Just to set the tone, Carl started by telling us that he has a very nice, long standing arrangement with Ludwig that when he’s in North America he plays Ludwig, and when he’s in Great Britain, he plays Brady. He really loves both drum companies. Of course, he’s also a Paiste artist, and he really loves Axis pedals (went on how he’s tried them all – the best he’s played.)
Loved the new seat, but drum wise he’s very happy.
Over the last two years I’ve gotten to know the folks at Ford, I’ve been surprised to hear about some very high profile drummers who aren’t endorsed, and are not basically because they’ve either become known for being gear sluts changing one company to another at a whim, or because of the excessive demands that they’ve made for 2-4 sets per year, on top of a lot of $ to follow. In the latter, some very excessive egos have emerged. The major companies don’t want them.
I was thinking about a lot of older players who have been tried and true with various companies over the years and how it’s probably paid higher dividends for them beyond money, drums or gear. Steve Gadd and Weckl with Yamaha; Devito, Arnoff and Phillips with Tama; Morgenstein with Premier; Palmer, Shaugnessy and others with Ludwig. I know it’s a business, but I seems to me that if we could ask them, they’d probably tell us that what keeps them there goes beyond any contractual responsibility.
IDK, just something maybe some of the folks who are still wrangling for endorsements might want to give thought to.
In case anyone wants to know: Carl was using his Blue Vistalites: (2) 16x22 bass, 9x13, 10x14, 16x16, 16x18 toms, with a Paiste 5.5 x 14 alloy snare. The drums actually sounded really good - mic'd with Sennheiser clips ons on snare, toms and large diaphram Sennheiser bass mics.
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Alden Merrill
Ford Drums
Zildjian Cymbals, Aquarian Heads
Vater, Cappella and Vic Firth Sticks
Proudly playing drums crafted in the USA.
