Pick Collecting Quarterly

     Fellow guitar pick collector, Ron Richlinski, was born and raised in Chicago.  One of his fondest memories, as a child, was eating at The Big Banjo pizza parlor in the 1970’s with his family.  It was at The Big Banjo where he saw his first miniature drum set as part of a miniature stage along with guitars and mic stands.  It was a lime green Vistalite kit and he has been looking for that kit in toy stores and antique malls, ever since. 

    Ron found his very first at a vintage drum show in Chicago, around 1994. It was a small black kit with blinking lights and sound. He had to borrow the $60.00 from his brother to buy it, but he finally had a miniature set.  While searching on eBay, in 2004, Ron came across a mini red Vistalite kit, made by artist/drummer Rick Parries. He was floored and instantly put a bid on it. Ron won it for $125.00.  He immediately became addicted (we all know the feeling) and began to purchase a couple a year from Rick.

     Ron owns many of Rick Parries’ earlier sets, as Rick only began crafting these little masterpieces in 2001.  Rick was always very artistic, obviously, and has been drumming since the 70’s.  Rick always had a fascination with miniatures and, over the years, started collecting miniature instruments. He soon noticed that nobody made a nicely detailed miniature drum set, so he decided to put his skills to the test and started producing miniature drums.  Rick admits, creating these sets are not always fun.  They are all hand-made, making them very labor intensive.  There is no doubt about that after looking at just one of the drum sets. 

     There is an obvious great attention to detail that is given to each of them to make it as realistic as possible.  These kits can be set up and broken down just like any real kit.  All drum base pedals are functional and hi-hat and other cymbal stands have adjustable legs and are able to be tilted to preference.  These sets even display the drum manufacturers’ badges.  

     Professional drummers have greatly admired Rick’s work.  Dick Cully, Eric Singer, Butch Miles, Louie Bellson and Eric Singer have all praised Rick for his exceptional craftsmanship.  Ron Richlinski, as a key employee of R&R Cases for 25 years, has been exposed to many of the best rock musicians of our time. Ron has been fortunate enough to not only get great picks from his interactions with these band members, but also get incredible signatures by them … including on miniature drum sets.  Jason Bonham, Bun E. Carlos, Lars Ulrich, Mike Portnoy and Zak Starkey have all signed Ron’s sets that he obtained from Rick Parries.  Ron’s most prized set is the one signed by Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones.  Every drummer, famous or not, is in awe of Rick’s work.

     Rick uses different material, these days, to create these sets.  He notes that they are “not replicas but a replica likeness”, due to being hand-crafted – ‘making each set as a one-of-a-kind.  They are still very challenging and just as well made.  They are a far cry from those replica drum sets that are made in China and sold for $20.  Rick’s sets start out at about $250 each, these days, but it barely pays for the materials or his time.  It’s a passion … much like pick collecting.

Above:  Charlie Watts autographed this set ... one of Ron's favorite pieces.

Above:  Lars signed this beauty

 

Above:  Ron's Stray Cats collectibles on the left and his minitature guitars and picks are on the right

       To see more of Rick Parries’ miniature drum sets, visit www.smallworlddrums.net.

By Brian Bouchard

Brian Bouchard was the original editor-in-chief of Pick Collecting Quarterly and has been collecting guitar picks for over 23 years.  Brian is also the author of the 2008 book "Guitar Picks of Rock & Roll" by Gateway Press.  He specialized in vintage artist picks from the 80s and earlier, but now is concentrating on all vintage picks from the 50s and older as seen on his site www.oldpicks.com. Brian is a retired First Sergeant in the U.S. Army who now lives in Maryland with his wife and their 2 young children.

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