What sold you on the Ambassadors? I might give them a try. I'll probably replace all the heads (except bass) and snare wires this weekend. I'm due for it.

[Edited on January 21, 2008 at 9:56 PM. Reason : l]

1/21/2008 9:56:19 PM

ambassadors are relatively open and resonant which i like because i hit pretty hard, but they also have a true warm attack so you can play lighter/different styles and get a good sound.

in all honesty though, i would pick the DW's Remo Clear/Coated over them anyday. they really sound phenomenal

1/21/2008 11:43:14 PM

I might be selling my 1 year old DW Pacific CX kit that i just got.....picked up an endorsement from Death Star Drum Company and they are wanting to build me a custom kit

i shall post details if i do decide to sell! happy drumming

1/21/2008 11:45:42 PM

^ How did you work that? Did you make a "sponsor me" video or something?

1/22/2008 12:16:08 AM

i basically just sent out a press kit to some companies, with pictures, audio, video from shows, etc., and a small biography. i dont think its toooo hard to get endorsed, but they do want drummers that are actively playing shows so that they get their product seen.

deathstar drums is a custom drum company (like Orange County) and they will have ads featuring their drummers in AP Magazine, so im pretty excited

1/22/2008 10:42:16 AM

Found these two and thought they should be shared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzU5HBou2lU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL3vREcEGck

1/28/2008 2:49:22 PM

have any of you tried Axis Longboard double kick pedals? I'm thinking about shelling out for them, I'd like to have some input

1/28/2008 7:18:47 PM

so does/has anyone here take/taken lessons at progressive percussion. i took with billy cuthrell a while ago when he was still teaching in greenville and havent really kept up with it since he moved to raleigh ages ago.

1/28/2008 8:59:50 PM

^^ ok please do not get an axis pedal. they have terrible response and for the money are totally not worth it. if you are going to spend money on a double pedal, DW 9000 are the best there is. axis pedals in my opinion are awful

1/29/2008 1:39:44 AM

I've got a Tama iron cobra double pedal, but if I had to choose again, it'd most certainly be a DW9000.

1/29/2008 3:03:48 AM

My kit was stolen the other day....I am trying to replace as quick as possible. I have put an add in the classified section, but I thought I would go here too fellow drummers and all....does anyone have a extra cymbal stand they are willing to part with or sell cheap. Thanks....

2/1/2008 2:13:42 PM

^sorry to hear that....but great opportunity to upgrade!!!

2/1/2008 2:15:10 PM

True....going through that now...but in the mean time I have some gigs coming up and need to throw some kind of something together....using a buddies drums but short a couple things one being a cymbal stand. Thanks though !!

2/1/2008 2:21:30 PM

I think I might have an extra straight stand floating around. If you're interested send me a msg and I can look for it.

2/1/2008 7:46:12 PM

Quote :

"ok please do not get an axis pedal. they have terrible response and for the money are totally not worth it. if you are going to spend money on a double pedal, DW 9000 are the best there is. axis pedals in my opinion are awful"

yeah, it's either gonna be the Axis or DW9000


I've heard equally conflicting opinions for both (no kidding, of about 10 qualified opinions I've heard from serious drummers, it's gone right down the middle)...some people swear by the 9000s and say the Axis are an overrated novelty, and some say DW is the overrated name and Axis has one of the best pedals on the market


Guess the only way to know for sure is to see if the shoe fits

2/3/2008 5:31:34 AM

^ Do not buy an Axis pedal--trust me. If those are the only two choices, definitely get a DW pedal--you'll thank me later.

2/4/2008 1:48:58 AM

why?

2/4/2008 2:00:00 AM

^
1. I am biased against Axis.

2. Because I purchased a brand new Axis double pedal from 2112 (this was in the mid-'90s, though) and I hated it. It never felt right (balanced or solid) and the shaft was round--instead of hex--which caused it to slip no matter how much I tightened. This design flaw, of course, may have been corrected.

3. I am biased in favor of DW. I bought the kit I used to own, also from 2112, and I had a 5000 Series double pedal and DW hardware--I never had a minute's trouble with any of my equipment. I did add high-tension springs to the pedal, but that was just a personal preference.

