DRUMS
I special ordered my first custom made drum kit in 1971
from Frank's Drum Shop in Chicago.
A beautiful set of Ludwig Natural Maples.
I was 18 at the time, fresh out of High School, had been playing 1 year.
This pic is probably '73.
We were playing music by The Beatles, Stones, Crow, Black Sabbath,
Todd Rundgren, new wave, and so on...variety.
By the late 70's, the finish was getting nicked up
so I painted them red,
effectively ruining them for any vintage re-sale purposes.
This pic is from that time period...probably 1984,
2- 24x14 Kicks, 13,14, & 16 Toms
Zildjian cymbals
This was with a Country & 70's band, everything from
Alabama to ZZ Top.
The Ludwigs, painted white in the late 90's. I didn't paint
the other kick, since it has Chuck Berry's signature on it.
I played with Chuck in '91.
Sold this kit in 2008.
In 2000, during my first mid-life crisis,
rather than a corvette, a Harley, or an affair,
I ordered a new Pearl mixed series drumset,
Masters kick, Sessions Select toms.
Over the next few years I have added matching,
used drums purchased on eBay to accumulate what I have now.
Playing with The Soul Hoosiers...cool, obscure music and Motown
hits.
My live kit 2005-06, scaled down!
Pearl Session: 20x16 kick - 8,10,&14 Toms,
Chad Smith Snare, Zildjian cymbals.
Playing Classic Rock with Straightline.
My band practice kits 2006
The TrapKat
I am now using this kit out live with
my new Roland TD-12...awesome!
Not to mention EZ setup...here are some
clips.
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Here it is a few days from 2009,
and I've gone back to acoustics and
shrunken down my set again.
I began using this kit for living room jams,
and have graduated to taking it to open mics.
A real gig will be next.
The Porchboard Bass, as a kick drum sounds
fabulous through the Bose L1.
The TrapKAT XL,
Version 4.0 software, new, 2009
The Bose L1 Compact is new for 2009 also!!
A Great little monitor.
My latest addition to the drum collection, 2010,
the Gretsch Catalina's, smaller sizes. Nice
I've replaced all drum heads, snare wires, strainer,
and snare batter hoop to improve the sound. The
upgrades helped the sound immensely.
I like DW 5000 Drum pedals...2 singles and a Lefty Double Pedal.
Sennheiser Evolution 604 clip-on drum mics on the snare & toms live, SM57 & Beta 57s in the Studio.
Audix D6 or AKG D112 on Kicks, AKG C451 or a Neumann TLM 103 for overheads in the Studio.
Vic Firth Dave Weckl Signature Sticks, Pro Mark Hotrods, Regal Tip Whiskers brushes.
My Pride & Joy (and my musical salvation)...
Three Bose Personal Line Array systems
with the new Packlite Power amps &
2 extra subs for the drums and bass guitar.
All you need for a moderate volume 3-4pc
band.
No need for guitar amps (we use Line 6 POD &
the Roland Cube amp's line out),
everything goes thru the Bose.
The systems sit behind the players...
we get to hear what the audience hears,.
NO need for crappy sounding MONITORS!
Three systems for a trio is purrrrfect.
This pic is The Cub's, Rick & John on break.
My full list of remaining drum stuff:
DRUMS:
2009 Gretsch Catalina Satin Natural Mahogany Jazz kit w/hardware
Pearl Sessions Select, 2000: 20x16" bass drum, 8, 10, 12, & 16" Toms - Wine Red
Pearl Chad Smith Snare drum
CYMBALS:
Zildjian : 20" CIE Vintage, 18" K Crash/ride, 18" A Crash/ride
16" Zildjian & Cie Vintage crash, 12" A crash, 10" A splash
15" Mastersound Hi hats, 13" Mastersound Hi hats, 14" New Beat Hi hats (1971)
Paiste Cymbals: 15,17, & 18" Fast Crashes
Sabian Cymbals: 14" HHX Studio crash
Rok'n'Soc Throne w/backrest, PorkPie Throne
Assorted Ludwig, Tama, Pearl, and Ultimate support chrome hardware
Percussion:
Remo 15" Djembe
Doug Powell custom 12" Walnut Ashiko
Meinl Headliner 13" Djembe
Electronic Drums:
Roland TD-12 Drum sound module
TrapKAT XL V4.0
Stands, foottrigger pedals, etc.