Doctor J Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 It seems like there are quite a few of us on the site who play drums but I can't find a thread which just covers drum... ehhh.... chat. Who out there is also a drummer? What are you playing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Hey! yep, drummer over here! I play a Yamaha Oak Custom X kit and I love it! Sadly I haven’t really been able to play since the whole global pandemic thing… and then I moved house… and there’s another baby on the way… but, you know, soon! How about you? What drums are you favouring at the moment? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 *waves* I'm a drummer who fell into playing bass by accident, but love playing both now. I'm quite lucky in that I've had the opportunity to pick up my dream gear over the years I've been playing. My 'home/studio' kit is a 1980's USA Gretsch in 8/10/12/14/15/20 - it's in natural maple finish so pretty classic. It sounds amazing, and until recently was my gigging kit too, but it's seen a hard life and I don't want to take it out any more! I've recently fallen for Yamaha drums - or, rather, I've loved them for years (have a couple of Yamaha snares etc) so during lockdown I shelled out for one of the new Recording Custom kits - it's an absolute beauty. It's 8/10/12/13/14/16/22 in their Classic Walnut finish - slightly darker than the original cherry finish, but absolutely stunning. I realised I'm a proper Yamaha fanboy when my main bass is a TRB1005 and I also have Yamaha PA too! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Here's a couple of pics 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 I came at it the other way, I started on bass. I started playing guitar because none of my guitar playing mates were writing music and I wanted to do original music. A few years later I accidentally drifted into drums because we were trying to do some very low-tempo stuff and couldn't find any drummers who wanted to play slow 😂 I started in the mid 90's and played until maybe 10 years ago, when I sold my drum gear and thought I would use programmed drums for music. I don't have the patience to make programmed drums not sound like programmed drums anymore, so I picked up an old Pearl Export a couple of years ago and enjoyed it so much, I splashed out on an old Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute this year. I am also a Yamaha convert. I have Oak Custom X and old Brass snares. The oak sounds better in the room but the brass records really well. I narrowly missed out on an old 80's Recording Custom due to not being able to travel inter-county during the lockdown earlier this year, but I'm delighted with the one I have, which I picked up the day lockdown ended 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Wow, that BCA looks lovely! Good to see a fellow 'massive kit' enthusiast too.. 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted November 17, 2021 Author Share Posted November 17, 2021 It's my first venture above a 5-piece 😂 The guy was selling the 8/10/12/14/16/20 as a lot and, once I got them home, I just set it all up to see what it was like. Once it's there, looking at you, you tend to use it, I find 😁 I could probably do without the 8 but I'm enjoying it. It's making me try harder, just to make use of them, which is good. It's my first 20" bass drum, too. I was a little unsure about it, having always had a 22", but it's got more than enough depth and works even with the doomy stuff I sometimes record. The side snare is just so I have somewhere to put whichever one I'm not using. They just swap position depending on what I'm up to. I don't quite have the skill to keep two snares on the go together but, again, it's new and interesting to have it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Here’s my Yamaha kit! Not the best pic - finish is a sparkly white kinda thing. I too had Gretsch before this… I’ve owned various brands but always loved Yamaha stuff so in the end I just sold everything else and went Yamaha. I too have/have had Yamaha PA stuff, basses, guitars etc. you can’t go wrong with Yamaha! one weird side effect from COVID/lockdowns was I joined a group on Facebook called ‘snares’ and decided to start a collection of Yamaha snares (I got a little sidetracked and picked up some Premier ones too!). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Maybe this should be called 'Yamaholics' instead! Quote The side snare is just so I have somewhere to put whichever one I'm not using. They just swap position depending on what I'm up to. I don't quite have the skill to keep two snares on the go together but, again, it's new and interesting to have it there. The big thing ATM seems to be to have a deeper tuned side snare - that fat 70's sound. I've been playing around with it and have an old Maple Custom snare tuned right down - interval between the 12" and 14" toms - and it's great, adds some real interest if you play backbeats between the two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 2 hours ago, kingforaday said: one weird side effect from COVID/lockdowns was I joined a group on Facebook called ‘snares’ and decided to start a collection of Yamaha snares (I got a little sidetracked and picked up some Premier ones too!). I realised the other day I have literally run out of space for my snares! Yamaha probably predominate in terms of brand, but I've got Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch, Dunnett, Ahead and so on! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 56 minutes ago, Jakester said: I realised the other day I have literally run out of space for my snares! Yamaha probably predominate in terms of brand, but I've got Ludwig, Slingerland, Gretsch, Dunnett, Ahead and so on! nice! There are worse problems to have for sure! I have to set limitations on my collecting nature or it just gets out of hand. I’m only allowing myself Yamaha MIJ stuff (which is killing me the newer stuff I want to try) or premier if they’re really cheap. Here’s pics of some of the collection! steel 14x6.5 & 10x5.5 little 14x4 birch custom piccolo FRP - fibreglass reinforced plastic snare, 2 pics to show how I can illuminate it! the sad thing is I’ve barely been able to play any of them yet… one day soon, I hope 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Nice! I think those FRP snares are fairly rare/sought after. My Yamahas are: Akira Jimbo Sig 13x7 Peter Erskine Soprano 12x4 Maple Custom 14x6 Brass Custom Absolute (or whatever it was called - it has Absolute lugs anyway!) 14x4 I really want one of the old Yamaha Bamboos but they're hen's teeth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 10 minutes ago, Jakester said: Nice! I think those FRP snares are fairly rare/sought after. My Yamahas are: Akira Jimbo Sig 13x7 Peter Erskine Soprano 12x4 Maple Custom 14x6 Brass Custom Absolute (or whatever it was called - it has Absolute lugs anyway!) 