4. BTW, I always end up changing out the beaters--regardless of brand. I have some old Pro-Mark dice-head beaters that I wouldn't trade for the world. Playing the type of music I've heard you describe, I suggest that you always go with lightweight, hard beaters--they're fast and can help give you a nice metal "click" sound, if desired.

2/4/2008 2:41:05 AM

I'm still going to have to just play the two models in question and check them out before I buy. As far as the beaters go though I do like heavy (I can't stand that 'popcorn' sound you hear in some metal double-kick productions, I like the full, round sound of a large kick drum...speed that up and I'll blow my pants)

Thanks for the input though, I'll make sure I check that stuff out when I'm looking at them.

2/4/2008 3:08:33 PM

^most of that clicky (and yes crappy sounding) double bass is all production (dont ask me why). its sound replacement and triggering in pro tools. so even if their set doesnt sound like that, they produce it that way on the album.

ive never understood why some people in metal want their kick drums to sound like that.

2/4/2008 3:10:06 PM

yeah I know...it doesn't make sense to me, some of them even tape quarters to the batter head to get that sound live

ridickalus

2/4/2008 3:41:00 PM

Note well:

Quote :

"a nice metal 'click' sound, if desired."

And such a "problem"--if it is a problem--can be easily solved with a beater pad, which provides a bit of muffling; can reduce clicking--depending on the material it's made of; and increases the life of your bass head. In addition, my Pro-Mark dice-head beaters have a small felt pad on one face to reduce any clicking on impact.

BTW, all the clicking is not necessarily because of Pro Tools. Drummers have complained for years that they could hear the triggers firing in recordings made with traditional triggers. FYI.

2/4/2008 5:37:11 PM

right i understand that, but all the clicking im talking about is pro-tooled. because i can point out different artists with the same kick at the same stereo and their kicks sound completely different ie a click versus a nice thick sound. and it was all in the production and sound replacement used (on purpose)

[Edited on February 4, 2008 at 5:41 PM. Reason : ]

2/4/2008 5:40:44 PM

^ Understood. I'm just telling you different ways that the clicking sound has been/can be achieved. And in some cases, it wasn't even desired.

You can also use a gate and/or a compressor, fiddle with the highs and mids on the EQ, and simply tighten you heads and work with mic placement. All of these separately or combined can produce the famous/infamous clicking bass sound.

But, yeah, I never cared for the clicking sound either--different strokes (pun intended) for different folks, though. If every drummer sounded the same, it wouldn't be any fun.

Hell, I cut my teeth in the '70s when the in vogue bass sound for many pros was something between a bread box and a sack of flour. . .damn. But, hey, it worked for them.

2/4/2008 5:57:35 PM

ive put metal washers on the head before when i played more hardcore style. it sounded really good to me. but yea, if u are recording then it doesnt matter at all.

2/4/2008 10:52:39 PM

Maryland Drum...is the shit!

and ^ ambass...serious!!?? no no, stay with g1 with emad, best sound possible, at least for my kit...

2/6/2008 8:41:37 PM

whoops ^ sorry fellas, look like 15 up

2/6/2008 8:42:22 PM

I remember seeing this kid on The Tonight Show back in the day--he's the shit. He's all grown up now.

Jacob Armen

http://youtube.com/watch?v=I8cvKImVadE&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2qQMTVWf2ng&feature=related

http://www.jacobarmen.com/

I think I actually see him channeling Buddy Rich.

2/9/2008 4:34:11 AM

2/10/2008 5:22:46 PM

^ insane.

2/11/2008 1:35:47 PM

yeah the jarzombek brothers destroy.


but kai hahto alone is the reason i want to learn drums.


sry for the video spamming.

2/11/2008 2:21:40 PM

thomas pridgen on the new mars volta album is simply jaw dropping.

one of the best 3 recorded percussion efforts ive heard over the last few years.

2/11/2008 2:29:11 PM

Jojo Mayer.


Serious business, folks.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkZV7DIXsRM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvUbl0fWqzU

[Edited on February 11, 2008 at 2:55 PM. Reason : .]

2/11/2008 2:53:25 PM

^ all he needs is some snazzy jazz chords to go over that.

