Drums. Great aren't they?
Can there be any other musical instrument that allows each individual player so much individuality from the setup alone? Before you've even played a note the audience can tell a great deal about you just from looking at your instrument.
Set ups are often identified with specific styles and genres. An obvious example; you see a four piece in small sizes with a couple of large cymbals (at least one of which will have rivets installed) you can be sure that acoustic jazz will be on the menu. Similarly if you are a guest at a wedding and the drummer has a twelve piece kit which takes two hours to set up it is fairly safe to assume that he is not a full time professional.
There's so much choice to be had these days. Drums come in all shapes and sizes. You can have any custom finish you care for. You can get tiny snare drums, cymbals with holes in and a remote bass drum. I have been a proponent of the remote bass drum for many years. I have a 20" and 22" bass drum with my DW set and one of them is always 'remote'. I leave it at home.
It's also important if you are contemplating expansion and innovation with your drum setup that you don't forget to learn to play first.
So give free rein to your individuality in the way you set up your drums. I feel sorry for trombone players, as a trombone is pretty much a trombone and that's about it really.
I'll be getting some new drums shortly. Refurbished 1970s Rogers with modern spurs, tom fittings etc. 24, 13, 16, 16 in marine pearl in case you hadn't already guessed. If you're at the World's Greatest Drummer event in November you should see them then. (More about that in a future post).
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