DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

In the past year, meaning 2007 to present, what's been your favorite acquisition as far as instruments, gear, etc.?

I personally haven't purchased any drum gear as of late, but I have picked up a few percussion accessories and electronic nick-nacks ... although nothing I care to share about.

How about you, anything?
 

Well my G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) has greatly improved in recent months so I've not picked up anything for over 6 months.  However, I'd have to say that my best pick-up in '07 was my 24" Istanbul Agop Signature ride.  OOH she's a beauty.  Deep dark complex wash with just a hint of trash.  It has a nice pingy attack that doesn't get overbearing.  Shank hits are to die for....  Excuse me, gotta go change my clothes...   ;)

Cool thread Bart! 

By far, my favorite gear acquisition in 2007 was my Tama Stewart Copeland Signature snare drum.  The number one reason is because my wife surprised me with it for an anniversary gift.  That goes way above and beyond, yes?  Number two reason is that it is a beautiful sounding drum.  It's now my go-to snare for most situations. 

Coming up for this year's anniversary is an 18" bass drum - Tama Starclassic Performer to match my silver sparkle kit.  Should take receipt of it in the next month.  I can't wait for it to get here because I've been playing some painfully small venues and I could really use the smaller footprint. 

After that, I'm done, I promise!   ;)

Drumwise I purchased the used Sonor Force 1000 kit last year ( ::) LOL) but they do sound awesome except for the snare drum which sounds like a snare drum you would give to a 5 year old  >:(   :D

I also bought a really killer Telefunken tube mic for studio- yay!  Which cost way more than the drumset I bought.

And just about a month ago I got the Paiste Giant Beat Frying Ride/Awesome Crash Cymbal.  I really like it, it's different but works well for me.

Sabian Vault 14" Hi-Hats.  They are musical, responsive, and very fun to play.

It's a huge upgrade from my Zildjian Scimitar Bronze "RAWK" hats.  (Don't laugh, they sounded great, I have recordings to prove it!!!  ::))

Ask me again in a few months when Toontrack releases Superior Drummer 2.0...

So far my Roland Spd-S has been my favorite acquisition this year -- although I have yet to even scratch the surface of this thing... I'm just getting used to integrating it into my acoustic set-up and as of now it's not being used for much more than some percussion add-ons - but I have big ideas...  ONE DAY!!

About 3 months ago I aquired a 70s pAisTe 2oo2 18" ride.  I use it as a heavy crash mostly.  It works well for me because it makes the 18" medium crash and 20" medium crash stand out more.

About a month ago I bought a 6.5x14 solid shell maple Craviotto snare.  What a fantastic drum.  Everytime I play it Im blown away.  I wouldnt mind having a full kit made by Craviotto.

My last ac was a new cymbal - a Dream 18" thin.

I bought it as a jazz ride, and it works as a jazz ride, but I find myself
using it as crash.   I didn't think I'd like it as a crash.  On the online clips,
it sounds a bit gongy when crashed, but that guy crashes like he's swinging
a baseball bat.  :)    I can't hear any gong - just good crash tone.

No rush for anything new, but my next ac should be:

- Acoustic: a second snare. 
  [Still only have one snare.  Ok as a loser not gigging and only playing
   in my bedroom, but not ok if I ever get to change that.]

- Electronic: something to record with.

Rock and roll.

Since December practically all my stuff is new.  New kit, new cymbals, new hardware, new bags.

I picked up a 6x13 Mapex Black Panther birdseye maple snare that looks and sounds great.  I just tweaked the stock Ambassador heads and it sounds lovely.  I hadn't ever played a 13" snare before, and this was new and cheap on eBay so I just went for it.  Makes me miss my 6.5x14 Mapex Pro M - I like 'em deep.

Trick snare

Trick single pedal

Meinl Cajon

I switched the bass drum heads on two of my sets to the Aquarian SKII & Regulator combo

Lately I've been digging the Stanton Moore sticks from Vic Firth

I ordered a bunch of 'jazz' sticks from BopWorks - haven't had a chance to kick the tires yet.

