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Dude! That's so cool man. Nifty little paper clip MacGyver move too.
And yes definitely rewiring the mind. It's wild how much an exercise like that will make your feet feel miles away from your brain haha.
Buddy Rich has a great drum lesson video you can easily learn and follow along with
I’m sure you guys are light years ahead of me but, just messing with rudiments I was trying this.
RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL RLRR LRLL
K KKK K KKK K KKK K KKK
For some reason I couldn’t get the kick line directly under the Right, Left line. Sorry if they don’t line up right. This pattern screws with me. Just messing around I was trying to kick on single rights and, double lefts. It’s like my brain disconnects trying this. I tried it about 25 times and managed to work my way through it a few times before screwing it all up again.
It’s a weird pattern but, I figured I’d try it while practicing paradiddles. Does this mess with you trying it?
Did you get this kit with the Simmons amp included?
I went online looking at it and, I’ve added myself to the list of getting notified when it becomes available.
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If you're interested in a kit (acoustic or electric), I'd recommend buying used from Guitar Center. You can ship it to your local store, test it, and return it for just the cost of shipping. GC drives me crazy but there are some policies there that can definitely be exploited lol.
I texted a buddy that's an e-kit diehard, says the sweet spot for price-to-quality is an older Roland TD-11K. It's a solid platform built for modular upgrades. Start there, then add a Lemon HHC-12 or Roland VH-11 hi-hat with a used hi-hat stand ($60-80) for a big jump in realism. From there, set Google alerts for tom, kick, and cymbal pads and upgrade those as deals come up. When you're ready for a major step, invest in a better brain. A TD-27, for example, supports both older analog inputs and newer digital ones, so you can gradually swap in higher-resolution, multi-sensor pads with positional detection over time.
I’m interested in both acoustic and, electric. Like you previously mentioned, electric is nice for the times you want to play late.
I’m always scrolling through GC and, other websites looking at stuff. Even Craigslist. I have a lot to learn regarding quality. What’s worth it and, what’s not. What’s a deal etc.
I’m just abiding my time while I’m at home (work is slow atm) learning basic rudiments and, trying to get some coordination in my hands. I have noticed I can do paradiddles a bit faster and, longer then when I first started so, I’m happy to see some progress over the last few weeks.
I’ll check out your buddies recommendation. Once again thank you.
Edit: I also ordered a heavier pair of marching sticks to practice with as well. I keep hearing use heavy sticks while doing rudiments so, I ordered these.
Well. I ordered a five piece Pearl Decade in satin pearl white. It comes with hardware. I’ll just have to order cymbals now and, eventually order better hardware once I get better at playing. I just wanted a maple set at a decent price point.
I couldn’t believe how expensive cymbals were. I’ll probably start off by getting hi hats and, a ride first since they’re the most expensive. I might go used. Just depends on the next side job.
Anyways, here’s the set. It’ll be here the 25th of this month (it was back ordered).
That is badass! Congrats, dude
Well, you’ve got real sound coming. Nice!
I’ve got a song for ya…hell, I got a coupl’a songs for ya that put you right in the pocket…and this is based on some of our recent drums, brass and “gotta hear it” as a drummer convos…
“So This Is Love?”…yup…Alex Van Halen and one of his Just Fuckin’ Fun Tracks.
It’s got a funky groove right off the start, lots of jus’…rolls, plenty of snare time…you’ll see. And it’s classic VH Smash Timing.
Then there’s this…
Paradise City.
Yes, that song that’s been stuck in your fucking’ head for almost 40 years. It’s got very solid timing and it makes for perfect strike practice…sticks up, bitches! That “ride” is always there keepin’ time…use that. It’s magic.
This post is Uncle Rick “Fuckin’ Get It!” Approved.
And don’t forget the Double-Single Kick set-up we discussed…
Let’s see that kit man!!!
I dunno…
I think the snare is still “classified” (Carbon-fiber made for DW/PDP artists: sounds like the “snap” you hear in Audioslave recordings…but, naturally…ProTools NOT required! 🤣)
Il get a pic next time I’m up in the NorCal office.