14x4 I really want one of the old Yamaha Bamboos but they're hen's teeth. Yeah I saw the bamboo ones and was like “add that to the shopping list…” then I saw the price! Maybe not! sounds like a very cool collection, I’m trying to steer clear of the signature drums for the sake of the bank balance. I think I know the brass custom absolute you speak of… I’m trying to also limit myself to one of each material (so I can compare etc)… but I couldn’t resist getting the bigger steel like the mini one I have… maybe that’ll have to be one of each size, in each material! Brass next hopefully, then maybe aluminium. It’s an expensive interest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 I started out as a percussionist then got into drum kit a little later. Have owned dozens of kits ranging from 1950s round badge Gretsch, 60s and 70s Ludwigs, old 60s Slingerland and Rogers kits, vintage Premiers, etc, but also had a Yamaha 9000 kit at one point. The last nice set I owned was 1979/80 set of Tama Superstars (22-12-16) they were beautiful sounding drums and really solidly built. I had another set of 80s Superstars in jazz sizes for a while too but the bigger set was really special. When we downsized and I stopped doing drum gigs I sold them to a local kid who wanted a decent set to learn on. Now I just have a ridiculously tiny kit that I put together from stray 1980s Pearl toms, that has a 15” kick drum. I use a 1971 Ludwig Acrolite snare with it and usually vintage 70s Paiste Formula 602 cymbals. It records well but I still might get another larger kit again someday though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 That’s very cool, I’ve been thinking lately of trying to build a tiny version of my kit for when my kids want to jam along with me… this makes me even more convinced it’s a good idea! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 8 hours ago, kingforaday said: That’s very cool, I’ve been thinking lately of trying to build a tiny version of my kit for when my kids want to jam along with me… this makes me even more convinced it’s a good idea! Oh that’s a great idea, and your neighbours will love it! 😂 I needed a small, portable kit for acoustic gigs and also something that wouldn’t take up much room as I’ve got loads of other instruments and gear cluttering up the house already. I’d seen some of the little kits available (Sonor, Ludwig, Pearl, Tama, etc) and they all looked great but I thought I could probably put something together that sounded a bit better, and under budget too. For around £120 it was definitely worth doing 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 I always wanted to be a drummer, but lack of funds or suitable place to practice never materialized. Got given a bass at 14yrs old so that was that. Onwards to music college, had to choose a second instrument - drums it was. Had an awesome teacher called Martyn Webber. Had a kit every now and again when practical, even gigged as a drummer for two or three gigs! Flash forward again, my eldest takes up the drums, gets kit, gets alright, chucks it in. Now, I have a partially built garden room and a Premier Olympic kit waiting to go in! 12/14/20 mahogany shells, a Super Zyn ride and some Tosco hats - all of it older than me, and sounds great! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 2 hours ago, Pea Turgh said: I always wanted to be a drummer, but lack of funds or suitable place to practice never materialized. Got given a bass at 14yrs old so that was that. Onwards to music college, had to choose a second instrument - drums it was. Had an awesome teacher called Martyn Webber. Had a kit every now and again when practical, even gigged as a drummer for two or three gigs! Flash forward again, my eldest takes up the drums, gets kit, gets alright, chucks it in. Now, I have a partially built garden room and a Premier Olympic kit waiting to go in! 12/14/20 mahogany shells, a Super Zyn ride and some Tosco hats - all of it older than me, and sounds great! love it, great looking kit for sure! I have an old premier kit my Dad learned on, he gave it to me to learn on when I was a teenager… I’ll hang on to it in the hope one of my kids likes the idea of drumming and I can pass it down to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 I had a sad day over the Christmas break- took my 60s UK Rogers kit back to the friend who sold it to me 20 odd years ago. I replaced it with a small Gretsch Renown, but have kept hold of the snare until I can afford to replace it, the Renown drums do sound great, but the snares don't seem to crop up 2nd hand... 😞 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Although it's a bluey-grey ripple wrap, in natural daylight it looks quite green! I think there is some lacquer (nitro?) that has just yellowed over the last 55 years! I won't miss the worn out hexagonal Tom arm though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingforaday Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Sad to have to move it on, but good choice on the renown! I very nearly bought one of those a few years back but and ti the realisation I’d always wanted a decent yamaha kit, so it was time to just get one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 The Renowns are great kits. I had one of the first into the UK - it was my first kit I'd bought myself (thanks student loan!) and sounded amazing. Only downside then was a lack of 'add-on' toms - I ended up getting some made for me to match out of Keller shells. A couple of pics of my old kit, and one of it being used in the studio: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 On 10/01/2022 at 12:34, Jakester said: The Renowns are great kits. I had one of the first into the UK - it was my first kit I'd bought myself (thanks student loan!) and sounded amazing. Only downside then was a lack of 'add-on' toms - I ended up getting some made for me to match out of Keller shells. A couple of pics of my old kit, and one of it being used in the studio: Did you try the Renown snares? I'd really like one to match Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 I did have one that came with the kit - it was okay. Die-cast hoops so decently meaty. I put a wooden batter hoop on it too. I tend to mix and match snares though so rarely use a 'matching' snare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted January 12, 2022 Share Posted January 12, 2022 Dunno what finish yours, is, but there's one cheapish here: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/900353304003033 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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