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October 23, 2003 12:00 am by Daily Free Press Admin

Under the blue awning at 1096 Boylston St., the store manager of Jack’s Drum Shop, Greg Michalowski, is deep in conversation with a customer, but manages to nod and smile as customers come and go. Jack’s Drum Shop accommodates drummer’s needs Vic Firth drumsticks, Zildjian cymbals and Yamaha drum sets. The product that sells the most is Remo’s 14-inch coated Ambassador Drumhead.

‘If we run out of these, we’re beaten where the bruises don’t show,’ Michalowski says, laughing and readjusting his baseball cap.

Jack Adams opened Jack’s Drum Shop in Boston in the late 1940s. The Vater Drumstick Company, which started in the store’s basement in 1956, has expanded and is run by Adams’ grandsons. Jack’s Drum Shop ‘is the oldest drum store in the country,’ Michalowski says. ‘We don’t have computers here. We keep it old school.’

Michalowski says he has played music for almost 35 years. He started working at Jack’s Drum Shop 12 years ago and has been the store manager for five years.

‘I work here because of the customers and history. Our customers range from professionals to beginners,’ Michalowski says. ‘You have to have a relationship with customers so they are comfortable about their purchase. In this industry, you have to make friends and be fair.’

That’s the quality that draws some customers to this sleepy store.

‘Jack’s Drum Shop has integrity. They don’t rip people off,’ says store employee Chris Griffiths, a third-year Berklee School of Music bass performance student.

‘I remember customers’ first and last names, their kids, their girlfriends and we talk about life before we even start talking about drums,’ Michalowski says.

Students at Berklee, which is right around the corner, are particular loyal to Jack’s.

‘We help Berklee students in their beginning stages,’ Michalowski says. ‘We get to know them and know which direction their sound is going in.’ Customers can experiment with different types of cymbals, drums and sticks to find their unique sound.

Seven assembled drum sets sit in the store, including Yamaha and Ludwig sets. Michalowski says a good drum has to be ‘in round,’ which means that the wooden body of the drum is not warped or damaged and has to have ‘a perfect barring edge.’

Customers are encouraged to try out drum sets they would like to purchase. But, Michalowski says, drummers who come in to ‘pound on the drums like it were a rehearsal studio’ are not ‘qualified to test out the new drum sets’ because they will damage the new drumheads. They can, however, use the ‘Jack’s Drum Shop’ logo drum set at the back of the store.

More than 20 drumheads signed by famous drummers hang on the right wall of the store. One of the drumheads is signed, ‘To Jack’s, All the Best. Always, Steve Gadd.’

Michalowski describes Gadd as ‘the only person on the wall that left me speechless.’

‘He’s a drumming legend,’ he said. ‘If you’re a drummer and don’t know who he is, you better find out.’

Gadd has played with such musicians as Eric Clapton and Chick Corea, and is best known for his drum recordings on Steely Dan’s song ‘Aja’ and Paul Simon’s ‘Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover.’ Gadd was awarded the Zildjian American Drummers Achievement Award at the concert held at Berklee Performance Center on Sept. 13, which included performances by James Taylor, Paul Simon and Rick Marotta. Other recipients of this award include jazz drummers Max Roach and Elvin Jones.

‘The famous drummers who stop by when they pass through town are like friends. Some are ex-Berklee students,’ Michalowski says.

Taku Hirano, the percussionist for Fleetwood Mac, visited Jack’s Drum Shop during his stay in Boston for the Fleetwood Mac tour. The band played on Sept. 24 at the Fleet Center. Hirano was a Berklee student from 1991 to 1995. ‘I always stop by Jack’s to hang out just like old times,’ he said of his visit.

Jack’s Drum Shop has sold drums at the same location in Boston for almost 60 years.

‘We sell drums here, but it’s all about having fun,’ Michalowski says. ‘It’s like a drummer’s clubhouse.’