DRUMMER CAFE

This is what I do.  In front, and just off to the right.  My ride is now right next to my hi-hat.  I can't imagine why folks still use the traditional placement since after doing that for years, and then switching. The traditional approach is too cumbersome.

Here's a photo of my set-up from three years ago ...


Now I have a similar set-up except everything is position much lower, and I'm using the 12-inch to the left of the HiHat (no 10-inch), plus a 14-inch (optional) and 16-inch Toms to the right of the HiHat. I'll try to post a new photo soon.

It doesn't hamper my fills ... but then again, I'm not very fast.     

Seriously though, it doesn't really. I think it freaks people out by the looks ... but when you stop and think about it. The distance isn't any greater than if you were to play a standard "large kit" set-up where you skip a few Toms as you go around the kit. I'll have to shoot some video footage to demonstrate at some point. If some of the members here who take video correspondence lessons from me will chime in, they can tell you that it doesn't inhibit moving around the kit.

It does take some getting used to, but it feels very comfortable. For me, the amount of time on the Toms is far less than on the HiHat, so it was worth the change, giving the HiHat priority. There's not much more distance between a standard 4-pc set-up than my set-up. My set-up is much better now; much more comfortable and tighter. Photos coming soon!

The best way to find out is to try it yourself. Experimentation is how I discovered this set-up, and it was long before I saw anyone else doing it ... even though there were many doing it before me.

Yahoo!  Another excuse to post a shot of my setup...    For those who have seen it too many times, please go easy on me! 

Don't believe Bart- he's pretty fast.

For me it's the traditional set up.  Hats to the left- 12,13,16 (after living with 10,12,14 for an extended period- I've perfectly content with 12, 13 and 16- actually pretty musical sizes I think)

But I digress-  If I want to play open armed I just do- then it's just a cooridination thing.

A hat on your right side cheating 

Ryno, cool kit, it looks like Darryl Strawberry is getting a big whack at that crash!

What "that" are you talking about, Felix?   

I'm assuming you're talking about the remote hi hat stand.  It's a DW.  Here's the link for a good description:  http://www.dwdrums.com/hardware/9550.htm

They call it a "universal" hi hat stand.  It's basically the slave pedal and linkage from a double pedal hooked up to a normal hi hat stand (minus the tripod base).  To me, it feels much better than my DW remote/cable hi hat rig.  It feels and reacts much more like a traditional hi hat stand. 

Cheers!

Ryno

Oh OK, I really liked Tony Gwynn, great hitter, great guy from what I hear, much better role model that Darryl too!

guess I'll jump in here with the Center Hat gang-  I LOVE this config.  It's the most fun I've had since I started playing.  Has really opened up new perspectives to me.  I also like having a ride on either side now too.  Nice to see other folks are enjoying a middle hi-hat position too. 
I've got a couple pics in my Myspace gallery-

I've also recently acquired a 'middle-pedal' that's allowing me to position the bassdrum in the exact center; it's taking a little getting used to, but it keeps the whole thing pretty symmetrical.

I have no problem with mine, but I can understand why some people might since not every Cable HiHat is smooth. I always keep a standard HiHat stand in my hardware case as a back-up. I've done plenty of sessions, including Jazz sessions with my set-up.

Some engineers and producers don't like the set-up because they are stuck in the "old school" way of mixing the drums ... but they get over it. 

I've been using my Remote HiHat for over ten years now, and almost that long as my primary HiHat. Once I started using it as my primary, I got rid of the 8-foot cable and got a 3-foot cable. Truth be told, I was in the middle of a session when the 8-foot cable broken ... in the middle of a Jazz tune ... so I had to finish the session with standard HiHat stand. In defense of my Remote HiHat, which I purchased used, the cable was old and was probably abused. I've had this 3-foot cable for about 6 years now, using the Remote HiHat as my primary, and I've had no problems at all. Still, I keep a standard HiHat stand as a back-up ... for prudence sake.

I forgot to mention, based on Dave Kropf's question ... I do a LOT of left-foot (HiHat) work in my playing generally. Everything from syncopated figures to fast eighth-notes with the left foot (HiHat). The Remote Cable HiHat responds wonderfully and is very smooth. The only thing that I don't like about it, response wise, is when I'm doing foot splashes. I can achieve them, but it doesn't feel like it does with a standard HiHat stand. It took some getting used to, but I'm fine with it now.

For Straight-Ahead Jazz, I wouldn't use this set-up probably. Not that I couldn't, but my approach is different. The majority of my Jazz time keeping isn't coming from playing on the HiHats ... like what I do in a Rock/Pop/Funk, etc. This set-up is really condusive when playing a LOT of HiHat or playing in a wide variety of styles. If I were just playing Jazz, by that I mean Straight-Ahead, BeBop, and the like ... I would be using my vintage Gretsch "Progressive Jazz" kit ... with a standard HiHat stand.

The 9502 would be my immediate interest, simply because you can mount it a lot easier ... like on a rack. However, the 9550 is cool because there is no cable, which makes me think it will feel more like a standard HiHat stand.

If you can, try them both out. I really wanted the DW Remote HiHat to feel good (I used DW Pedals), but it just didn't meet my needs. Now, in fairness, I haven't tried these new ones out, so hopefully they are smoother and feel better than the ones I've tried in the past.

The Yamaha Remote Cable HiHat I have is old; very old. My buddy bought one just like the one I had, but it wasn't as old as the one I had, and he says his isn't as smooth as mine. In fact he's been checking out every Remote Cable HiHat on the market and he can't find one as smooth as my archaic Yamaha Remote Cable HiHat. That scares me a bit, because if I ever have to replace mine ... well, you know.

Hi Dave,

I have personal, current experience with both those stands.  To me, there are pros and cons to each of them.  In my opinion, the universal remote hat is superior to the cable hat in terms of feel.  It literally feels just like a regular hi hat stand to me.  I hope this is a correct descriptor, but the action on the universal hat feels more direct than the cable hat.  The action on that stand is as quick as any traditional hi hat stand I've ever used (Iron Cobra, DW 5000 and 9000 for reference). 

Conversely, I can physically feel that my cable hi hat is just a hair less responsive.  It doesn't adversely affect my playing, but I do notice it.  FWIW, I'm using a 4' cable (stock was 8').  One strange positive of that slightly more sluggish feel is that foot splashes are easier for me with that rig.  Couldn't explain why if I had to...    The cable hat is much more flexible in terms of positioning ease and possibilities.  It's also a lot easier to transport, especially now with the shorter cable.  I use the cable hat for gigs and keep the universal hat at home on my practice kit.

 

 

  Yes, my hats farther away now, but it's not as far as it looks.  The two toms out front are an 8" and a 10", those are small enough to keep the hats relatively close. I find that I don't have to reach any more than I would if I were using a traditional set up. They are also 15" hi hats so they, if I had 13's(like I used to) they might be harder to reach. Also, I am on the taller side with long enough arms to be comfortable playing like this. The other thing I like is that my left side has opened up for easy placement of my electronics (newly aquired Hart Dynamics Multi-Pad). Furthermore, you may notice in order to put the hats and toms where they are, I needed to angle my bass drum off to the right like if I had 2 bass drums.