I'm thinking I need a 14" crash some time this year.

My entire setup was bought about a year ago. Moved (back) from Australia to Norway, and used to opportunity to upgrade my entire kit.

So out with the old Mapex M and Meinl setup, and in with a brand new Sonor Force 3005, A Custom and rack setup. Lovely  ;D

the coolest thing i bought this year were three $1 rivets that i had put into my 20 inch zildjian k custom med ride cymbal. ;)
the sizzle really makes anything and everything sound fantastic, from quiet riding to stick shank hits, even wire brush 'crashes'....

i liked it so much i had two other cymbals riveted, too, but stopped myself before i did my 17 inch k custom dark crash

Last year I picked up my Tama Superstar Custom kit which I really love. I also bought a few more Saluda cymbals which are great. A couple of months ago I scored a great deal on some multi-clamps for my rack. For VDay my wife bought me a new multi-pattern LDC. Most recently my band mate and I went in together on an Iron Cobra double kick pedal (bought from another friend). That has been a lot of fun.

I'd like to get a few more Saludas this year. I'm also looking for a new mic pre and a D/A so I can use 6 inputs on my DAW instead of just 4. However, the hardware stuff will probably wait. I want to start building electronic kits this year, and my end of year goal is to have at least one nice pre clone.

How very nice of your wife! So I guess this year isn't a surprise? I went the opposite way. I've had a 18" Yamaha Recording Custom for years and finally add a 22", although its not a RC, its an Advantage..I didn't want to pay the high prices on Ebay for the RC. I didn't want to mix them but the average Joe can't tell and anywho I hope to get a new kit sometime.

I would like to aquire a new SD, and new crashs (14" or 15") and with the tax refunds its tempting, but with the economy, I think I will hold off a while.

Which one did you get?  I got one of the Burlwood ones with guitar strings in it and have been fairly happy with it, but it seems like every time I turn around Meinl's got some new cajon.

Thanks Bobhead!  Yeah, my wife treats me right when it comes to the drum thing.  She's a horse woman and as such spends incredible amounts of money for board, shoeing, vet bills, accessories, etc..., so she knows the routine. 

No surprise this year, but that's quite alright.  I'm really looking forward to that small bass drum.  How's that 18" Yammy treat you?  I have 22's and a 20, so the new one will be foreign territory for me.  I'm getting it specifically for tight practice/gig spaces, plus the option of another bass drum sound for recording.  I'm hoping to run it more open than I do my 22's.  Do you run yours with a lift?   

What snare drum/s are you thinking about? 

The Ebony model.  It's a snare cajon with a knob to handle the snare assembly.  Ebony front plate.

It's listed on this page:
http://meinlpercussion.com/products/meinl_percussion/cajons/snare_cajons.html

You're going to love that snare. I was so happy I went and bought a second Craviotto snare. Now my other snares just sit there. I put 42 strand Puresound wires on my 6.5x14. A whole new world again.  ;D  I would love to have a full kit by Craviotto also. But with 4 sets now my wife would probably divorce me and have a good reason for it.  :P

i sold 2 bassdrums, an entire premier XPK 6 piece kit, a 22" H&B enduro case, some dw pedal parts, a conga stand, and 2 old electronic pads.  i got back nearly 100 square feet of our apartment-- officially my favorite drumming acquisition ever.

in all truth though, the process of making music has been extremely streamlined now tht there's a whole lot less stuff to move.

I got a ton of new stuff - I replaced all my old cymbals with a mix of Sabian Signatures, HHX, and Zildjians, plus I got an amazing 5.5 X 14 Ludwig chrome over brass snare drum. I'll be a happy drummer for quite some time now.

