The ''Right'' Way To Set Up Your Kit

[lagwagon99]

MODERATION NOTE: this thread grew into a setting up kit thread so it has been merged. key words: correct kit set-up tom angles ergonomics.

what are the things that bug you about how people set up their drums? for me its people who tilt their snare away from them, how does that help? I also hate when people muffle thier bass drum to the point to where it sounds like cardboard.

[Drumms]

Most of the people here hate weird tom angles. It often happens that a newbie posts pics of his kit; every one shouts "Tom Angles!!!", and the newbie doesn't even know what's wrong with them.

I think it's almost a tradition here on Drummerworld...

[rendezvous_drummer]

for me its people who tilt their snare away from them, how does that help?

Easier access to rim shots....look at Steve Smith and Buddy Rich....that have it tilted away from them.

Not to mention, old style players who used traditional grip had the drums slanted away from them.

[nhzoso]

Well the reason alot of people tilt the snare away from them is for ease and effectiveness of rim shots. I had an instructor who played that way and said he used to practice rim shots in that way and grew to love the feel and position of the snare at that angle.


Otherwise I could give a shat less how someone sets up their kit.. To each his own.

[ValS]

Most of the people here hate weird tom angles. It often happens that a newbie posts pics of his kit; every one shouts "Tom Angles!!!", and the newbie doesn't even know what's wrong with them.

I think it's almost a tradition here on Drummerworld...


thats a global problem i think.. :-D

[Aquamaroon]

What annoys me on peoples drum sets?

Usually, the drummer.

*rim shot*

[NUTHA JASON]

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tert.jpg

[catchagato]

What annoys me are things like setting up the kit so that everything is parallel to the ground. The cymbals are just flat with no angle, each drum is flat as well. It just looks boring to me. Also when people muffle the heck out of their bass drums, just use a batter head on the bass that has "built in" muffling and just use a patch or something similar. Another thing is when drummers just have a ridiculous amount of cymbals and drums. "Less is more." Lastly, but not least, I absolutely am annoyed by drummers who use racks for their kits. It just seems so unorthodox for drummers to use that kind of a mounting system, but although I would say it is probably helpful for the drummers who have 50 different drums and cymbals on their kit...

[latzanimal]

What annoys me are things like setting up the kit so that everything is parallel to the ground. The cymbals are just flat with no angle, each drum is flat as well. It just looks boring to me. Also when people muffle the heck out of their bass drums, just use a batter head on the bass that has "built in" muffling and just use a patch or something similar. Another thing is when drummers just have a ridiculous amount of cymbals and drums. "Less is more." Lastly, but not least, I absolutely am annoyed by drummers who use racks for their kits. It just seems so unorthodox for drummers to use that kind of a mounting system, but although I would say it is probably helpful for the drummers who have 50 different drums and cymbals on their kit...

Is this what you mean?

[Breadmonkey]

excellent post Nutha hats off (to Roy harper) sorry pseudo OCD thing I have to do everytime i say hats off to someone, SORRY

[Drumms]

What annoys me are things like setting up the kit so that everything is parallel to the ground. The cymbals are just flat with no angle, each drum is flat as well. It just looks boring to me. Also when people muffle the heck out of their bass drums, just use a batter head on the bass that has "built in" muffling and just use a patch or something similar. Another thing is when drummers just have a ridiculous amount of cymbals and drums. "Less is more." Lastly, but not least, I absolutely am annoyed by drummers who use racks for their kits. It just seems so unorthodox for drummers to use that kind of a mounting system, but although I would say it is probably helpful for the drummers who have 50 different drums and cymbals on their kit...

Is this what you mean?

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=13024&stc=1&d=1182162883

:))) Excellent! . . . . . . .

[Johnny from the block]

What annoys me are things like setting up the kit so that everything is parallel to the ground. The cymbals are just flat with no angle, each drum is flat as well. It just looks boring to me. Also when people muffle the heck out of their bass drums, just use a batter head on the bass that has "built in" muffling and just use a patch or something similar. Another thing is when drummers just have a ridiculous amount of cymbals and drums. "Less is more." Lastly, but not least, I absolutely am annoyed by drummers who use racks for their kits. It just seems so unorthodox for drummers to use that kind of a mounting system, but although I would say it is probably helpful for the drummers who have 50 different drums and cymbals on their kit...

I hear you on the rack-thing. I hate it too. Doesn't look pretty nor natural. The muffling I think is just personal perference (prhaps for some recordings muffling might do good). And the drum set up parallel to to ground... I understand what you're sayiing, but personally I think it has some sort of style on it. (atached image!)

Personally I hate the look of electronic drums! It's good they excist, so we can drum without the noice (maybe renting one myself next year) but that there are people who actually play gigs with e-kits! Can't believe it. (second pic)

[latzanimal]

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=13024&stc=1&d=1182162883

:))) Excellent! . . . . . . .

Don't worry, I won't take it personally...... or ask you to tech for me..

[fijjibo]

Things dont annoy me about other peoples kits, it may not work for me, but, its their kit, so its not my problem.

[Ozzy Biz]

I hear you on the rack-thing. I hate it too. Doesn't look pretty nor natural. The muffling I think is just personal perference (prhaps for some recordings muffling might do good). And the drum set up parallel to to ground... I understand what you're sayiing, but personally I think it has some sort of style on it. (atached image!)


I don't think floor toms should be included in this; rather the Travis Barker style kit. Rack tom flat, snare flat, cymbals flat, etc.
I prefer a floor tom to be flat (or pretty much flat) and my snare is basically the same too.

[The Ploughman]

1. Miles of tape.
2. Bass Drums filled with ............you name it.
3. Setups that allow pieces of equipment to touch and rub against each other. OH GAWD how I hate that. Snare rub on the rack tom, lug screw rub on the floor tom from the bass drum. When I first started, this was one of the prime things my teacher hammered on. NOTHING touches anything its not supposed to be touching.
4. Way High Cymbals.
5. Things that are too far away to really be a viable part of the kit, without becoming a contortionist.

[MoeDrummer]

When priorities are not straight. For example: having a shiny new double pedal, top of the line cymbals, bells and whistles all over the place... and yet the set still has stock heads that look like they've been assaulted by an angry mob. How could anyone do such a thing to a poor innocent drumset!? Please give to my "Save a Drumset Foundation", operators are standing by. Saving drumsets from disillusioned "drummers" for over 50 years and counting.

Ha... only in my dreams...

Moe

[Ozzy Biz]

When priorities are not straight. For example: having a shiny new double pedal, top of the line cymbals, bells and whistles all over the place... and yet the set still has stock heads that look like they've been assaulted by an angry mob. How could anyone do such a thing to a poor innocent drumset!? Please give to my "Save a Drumset Foundation", operators are standing by. Saving drumsets from disillusioned "drummers" for over 50 years and counting.

Ha... only in my dreams...

Moe

Maybe you could get together with the guy from Pimp My Ride and start a Tv show on MTV?

[gmrakich]

I will most likely take a lot of crap for this, but I hate cheap kits with cheap cymbals. They don't sound good and they usually look cheesy. I know that everyone can not afford a pro level kit for a 1000 different reasons. But as a drum freak, when I go see a band, I want to see and hear a great kit. Something different. I know that money is a big issue in this, and I really do understand, but when I go out, I am always hoping to see something that makes me think...I gotta get me one of THOSE....

[Drumms]

[...] I hate cheap kits with cheap cymbals. They don't sound good and they usually look cheesy. [...]

No drum sounds good to me. At least those are cheap. Plus they look great with their prime color wrapping.

[Sparkletone]

For me, it's cluttering the kit with all the bells and whistles that have nothing to do with drumming whatsoever: Clip-on cupholders, fans, fuzzy dice, etc. I think all this stuff ruins the look of the kit (no matter what it is) and makes the corresponding drummer look a bit ridiculous in the process—especially during a show.

If I ever see a lead guitar player with a cupholder on the neck of his guitar, maybe I'll change my tune, but until then, I think putting your Slurpy to the side and out of sight while playing to an audience is perfectly do-able.

[Drumms]

[...] If I ever see a lead guitar player with a cupholder on the neck of his guitar, maybe I'll change my tune, but until then, I think putting your Slurpy to the side and out of sight while playing to an audience is perfectly do-able.

I have a bottle opener attached to my hi-hat stand.

[BoxcarDrummer182]

i hate people who complain about other peoples kits.

[Leadfoot]

For me, it's when the hi-hat is way low, like just above the snare rim. Lot's of people play that way but I don't get it. Preferences.
BTW, I'm a proud flat cymbal flier, tilters? We don't need no stinking tilters. I was largely influenced by Tommy Aldridge in my earlier years, I have tilted from time to time but always go back to flat.

[Tetley]

yeah hate flat cymbals, not so much when they are nice and low (like the ride) but Mr barker style. Not so much for the visual aspect or anti travis barker venom, but because it damages your cymbals and your sticks...

that and when people spend mucho time and money on taking their kits apart, lovingly stripping wrap/glue/laquer/blahblah from their pride and joy, and then paint them in the most soul sapping pointless lifeless boring monotone turd colour possible. hours of sweat and toil and they dont look better, just look like a different kind of awful. seen it so many times... and i just think why. when poeple like crazyhorse and unix churn out gorgeous laquer and fades, showing whats possible to do to a drum, and some muppet goes for solid blue primary colour tat, you just think WHY??????

rant over.
sorry

[Melvin]

I hate when people put their cymbals too high (almost over head) and the toms at the same level of the snare (snare is under the waist level so it's too freaking low). That is ridiculous and too unconfortable to play. The drummer from church plays like that. Even he seems unconfortable in his own kit. He's a newbie, someday he will learn.

[de Nick]

I am annoyed when I see that someone has three bassdrums and 10 (double bassdrum-)pedals!!

