1. Why do you have so many cymbals?
2. Why do you move things around so much?
3. Why does everything have to be in the perfect spot?
4. Why don't you use the house gear instead of your own?

Dumb questions to most of us, but I hear these all the time.
I'm always adding something new to my setup, even if it's just to try it out once. My shell setup always stays the same but I'm constantly moving cymbals around to get a better feel when I do add something new.
Yea... I'm pretty picky about my setup. You wouldn't drive a car very well if you can't reach the wheel.

What suprizes me most is that I get these questions mostly from other musicians...

The last house kit I used was held together by gravity.... the toms had to rest against the kick because all the mounting hardware was gone, the stands were no thicker than a pencil and wouldn't support my cymbals. And the heads were so beat it was hard to even get any sound out of them.
I swore that would be the last time I ever used house gear. So when we have to fly to certain gigs I'm always loading up suitcases and hardware cases and dragging them on the plane & stuffing everything into cabs & busses.

I don't mind it, but a lot of other people don't understand why I go to the trouble of it when they can just plug into whatever's there.

So how picky are you about your setup?








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Sneaking into the lives of strangers and letting them fall apart to a new rhythm just to feel better

I agree with you! My snare, cymbals, toms has to be of a certain angle, my throne and hi-hat a certain height. Anything out of the "zone" will just sorta of throw me off. It's like something just isn't right. When everything is setup just right, it's like hitting the G spot!

I always prefer my own gear too, simply because I know them inside out. But whenever I bring my own stuff to jamming and gigs, people just ask me why can't I use the house gear. They think I'm some sort of diva, trying to "show off" my gear or something.

My ex-bassist was saying something along the lines of if you can sound good on shitty gear, you will sound good on anything. For sure, dude. But like my drum teacher who sounds good playing on a set of Paiste 101s mentioned, having your own good gear to gigs, will make you sound even better. Your own gear is the sound that you want, and why should we drummers compromise that just because we have more stuff to lug around?

Next time, I should ask the guitarists the same thing and see if they are able to answer that with a smile. Haha!

For me i play most of the entire kit flat but the snare is angled away and the lo-tom is angled only for the fact so i can reach it. i think you get more pop and its easier on the sticks and wrists if the drums are flat. thats just my opinion like.

i think its sensible at least to take a ride crash hi hats and snare at least if your playing a gig. i said this to my band and they were like why cant you use the kit there (battle of the bands so other drummers would use the same kit that another drummer had brought) and i said well its kind of drummer etiquette to take snare and cymbals cause most drummers expect people to bring that at least. they looked at me funy and i said "so you guys would go there and expect to use somebody elses guitar AND amp?" and they sort of got the idea.

and people say drummers are idiots.

you can never know what your gonna expect from a house kit unless youve played it before, and its very sensible to take a d-pedal if you play one as you can almost guarantee there wont be one there on the night.








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[img]http://img133.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=60573_DREAM_KIT_1_2_122_226lo.jpg[/img]

I know what you mean. I have my toms off center, wher both of them are right above the snare. my toms have to be about hight level with the snare, then angled about 50 or 60 degrees. If they're not like that, it just feels wierd to play.








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And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Drumosaurus, king of drummers, listen to my grooves ye Mighty and despair! Nothing beside remains."

"that's a big crock of condensed owl crap"-Eva

As far as picky placement, I have a general idea of where I want things but not necessarily extremely picky about it. Number of cymbals, you can never have to many... I love variety so the more the better and the same for the drums, the more the better... huge fan of huge kits.

I'm fairly picky with how my own kit's set up but I can play on pretty much any kit that's setup in a professional manner.








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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

i finally found my comfortable setup and i'm scared to take it down for shows because i can't imagine how i could ever get it set up perfectly again.
when i'm not playing my kit, i pretty much just have to adjust the throne, snare angle, and maybe how close the hi-hat stand is and i'm fine.








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Speak the rhythm with your hands.

http://www.myspace.com/yjamband



Pearls, Zildjians, Vics, Evans.

Im terrible on most other peoples sets. I know the whole "any great drummer can rock out on ANY less than great kit" but i have terrible back problems and im prolly one of the pickiest people out there. My gear is my gear because I play it and it works for ME. I dont care how high my throne is, or how far i am away from my pedals, or why i use such a little snare and LITTLE FUCKING TOMS, or why i have 2 rides set up, or have triggers.

I'm a death metal drummer. Prolly one of the pickiest breeds out there due to speed being an issue when your out of you "comfort zone" on a kit.








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Hi, I'm Brian. I play/use such brands as: Mapex, Axis, DDrum, Yamaha, Pro-Mark, Vic-Firth, Sabian, Paiste, Zildjian, Saluda, Evans, and DW.

Kevin's the man

I luv my scene..it's like drivin a Cadi..That simple..I will use house gear sometimes and in some ways it's fun cuz all I have to do is show up and play...No tearing down and loading up and all..Just play and collect the doe and then have fun..!!








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Not into all that competetive who's better crap..Just love to have fun when I drum..!! <|:O)

www.myspace.com/70275304

JAdrums2k wrote:

1. Why do you have so many cymbals?
2. Why do you move things around so much?
3. Why does everything have to be in the perfect spot?
4. Why don't you use the house gear instead of your own?

