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.
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
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.
My live kit 2005-06, scaled down!
Pearl Session: 20x16 kick - 8,10,&14 Toms,
Chad Smith Snare,
Zildjian cymbals (except for Sabian 14 HHX Studio crash).
The Church Kit 2004-05
Pearl Masters 22x18 Kick, 12 & 16 Toms
Masters Custom Snare
Remo Djembe
Zildjian Cymbals
(Why the BIG drums in church and the little ones in the rock band?
No mics in church, the big drums sound "bigger")
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.
My band practice kits 2006
The TrapKat !!
I am now using this kit out live with
my new Roland TD-12...awesome!
The Gretsch Catalina Jazz kit, 2009
New, lightweight, easy to schlep, sound fair good as well,
since rebuilding the snare from the ground up.
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)...
two Bose Personalized Amplification systems
with the new Packlite Power amp &
2 extra subs for the drums.
All you need for a moderate volume 3-4pc band.
No need for guitar amps (we use POD XT lives),
everything goes thru the Bose.
The system sits behind the players...
we get to hear what the audience hears,
and the drums sound fab.
NO need for crappy sounding MONITORS!
My full list of drum stuff:
Pearl Masters: 22x18" bass drum, 5-1/2x14" snare - Wine Red
Pearl Sessions Select: 20x16" bass drum, 8, 10, 12, 14, & 16" Toms - Wine Red
Pearl Chad Smith Snare drum
Ludwig 1971 Super Classic Natural Maple drums (painted): 2-24x14" bass drums, 13, 14, 16" Toms, 6-1/2x14" wood snare
Zildjian Cymbals: 20" A ride, 20" CIE Vintage, 18" A Crash/ride, 20" Scimitar Ride
16" Zildjian & Cie Vintage crash, 14" A sizzle/crash, 12" A crash,
15" Mastersound Hi hats, 13" Mastersound Hi hats, 14" (vintage) New Beat High hats
Paiste Cymbals: 15, 17, & 18" Fast Crash
Sabian Cymbals: 14" HHX Studio crash
Rok'n'Soc Throne w/backrest
Assorted Ludwig, Tama, Pearl, and Ultimate support chrome hardware