I love the 18". I only use felt strips for a bit of muffling. It can sound wide open or you can tune it to be very punchy also. You will miss the stage volume punch of a bigger drum though if you are in a louder situation. But it still mics up well, even in a large venue. Oh boy! and is it easy to carry around.
I do not have a lift, I thought about it, but I don't mind hitting the drum off center, its part of the charm of an 18" to me, being able to get some tone to the drum. Like any drum, some rooms you can't make it sound good, and then some rooms, the 18" will be larger than life.
As far the the SD, its still early in my looking around, so I'm very open. I hoping to go to the Chicago drum show, so maybe I find something that I love there or get some ideas.

New pieces for my Taye Studio Maple kit and just acquired Sabian legacy 21" ride.

My fav acquisition was a large, used Tempus kit (2 each 17x24 kicks, 13, 14, 16, 18 toms).  I completely disassembled it, removing every piece of hardware from every drum.  I had to get rid of the old black Gibraltar mounting parts (toms & spurs), remove tons of black spray paint, replace most of the hoops, and had Paul cut two the toms down.

If I remember correctly, I got it in September.  Well, today I'm picking up the last two parts I ordered to get this kit ready to play out.  I'll post pictures in the drum porn thread in the near future.

 
Quite a rubbish kit from my band's rehearsal room, which I've been lucky to buy for about the price of a good pro hi-hat stand - imagine, a whole kit with hardware and cymbals at that price. So now I can practise on this kit if I like and spare my good old Premier for gigs and more important rehearsals.

My most recent acquisition (certainly the best of 2007/8 to date) has been a small PA system so that I can have rehursals at my place instead of lugging my kit around.

The system consists of:
2 Madison M2-15 main speakers
1 ART power supply
1 ART 2x15 EQ
1 Carvin DCM1000 power amp
1 Soundcraft E8 mixer
3 Audix OM2 mics
2 MXL 2003 mics
...and a seemingly infinite number of cables.

Pics below...all of a sudden, my man-cave has become a popular place to hold rehursal! 

Cheers, Bob

(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9858/pa3kc1.jpg)

(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1354/mixer1hf9.jpg)

(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/5524/mainstg8.jpg)

IN JAN. I SOLD MY LUDWIG ACCENT KIT. I WAS HOPING I COULD GET A LUDWIG CUSTOM ELITE SET.  NO STORES HAD ANY . THE LAST STORE  HAD A MAPEX BIRCH 6 PIECE SET IN AMBER.  THE MORE I LOOKED AT IT AND PLAYED IT, THE MORE I LIKED IT.  I BOUGHT IT AND  I AM GLAD I DID.

Mostly a few mics (SM57s, Beta52) and also a mixer that was a deal I could not pass up.

On the drum gear side, nothing too interesting -- heads, sticks, a couple shakers. Saving up and researching some kits for a planned purchase later this year... but so many kits still to be heard. (Top of the list: DW Jazz series, Ludwig Legacy Classic)

But really, the mics, mixer and software has given me a whole new set of things to play with and learn about.

Though I did check out the Steve Jordan signature drum today and was sorely tempted.

My parents gave me a completely traditional cowbell (or should I say sheepbell?), used by mountain shepherds from a mountainous area we spent a few days in. With the inner "pendulum", and the collar for the animal and all. It was dusty and had webs. The sound is great IMO, not sure about the volume (I haven't even tried it with sticks yet, but it looks sturdy enough for it) but it's currently hard to imagine setting it up.

I'll add a picture to this post when I get one, soon I hope.

My favorite gear purchase in the last year was a power amp that has enough power to properly run our subs.  It made a BIG difference on our overall low-end sound, but I am pleased with being able to 'feel' the thump of my bass drum now. ;D

Rick

I can't Wait to be able to have the space to hold rehearsal. 
But, in my household, it will all happen in baby steps:

Step 1: confiscate enough space so that I'm not practicing in my bedroom.
Step 2: confiscate more space so that I can host rehearsal.

Yeah, PA gear is a whole 'nother addiction. I picked up a PLX1804 (13#!!!, weight, not cost) for our mains, shifted the PLX3002 to the subs bridged, bumping the PLX2402 to monitors.

