Sounding Off
The next decision is what type of sound does your client prefer ?
Do they want the punch and aggression of a maple kit ? The vintage sound of mahogany or gumwood ? The deep resonance of bubinga ? If it is maple they prefer , then their dream kit might be a new Ludwig Classic Maple kit , a semi pro maple kit might be a Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive , and their beginner kit a used set of six-year-old PDP Concept Maple drums . All are maple kits and should provide them with the sound they love .
I suggest that , as a sales person , you spend some time ensuring you know the sonic differences between the different woods and hit a few toms to see what woods you prefer . Try to have the drums tuned the same so that the tuning does not throw you off . Don ’ t let your customer purchase anything yet ; there ’ s still more to consider .
Now we need to think about the sizes of each individual drum .
Do they want a standard 22-in . kick drum ? How deep should it be ? Do they like a skinny vintage-style kick at 14 in . or a massive 20-in . long beast ? Do they need 8- , 10- , 12- , 13- , and 14-in . rack toms , or will a single 10- or 12-in . tom do the job ? How deep do they like thier toms ? A uniform 10 x 10-in . or short 10 x 6-in . tom ? Do they need three floor toms sized 14- , 16- , and 18-in ., or would a 14- or 15-in . floor tom do them just fine ?
If your client ’ s new kit is not moving out of their basement , then you can go wild and create a kit as large as their budget will allow ; however , that ’ s not a reality for many . Harding from Rufus notes that , “ in Vancouver , many customers require smaller kits to fit in their smaller living accommodations .”
Snare drums are traditionally sized at 14 in ., but I personally prefer a more focused snare , like a 13-in . Do they want a traditional 5-in . deep snare or a deeper 6.5-in .? What about a 3-in . piccolo like David Garibaldi plays , or a massive 8-in . deep snare ? What should their snare be made of ? Is it the matching snare to their kit or is it a completely different brand made of brass , steel , copper , bronze , concrete , or some exotic wood ?
Higher-end drums may offer different wood sandwiches depending on the size of the drum . Both Pearl and Yamaha offer this feature on their Reference and Hybrid lines , respectively , matching bright maple or birch with mahogany or other dark-toned wood . If your older client is playing classic rock , you may want to look for a 26-in . bass drum – just ensure they can carry it and it fits in their car ! Getting a 22 x 18-in . kick drum is always a wise purchase . Many of my professional customers are moving to smaller sizes for a couple of reasons . Drum technology keeps improving and the smaller bass drums today can sound as big , full , and rich as many of their larger vintage brothers . I find pros asking for 20-in . kicks and some are looking smaller yet at 18-in . even for their rock gigs . Most clubs now regularly mic the kick and snare at minimum and if mixed correctly , an 18-in . can sound more controlled and just as huge as a 22-in . Pros want lightweight gear and want to be able to handle their kit in one or maybe two trips to and from the car . A 20-in . or smaller kick will help you get in and out of the gig quickly and without a trip to the chiropractor . A 12-in . tom and 14-in . floor tom make a great combo and sound like they belong together .
Bearing edges have a huge impact on a drum ’ s sound . Sharp edges increase the sustain and give more head sound than shell . They provide the overtones that make each drummer distinct . Rounded edges offer more of a vintage vibe and work especially well for floor toms and kick drums . They ’ re also easier to tune .
Hardware is our next consideration . Does the kit ’ s shell hardware – lugs , tom mounts , tension rods , bass drum legs , etc . – look and feel like a quality metal ? An inexpensive casting of what the industry terms “ pot metal ” is used in many cheaper kits and is fine if your customer is buying their first kit . As they move up the line , the hardware increases in casting quality , materials , and design . Do the tom arms and suspension system keep the drum where the
James Burton of Long & McQuade Winnipeg North , Winnipeg , MB
PHOTO : AARON BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY drummer wants it ? Are the stands single- or double-braced ? Is the hi-hat stand a traditional three-leg model or a more modern two-leg , allowing a double-kick pedal to be placed right beside the high-hat stand ? Does a throne come with the hardware pack ? If not , you need to ensure the customer purchases one .
If you have ever tried to position a rack tom on a vintage rail mount and found that nothing you do seems to get the thing where you want it , you will begin to understand the importance of good kit hardware . I don ’ t like the simple bent metal kick drum claws and prefer a die-cast claw with a rubber gasket that will protect the hoop from scratches and dents .
Let ’ s talk pedals . Today , few double-kick drum sets are sold due to the amazing variety and quality of the double-kick pedal . Starting at about $ 250 and ranging up to $ 1,000 , they can be a significant expense . Try to determine if the style of music they plan to play requires one . If your customer plays metal or alternative rock , they probably will . If they play classic rock , country , roots , jazz , or R & B , it may not be critical and their money would be better spent improving the quality of a single pedal . Most hardware packs include a single pedal that is sturdy and serviceable .
Some new drums ship with “ no name ” single-ply heads . They are almost impossible for novices to tune and quickly pit and distort because of their single-ply and thin nature . I always suggest that after the customer has recovered financially from the purchase of their new kit , they should plan to spring for a set of quality skins for the batter heads ( tops ) at a minimum . The revelation of the difference good heads make to the sound of any kit will have them falling in love with their kit all over again . I always put a time limit of
22 • CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE