I know I had a blog somewhere. But I never updated it and I wrote like, twice a year, if that. So in the interest of trying to be a better member of one of the many, many online communities of which I participate, I am starting fresh - fresh for 2013. I mean, 2014.
Well, when could be better than January - NAMM is literally around the corner, and all the drum companies will showing off their newest wares. I always love the #NAMM hashtags - or maybe it's #NAMMdrums , I forget - because you get to see some pretty interesting products, sometimes ones that end up never seeing the light of day (read: mass production). Anyhoo, I've never been. I am an unsponsored, non-music-business-having individual drummer.
(Incidentally, one of my good friends has the best name for a blog - Drum and Drummer.)
So, what kind of gear am I looking forward to this year? That is the Million Dollar question. Some background:
Ever since I was a poor, broke teenager trying to find a good deal on drums, I have been a classified ad expert. Before craigslist, there was the Classified Flea Market, as well as the local weekly alt papers like SF Weekly, SF Guardian, and East Bay Express. I used to read the "Musical Instruments For Sale" section of the Classified Flea Market (CFM) every Tuesday, the day the newest issue was released. I remember that if you waited even till evening, if there was a good deal to be had, it would be gone by the end of that Tuesday. If I was lucky I could buy things later in the week, as back then if you got to someone by phone first, they tended to be nice about holding you to purchasing their item (this is to say, there was never a thing like "craigslist flakes" that seems to permeate that site).
So fast-forward to early internet, and craigslist becomes my de facto shopping window for all drums used or unloved; except now I have to check everyday! And believe me, I do. I can't buy everything, but often I'll see a good deal only to find that the next day the ad is gone. So why am I telling you all this?
My drum collection is mostly vintage Premier drum sets, along with high-end Paiste or Istanbul cymbals. Most every item I own is meant to be played (i.e. not period correct pieces to be gawked at), and has a specific purpose for one of the various groups I play in. I have a tiny bop kit for my jazz gigs, a slightly larger size for loud bands in small rooms, and the big kit for loud band in loud room. Well i'm getting to a point where I realize I can't play all these drumsets at once. I might even have to sell a couple. Anyhoo, this changes my craigslist perusing habits. If I see a great drum set that is just my style, I realize "I have plenty of my own style drum kits - I don't need this."
... so now the million dollar question: What do I NEED?
Well, I've decided it's percussion. Not necessarily traditional stuff, but some. I've got about 3 cowbells, some small effects-type cymbals, about 25 various 'jingle'-related things, and some egg/toy shakers.
I need a conga. Maybe a cajon too, I dunno if I like those though. I also have an old fire alarm or maybe school bell bell. Its bright red with a tiny hole in the middle. I recently bought my first popcorn snare, a Gretsch Blackhawk 8" one.
So this goes back to "sounds" - as the New Orleans players put it, "Freak sounds". All the horn guy who used hats, glasses, plungers, etc as mutes were called 'freak players' for getting freaky sounds out of their instrument. Now, I dunno if I wanna go total Glen Kotche and start installing doorstop springs in my snare heads, but I do want some of those freak sounds. Maybe I'll get a big Rototom, or some vintage, drumset-style bongos.
I also saw a picture of Chris Daddy Dave using what looked like a $25 Made-In-Japan metal snare recently. I immediately knew what it sounded like and why he was using it. From the picture! That kinda blew my mind. truth be told. ("Do I need one??") As opposed to say, Dafnis Prieto, who uses the mounted frying pan. I have no idea what that frying pan sounds like or how he uses it.
It was just a subtle reminder that there are so many cool sounds out there, and drummers have this luxury of being able to mount just about anything for drumset use. I feel like I've ignored this aspect of drumming in favor of a classic, 4-piece drumset sound. I think I'll try to break out of that mold this year.
Maybe even go hybrid electronic? Boy, that's a tough question.
Meanwhile, I can work on my Flex-a-tone soloing.