Added a matching 31 band EQ for a third IEM mix. Band's just started trying them out, Shure PSM200s, luckily NOT affected by the FTC frequency selloff ;>).

Just found & bought slipcovers for my extra SM12IV monitors as closeout/demos from www.undercovernyc.com for half price.

I did buy an S-hoop for my Acrolite (used from a drumsmithy). Sounds nicer (I think), takes some getting used to how low the rim is for cross-sticking.

Picked up several used Pearl TH100s tom arms for my kits & racks. Hidden ball type adjustment. Cheaper than the new ones and I like the look better than the TH1000 & 2000s.

Boomerweps

Those PLX's are great amps man.

Ever notice how drummers take such an active role in production- PA/Recording duties?

Bob, I know that PA buying feeling very well. A few years back when I had my house I purchased a complete Sun sound system (remember them?) for practice and small clubs. Then I came to the conclusion that, "Hey, why am I doing this? I'm just a drummer." So I sold my electronic gear, drums, plus the house. Moved, payed bills, and started over again. Now I don't have the house and electronic gear, just more drums. Funny how that works.... ;D

I had just got back into drumming after a 15yr layoff so I bought ALL of my gear in 07 to the present.

Most recent aquisitions were a Gretsch Catalina Jazz kit, A pair of Vintage Acrolites, a 20" Kcon Med Ride and a 20" K Ride

Yes! I have the PA, not a very big one, but big enough for vocals at practice. A good drummer friend of mine recently bought a PA for his band. After all, we have the money to dish out for all of our drum gear, we might as well pick up the PA too, right? Hah!

I also have the practice space, which was a primary goal of mine when I bought this house a few years ago. I love recording/production. I'm actually trying to get a couple of my friend's bands in here to do some demos for them. I had an interview today with a very busy DJ/soundman in this area whom I will hopefully be learning a lot from in the near future.

I ordered an 18" Sabian HH Thin Crash that arrived on my birthday last year--I fell in love with it instantly and forced my girlfriend to be in pictures with it!  I like it so much, in fact, I try not to play it too much (is that weird?)

Besides that, a couple of recent and favorite new additions are my LP Salsa Cowbell (whichever model Stanton Moore uses) and a 14 x 6.5" Ludwig brass snare (sounds eeriely Bonham-esque, except for the skills, of course!).

Still looking for the perfect 13" hi-hats...maybe next birthday!

Yeah, I finally broke down a couple years ago and got three matching lightweight amps and then they change them ;>( But that PLX1804 is a monster AND lightweight, just not 2 ohm capable.


Two primary reasons and a lot of secondary ones.
1. We can't get just ONE mic, stand and cable to do our business.
2. We are used to hauling a lot of crap and buy vehicles (& trailers) to accomodate everything.

Secondary is that after hauling, setting up, tearing down and performing maintenance on all our own stuff, we want it to sound great and be heard. And be more self suffient.

I find bassists often get into PA gear, too. I guess we are all about overall band support rather than "More Me" primarily.

Boomerweps

Oooh, good topic.

I'm a cymbal addict, so here are my new additions:

Paiste 22" 2002 Rock Bell Ride:  I recently purchased this discontinued cymbal in mint condition off EBay.  I needed a cymbal with enough volume and ping to cut through the two loud guitar players in my band.  Mission accomplished!

Paiste 17" Twenty Series Thin Crash:  I'm expecting this baby to arrive via UPS today!

Does a new soundproof studio count?

That is the gear arsenal.  And if it's anything like mine it becomes a chore maximizing the beautiful space it once had when new.

Congrats- get ready to take your craft to the next level.

Oh, and now you have no excuses to get out of playing in the communal solo  8)

 
Since my post far above, I've just got a hopeful DW 5000 pedal from ebay - it's still in the air, or at the customs, but I'll get it soon. I may tell you how it works later.