[Mr. Pasquini]

When priorities are not straight. For example: having a shiny new double pedal, top of the line cymbals, bells and whistles all over the place... and yet the set still has stock heads that look like they've been assaulted by an angry mob. How could anyone do such a thing to a poor innocent drumset!? Please give to my "Save a Drumset Foundation", operators are standing by. Saving drumsets from disillusioned "drummers" for over 50 years and counting.

Ha... only in my dreams...

Moe

I did that because I wasn't gigging. I can learn with junk heads. My new heads will arrive today, though! I can not STAND bad cymbals.

The thing that annoys me is the same as what's in Nutha's post. Damn seperated toms.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

excellent post Nutha hats off (to Roy harper) sorry pseudo OCD thing I have to do everytime i say hats off to someone, SORRY

Good old Pink Floyd. Good old...

[Chunkaway]

First off, I will say to each his own when it comes to drums. What works for me might now work for someone else and vice versa. Having said that, from a purely asethitic point of view these things always bother me.

1.) Tons of toms and cymbals. I always think of one question: Why? If Buddy Rich could get by with five drums and a couple of cymbals then most people can as well.

2.) Lugs that run the length of the drum-just have never liked that look

3.) Bells and whistles-unless you are doing avant garde percussion pieces, it seems to be overkill.

4.) Weird tom angles, although I'm not bothered by flat toms and cymbals. The ones with really harsh angles bother me but only because I know I did it when I was just beginning and I couldn't play a lick.

5.) Damaged heads, cymbals, drums- I know not everyone can afford to get new gear everytime something breaks, but at least show some pride in your kit and in being a musician.

6.) Fades-Ugh, how I hate fade paint jobs. I have seen a couple that look nice, but for the most part they just bore me. I'm sure some people hate sparkles though, which I love, so take it with a grain of salt.

[zambizzi]

i hate people who complain about other peoples kits.

Hate's a strong word to throw around...but...I get your point and I agree (minus the "hate" part.)

WHO CARES about other peoples' kits, setups, etc.? Why would you care? What's it to you? I'm sure you can find something else to complain about...work on that.

[Melvin]

Another thing I hate is bad pedal angles or setups. I friend of mine setups his pedal at the maximum tension possible and he angles the beater to be as flat as possible and the foot board super high. I can't stand his crap ass pedal setup. He tells me that he puts his pedal like that because he hits very hard. But that's stupid because drums have a limited amount of volume. I can get the same amount of volume out of a bass drum hitting like two times softer.

I also hate bad tom angles and Travis Barker like setups that is just stupid. We are all different, maybe you like how he setups his kit but that doesn't mean you'll feel confortable playing like him, so just be yourself.

I hate custom kits (they do not sound bad) almost every custom kit I see looks ugly and cheap. I also dislike DW because they are the "best" which is not true, because there is no "best" drum brand or sound it's just something personal.

This might have nothing to do with kits, but I hate to see drummers with no technique and when a drummer uses excess of strenth to attack the kit.

[BellsOfRhymney]

for me its people who tilt their snare away from them, how does that help?it worked for Krupa.


.

[moomaw123]

For me I hate crappy tuned drums. People who cant tune their drum should reconsider what they are doing. If they are a newby ok.. If the drummer has been playing for a couple of years and their drums still sound like crap, get a lesson in tuning.
ie: muffle rings in the head just so they dry the sound out because they cant tune the dagone drum.


And Snare tilted at a 45degree toward them, you would have to get down on the floor for a rim shot. What the heck?

[T.Underhill]

For me, it's cluttering the kit with all the bells and whistles that have nothing to do with drumming whatsoever: Clip-on cupholders, fans, fuzzy dice, etc. I think all this stuff ruins the look of the kit (no matter what it is) and makes the corresponding drummer look a bit ridiculous in the process—especially during a show.


How does a fan and cupholder have nothing to do with drumming? I have a fan and cupholder attached to my rack and I don't think being cooled and hydrated under hot lights looks "ridiculous", especially when they're not that noticeable.

[zambizzi]

it worked for Krupa.


.

It worked for Buddy too. A lot of the old school jazzers did this.

I think this practice was a take-away from marching snare drumming, just like the traditional grip.

[DestinationDrumming]

How does a fan and cupholder have nothing to do with drumming? I have a fan and cupholder attached to my rack and I don't think being cooled and hydrated under hot lights looks "ridiculous", especially when they're not that noticeable.

Being a relative newbie and not yet gigging I have manged to solve this problem....I have a simple buzzer attached to my snare and when I buzz it the Wife appears and fans me down with Ostrich feathers and brings me cold drinks!!

(Luckily she doesn't read DW so I won't get shouted at for writing this :-))

[ermghoti]

NO!

LOLz. Very "Killing Joke."

[gmrakich]

For me, it's when the hi-hat is way low, like just above the snare rim. Lot's of people play that way but I don't get it..

Phil Collins comes to mind..........

[crlujan]

I might take some heat on this but... microphones stuffed inside the bass drum. Does anyone really listen to their drums with their head inside the kick? Not a natural sound in my opinion.

[druid]

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tert.jpg

Excellent....the "Music store window" look...I love it!

[ledzepjb]

i hate people who complain about other peoples kits.

I was hoping for somebody to say that, I agree with you!

[gmrakich]

I might take some heat on this but... microphones stuffed inside the bass drum. Does anyone really listen to their drums with their head inside the kick? Not a natural sound in my opinion.

Usually a lazy sound man. I prefer not to cut a hole in my reso side either, and they have fits.

[franklinj]

1.) Tons of toms and cymbals. I always think of one question: Why? If Buddy Rich could get by with five drums and a couple of cymbals then most people can as well.



I keep seeing this come up...why? I like bigger kits as I feel they are much more unique and have more options to them. Who cares if Rich played a 5 peice; im not Rich, and neither are any of you, so set up the kit however you want it.

Honestly, the thing I hate is the typical "emo/scene" set up where its ALWAYS a 4 peice in some god awfule color with bright pink/blue hardware and god awful angles....you know what I mean.

[nhzoso]

It annoys the hell out of me when people copy and paste a photo from the 1st page of a thread that took 5 minutes to load and paste onto the 2nd page as well. : )

Even if it is a cool picture.

[bighaibigdrums]

I have never seen anything on another kit that bothers me. Its not my kit, and I dont have to play it, so I dont care.

[DrumBuster]

For me it's like Nutha Said with those B*****rd tom angles and setups. I also hate people who have their kit set up like travis barker. I can understand the equiptment but placing your ride that high is obsene. xx

[DrumBuster]

I also hate Frankenstein kits, like little boys who buy 2 kits of different colours and merge them together.

[Paul Quin]

Seems to be an awful lot of "hate" going around. Seriously, why do you care how someone else sets up their kit? If it shows immaturity and lack of experience then the player will either mature and/or obtain more experience or he/she won't. If they don't then there will be more work for you. If it reflects a stylistic approach which you don't think is the most ergonomic system, then don't copy it. But how does it affect you? Seems like a complete waste of energy and emotion to me. There are plenty of things in the drumming world, in the music business and in society at large to become irate about but this seems beyond trivial.

But, to each their own . . . .

Paul

[DrumBuster]

Seems to be an awful lot of "hate" going around. Seriously, why do you care how someone else sets up their kit? If it shows immaturity and lack of experience then the player will either mature and/or obtain more experience or he/she won't. If they don't then there will be more work for you. If it reflects a stylistic approach which you don't think is the most ergonomic system, then don't copy it. But how does it affect you? Seems like a complete waste of energy and emotion to me. There are plenty of things in the drumming world, in the music business and in society at large to become irate about but this seems beyond trivial.

But, to each their own . . . .

Paul

But come on, how many times have you seen the beginners kit with spaced toms tilted inwards, a snare too low and misuse of basic drum knowledge?

[voldak]

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread. I've had some serious laughs, especially from those pics. Thanks Nutha for that hilarious collage of amazing tom angles :)

As far as what I really don't like...I guess it's just really bad/cocky players that have all of the nicest equipment/drums and have no talent. I just don't like it, because I have terrible equipment and I'm struggling financially....It's more jealousy than anything else....But, I still don't like it! :)

[Chunkaway]

I keep seeing this come up...why? I like bigger kits as I feel they are much more unique and have more options to them. Who cares if Rich played a 5 peice; im not Rich, and neither are any of you, so set up the kit however you want it.

Honestly, the thing I hate is the typical "emo/scene" set up where its ALWAYS a 4 peice in some god awfule color with bright pink/blue hardware and god awful angles....you know what I mean.

I don't hate a lot of toms and cymbals when they are being played by people who actually know what they are doing. (Dave Weckl, Thomas Lang, Neil Peart are three that come to mind. However, in my experience, the vast majority of people with a lot of toms and cymbals do not have the ability to utilize a kit like that. What happens is they wind up play toms and cymbals just because they have them, not because it adds to the song in any way.

I'm not a fan of emo or anything like that, but I do like the classic look of a four or five piece kit, especially one that has one rack tom over the kick. (Definitley don't like the colors you mentioned either!)

Oh, I almost forgot, I'm not really a fan of people who use a ton of muffling when they are playing live. It seems to me that these people typically don't know how to tune drums. I can understand the use of muffling in a studio, but muffling when playing a live show really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. To each their own though...

[Deathmetalconga]

If I ever see a lead guitar player with a cupholder on the neck of his guitar, maybe I'll change my tune, but until then, I think putting your Slurpy to the side and out of sight while playing to an audience is perfectly do-able.

HAHA, funny. Gibraltar makes an ashtray that clamps onto a stand. That would be weird.

I think the dual floor-tom craze is pretty silly.

I think it's dumb when people buy the ringiest heads they can and then stuff mattresses and engine blocks into the bass drum to kill the sound.

