Bradley R. Weissenberger wrote:Why is that Camco kit sitting in a pleasant field?

I never even questioned that, but it is strange. Maybe it's a small game hunter.

*sigh*

OK. While I agree with Mr. Weston's crap drummer = crap sound thesis, the part of me that started playing drums when I was 5 has an opinion on this nonetheless.

Hands down, the best and ugliest drums ever made are the Peavey Radial Bridge series. They are hideous looking. They were moderately expensive. And they sound un-fuckin-believable. The shells are paper-thin because the bridge supports the tension, not the shell.

They didn't sell many and consequently didn't make many, but if you can hunt one down on eBay you will be amazed. I'm surprised studios haven't snapped them up to use as house kits, given how amazing they sound compared to how unwilling the image-conscious musician would be to use them live.

I don't own one, but I have played them and can attest to having shit myself when i first struck the bass drum, as my colon vibrated in sympathy with its deep basso profundo.

ginandtacos.com wrote:*sigh*
I don't own one, but I have played them and can attest to having shit myself when i first struck the bass drum, as my colon vibrated in sympathy with its deep basso profundo.

Wow! there have been a few mornings when I could have used one of those!

umm.

Poop jokes aside, I'm quite happy with my 1969 Ludwig blue oyster pearl 20,12,16. I've been searching for a matching 13 but the ones I've found were going for as much as the whole kit cost me. The 20 inch kick, with the right heads, is perfect for me cause I'm short. I do have several snares though for different occasions. 1965 Chrome over brass Slingerland 5.5x14 is my standard, 1958 WFL mahogany 6x14 for the loud rockin', and of course the '69 supraphonic that came with the kit, which being the most recorded snare drum of all time, I use for recording. I always think about a maple snare addition to the family, but I can't ever seem to justify it. Oh, and every rock drummer, IMO should eventually aquire/borrow an 18" floor tom, whether you use it regularly or not, they sure are a throaty note to add to the arsenal. Unfortunately, mine's on loan.

Cheers

T

Weston's comments ring true. Being a crap drummer myself, I have yet to find a kit that makes me sound as awesome as I should.



Of course, what makes a crap drum kit crap is open to debate. I have an excellent kit for live touring: 1989 tama Granstar Custom, laquer finished thick shelled birch. It's loud, it projects well, and it's very durable.

Total crap in the studio. (I think I remember Albini snickering at it...) I'd compare it driving a huge 4x4 truck with knobby tires on the highway - you can, but there are better highway vehicles.

My snare is a GMS Maple. Sweet in the studio - not my favorite live snare though. Too warm and not enough cut.

I really need some new drums.

So the "best" kit ever really depends on your application. Those sweet old Roger's and Camco kits wouldn't last more than one or two tours, etc. The more durable kits usually sound like ass.

Drum machines sound bitchin' though. Fire your drummer and give your $$ to Roland.

ginandtacos.com wrote:Hands down, the best and ugliest drums ever made are the Peavey Radial Bridge series. They are hideous looking. They were moderately expensive. And they sound un-fuckin-believable. The shells are paper-thin because the bridge supports the tension, not the shell.

They didn't sell many and consequently didn't make many, but if you can hunt one down on eBay you will be amazed. I'm surprised studios haven't snapped them up to use as house kits, given how amazing they sound compared to how unwilling the image-conscious musician would be to use them live.

I don't own one, but I have played them and can attest to having shit myself when i first struck the bass drum, as my colon vibrated in sympathy with its deep basso profundo.

Ginandtacos.com speaks the truth. A friend of mine has a really tiny kick drum (like maybe 16"?) from this series that he uses with a live drum n bass outfit he's in, and it sounds TREMENDOUS. Seriously, it's one of the best sounding kick drums Ive ever heard, with bottom end you'd never expect from something so small.

I have to agree with Bob that although I'd love to get a custom made kit to my specs with the exact shade of citron sparkle laquer and cnc'd lugs etc etc... really, the better drummer I become the better my drums sound.

Okay, strictly from a sound perspective I do much prefer thinner shells, hence my small collection of vintage Ludwig and Gretsch, but really, I've had friends who have laid down a LOT of cold hard cash on gear in the past (myself included) and come up with the same results due to the fact that the gear didn't make any of us better musicians. I've then sold it all cause my taste changed and I make a big loss and the gear addiction continues.

It's the old diminishing returns thing I guess. You pay more to have a kickass kit but in the end the payoff just really isn't worth the investment. And I guess I'm applying this to most of us who have day jobs and play and record when time permits.

I've spent less on my current kit than on my last kit and yet I think I sound better now then when I had my transparent green laquer RIMS mounted multi-tommed monstrosity before.

But hey, if I could, I'd get a vintage Gretsch kit, and vintage Ludwig kit, a custom Stanbridge kit and an orange acrylic kit from Orange County just 'cause.