Drums Cymbals Mics and Stuff

Equipment Used by The Author

I play Yamaha Maple Custom drums (not Absolutes) by choice; I am not sponsored by anyone. I find that with Yamaha, the quality is superb. The drum is not the most resonant drum on the market, I prefer to think of it as “controlled”. You’ll find many pro’s using the YAMAHA Maple Custom, as you will that which play other brands. The set and sound just reflects what I feel is right for me. I like the brightness and the warmth projected by maple. Bright is a good way of explaining the characteristic of this kit if you subscribe to the notion that the audio spectrum has 3 basic bands; Bass (warmth); midrange (presence or harshness); and treble (bright). Top quality sets, regardless of manufacturer are all great. There’s only one really great drum set, and that’s the one that inspires you to play your best given the budget you have and reflects your personality.

Yamaha Maple Custom, Sizes 10x9, 12x10, 14x12, 16x14, 22x16.

Finish: Black Maple, Gold lug casings, YESS mounts on all toms.

Hoops: Aluminum on toms, Solid Maple on kick, Snare by model.

Head Choice:

Kick: Mostly Aquarian Superkick III Coated Batter paired with the Evans Ebony EQ3 Resonant w/4-1/2” offset hole. In all cases I use the DW pillow covering 15% of each head.

Toms: varies but mostly Evan’s G2 Coated Batter w/G1 Coated Resonant.

Snare Drums:

14 x 5 1/2 Brass Snare Drum; Manu Katche Signature Model; Hoops cast; Heads: Ambassador Coated or Genera Snare, Diplomat Snare Side; Tuning Method 1 in the bible, batter tighter than resonant.

14 x 6 Maple Snare Drum; Anton Fig Signature Model; Hoops wood maple 19 ply; Heads: Ambassador or Evans Coated batter and Ambassador Clear Snare side; Tuning Method 2 which is Batter looser than Resonant, Resonant about 3 notes higher.

14 x 5 1/2 Steel Snare Drum; Phonic 400 60’s era; Heads: Ambassador Coated batter and Diplomat Snare Side; Hoops are steel triple flanged; Heads equal in pitch, medium tuning Method 3.

14 x 5 1/2 Steel Snare Drum; Rodgers Dynasonic 60’s era; Heads: Evan’s Genera Snare Coated and 200 Hazy Snare Side; Hoops steel triple flanged things; Heads equal in pitch, medium tuning Method 3.

14 x 3 Brass Snare Drum; Pearl FreeFloat Model; Hoops Cast; Heads: REMO Ambassador Coated batter and Ambassador Clear Snare side; Tuning so the resonant side is typically 2 notes higher than the batter side

On all the Snare drums I’ll use various width “O” rings with a ½ width being the most common.