I think it's dumb when people make no effort to control the number of stands and have like a DW 9000 double-braced boom stand to hold a four-inch splash cymbal, when they could piggyback that cymbal onto an existing stand. Their kits look like a forest of stands.

I dislike kits that have no distinguishing features and lack any sort of individuality.

I think cutting giant holes in the drum heads is dumb.

DW has great finishes, but they are so impressed with themselves that they have gigantic lugs and suspension mounts and badges, so you can hardly see the wood finish.

I dislike kits that are dirty, dusty or uncared for, with stickers and dented heads and broken cymbals, unless that's the ethos of the music (punk, for example).

[T.Underhill]

I think the dual floor-tom craze is pretty silly.



Oh yeah, that craze that's been going on for over 40 years...

[jangus]

Good old Pink Floyd. Good old...

Sorry he was referring to the Led Zeppelin song Hats Off To (Roy) Harper, not to the fact that Roy Harper sang on Have a Cigar. Gotcha.

I immediately lose respect for a drummer with extreme tom angles or totally flat kits (not so much for the stupidity of it but the un-originality) that thinks he's the bomb. Cocky drummers suck.

[Urahara Kisuke]

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread. I've had some serious laughs, especially from those pics. Thanks Nutha for that hilarious collage of amazing tom angles :)

As far as what I really don't like...I guess it's just really bad/cocky players that have all of the nicest equipment/drums and have no talent. I just don't like it, because I have terrible equipment and I'm struggling financially....It's more jealousy than anything else....But, I still don't like it! :)

I totally understand where you are coming from. I was poor for a pretty long time. Now I am lucky enough to own 2 awesome drum kits, one being a DW. I probably appreciate my kit a lot more going from too poor to afford a drum kit, to now having a great kit. But yeah I have met some cocky drummers that think they know it all and lack so much talent that I can't even begin to understand how they can talk so big.

[fourstringdrums]

1) Rack toms a mile apart from each other. Usually this is just a beginner drummer thing and I did it myself, but it's still something that drives me nuts. Having the toms far apart from each other and then angling one to the right and one to the left isn't going to help you play any better.

2) Overuse of double bass. Just because you have it doesn't mean you need to use it. Learn to do as much as you can with one foot and for learn to do more interesting things than just "duggaduggaduggadugga" for 15 minutes.

3) Drummers who load their drumheads with tape. Tape has it's place, heck I have a 1/2" little square of a few plies of electrical tape on my 14" floor at the edge to kill overtones, but if it's all over your drums, you're just killing the tone.

4) Nice resonant drums with muffle rings on them (this goes back to the tape too).

5) Cymbals that are set a mile in the air and completely flat, ala Barker.

6) Having nice resonant toms and then shoving 5 pillows into the bass.

7) I've seen drummers using everything from shopping baskets to milking stools instead of actual drum thrones. This drives me crazy. Your comfort is the most important thing and if you're sitting half an inch off the ground, you're not setting yourself up to be able to play to your ability.

8) I agree with deathmetalconga about people not making the most of their drumset foot print. I do prefer to have seperate straight stands for my cymbals for simplicity sake, but I will still use cymbal arms to free up space when full stands aren't necessary, mainly with a splash. Even in my own personal case, I've cut a cymbal arm down so it fits into the setup easier.

[Deathmetalconga]

Oh yeah, that craze that's been going on for over 40 years...

A few people had two back then and if someone asked me for my opinion back then, I might have said differently. But now it seems like EVERYBODY just has to have two floor toms. It's hard to find a set that doesn't, especially in ads.

[TheGroceryman]

I really hate it when people put their hihats really high, like up to their chin-type high. And I really dont like when the set has the drums and cymbals flat. I'm a tilter now and I'll be a tilter for the rest of my life. I personally dont see how people can move around the drums quickly when its all flat... but thats just me....

[Goody602]

I hate the lugs that come on DW kits. Can't stand the look of them. Of course the sound is a different story.

I hate the look, and usually the sound, of bass drums that are absurdly deep, like 20" or more.

Monster kits, unless it's Bozzio or someone who actually uses everything.

[drummerchick435]

For me its mismatched heads (ex: a coated on one tom and clears on the others)

[voldak]

I probably appreciate my kit a lot more going from too poor to afford a drum kit, to now having a great kit.


I'm sure I'll be the same way. I took really good care of my drumkit until I quit a band one time and I didn't have the means to get my drums....they pretty much trashed them. But, unfortunately, I still have that same ole Tama Rockstar kit. With the deep ole toms.


As far as rack systems go...I hate them. I bought one a long long time ago (don't know what I was thinking) and now i'm stuck with it. They are just huge and a big pain to carry around and maneuver. But, until I get a new kit, i'm stick with my crappy rack system :(

[Michael G]

Nothing annoys me on peoples drum sets.

[BellsOfRhymney]

It worked for Buddy too. A lot of the old school jazzers did this.

Yep, you want the snare slanted when using tradional grip for rim shots, otherwise you end up with a contorted body.

[Class A Drummer]

Seeing people play with the hi hat closed (as in foot can be off and still stay close) and they kill it as hard as they can during soft parts of songs.

[0neyellowdrum]

Nothing annoys me on peoples drum sets.

This is my favorite answer! It is the drumming that matters. If the drumming is found wanting it is, generally, about the drummer and not the drums.

[fourstringdrums]

For me its mismatched heads (ex: a coated on one tom and clears on the others)

This used to bother me too but then I realized the idea behind it. On smaller toms you may want a slightly more open sound, than on a floor tom, you may want the resonance to be slightly less so the drums sound more balanced. So, using clears on the smaller toms which have a more open sound, and a coated head on the floor toms which have shorter sustain would work well.

[Porker69]

Powder coated lugs, especially in overly bright colors is quite ugly along with hot rod flames on drums. I love classic cars, I even work as a mechanic during the summers but I could never get into hot rod flames.

[Melvin]

Yep, you want the snare slanted when using tradional grip for rim shots, otherwise you end up with a contorted body.

I don't agree with you. Virgil Donati uses a lot rim shots and his snare has a normal angle. It's just how high you set it up.

This is what I was talking about before. I hate all these crap ass setups.

[Mendozart]

Most sets that have bad angles and unusual tom gaps are generally newbies. Give them a break. Think about those of us that started years ago and didn't have forums like this to help us with initial set-ups. As far as racks go, when I picked up my DW set, with virgin bass drum, I was having a hard time getting the 3 toms on top just right. I now use just the front rack piece and it works great. But what really annoys me is useless, negative threads like this one.

[Kenneth Nishimoto]

Personally, I hate pingy rides, drum sets with more than one crash, and toms with coated heads. The snare is good enough for me, thank you/

[Drumms]

Personally, I hate pingy rides, drum sets with more than one crash, and toms with coated heads. The snare is good enough for me, thank you/

It isn't easy to please you, Mr Nishimoto. :)

[Kenneth Nishimoto]

It isn't easy to please you, Mr Nishimoto. :)

Let me say I have extremely esoteric tastes.

XD

[Ozzy Biz]

Personally, I hate pingy rides, drum sets with more than one crash, and toms with coated heads. The snare is good enough for me, thank you/

Do you ever play house kits?...

[DrumBuster]

For me its mismatched heads (ex: a coated on one tom and clears on the others)


I hear you there. If you have a certain head on one and a certain on another each drums characteristic will sound wrong, like having powerstroke 3s and ambassadors on toms at the same time.

[Raymond Bloom]

for me its people who tilt their snare away from them, how does that help?
If you play with trad grip it's the most ergonomic position of the snare drum!
look at my signature for pictures! I really can't play with trad grip with the snare drum tilted towards me, it either has to be flat or tilted away from me!

[balboa]

i hate people who complain about other peoples kits.

hate is a strong word, but i have to agree. i feel like an idiot just for reading this far into this thead!!! it is rather humorous reading peoples complaints, but in all honesty...who really cares. bill brufords kit looks different from neil pearts as does jo jo mayers looks different from dave weckl...so which is the right way? there really is none...some play better certain ways while other dont. music is art, and art is all about freedom of expression and ideas etc....

[jazzgregg]

Serious question, why do you people care so much about others drum sets? I don't understand that at all....How does something someone else does that has nothing to do with you 'annoy' you? Isn't that like saying 'man, the way Larry in shipping sets up his desk and computer? THAT pisses me off''....


G

[dw D]

Serious question, why do you people care so much about others drum sets? I don't understand that at all....How does something someone else does that has nothing to do with you 'annoy' you? Isn't that like saying 'man, the way Larry in shipping sets up his desk and computer? THAT pisses me off''....


G

Perfectly said
....................

[Kenneth Nishimoto]

Do you ever play house kits?...

XD I prefer not to.

20 characters

[Deathmetalconga]

Serious question, why do you people care so much about others drum sets?

G

Well, lemme see ... there's at least one sub-forum devoted to people showing pictures of their sets, with many many threads showing other aspects of members' drum sets. People put up pictures of their sets on their Web sites and drum sites are full of such pictures.

I really can't answer your question as to why people care about others' sets. All I know is that, for whatever reasons, people have made it pretty clear they care about others' sets. This is just the flip side of it. Maybe you are different and don't care much about that sort of thing, but the thread where people share and talk about each others' kits is one of the most popular.

[emmerson]

What annoys me are drummers that critize other drummers because they perfer to play a certain way that may not be "proper" look at how billy ward sets his kit up and how well he can play it. To each his own and no one should critize that.

[fourstringdrums]

What annoys me are drummers that critize other drummers because they perfer to play a certain way that may not be "proper" look at how billy ward sets his kit up and how well he can play it. To each his own and no one should critize that.

Well actually when it comes to Billy, I personally feel that he sets his set up pretty ergonomically and some aspects of it are important things to consider in any setup, even if you don't go as extreme as him.