Unlike most other instruments, a drum kit has SO MANY variables, that being 'picky' might be an understatement.
Personally (and in no particular order), my throne has to be at a certain height, I have to use my bass drum pedals (dialed in to my specs - for the moment), toms have to be at the right height and angle, cymbals placed just right, the stars aligned , etc.........
And I guess I am more "old school" in terms of kit setup (for classic and newer rock / metal) - three toms up top, floor toms on the left and right, twin main crashes, big china, more cymbals, more cymbals, more cymbals.......
The last time I had to use a 'house kit' was in 1989 (showing my age), and from what I remember it wasn't too pleasant (but I was too young and inexperienced for that to affect me).

SGarrett wrote:

I'm fairly picky with how my own kit's set up but I can play on pretty much any kit that's setup in a professional manner.

I have to agree with that one. Most drummers who have reached a certain level (and have pro/semi-pro gear) set up their kit in a fairly familiar manner. Newer drummers have a tendency to have the toms too 'flat' for my taste, but that again is one of the great things about drums... there is no right or wrong way ----- just YOUR way.

Peace and beer!
ZERO








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Stand back! I have a COWBELL... and I am not afraid to use it.........
Saluda Cymbals - B20 never sounded so good...

I can't do what I do on any other kit
I refuse to compromise








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You say irritant, I say catalyst

zerodogma wrote:

JAdrums2k wrote:

1. Why do you have so many cymbals?
2. Why do you move things around so much?
3. Why does everything have to be in the perfect spot?
4. Why don't you use the house gear instead of your own?

Unlike most other instruments, a drum kit has SO MANY variables, that being 'picky' might be an understatement.
Personally (and in no particular order), my throne has to be at a certain height, I have to use my bass drum pedals (dialed in to my specs - for the moment), toms have to be at the right height and angle, cymbals placed just right, the stars aligned , etc.........
And I guess I am more "old school" in terms of kit setup (for classic and newer rock / metal) - three toms up top, floor toms on the left and right, twin main crashes, big china, more cymbals, more cymbals, more cymbals.......
The last time I had to use a 'house kit' was in 1989 (showing my age), and from what I remember it wasn't too pleasant (but I was too young and inexperienced for that to affect me).

SGarrett wrote:

I'm fairly picky with how my own kit's set up but I can play on pretty much any kit that's setup in a professional manner.

I have to agree with that one. Most drummers who have reached a certain level (and have pro/semi-pro gear) set up their kit in a fairly familiar manner. Newer drummers have a tendency to have the toms too 'flat' for my taste, but that again is one of the great things about drums... there is no right or wrong way ----- just YOUR way.

Peace and beer!
ZERO

Totally. I'll use a house kit but I prefer to use my own throne, at least my own snare stand if not my snare as well, my own kick pedal, and usually my own hi-hat stand. I'll also use my own cymbals whenever I can so there's no "you broke my cymbal!", "no I didn't, it was already broken when I sat down" bollsheet. But there've also been the gigs where it's like, "you wanna play?...then sit down and play." Those are the ones that test your character as a musician because you know that no matter how you rock it, it's still going to sound like a juicy fart. Hahaha.

And what's up with everything being so flat these days? I blame Travis Barker and his many clones.

edit:
I need to slow down when I type.









Last edited by SGarrett on Sun Sep 16, 2007 2:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Dr. Rodney McKay wrote:

Well, I only know one thing and that is that flying darkness that eats energy can only be very, very bad.

http://www.MySpace.com/PageFive

Me,very picky.Every thing must be the right height,I'm tall but I can't stand high thrones,
My thigh needs to be level with the ground,the snare and floor tom above the thigh and dead flat.
The small tom must have the correct angle so I can play some hoop shots.
The high hat must be the right distance above the snare and the tension spring on the pedal must as loose as.
I have only once played a house kit way back in 1972 in the Melody Maker competion.
As I recall it was a excellent kit with a spray of blood on the snare.No adjustments needed.








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CRISS CROSS RHYTHMS EXPLODE WITH HAPPINESS.

It is apparent that house kits are rarely purchased or maintained by a drummer no less a musician. I don't like when the others in the band make it seem like "no big deal" if you have to use a house kit yet they pretty much always get to play on their guitars, their rigs, their horns....etc. My stuff is MY STUFF and that's for a reason. I've tailored it for my feel and sound. I can play the house kit but my performance is always compromised, if only in my head.








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Do what you can and do it well.

www.myspace.com/spacelounge1
www.myspace.com/whitehallsessions

How picky, VERY!!!! I remember one show, I couldn't wait for the song to end ,cuz my 18in crash had come loose at the last nuckle and was resting on the edge of a tom that got lots of use during that tune, ahhhh NAILS ON CHAULKBOARD!








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I PROUDLY ENDORSE MEDICINE MAN DRUMS AND SALUDA CYMBALS, and Bud light.



www.drumroadtrip.com
www.myspace.com/newconceptpercussion
www.myspace.com/bngrzn