2/11/2008 2:54:41 PM

Check the other links I just posted instead. Better.

2/11/2008 2:56:06 PM

i did, and i realized that i like planet x much more.

virgil donati kicks ass.

2/11/2008 2:59:45 PM

^^^^ Yeah, Jojo's the shit--he takes that drag into a one-handed roll. Nice.

[Edited on February 11, 2008 at 3:33 PM. Reason : .]

2/11/2008 3:30:45 PM

Check this dude out (don't let the beginning fool you):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6q2dRTwp_Q&feature=related

We're talking polyrhythms and independence here, folks.

3/31/2008 4:33:29 AM

i still like mitch mitchell, gene krupa, and buddy rich though.

3/31/2008 9:38:20 AM

^^amazing

3/31/2008 12:45:24 PM

not a huge mesuggah fan, but Mats/Morgan is badass.

3/31/2008 5:35:29 PM

Anyone care to buy a Yamaha RX7 Drum Machine, or a 14" Remo Djembe?

3/31/2008 7:10:16 PM

^^^ Yeah, I thought it was mighty damned snazzy, too.

^^ I'm sorry--but what I posted is so much more impressive than that.

[Edited on April 1, 2008 at 5:19 AM. Reason : .]

4/1/2008 5:12:31 AM

bttt

4/24/2008 1:04:06 AM

bttt peoples! whats new?!?!?

6/4/2008 3:00:37 PM

Our drummer is looking to startup a small custom drum company. I'll let you know how that goes. It will be slow at first, he's probably going to build his own kit as a show model this summer.

6/4/2008 3:03:55 PM

6/4/2008 3:14:11 PM

^^ that sounds pretty cool. i'm interested in seeing how they turn out. let me know!


i'm in quite a pickle....moving to a new apartment in Greensboro, and i'm not going to be able to play my drums there, obviously. I'm thinking of buying a POD or some sort of practice space in the area. anyone have any suggestions???

6/11/2008 4:50:17 PM

^^^ If so, tell him I would like to see some focus on. . .

1. Big bass drums. And when I say "big," I mean 28" and up--and start from about 14" or 16" depth and go up from there. (If I were ordering a 28", I would probably go for 20" depth. I actually had a DW bass drum of these exact dimensions and it performed very well.)

But most drummers--even the heavy hitters--will be satisfied with a 24" or 26" tops.

2. Smooth bearing edges and in-round drums. If this guy's going to make his dream work, drummers can't be having weird overtones, dead spots, buzzing, and so on. Those heads have to make solid, even contact on a continually smooth surface and the drums must be round!

3. Small toms. A lot of guys are adding smaller toms now to the basic four- or five-piece kit. They're nice to have for accents, old-school eighth-note rolls, and solos--I like them.

4. Choice of lug style and finish. It would be great if he offered more than one style of lug and color choice--and since he'll undoubtedly be ordering hardware from other sources, this shouldn't be a problem--unless the guy's trying to create some signature look with the lugs.

5. Choice of hoops. Die-cast or pressed-flange. In the old days, guys like Cozy Powell would add die-cast hoops for a supposedly heavier sound. And see 2 above again--this will force the issue. If your drums ain't round, you'll have one hell of a time with die-cast hoops--they don't give!

6. Cases. Work something out with a case manufacturer so he can offer a deal on a case with each drum or cases with each kit. Trust me--drummers need deals on cases.

Anyway, I came here to post this killer solo by Mike Terrana from Rage:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6l8HBNARAU

Awesome! Terrana plays Meinl, though.

[Edited on July 25, 2008 at 2:49 AM. Reason : .]

7/25/2008 2:47:01 AM

I'm looking to buy some drum mics but just was wondering if you guys had any opinions about them. I'm getting a SM 57 for my snare and a condenser overhead (still haven't decided which one) but can't decide on the kick drum mic.

I've narrowed it down to Shure Beta 52a and AKG D112, both very popular mics. I'm only going to use it for live sound, so if anyone has any experience using either one of these mics, some advice would be appreciated. I've found pros and cons about both but needed some other opinions. thanks!

8/3/2008 10:52:13 PM