Now, I recently watched a video here of Jack DeJohnette http://drummerworld.com/Videos/jackdejohnettemusicalsolo1.html and how he positions his first tom, I don't criticize it, I just wonder how he can find it comfortable.

[stasz]

I believe it's true that there is no "way" to set up your drumset, and that everyone will and should find the way that they want to set up their own drumset because that's how it's comfortable for them to play, but a drumset should be set up so that's it comfortable to play, not so that it looks cool.

So it is possible that Travis Barker is setting up his drumset in that way because it's comfortable and it fulfills his musical needs, but I think part of it might be for aesthetic purposes. But anyways, that's his desicion, I'm not going to tell him where to put his rack tom or cymbals.

That's not to say that aesthetics aren't important, though-- I'll get the finish I want or whatever, but playability is first priority. I think I read somewhere that ultimately a kit that is set up comfortably will also look good... however that works out.

[NUTHA JASON]

i think education is one reason for having a stand on how kits are set up. some people are trying to help each other and more specifically newbies who set up kits in ways that limit their development.

that said i do also believe that there is an element of ego off-loading and ridicule from other folks.

'only human' i guess:

http://www.dictionary-of-matrix.com/images/f/f8/2agents-m12.jpg

[emmerson]

Well actually when it comes to Billy, I personally feel that he sets his set up pretty ergonomically and some aspects of it are important things to consider in any setup, even if you don't go as extreme as him.

Now, I recently watched a video here of Jack DeJohnette http://drummerworld.com/Videos/jackdejohnettemusicalsolo1.html and how he positions his first tom, I don't criticize it, I just wonder how he can find it comfortable.


sure, im not talking about not questioning someones setup, im talking about critizing it. Eventually people come to realize what set up is best suited for them but its the ciritizsm saying god i hate it when someone does this they must suck etc. Its ridiculous.

[CASP3Rdrummer]

I really cant understand why you get pissed when somebody has a different tom angel than it is supposed !!! its each persons preference , if someone like a big angle he will set it like that, if he like toms flat he will have them flat. its their drums and they make them as they want no matter if they look crap and/or "noobish" .

[DrumGod]

For me it's like Nutha Said with those B*****rd tom angles and setups. I also hate people who have their kit set up like travis barker. I can understand the equiptment but placing your ride that high is obsene. xx Completely argee!!!

1) Rack toms a mile apart from each other. Usually this is just a beginner drummer thing and I did it myself, but it's still something that drives me nuts. Having the toms far apart from each other and then angling one to the right and one to the left isn't going to help you play any better.
QUOTE]
Looking back when i started i did it!!! But no it just annoys me!!!

[QUOTE=drummerchick435;323819]For me its mismatched heads (ex: a coated on one tom and clears on the others)
Ye i hate that too!!!!

I also hate people who constantley crash their ride cymbal like travis etc

[GRUNTERSDAD]

i think education is one reason for having a stand on how kits are set up. some people are trying to help each other and more specifically newbies who set up kits in ways that limit their development.

that said i do also believe that there is an element of ego off-loading and ridicule from other folks.

'only human' i guess:

http://www.dictionary-of-matrix.com/images/f/f8/2agents-m12.jpg

I like what you have done with your hair.

[NUTHA JASON]

here's my blow drier;

http://www.matrixv6.co.uk/assets/images/matrix-dodge.jpg

[photon]

Insanely massive kits;

Tom angles that make no ergonomic sense;

[cjl71178]

i don't get annoyed with anyone's setup...because it's their setup.

[The Gare]

This is an interesting thread. I think it is more about what we each dislike about a certain setup rather than hating the person for setting it up that way.

Me personally, I dont really like cymbal stands. I have been using racks for over 15 years and would never go back to all stands unless I absolutely had to. I have mine setup so that everything on the kit, including the snare drum, can be picked up and moved together. My entire kit can be moved, except the kick, pedals and hi-hat. Everything else is attached. It is very ergonomic "for me" although I have let a number of drummer friends play it at gigs and they just love it and many of them have changed there setup to more closely match mine somewhat. Now that is not to say that mine is "correct" as there is no correct, but it is correct for me. But there is DEFINATELY a "You really shouldn't set it up that way dude!" way. Not trying to plug my myspace page, but you can see some pics of my earlier setup with my huge kit and rack to my more recent scaled down version I have been playing for a number of years. I am also going to add part for a drink holder, practice pad and sequnecer that swings out of the way to.

Anyway, great website here.

http://www.myspace.com/thegare

[Almuric]

The question sets up the answerer for controversy but is a valid one none the less. We all have a different frame of reference, experience and preferences. The nature of our chosen interest is endless with choices so I think it’s cool to know what others think about some of them.

I take using the word “hate” here to be an expression without getting all tie-dye and granola about it. But like Nutha alluded, it’s human nature to get a bit egotistical about something we care about because we come from our own reference point. Hard to step out of that. It’s fun to vent sometimes, though.

My tom angles were atrocious when I was a noob. I like huge kits and tiny ones. I use a rack, stands, or both, etc, etc…

That said, one thing that rubs me the wrong way is a big empty tom holder on a bass drum. Ok, the toms are mounted on a rack or stand or whatever, but that open gaping volcano on the bass just looks so incomplete… to me. Put a rod with a cap in it, fer chrissake!!

This skirts the bounds of the original question a bit, but I can’t stand going to see a show and the drums sound like blocks of wood or cardboard boxes. Fire the soundman! And why are those awful sounding drums INVARIABLY… Pearls?!

Oh crap, now I did it.

[Deathmetalconga]

The question sets up the answerer for controversy but is a valid one none the less. We all have a different frame of reference, experience and preferences. The nature of our chosen interest is endless with choices so I think it’s cool to know what others think about some of them.

I take using the word “hate” here to be an expression without getting all tie-dye and granola about it. But like Nutha alluded, it’s human nature to get a bit egotistical about something we care about because we come from our own reference point. Hard to step out of that. It’s fun to vent sometimes, though.

My tom angles were atrocious when I was a noob. I like huge kits and tiny ones. I use a rack, stands, or both, etc, etc…

That said, one thing that rubs me the wrong way is a big empty tom holder on a bass drum. Ok, the toms are mounted on a rack or stand or whatever, but that open gaping volcano on the bass just looks so incomplete… to me. Put a rod with a cap in it, fer chrissake!!

This skirts the bounds of the original question a bit, but I can’t stand going to see a show and the drums sound like blocks of wood or cardboard boxes. Fire the soundman! And why are those awful sounding drums INVARIABLY… Pearls?!

Oh crap, now I did it.

Good points and good catch about the empty tom mount! Yes, that is annoying.

I don't understand how others can be surprised at a thread like this and ask "How dare you care about what others play?!?!" The most popular threads on this board are people showing off their sets - obviously, drummers really do care about what other drummers play and this thread is just the yin of the yang.

[theetoie]

i get annoyed by their tunning, im always like here let me tune these up for you haha
no ones lets me *cries*

[d.c.drummer]

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tert.jpg

Omg,... i think Im actually going to die laughing. I hate really tilted cymbals for some reason and i hate full-length lugs on toms.

I also dislike low siting sets because they are essentially unplayable to me but i guess that really doesnt count...

[spartacus1989]

Hmm I will agree with that!

Plus I dislike them types of tom holders like the ones you get on stagg/CB drum kits (no offence to anyone here, just my opinion!)

[hawk9290]

I am not gonig to criticize any set just simply because the layout is different then mine, everyone has their own preferences, and I often change my layout to ways that people would wonder why the heck I set it up that way. What I do rather verbally denounce is people that handle their drums carelessly in setting them up, and/or set them up in a way that fosters poor technique and style, or damages the drums or any of its components.
If it is a younger drummer doing that, its not a issue to me since they probably did not have any better ideas, but when I see a veteran playing and his shells are all scratched and worn as a result of his toms rubbing against the bass drum, or other things like that, then I get peeved because it shows a disrespect for the equipment and the art of drumming.

[Illicom]

So it seems like everyone here has ideas on what they consider to be a "good" setup; after all, in order to know what is bad, you have to know what's good, too.

So why not make a thread for people to post advice and ideas for how to set up a drumset? It would probably be a good newbie resource, and might help some of those people to not make the mistake of putting their toms at extreme angles, or putting their cymbals above their head, or whatever.

Just a thought, though.

[ledzepjb]

Alright, so this thread is inspired by I IIcom and his post in the following link http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27913&page=3 .So seing how everyone has an opinion on ''the right way to set up a kit'', what is the ''right'' way to set up your kit, and lets see what everbody else says about it.

*If the mods want, they can put this is Your Place instead*

[ledzepjb]

*****Pictures Are Welcome Aswell*****

[Illicom]

Haha, I was wondering if someone would follow up on that. Cool.

I'm going to save most of them for other people, but I will say that the most important thing would be to do what's comfortable for you. Sure, there are some "rules" that should be followed simply because they make it easier to play or whatever, but a good rule of thumb is to just set the kit up the way you like it--not how your idol likes it. Everyone is different! I've sat at the kit of a friend who happens to be an incredible drummer, and to me, his set seemed to be very uncomfortable to play, but for him, it worked great. Create your own style.

But, that's a pretty common thing to say, and I'm sure a lot of the people here can offer some advice just from what they've learned in years of trying different setups with their kit.

If no one else does, I'll post some pictures of my kit in a day or two, along with an explanation of why it's set up the way it is.

[0neyellowdrum]

http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tert.jpg

'Puffs out chest'- I think I will leave it to others to tell these *newbs* they should reconsider how they set up their sets. Unbelievable! Can you imagine the nerve of these guys? Where do they get off setting up their kits like that. Those tom angles are hilarious. And didn't anyone tell Mr Lewis how he was supposed to set up his kit?
++++Extreme Sarcasm Here+++
Steve

[bighaibigdrums]

Set your kit up for you. Not for some "expert" on the internet.

