I played a gig in a bar, last Friday. I've been playing there with various bands since the place opened in that particular location, twenty-odd years ago. It used to be that I would come in, set up, and the owner would ask of me, "try to keep the noise level down a bit. Think of the neighbours, you know?" And then proceed to turn up the PA (vocals) to insane levels. We all laughed about it.
Anyway. Times change, as do neighbours and local ordinances. There is now a dreaded dB-gauge mounted over the stage, and a (semi-)hard rule that it cannot go over 100dB.
So, I show up with my recently-reskinned, finely tuned, wonderfully warm and resonant Custom Z kit, taking care to not pick one of my louder snare drums for this gig. By the end of the sound check, however, there is a towel in my bass drum and tape on my snare drum, my crashes, bottom hi hat, and all my tom reso's. We manage to at least mostly stay within the sonic limits. What can you do? You grind your teeth, swallow your pride and get the job done. The show must go on, after all.
Yup, my theory as well. "It has all the glory" love that. Drums are meant to resonate, it's the nature of the beast. Don't tame it, embrace it! I also like what he says about not having to turn the gains up because the kit us open and loud. I mic my entire kit with just two overheads , a mic on each kick and a snare mic hanging above the kit. Sounds great.
Last edited by NPYYZ; 02-24-2015 at 05:13 AM.
I've heard more than one sound guy say they love miking up Gretsch drums.
all the best...
Save a pig!! buy DW!
No tape for me tonight. Still had the pinstripes on because I was sick over the weekend. The bass drum sounded great.
Mmm... Saturns.
-Brian
"Too many crappy used drum stuff to list"
Play the SONG......not the DRUMS!!!
"I think that feeling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts." ~ John Bonham
SO did a gig as part of a multi-bar festival last night, we were the first band to play (we also got there when they asked and waited 90min for the rest of the people to show). so basically we had the sound check and 3min later started playing.
Anyway, we sound check a song in which i ride a little bit on my crash. The sound guy came up as if the place was about to burn down and said (in czech), "It's terrrible, it's terribly loud!" and then proceeded to tape my crash and ride. He then acted like i was unprofessional because I didn't have rods (we had a 30min slot). There was a PA system which was quite loud (certainly enough to go over my drums) and huge amps that you could use for a decently large outdoor show. Despite that fact, my cymbals were too loud (one of our guys said it was fine). The best part, the other bands were louder, and didn't have their cymbals taped.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this is because when the guy came up in a very unprofessional way (instead of just saying "hey man, your cymbals are a bit loud) I may have given a look of horror when he taped my crash, but I didn't say or do anything, precisely because of this thread.
So thanks DC, you helped a newish drummer once again!
Yamaha DTX 500 module
Anatolian Kappadokia 14" Rock High Hats
Sabian El Sabor 20" Ride
Zildjian A 18" Crash Ride
Istanbul Agop 16" Trash Hit
1950's Zildjian 14" Splash/light crash
Istanbul 8" Splash (pre 1997)
Mapex Black Panther Steel Piccolo
1965 Premier 3 piece 10, 16, 22
I think i would be a little irritated with somewone taping my cymbals..like it wouldn't happen type of irritation... sounds kinda amateurish, soundman taping cymbals..will he be there to clean up my cymbals?. I think you have to draw a line somewhere... heads ok, I'll be co-operative, but you're not taping my cymbals!
If I were a better drummer, I'd just play softer, but I can't play controlled consistently. Well, my mentor, who has been a pro for 4 decades says Czechs are the worst sound people. Luckily when i took the tape off none of it stayed on the cymbals. the problem in this country is everyone knows everyone, so it's better just to let morons be morons and not make a fuss, and there\s no way we're playing there again anyway, but yea, amateur night on sound most definitely!
Yamaha DTX 500 module
Anatolian Kappadokia 14" Rock High Hats
Sabian El Sabor 20" Ride
Zildjian A 18" Crash Ride
Istanbul Agop 16" Trash Hit
1950's Zildjian 14" Splash/light crash
Istanbul 8" Splash (pre 1997)
Mapex Black Panther Steel Piccolo
1965 Premier 3 piece 10, 16, 22
I had this issue constantly with sound guys. I went and bought really good mics (Sennheiser 421's ) and they still wanted tape and crap all over my heads. Finally gave up and bought an Alesis dm5 and triggers. No were good as sound as my kit, but no more fighting with sound people.
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