Besides, it’s just another 5 piece rack mounted Ansley Dunbar Silver kit.😎
I was playing…I think it was Crůe yesterday and realized my so called “better” Zildjan Splash (one of their higher rated lines)wasn’t as good as the inexpensive and virtually disposable Paiste Splash(one of their less expensive “pack” lines): go figure!
Cymbals need to be heard -on your set- before they can truly be believed.
Rick had a Zildjian ZBT ride he’d alternate with his K’s and, 2002s depending on the sound he wanted. After having my cousin send me a pic to see what series he was using, I was kinda surprised the ZBT was a discontinued budget line considering how good it sounded.
I like heavy sticks for rudimental practice as well! Smart purchase for sure. There are so many fine motor movements with technique and it's nice to have something that makes you exaggerate the movements. Just be extra aware of any tension in your hands. Practice tools like heavy sticks and even metronomes can introduce and subsequently habitualize tension. I always encourage my students to learn new rudiments/techniques with regular sticks and without a metronome to get basic movements down. Then later on use weighted sticks when you're in the refinement stage.
Gorgeous! I love the satin white. Really can't go wrong with the build quality of Pearl. Thin shell maple with low mass hardware - probably will play similarly to my Ludwig Neusonics (but tbh I think Pearl hardware is superior).
And yes cymbals are batshit insane. Plus the point where they actually start to sound good happens at a higher price point. You can do cheap drums & nicer cymbals and it'll sound good, but nice drums and cheap cymbals will sound ass. Can't tune or change heads on a ride cymbal. A few super secret tricks:
- Used is absolutely the way to go
- Old Paiste 404 Hi Hats actually sound pretty rad. They kind of have a grungy Paiste Giant Beat feel to them.
- K/Z trick. Steve Gadd (one of the absolute dopest drummers of all time) would run a nice Zildjian K on top of a cheap Zildjian Planet Z bottom hi hat. You can play with that trick a lot by just getting a cheap B8/ZBT/PST3/Scimitar bottom hat and then buy a nicer top hi hat.
- The Ride/Crash/Hi-hat/Splash classification is a modern convention. They're all just cymbals with variations on size/weight/lathing/hammering/taper/etc. A large heavy crash works well as a ride. A small crash makes a great top-hi hat. A thin ride makes a great crash, etc. Sometimes you can get killer deals by considering this.
- "Name Brand" brand cymbals pop up on Reverb a lot and sound great at a very low price point. They're just standard blanks that he smiths into solid cymbals.
-Zildjian has a newer... I think ZBT Pro or something that is a decent sounding series. The Paiste PST 5 and 7 series are good too.
Also don't skimp on the throne. Crapy thrones wobble and bend and can make things miserable for ya.
Some great advice in here.
I have a friend that is obsessed with vintage Gretsch kits. Last count he had 37 😳
I like the sound of Paiste 20002’s.
$650 for a 24” ride.
I saw an 18” 2002 crash on sale at guitar center for $350 15” Sound Edge hi hats were over $600.
That’s quite the hit for a beginner. So, used will be the way I go. Even if it’s just buying one piece at a time.
As far as tone, what heads would you recommend for a deeper tone? The kick is a 22"x18" bass, 10"x7" and 12"x8" rack toms, a 16"x16" floor tom, and a 14"x5.5" snare. I’m thinking way ahead and, have a long road of learning but, know the sound I want. Ludwig’s were above the budget and, $2500 for just the shells wasn’t practical.
Seeing the Decade was maple and, had the option of the 22” bass, I felt it was the best bang for my buck.
I had my eyes on a 5 piece Session but, didn’t want to have to spend a bunch of time sorting hardware options.
Another thing I’m pretty excited about is my cousin is going to send me my uncles Jordison steel snare. More of a sentimental piece than anything.
Lastly, do you have any experience with the Pearl Primal Aluminum snares? The price seems reasonable at $280 but, I have yet to get my hands on one as they’re on back order.
