big drumkit or simple??? what's your pick...

[souzabatero]

Last night I went to a show and there was a drummer with a huge gnarly gretcsh set, loads of istanbul cymbals, sounded awesome, but I think the guy was too focused on his stuff more than his playing. So...how do you guys feel?

The more the better or do you take the simple life?



by the way new to site! thanks for everything learning a **** ton!!!!!!!!!!

[Northern Redneck]

I like both.
I play the drums, they dont play me.

[Kazaamski]

I like smaller kits. I get overwhelmed behind big kits. Almost to the point of tears :D

[ljmarch]

I like smaller kits. My set up at my home right now is 22-12-16 with an auxiliary 14 floor tom, and of course a snare. And for cymbals I have hats, ride, and 2 crashes. At my church, however, there is a 7 piece Pearl Masters with 8 cymbals. It's so intimidating that I end up playing simpler than I would on my home set. With a smaller set, I feel I can be more creative with my fills and playing. Not crazier or busier or "better," just more creative.

[Northern Redneck]

I really dont get how a kit can be intimidating or how a kit can make you more or less creative? Im the same drummer on a 3pc that Iam on an 11pc. The kit is an inanimate object that does nothing without you. Creativity comes from you not the drums.

[gottdonn13]

simple kits for me. With a big kit i seem to spend more time thinking which cymbal/drum to use, rather than spending my time thinking of the best beat for the song.

[gottdonn13]

I really dont get how a kit can be intimidating or how a kit can make you more or less creative? Im the same drummer on a 3pc that Iam on an 11pc. The kit is an inanimate object that does nothing without you. Creativity comes from you not the drums.

True. I think my puny brain cant cope with all the options and decisions if im honest

[ljmarch]

I really dont get how a kit can be intimidating or how a kit can make you more or less creative? Im the same drummer on a 3pc that Iam on an 11pc. The kit is an inanimate object that does nothing without you. Creativity comes from you not the drums.

And I don't really get how people hate electronic drums because they "feel different". I don't think they do. But to each his own.

[gottdonn13]

And I don't really get how people hate electronic drums because they "feel different". I don't think they do. But to each his own.

The rubber pads on my DTXplorer are veerrrryyy different to the skins on my kit to me BUT..... everyones got there own opinion i guess...

[Northern Redneck]

And I don't really get how people hate electronic drums because they "feel different". I don't think they do. But to each his own.

And this is relevant to the conversation how?

[Bish]

I like having a lot of options with me as long as I don't get caught up in trying to use everything in every song. However, with that said, I like moving a smaller kit since I'm lazy.
As far as being in the audience, I like seeing a big kit on stage.

[wolvie56]

And this is relevant to the conversation how?

Maybe he's still thinking about this thread maybe?
http://www.drumchat.com/showthread.p...4.html?t=28514

[wolvie56]

The more the better. I like big kits. And if I feel minimalistic that day, I only use some of the kit. Like NR stated, I play the drum kit, it doesn't play me. And I only use what the song calls for. But if I need the component, it's there. Having said all that, unless I had a couple of roadies in my employ, and if I were to be gigging out, a smaller kit would be used then. But beings as though it's a home kit right now, the more the better. Big kits are a blast!

[NPYYZ]

In 1977 I bought my first large kit. 2- kicks , snare, 6,8,10,12,14,16,18 toms. I've always played a large kit since that day. That's just my drumming style. I've always felt very comfortable playing a large kit, so I've stayed with it.

[NedgarAllanPoe]

I like a good sized kit, I want a few more cymbals and then my ideal set up would be complete. I'm not a fan of the minimalist kit though. I enjoy having a few options, plus the biggest kit i've ever played is my own.

[VIbes]

I used to play a Octaplus kit in the 70's and 80's but now I will use a four or five piece set.
1 up 2 down or 2 up 1 down or 1 up 1 down mostly and hi hats ,crash and ride. Occasionally 2 crash.

[Kazaamski]

Lol NR true about being intimidated. I don't really start crying. I just still end up using only a few pieces on big kits. It's just big kits are cluttered to me. And often times, there's a tom where I want a cymbal.

[atomcorr2]

my set is a 24 kick, 12 and 13 toms, 16 floor , 14x6.5 snare , hats,splash 3 crashes and a china,, id call it a med size set....

[groovearteest]

it depends. i hate playing 4 piece sets, but also dislike anything over 7. so anything between 5 and 7 i like to play on.

[kaosotis]

I play what I feel like lugging around, like Bish said. I usually play a 5 pc with ride, hats, and 2 or 3 crashes. Fits my style and the music we play.

[pastor_bob]

I play both - a 6 piece with 9 cymbals, and a 4 piece that I play with hi-hat, ride, and 2 crashes. To me, both kits are equally fun to play. If I have plenty of room to transport, the big setup is nice, but if I have either limited space to transport, or limited space to set up at the venue, then it's the 4 piece.

[Digital]

Big or small makes no real difference to me, but I do want a decent selection of cymbals on whatever I play on.

[Russ]

Long time big kit user, so for me it's big kit - although I have used various smaller kits so I can offer a little on that side of things too. Regarding the feel, yes it is very different. It's a completely different world adapting to a large kit, and big kit players have to adapt to small kit playing as well. If you're used to having stuff all around you and your technique is based on that configuration, when you're suddenly pulled off of that and given something else with a very different design has a huge learning curve. Make sure if you make a big kit that it's organized though, don't just pile on random things all over the place, if it looks like a mess it will play like one. Trust me!

I tried going from an 11 to a 4 piece and I had a lot of trouble! I had to spend a bit of time on that 4 to make good use of it. The kick pedals are different, you have further hi hat distance, your toms are mostly up high in a row, cymbals and add ons tend to surround you, center snare, various things you'll notice if you make the change. Another thing I like about big is it's more sounds, you can take the sizes off you don't want and create anything, there's no limits. I kinda take Terry Bozzio's belief on things, a guitar doesn't have 4 or 5 notes, why should your drumset? Nothing wrong with minimal setups though, if it's all it takes that's all i'd use. Really depends on what i'm playing.

[TxDrummer]

I play both, It all depends on what the music calls for. I like small kits and I like big kits. Right now I'm playing where all it needs is a 4 piece. Hell I could use a 2 to 3 but I like a 4 for minimum. 1 up two down.

[Northern Redneck]

Love the old school Yamaha reso. Great looking kit.