[maddrummr]

I hate the flat set ups when people do it just to look cool.

I also hate when people cramp things up and kinda overlap cymbals because it makes me feel like i cant move.

[spw]

Matt Riter's dvd "Bass drum techniques, unburying the beater" has a good section on kit setup.
Basically he explains how to set the kit up around you, around the way you are structured for easy and relaxed movement.

[CASP3Rdrummer]

'Puffs out chest'- I think I will leave it to others to tell these *newbs* they should reconsider how they set up their sets. Unbelievable! Can you imagine the nerve of these guys? Where do they get off setting up their kits like that. Those tom angles are hilarious. And didn't anyone tell Mr Lewis how he was supposed to set up his kit?
++++Extreme Sarcasm Here+++
Steve

Nutha gets owned along with loads of other members...i guess :)

[brockalicious]

Oh yeah, that craze that's been going on for over 40 years...

i have to play dual floors tomorrow for a gig :\

i dont really like em, but the venue wont let me re-arrange, wtf...bit tight if you ask me.

at least it makes up with iron cobra doubles and zildjian master sound cymbals n hi-hats

[NUTHA JASON]

Nutha gets owned along with loads of other members...i guess :)


not really.

first, those pics are old ...from a time when hardware or ergonomic science was not well developed. nor were magazines or the internet so disemmination of information was poor. in some of those cases one can but only wonder how much more these great drummers might have achieved with better hardware and better set ups

second, a few of those pics show the best tom angles for trad grip. so they are well set up.

third, a beginner drummer has enough to contend with just learning the basics, so an easy to play kit is advisable. when you get as good as the guys pictured, then a perfect set up is not so crucial.

forth, this small selection of photos proves nothing when compared to the vast body of well set up pro kits pictured on the dw site. the majority of the pros do set up their kits with care and with good reason. i could post at least ten pro pics of well set up kits for each of these ones posted but why bother...you know where to go to see the pics.

j

[Splinter]

And didn't anyone tell Mr Lewis how he was supposed to set up his kit?
No one had the balls.

I'm surprised to see that not one person (I'm open for corrections) has said a bad musician. Honestly the aesthetics bother me little nowadays, I'm much more focused on the sonic component than the visual. I think if we put more time into sounding good (at least more in proportion to) over what our kits look like and optimising them (even ergonomically) we would all sound a lot better.

I believe 0neyellowdrum put it best when he (essentially) said that a setup is no matter if one is a fine musician. Plus, it was funny!

[CASP3Rdrummer]

not really.

first, those pics are old ...from a time when hardware or ergonomic science was not well developed. nor were magazines or the internet so disemmination of information was poor. in some of those cases one can but only wonder how much more these great drummers might have achieved with better hardware and better set ups

second, a few of those pics show the best tom angles for trad grip. so they are well set up.

third, a beginner drummer has enough to contend with just learning the basics, so an easy to play kit is advisable. when you get as good as the guys pictured, then a perfect set up is not so crucial.

forth, this small selection of photos proves nothing when compared to the vast body of well set up pro kits pictured on the dw site. the majority of the pros do set up their kits with care and with good reason. i could post at least ten pro pics of well set up kits for each of these ones posted but why bother...you know where to go to see the pics.

j

cool bro ! i get your point but i still think its not the end of the world if someone has bad tom angels. if it really annoys you (which in my opinion shouldnt, cause that shows a bit of egoistic side of yourself) you could simply explain the guy whats the "problem" with his drumset and show him the proper way of setting the toms. simple as that plus you dont need to get frustrated.

[NUTHA JASON]

it doesn't annoy me. i'm a drum teacher on a drum forum, like many of the folks here. seeing a newby set up a kit badly is like (as happened to me a few years back) seeing a pupil who thought that paradiddles had to be played in 16ths but with the diddles as 32nds.

the forum is about education as much as chatting.

perhaps the thread title is a bit wrong. it should be: ADVICE FOR WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN SETTING UP YOUR FIRST KIT.

j

[fourstringdrums]

Nutha, not all the pictures are that old. The one with Louis Bellson is from a 2004 issue of MD. The older Tony Williams picture looks to be late 80's to 90's, and the one with Mel I'm guessing 70's, maybe 80's.

[ledzepjb]

Alright, so we have 2 replies in one day, and in the ''what anoys you on other peoples kits''thread, there are 11 new ones, does anyone have the balls to not critise, but also help the newbs? ...guess not

[Illicom]

The problems that people have when they set up their kits seems to come from two main places: their lack of knowledge, and their desire to look cool.

The first is a simple one, and I know I had this problem. The tom angles are a good example--it's not wrong, per se, the drums can still be played in that form, but it's just not the most efficient method. As Nutha Jason alluded to, it basically makes playing the drums harder than it needs to be. When you're new and don't know how to set up a kit, of course you're going to do things that may not be optimal.

There was a thread a while back asking what would happen if cavemen were given a drumset--as in, how would they set it up, and how would they learn to play. Same principle here--just because a setup looks good to a person doesn't mean it's the best way to do something. If I'm learning how to play tennis, I may feel like the best way to play is to grip the racket with my teeth. That doesn't mean it's the best way to do it though, and when someone comes along and tells me to hold the racket in my hand, it will cause an immediate improvement in my playing.

I have a much greater problem with the second one, which happens when people try to look cool. It's great to have a drumming idol and someone to look up to, but that doesn't mean you should have to look up at your cymbals when you're playing :)

When people feel like they have to set their drums up in a certain way because it makes them look cool, there is indeed a problem. The cool factor doesn't come from how the set is configured, but by how the drummer uses it.

There is no right way to set up a kit. If there was, every drummer in the world would have an identical drumset, and who would want that? There are, however, some "do's and don'ts" to kit setup. Things such as setting your toms up in a ergonomic way and having your snare tilted at a correct angle for easy access to rimshots are all things that beginners can benefit from hearing.

We don't need to sit there and tell people "Your high tom should be 5 inches away from your snare drum and 4 inches from your next tom" but there is nothing at all wrong with saying "If you put your toms close together, you'll be able to move between them faster."

[ermghoti]

You've started an entirely different kind of thread. Many people here have a pet peeve that makes them want to punch the Internet every time they see it on someone's kit. It takes no thought and a couple of seconds to post "bizarre tom angles" or "six foot tall cymbals." On the other hand, describing the whys and wherefores of properly setting up a kit could take pages, particularly if it tales into account the variables of height, playing style, grip, number and size of drums/cymbals, etc. If the Internet is already well-stocked with full articles on setting up a kit, it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend a half-hour writing out a post that wouldn't even cover the topic as well.

Many Words and pictures (http://www.sadrummer.com/educate/settingup.html)

Some guy's version (http://www.drumjunction.com/drum_kit_setup.html)

A short article (http://www.americandrumschool.com/setup.php)

Some guy's video (http://unirunner.com/node/323)

YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxP7f5u42yU)

[harryconway]

Is there a "right way"? Certainly, there are "more conventional" ways vs. "odd", but is any one method "right". I remember seeing either Jimmy De Grasso's or Greg D'Angelo's kit (White Lion) tour kit with 3 floor toms front and center, kicks to the left and right of those (no doubt left and right handed slave pedals to opperate them, 'cause they were 2 feet to either side of the drummer). And I thought "why not". You want a lot of bottom end, put 14, 16, 18 floor toms in front of you. 26" (or larger) kicks on either side. Bottom end for days. Dare to be different. You can look at thousands of drums set up and get an "idea" of what is conventional, ergonomic, easiest to play. That's the way 90+% of all drums are set up.

[voldak]

To put it simply, there is no "right way" to setup a drumkit. There are A LOT of recommended ways and those ways make sense ergonomically, etc, etc. However, I believe that people can and should set it up the way THEY like it.

The other thread was about "What annoys you on people's drum sets?" not "post your setup here and get ridiculed". This is a good idea for a thread, but I think using the search feature would help people out on kit setup too....

I don't mean to be a troll....sorry if it came off that way.

[tooldrums1000]

I Cant stand drumsets that wobble when someone plays on them especially if their pros, for example watch all of neil pearts videos here and see it wobble Their pros they need to get a rack

I Cant stand it when peoples rack toms are faced toward each other

I Cant stand it when people have a really nice kit and crappy cymbals

I Cant stand it when people have a very nice set of cymbals and a crappy drum kit

I Cant stand it when people have their cymbals facing away from the drum set

I Cant stand it when people have their toms not in order in size like kenny Aronoff

[Drummer Karl]

Well...nothing actually annoys me on people`s kits or equipment.
Having adjusted the drums or cymbals in a different way is a personal thing. For me is important that a beginning drummer gets to know how to set-up their stuff "right".
With right I mean setting it up in the most comfortable way for the body.

Then, with the time you learn and "collect" experience...and all those things like technique, style and also the set-up changes and developes. You know, you notice how you (as an individual human) are built....and you may change this and that on the kit to feel comfortable. Although there are borders**...!!! But I don`t like to set them around one small point. When I started to play drums I thought that you have to set it up with an IKEA building plan if you know...but very fastly this opinion disappeared, luckily. For example Roy Haynes has his rack toms far away from each other, for many people a no-no but he feels great on and plays awesome on it...so why not?

And just yesterday I had to play on another kit for a gig, a cool Sonor Lite but wooo...the worst adjustments for me...unfortunatly I couldn`t change anything, no time and this whole set-up was too complicated to change anything!
But it didn`t annoy me. The owner felt good on it.

tooldrums1000: And also not the fact that some drummers can buy a great kit but can`t afford some good quality cymbals or vice versa. Either there are financial reasons or this drummer likes the sound of it. Again no reasons to be annoyed or somethin...

**Borders: There is a point when you`re just "making" more golden energy than you would need and when you`re losing energy because of having it adjusted in a bad way physically.

Just my thoughts...

