NDW (New Drum Week)

[Chris]

I finally have most of my drum stuff here for my jam space, so here's a few pics. This is just the half of my basement (the other half is my home gym/bike stuff), so you'll have to excuse the fact that it's not very rock & roll looking at the moment. It's a work in progress.

















The drumset is a Roland VAD-306. I have another stand on the way with an extra tom/splash, which will be more than enough for what I want it for. For wedges I went with Mackie Thump 15As. I had a pair of HD1221's in the past and they were awesome, but pretty expensive at 800-ish each. These were 800ish for the pair, and they sound really good - especially considering the price.

The mixer is just a basic Mackie 12 channel, and sitting behind it is a Fractal FM3. I'm on the hunt for some other inexpensive bass processor to toss there as well so that my friends can just come over and play this summer without having to worry about toting gear around.

All this looks out to a sliding door that goes right out to my pool, so once the world gets back to normal and I can have BBQs again, it should lead to some pretty great poolside jams with friends.

[metalheadpunk]

Hell yeah Can you add additional cymbals to that head unit?

[Chris]

Hell yeah Can you add additional cymbals to that head unit?

It has one extra input, so I'll be going with 3 cymbals (two crashes and as plash), the 2-zone ride and 3 toms.

[metalheadpunk]

Cool. That is the biggest issue I have when looking at e-drums, not a lot of unites allow for as many cymbals as I've accumulated on my acoustic kit

[Chris]

Cool. That is the biggest issue I have when looking at e-drums, not a lot of unites allow for as many cymbals as I've accumulated on my acoustic kit

Yeah I get it. I'm not a drummer, I can play a rock beat and that's it. I have about $3000 into just the drums and set all this up for people who aren't even me. So if any drummer complains, I'll just remind them that all they had to do was come over and sit down, so they can point their complaints elsewhere. My SLO was cheaper than this kit, and I don't recall any drummers buying SLOs for their guitarist buddies.

I'm doing an EP with a longtime friend of mine who's a fantastic drummer, and he picked up some of those quiet (but real) hihats. The hats I have now are the VH-10s and I had the VH-11s before which are "good" ($450) hats. They're still shitty, and even as a guitar player I can tell. So the bulk of the jams will at least have proper hats.

I don't like super loud volume anything anymore, so while an acoustic kit is obviously better every single time, this does the job and lets us jam out at "adult" volumes.

[metalheadpunk]

Yeah I get it. I'm not a drummer, I can play a rock beat and that's it. I have about $3000 into just the drums and set all this up for people who aren't even me. So if any drummer complains, I'll just remind them that all they had to do was come over and sit down, so they can point their complaints elsewhere. My SLO was cheaper than this kit, and I don't recall any drummers buying SLOs for their guitarist buddies.

I'm doing an EP with a longtime friend of mine who's a fantastic drummer, and he picked up some of those quiet (but real) hihats. The hats I have now are the VH-10s and I had the VH-11s before which are "good" ($450) hats. They're still shitty, and even as a guitar player I can tell. So the bulk of the jams will at least have proper hats.

I don't like super loud volume anything anymore, so while an acoustic kit is obviously better every single time, this does the job and lets us jam out at "adult" volumes.

Yeah, totally makes sense. I'm definitely no drummer myself, and I have about that much into my acoustic kit between the 10 top of the line Meinl cymbals, the DW9000 hardware, the upgraded snare, and the kit itself Mostly played by myself jamming along to basic rock songs when I just want to blow off some steam, and the drummer in my band for the random band rehearsals that need to happen at my place. If I do go for an electric kit if I end up in a space that isn't as noise-friendly as my current house, I definitely won't need as many cymbals as I have now!

[Alan]

I'm on the hunt for some other inexpensive bass processor to toss there as well so that my friends can just come over and play this summer without having to worry about toting gear around.

Looks awesome, I'm on my way over!

Depending on how much you want to spend, you could get a Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI or one of the Darkglass pedals for bass sounds and either should be good enough for someone just to jam along. Will everything be going through those monitors or are they just for the drums?

[Chris]

Looks awesome, I'm on my way over!

Depending on how much you want to spend, you could get a Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI or one of the Darkglass pedals for bass sounds and either should be good enough for someone just to jam along. Will everything be going through those monitors or are they just for the drums?

Everything through the monitors, and then I have another one of those Headrush wedges on the way for a guitar/bass mix.

I have an old Sansamp that I'll use for the time being. When I record my actual bass I just use my Kemper so I'd like to get out of the "buying extra shit for other people" business as soon as I can.

[metalheadpunk]

Everything through the monitors, and then I have another one of those Headrush wedges on the way for a guitar/bass mix.

I have an old Sansamp that I'll use for the time being. When I record my actual bass I just use my Kemper so I'd like to get out of the "buying extra shit for other people" business as soon as I can.

It is nice for people to be able to just drop in and jam without the big hassle of loading in and setting up. But it is a pricy endeavor haha

[Alan]

Then the Sansamp would work just fine! No need to buy anything else.

[Chris]

It is nice for people to be able to just drop in and jam without the big hassle of loading in and setting up. But it is a pricy endeavor haha

Right? Plus, he who controls the volume controls the Wife Happiness Meter.

[metalheadpunk]

Right? Plus, he who controls the volume controls the Wife Happiness Meter.

TRUTH!

[scole]

One option to add additional inputs to your e-kit system is using the drum splitters. I’be used a few of these to add cymbals to my Alesis e-kit. Basically, you’re reassigning a un-needed trigger (the rim of a tom) to something else you want. There are some limitations (this is mentioned on their site) but I think these can be worked around.

[Chris]

One option to add additional inputs to your e-kit system is using the drum splitters. I’be used a few of these to add cymbals to my Alesis e-kit. Basically, you’re reassigning a un-needed trigger (the rim of a tom) to something else you want. There are some limitations (this is mentioned on their site) but I think these can be worked around.

Those are pretty slick! I wouldn't mind adding an extra Tom too (only because I have a spare). Though to be honest, it's not like I'm in Dream Theater. 3 cymbals is more than enough for buddies jamming out.

[Ryan]

Damn, that's tidy. I keep thinking of getting some monitors for my leccy drum setup but I find headphones work well enough for me not to bother.

[Leah]

You could also grab a Tone Hammer or Tech 21 VT Bass for bass, but a Sansamp should be fine.

[Budda]

Damn.

[Briansol]

Nice kit. I sometimes wish i spent more on a nice yamaha kit, but yeah, same thing - i bought it mostly for other people to use.

Looking forward to a future bbq.

not looking forward to seeing a bunch of middle aged hairy dudes in the pool. lol

[Chris]

Nice kit. I sometimes wish i spent more on a nice yamaha kit, but yeah, same thing - i bought it mostly for other people to use.

Looking forward to a future bbq.

not looking forward to seeing a bunch of middle aged hairy dudes in the pool. lol

I got some Union Jack speedos for the occasion.

[Briansol]

you need a palace guard hat to go with it.
and maybe a red smoking jacket

[playstopause]

I got some Union Jack speedos for the occasion.

I now need to wash away that mental image I (very) briefly had.

[Dominic]

I got some Union Jack speedos for the occasion.

I'll bring the matching towel.

(Though I'll give mine a better-tasting payload than that toffee-nosed twerp.)