included in the listed sale price. If you require additional components, feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to create a personalised quote tailored to your needs.

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