Karl

[drummerchick435]

Well...nothing actually annoys me on people`s kits or equipment.
Having adjusted the drums or cymbals in a different way is a personal thing. For me is important that a beginning drummer gets to know how to set-up their stuff "right".
With right I mean setting it up in the most comfortable way for the body.

Then, with the time you learn and "collect" experience...and all those things like technique, style and also the set-up changes and developes. You know, you notice how you (as an individual human) are built....and you may change this and that on the kit to feel comfortable. Although there are borders...!!! But I don`t like to set them around one small point. When I started to play drums I thought that you have to set it up with an IKEA building plan if you know...but very fastly this opinion disappeared, luckily. For example Roy Haynes has his rack toms far away from each other, for many people a no-no but he feels great on and plays awesome on it...so why not?

And just yesterday I had to play on another kit for a gig, a cool Sonor Lite but wooo...the worst adjustments for me...unfortunatly I couldn`t change anything, no time and this whole set-up was too complicated to change anything!
But it didn`t annoy me. The owner felt good on it.

tooldrums1000: And also not the fact that some drummers can buy a great kit but can`t afford some good quality cymbals or vice versa. Either there are financial reasons or this drummer likes the sound of it. Again no reasons to be annoyed or somethin...

Just my thoughts...

Karl

Yet again wise words from a "wise guy"! I agree perfectly.

[Deathmetalconga]

Well...nothing actually annoys me on people`s kits or equipment.
Having adjusted the drums or cymbals in a different way is a personal thing. For me is important that a beginning drummer gets to know how to set-up their stuff "right".
With right I mean setting it up in the most comfortable way for the body.

Then, with the time you learn and "collect" experience...and all those things like technique, style and also the set-up changes and developes. You know, you notice how you (as an individual human) are built....and you may change this and that on the kit to feel comfortable. Although there are borders...!!! But I don`t like to set them around one small point. When I started to play drums I thought that you have to set it up with an IKEA building plan if you know...but very fastly this opinion disappeared, luckily. For example Roy Haynes has his rack toms far away from each other, for many people a no-no but he feels great on and plays awesome on it...so why not?

And just yesterday I had to play on another kit for a gig, a cool Sonor Lite but wooo...the worst adjustments for me...unfortunatly I couldn`t change anything, no time and this whole set-up was too complicated to change anything!
But it didn`t annoy me. The owner felt good on it.

tooldrums1000: And also not the fact that some drummers can buy a great kit but can`t afford some good quality cymbals or vice versa. Either there are financial reasons or this drummer likes the sound of it. Again no reasons to be annoyed or somethin...

Just my thoughts...

Karl

I see a bright future for you as a diplomat or politician ...

[Drummer Karl]

I see a bright future for you as a diplomat or politician ...

mhhh, at least for many people here in Germany being compared with politicians is one insulting thing because they never talk about the core and the main point...and they don`t even notice that. ;-)
How is your post meant??

More positive or negative? haha...let me know if there is something wrong please!

PS: Naaaah, I wanna make music!!...and actually I am very uninteressted in politics.

Karl

[tooldrums1000]

Well...nothing actually annoys me on people`s kits or equipment.
Having adjusted the drums or cymbals in a different way is a personal thing. For me is important that a beginning drummer gets to know how to set-up their stuff "right".
With right I mean setting it up in the most comfortable way for the body.

Then, with the time you learn and "collect" experience...and all those things like technique, style and also the set-up changes and developes. You know, you notice how you (as an individual human) are built....and you may change this and that on the kit to feel comfortable. Although there are borders...!!! But I don`t like to set them around one small point. When I started to play drums I thought that you have to set it up with an IKEA building plan if you know...but very fastly this opinion disappeared, luckily. For example Roy Haynes has his rack toms far away from each other, for many people a no-no but he feels great on and plays awesome on it...so why not?

And just yesterday I had to play on another kit for a gig, a cool Sonor Lite but wooo...the worst adjustments for me...unfortunatly I couldn`t change anything, no time and this whole set-up was too complicated to change anything!
But it didn`t annoy me. The owner felt good on it.

tooldrums1000: And also not the fact that some drummers can buy a great kit but can`t afford some good quality cymbals or vice versa. Either there are financial reasons or this drummer likes the sound of it. Again no reasons to be annoyed or somethin...

Just my thoughts...

Karl

I look at the pictures that nutha jason posted and you tell me if they look professional. Most people here on drummerworld would agree with me that they dont look comftorable.
dubist ine schiscoft.

[Drummer Karl]

I look at the pictures that nutha jason posted and you tell me if they look professional. Most people here on drummerworld would agree with me that they dont look comftorable.
dubist ine schiscoft.

I wouldn`t maybe even use the word professional here...but anyway I agree that not every kit on Jason`s image seems comfortable, right. But even this is just my point of view and that is why it`s so hard (and probably impossible, too) to define that general "border".
I don`t know if they would love it but I think Keith Carlock wouldn`t find the black Pearl without any tom angles that bad and Mr. Haynes would probably like the red 5-piece in the middle with the rack toms being so far away from each other.

Then there is the question whether playing on it would be a useless energy loss for you. For me (personally) yes. But for me these few are still inside of the I-accept-it-area.

Karl

[0neyellowdrum]

I believe 0neyellowdrum put it best when he (essentially) said that a setup is no matter if one is a fine musician. Plus, it was funny!

This was my real point and my attempt to be funny. (I wasn't trying to be funny at Nutha's expense tho.) He posted pictures of what many believe to be annoying, aggrivating, stupid, newbie, inexperienced and other assorted descriptors, setups. I used pictures, from Drummerworld.com, to enhance my assertion as said above.
The premise that something someone else does, that has no direct relation to me, could be annoying seems like a waste of thought and energy.

][QUOTE] wonder how much more these great drummers might have achieved with better hardware and better set ups[QUOTE]

Nutha, I almost bought into this argument but if you look at the pictures I posted it does not hold any weight. All sets pictured were capable of being set up 'correctly'. :)

[QUOTE]When people feel like they have to set their drums up in a certain way because it makes them look cool, there is indeed a problem. The cool factor doesn't come from how the set is configured, but by how the drummer uses it.[QUOTE]

Illicom, whats the problem? Many exceptional drummers set up their kits with whatever the fad of the day is. If they are exceptional drummers, the setup is, often times, an enhancement to the visual aspect of their drumming. The high cymbals could be a reason to exagerate the movements. The flat toms could be a reason to exagerate the height of the stick movement. Many cool drummers do this to make the visual aspect of playing the drums larger and grander, heck, to be noticed. We all know it is the lead guitarist who gets all the attention. Could it be that the coolness factor of the setup of their drums was a result of their playing?

[Illicom]

Illicom, whats the problem? Many exceptional drummers set up their kits with whatever the fad of the day is. If they are exceptional drummers, the setup is, often times, an enhancement to the visual aspect of their drumming. The high cymbals could be a reason to exagerate the movements. The flat toms could be a reason to exagerate the height of the stick movement. Many cool drummers do this to make the visual aspect of playing the drums larger and grander, heck, to be noticed. We all know it is the lead guitarist who gets all the attention. Could it be that the coolness factor of the setup of their drums was a result of their playing?


You are certainly entitled to that opinion, I just don't agree with it :)

I just think drumming isn't about looking cool, it's about how you sound. It probably comes from my background--I play in my church's praise band, and because of what we play, the entire focus of the music is on the lyrics and the actual meaning of the song. We have to lead people into worship rather than play to an audience, so my part of it simply involves making the music sound really good, without taking away from the lyrics of the song.

If I played any other kind of music, I'm sure I'd understand the "cool factor" a bit better. My apologies for pushing my notions of how the drummer fits into a band onto you.

[Deathmetalconga]

You are certainly entitled to that opinion, I just don't agree with it :)

I just think drumming isn't about looking cool, it's about how you sound. It probably comes from my background--I play in my church's praise band, and because of what we play, the entire focus of the music is on the lyrics and the actual meaning of the song. We have to lead people into worship rather than play to an audience, so my part of it simply involves making the music sound really good, without taking away from the lyrics of the song.

If I played any other kind of music, I'm sure I'd understand the "cool factor" a bit better. My apologies for pushing my notions of how the drummer fits into a band onto you.

As someone who has played in a church group, I agree showmanship must be controlled. Your purpose is not to entertain or impress, but to help the audience connect with God. Everything about your performance - your instruments, your movements, your presence, your clothing - must reinforce that purpose.

But secular music is much different. If you're entertaining the audience, it is very impotant to cultivate the right stage presence and your kit should do all it can to further the audience's enjoyment. Depending on the genre, that would mean a very large, flamboyand kit heavy on the visual appeal. So, in certain setting, looks are crucial.

The most important thing to remember is your purpose for playing in a certain context. Are you there to forge a closer connection to God? Get people dancing? Provide background music? Showcase your musicianship? Your appearance, instruments, attitude and everything you do or say must support that.

[Illicom]

As someone who has played in a church group, I agree showmanship must be controlled. Your purpose is not to entertain or impress, but to help the audience connect with God. Everything about your performance - your instruments, your movements, your presence, your clothing - must reinforce that purpose.

But secular music is much different. If you're entertaining the audience, it is very impotant to cultivate the right stage presence and your kit should do all it can to further the audience's enjoyment. Depending on the genre, that would mean a very large, flamboyand kit heavy on the visual appeal. So, in certain setting, looks are crucial.

The most important thing to remember is your purpose for playing in a certain context. Are you there to forge a closer connection to God? Get people dancing? Provide background music? Showcase your musicianship? Your appearance, instruments, attitude and everything you do or say must support that.

Very good explanation of the point I was trying to get across. Thanks!