Oh man, I'm a massive fan of the old vintage round badge Gretsch kits. Max Roach, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones... pretty much all the classic bebop/hard bop players were on them. Closest thing I ever had was a modern Gretsch Brooklyn kit (below). Loved that thing but I could't look at it without the wrap getting scratched, and it just wasn't the same as an old round badge.
Pit Row
That is absolutely gorgeous and one of the prettiest kits I think I’ve ever seen..
Haha I agree, no way in hell am I spending $650 on a ride and drums are my job. FWIW every piece of gear I've bought in the last 12 years has been used and I have yet to have something fail me. Shit I mean at this point if I get a lemon, I've still saved thousands so I'd still come out on top.
As far as drum heads go, that's a hard one. You never really know what's gonna gel with that kits specs. Our kits are super similar spec wise but that doesn't mean anything lol. I personally run Aquarian Modern Vintage II's on my rack toms and then Modern Deep Vintage on the floor tom. My gut says start with coated Powerstroke 3's and move from there.
Snare is sick. 1mm thick brushed aluminum beaded shell but I think with 2 lugs more than a Ludwig Acrolite? Yes please. I rock a hammered 6.5 Aluminum LM402K Supraphonic and love it. Aluminum is a very cooperative snare metal in my experience. Just order a new head with it since those UT heads are kinda junky.
Yeah... that was a hard one to let go. It certainly caught the eye. Weird kit though, not always cooperative. I'm definitely happy with my Ludwigs right now although I might buy a decent amount of that black satin flame wrap to put it on them
I really want one of these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsOX96ewCiM
Precursor to the Yamaha Recording Customs. Thicker dense drums with high mass hardware. Punchy and a very different sound
Those Supraphonics are really nice.
I’m just waiting for the set to arrive. Should be here the 25th.
That aluminum Pearl snare caught my eye. I’m in no hurry to grab one but, it seemed decent. I was thinking of just grabbing it to practice rudiments on but, then that Decade popped up.
Thanks for the info.
Well. I noticed nothing hit my account yet so, I reached out to Sweetwater. After talking to the rep, he informed me that the back order has been extended until September. Slightly irritating but, I guess that how it goes. Apparently, the color I chose I harder to get then some of the others.
Oh well. Guess I’ll keep practicing rudiments for now.
Well shit man, that's super annoying. You gonna hold out for it or start shopping again?
I’m gonna hold out. I really liked that color. I didn’t much care for the tobacco or, yellow colored sets. Didn’t want an Export or, pay another $800 for a Session shell pack
After talking with the rep yesterday, he did say that the promotion would still be in effect. I couldn’t pass it up. 48 month financing, 0% interest with an early buy out option which, I was going to do once work got consistent.
Frustrating but, I feel it’s worth waiting for.
My bandmate called me this morning, said he had this Ludwig Acrolyte snare for $120. I told him I'm a little tight right now so he said bring over $60. It's in great shape, just needs a new top head. ChatGPT tells me it's around 1978, aluminum shell, marketed as a student drum but a cult classic for rock. Says it's worth around $300.
That’s a steal!!
Yeah, I almost feel a little bad. But hell, we got gigs coming up so he's going to benefit from it!
Look at it from a sentimental standpoint. Regardless of how big or, small something is, the sentiment always outweighs the price tag on something.
I have movie tickets from a from a first date with my wife 27 years ago. I also have a Honda Z-50 mini trail manual which was for my first bike. I found it in my grandfathers high end toolbox (which I now have) after he passed. He obviously held onto it as will I…
Love those things. They were a student model that came with a hard black case, a music stand, and a black rubber drum pad. A bunch of the guys that got them young continued to use them into their careers. It records well and does a lot of things so it became highly touted and are one of the most recorded snares of all time. Anytime I need a snare to sound like I'm slamming an old Cadillac door, that's my go to.
If that P85 snare strainer gives you any grief, Inde Drums makes a killer replacement.
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