[0neyellowdrum]

You are certainly entitled to that opinion, I just don't agree with it :)

I just think drumming isn't about looking cool, it's about how you sound. It probably comes from my background--I play in my church's praise band, and because of what we play, the entire focus of the music is on the lyrics and the actual meaning of the song. We have to lead people into worship rather than play to an audience, so my part of it simply involves making the music sound really good, without taking away from the lyrics of the song.

If I played any other kind of music, I'm sure I'd understand the "cool factor" a bit better. My apologies for pushing my notions of how the drummer fits into a band onto you.

Illicom, no apologies needed, kind sir. I do not sense that you are trying to push your notions onto me. My question to you was not a challenge to your opinion rather only just a question to clarify. You did that very nicely. My point refers to the idea that these things would annoy or be a problem. I am trying to understand how they could be annoying.
As to playing in a praise band: If the entire focus of the music were just about the lyrics and actual meaning of the song....why not just play the recorded versions? Why play live?
Or why have a band, why not just have a guitarist or pianist?
I have been lucky enough (in my agedness) to see and hear many things musical. One of the best praise bands I have ever seen is led by Linkin Brewster. His shows inspire action. His shows rock. They rock because he and his band rocks. They are very good musicians and they put on a very good show. I do not think this show detracts from the message of the song at all. Quite the contrary, it enhances and intensifies the message as only live music can.

[groovemaster_flex]

This is probably the most repeated thing on the forum.
Tom angles. 'nough said.
And people who have REALLY weird crash angles.
I mean, you know, cymbal stands are at a level where a cymbal should be flat, but the cymbal is tilted towards the drummer at like, a 45 degree angle.
It really bugs me.
And people who have, like, a 4-piece drum set up, with 50 billion cymbals.

[ledzepjb]

To put it simply, there is no "right way" to setup a drumkit. There are A LOT of recommended ways and those ways make sense ergonomically, etc, etc. However, I believe that people can and should set it up the way THEY like it.

The other thread was about "What annoys you on people's drum sets?" not "post your setup here and get ridiculed". This is a good idea for a thread, but I think using the search feature would help people out on kit setup too....

I don't mean to be a troll....sorry if it came off that way.

nono, its fine, i realised a bit after making the thread that it was a bit dumb because or else everyone would say ''why not jst use the search button, or the internet''.

[Illicom]

If anything, it makes a good point about the matter: There is no true right way, so there can't be too much of a wrong way.

[Illicom]

Illicom, no apologies needed, kind sir. I do not sense that you are trying to push your notions onto me. My question to you was not a challenge to your opinion rather only just a question to clarify. You did that very nicely. My point refers to the idea that these things would annoy or be a problem. I am trying to understand how they could be annoying.
As to playing in a praise band: If the entire focus of the music were just about the lyrics and actual meaning of the song....why not just play the recorded versions? Why play live?
Or why have a band, why not just have a guitarist or pianist?
I have been lucky enough (in my agedness) to see and hear many things musical. One of the best praise bands I have ever seen is led by Linkin Brewster. His shows inspire action. His shows rock. They rock because he and his band rocks. They are very good musicians and they put on a very good show. I do not think this show detracts from the message of the song at all. Quite the contrary, it enhances and intensifies the message as only live music can.

This is an interesting conversation, but I'm not sure it's appropriate for this thread. Maybe we should start another one?

But, to answer your question, we use live music because it feels more "real", I guess. When praise and worship is succeeding, the leader often wants to repeat a verse or chorus, and that's not something you can do with a recording.

The band thing you bring up is interesting, but it's a little different than what I play in. I didn't research the group you referenced, but I assume its more like a Christian band, rather than a group that plays in church every Sunday. We have a lot of old people :P and they're used to music a certain way, so rockin' out really wouldn't work in our case :)

Every group is going to be different--even in the same genre of music, bands will differ in how they execute their musical ideas. I've only played with the one group I have described, so I can only explain what works for us and why we do it that way.

Interesting concept, though, that the genre of music affects everything from what beats we play to what kit size and configuration we use--it sure would look crazy if I set up a Bozzio-type kit at my church, wouldn't it?

[Kenneth Nishimoto]

Well honestly, I don't have my "perfect" drum kit right now (I have a cocktail setup) but my ideal set is as follows.

On the left side of the drummer are two pair of hihats, both with standard straight hi-hat stands and drop clutches. The drum throne is not a traditional drum throne, but instead is a cajon, to allow quick switching during songs. The snare is a standard aluminum piccolo between the legs. On the right side, from the inside out we had an 18 inch crash/ride with sizzles (I honestly prefer crash-rides to either rides or crashes, I like the consistent sound I get from hitting and accenting one piece of metal, you know?) on a boom stand, as well as a 22 inch china, which can double as a ride. Lastly, the bass drum is a standard bass drum, but outfitted with a duallist pedal, and with absolutely no muffling.

You might be thinking "What? No toms?" Well, honestly, I despise toms, so I have made my drum kit devoid of them. XD I know it's a really weird kit, but it's the only way I can get the sounds out that are in my head.

[Urahara Kisuke]

Everyone should just post their set up and explain why they set up the way they do. I am sure we might all get some good ideas. It may also help explain how their set up works well for the genre of music they play.

[Ozzy Biz]

This is probably the most repeated thing on the forum.
No, that would be the "DW worth the cash?" and related threads threads.

I do think it's a little funny sometimes when a kit is set so that it's ergonomics seem to make it uncomfortable and awkward to play. Howeer everyone is differnent, so it may work for them.

[3vil0n3]

I have two different setups, well three kind of.

Honestly I usually setup just about like Carter Beauford. When you've got a large set you have to have a plan.

Ride on the left, I actually have 2 on the left. This has forced me to learn to play open handed. I think it has helped my learning a lot since I moved the rides. Some crashes in the middle area, throw a few splashes in. Effects cymbals off to the right.

To me the most important thing about setting up is making sure you don't have to strain to hit parts of your set correctly. I think you should set your toms so they flow somewhat around the set and you are striking them at a proper angle. Same thing with cymbals and percussion.

The other setup I use is a four piece set. Either standard with a ride on the right above the bass drum and a crash on the left, or with the crash in the ride position and the ride up to the left. I'm starting to become comfortable either way.

I've also started to realize that while a bunch of gear may look cool, if you aren't using it take it off.

I'll see if I can find some of my pictures later.

[druid]

Ok here is another way to set up:-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxe-SWxDEcw

[Deathmetalconga]

There oughta be a law against people putting duct tape on their drums, cymbals or hardware. It instantly makes any kit look cheap and ugly.

I could see, however, in some settings, it would be appropriate, like a hardcore punk player with a trashed kit.

[spartacus1989]

There oughta be a law against people putting duct tape on their drums, cymbals or hardware. It instantly makes any kit look cheap and ugly.

I could see, however, in some settings, it would be appropriate, like a hardcore punk player with a trashed kit.

Wrong, even punk players give more respect to their drum kits!!

[voldak]

There oughta be a law against people putting duct tape on their drums, cymbals or hardware.

I agree with Drums and Hardware...but have you ever played on a 22" Zildjian Earth Ride????

:)

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

There oughta be a law against people putting duct tape on their drums, cymbals or hardware. It instantly makes any kit look cheap and ugly.

I could see, however, in some settings, it would be appropriate, like a hardcore punk player with a trashed kit.

No duct tape on cymbals? Then you should go and talk to most of the jazz World, who do, in fact, tape the bottom of their cymbals to reduce the wash and increase some of the stick definition. It's often hard to find a cymbal that plays how you want it to and has the right tone AND wash. As a result, often players will find a thinner cymbal that plays how they like it to, has the inherent tone that they desire, but is often too thin. As a result, you tape the underside to varying degrees. I do it, I know Andrew (TheDuke86) does it, I know OZjazzer does it, I know that Jazzgregg has done it in the past as well as FinnHiggins, LDGuy and numerous other esteemed players on this forum (myself, of course, not included in the 'esteemed' category). It's simply a method of 'tuning' a cymbal. A lot of cymbal players have very esoteric tastes that simply cannot be catered for without some customisation, and this is the case and argument for tape. As for aesthetics? To Hell with aesthetics; it's all about the sound.

[voldak]

No duct tape on cymbals? Then you should go and talk to most of the jazz World, who do, in fact, tape the bottom of their cymbals to reduce the wash and increase some of the stick definition. It's often hard to find a cymbal that plays how you want it to and has the right tone AND wash. As a result, often players will find a thinner cymbal that plays how they like it to, has the inherent tone that they desire, but is often too thin. As a result, you tape the underside to varying degrees. I do it, I know Andrew (TheDuke86) does it, I know OZjazzer does it, I know that Jazzgregg has done it in the past as well as FinnHiggins, LDGuy and numerous other esteemed players on this forum (myself, of course, not included in the 'esteemed' category). It's simply a method of 'tuning' a cymbal. A lot of cymbal players have very esoteric tastes that simply cannot be catered for without some customisation, and this is the case and argument for tape. As for aesthetics? To Hell with aesthetics; it's all about the sound.

Very well put. I couldn't imagine playing my 22" Zildjian Earth Ride without tape on the bottom. I have about a 6 inch strip under there and it still has tons of ring to it.

[MilfordCubicle]

excellent post Nutha hats off (to Roy harper) sorry pseudo OCD thing I have to do everytime i say hats off to someone, SORRY

You forgot to say Roy Harper.

So, how long until your impending doom?

[ArtyZ]

I'm a left handed drummer...

I hate all right handed kits!

Arty Z

[0neyellowdrum]

I'm a left handed drummer...

I hate all right handed kits!

Arty Z

Like you, I am a left handed drummer. I get annoyed when I can't sit in on a right handed kit.
My annoyance is with me, though, not with the righty or his kit.

[Gibbersticks]

D U S T ! ! ! I hate dust on drums. Especially nice drums. It's disrespectful to your gear.

[Ironcobra]

No, that would be the "DW worth the cash?" and related threads threads.

I do think it's a little funny sometimes when a kit is set so that it's ergonomics seem to make it uncomfortable and awkward to play. Howeer everyone is differnent, so it may work for them.


or maybe, "Iron Cobra vs DW 5000" or "Best Double Bass Pedal"

[rjvsmb]

I hate the way air drums are set up.

[50voltphantom]

Extremely cracked cymbals.
Torn front bass heads
Cymbals clamped down tight
Tape
Boom stands with all the vertical tubes at full extend and the boom totally choked up.
Stupid tom angles
Drummers who forget a rug and let their bass creep through the whole gig.
Drummers sitting on anything besides a drum throne. (unless they're in a wheelchair)
Poorly tuned snare drums.

[dw D]

I hate the way air drums are set up.

hahahahahahahaha

good one

[Deathmetalconga]

No duct tape on cymbals? Then you should go and talk to most of the jazz World, who do, in fact, tape the bottom of their cymbals to reduce the wash and increase some of the stick definition. It's often hard to find a cymbal that plays how you want it to and has the right tone AND wash. As a result, often players will find a thinner cymbal that plays how they like it to, has the inherent tone that they desire, but is often too thin. As a result, you tape the underside to varying degrees. I do it, I know Andrew (TheDuke86) does it, I know OZjazzer does it, I know that Jazzgregg has done it in the past as well as FinnHiggins, LDGuy and numerous other esteemed players on this forum (myself, of course, not included in the 'esteemed' category). It's simply a method of 'tuning' a cymbal. A lot of cymbal players have very esoteric tastes that simply cannot be catered for without some customisation, and this is the case and argument for tape. As for aesthetics? To Hell with aesthetics; it's all about the sound.

I agree that cymbal sound control is important. But this is 2007 and surely there are better ways to achieve it than duct tape. Maybe it's not so bad when it's out of sight, but it just makes a set look cheap and ugly. I know Gibraltar makes small precut dense foam pads and I use those on my snare. There's also Velcro, at least it's a step up from duct tape.

Aesthetics are an important part of a the music for me and many others. Nice Tamburos you got there, by the way. Beautiful drums.

[NUTHA JASON]

hopefully a cymbal company will read this. it would be great if they made clear patches for cymbals.

i supposed you could use clear box tape but i don't think the adhesive is strong enough. if we could get clear gaffer tape, that would be cool.

isn't there a stretchy spandex band that goes around the edge of a cymbal? i think i saw a pic somewhere.

j

[fazzybOO`]

It irritates me when I see someone with his cymbals so high, he has to look up to see where they are before he hits them... LoL what's the point?
Most of the people here hate weird tom angles. It often happens that a newbie posts pics of his kit; every one shouts "Tom Angles!!!", and the newbie doesn't even know what's wrong with them.

I think it's almost a tradition here on Drummerworld...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA "TOM ANGLES!!!"


http://jasonhorsler.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tert.jpg
GOLD! LOL

[brockalicious]

I'm a left handed drummer...

I hate all right handed kits!

Arty Z

AMEN!

ive been forced to play open handed on a right handed kit recently. it just doesnt do my skills justice

[chazgrohl]

i remember playing a guys kit at a gig and the tension rods didnt have the washers so when i was hitting the skins the heads would be bouncing out over the tension rods, was funny, think i ruined the guys hoops, wasnt that funny now that i think bout it cos spent the night putting washers on his kit for him, tut tut :-)

[Gene Smasher]

These things bug me the most:

- Poorly-tuned snare drums,
- Extremely low-lying drum thrones (because I'm quite short),
- Strange angles for rack toms,
- Tape and etc. stuck onto drumskins,
- 'Moisturized' drumskins.

[Gravy]

Two things that annoy me:

When the logos on the heads aren't facing the right way. Maybe that's just an extension of my "the cd's must be right side up in the jewel case" type OCD.

When cymbals are hitting other cymbals or drums when they're hit, or even worse, when they're just sitting still. No reason, and it could really easily damage your cymbals or kit.

[spartacus1989]

When the logos on the heads aren't facing the right way. Maybe that's just an extension of my "the cd's must be right side up in the jewel case" type OCD.


To be honest, I dislike to see the heads when they aren't facing the right way, but then some people can't help putting them the wrong way.

[That Guy]

EXTREME tom angles. Ew

[Isaacs]

Any set that attempts to utilize a 2 lb. cymbal stand for a 12 lb cymbal. (Hint: if it keeps falling over every four times you hammer it with a drum stick the size of a telephone poll, you are doing it wrong.) Oh, and please, taking the bottom head off of your toms so you can hang Christmas lights (I swear, not kidding) is not only an abuse of lighting, but an abuse of the tom. I guess the only other one (related this time to cymbals) is when people hang a cymbal so that that south edge of the crash is basically pointing straight down (so that you can't strike any edge at all.) removing the wing nuts and felt and making the cymbal actually jump the stand is also not at all desirable.

Whew, I feel better. :)

[beefythedrummer]

Well I live in a house where this question is constantly answered lol. My dad used to play drums back in the 70s, and now when he plays my kit he is constantly saying that a tom needs to be in a certain place, or this needs to be lower/higher...basically, he's a mess behind my set, and full of critiques lol(I don't know why..its a pretty basic 4 piece). But one day I played for him, like really played, and he said "oh, I guess it's whatever you're comfortable with."

So really, don't be surprised when something annoys you on another person's kit, set up wise...i mean it is THEIR DRUMS lol. The only thing that I get annoyed about and can see other people getting annoyed about, is an overall lack of care, including; tons of muffling, nasty looking drums, broken items when the person has the funds to fix them...you know that kinda stuff.

[ledzepjb]

I despise when people muffle the drums so much with tape that they almost sound like cardboard, it pretty much tells you that they cant tune properly.

[TheGroceryman]

I despise when people muffle the drums so much with tape that they almost sound like cardboard, it pretty much tells you that they cant tune properly

So, kinda like this guy:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aOaxPtB5uI4

[kung_f00]

I really dislike seeing lots of craters on the drumheads, dusty drums, and tons of stickers on the reso head.

But most of all, I hate hi-hats that are so high that the drummer has to hit them horizontally.

[Illicom]

hopefully a cymbal company will read this. it would be great if they made clear patches for cymbals.

i supposed you could use clear box tape but i don't think the adhesive is strong enough. if we could get clear gaffer tape, that would be cool.

I may be way off on this, but I thought someone had come out with clear duct tape or gorilla tape or something similar to that.

[pdp 9091]

how bout we put all this hatred energry to go fixing out kits so they dont have any complainable characteristics

[volume_3]

The height of the high hat. I play with it quite low to I can access the edge, bow and the bell easily. But i was watching download highlights and most of the drummers had their high hats really high, i suppose its because most metal acts wont use the bow, but still, i'd find it impossible to play.

Also yea, im not too keen on the toms being perfectly horizontal, i like to sit in a relaxed position at the drums, so i'm more likely to hit the rim rather than the skin if it were horizontal. I think it looks OK (in a way) but unless your hunched over the kit, i don't see how its possible to play them to effect. And i don't like it when Tom2 is higher than Tom 1 (aswell as being horizontal) that just looks weird.


EDIT: Oh and the seats! I sit quite low, i can't play sitting in the clouds. That annoys me too.

[ZildjianMan1023]

i dont like it when A, ppl start smashing there drums.. like WTF? so what if your rich enough to get new ones but alot of time went into making those

[kung_f00]

The height of the high hat. I play with it quite low to I can access the edge, bow and the bell easily. But i was watching download highlights and most of the drummers had their high hats really high, i suppose its because most metal acts wont use the bow, but still, i'd find it impossible to play.


Download Highlights = I'm assuming a show that highlights popular mainstream bands?
Most of those drummers can get cymbals replaced, as well as sticks. Since most other drummers can't, I think it's pretty stupid when a drummer hits their hi-hats with the body of the stick against the edge of the hats. It's a good way to go through multiple pairs of sticks and also a great way to crack hi-hats.

I think that if anyone's hi-hats are at shoulder height, they should give me their hats to save them from the garbage bin. :)

[volume_3]

Download Highlights = I'm assuming a show that highlights popular mainstream bands?
Most of those drummers can get cymbals replaced, as well as sticks. Since most other drummers can't, I think it's pretty stupid when a drummer hits their hi-hats with the body of the stick against the edge of the hats. It's a good way to go through multiple pairs of sticks and also a great way to crack hi-hats.

I think that if anyone's hi-hats are at shoulder height, they should give me their hats to save them from the garbage bin. :)

I was refering to the highlights from Download Festival (i don't know iof you know what that is, but its quite a big Metal festival in the UK) and yea, i can imagine how many sticks it'd get through!!

[neilpscuz]

What really irks me is when drummers just grab a tom,cym,etc and twist it with out loosening the proper hardware first (then tightening it back up).

[rjvsmb]

Hey everyone. I hope all is well in your drum world.

I totally agree with not digging the absurd tom angles. But, as for baggin' on the horizontal toms (some may think flat is absurd), I don't see that as worthy of annoyance. I personally don't flatten out my tom, but, then again, I haven't tried...yet.

The flat tom choice seems to works if you like sitting relatively high. Check these out. I think it looks pretty comfortable and it seems to flow. I think I'll give it a shot and report back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF6fvmH2s7s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjWVWAtgtuo

Have a great day everyone!
rjvsmb

[ElDuderino07]

Thrones that are too low. If you are chewing on your knees you throne is too low.

[WYdrummer09]

People with outragously large kits when they aren't even that good. Seriously, you don't need 5 bass drums unless you are a pro. and I think sometimes these guys with huge kits in famous bands don't even really need them.

[jamsjr44]

People with outragously large kits when they aren't even that good. Seriously, you don't need 5 bass drums unless you are a pro. and I think sometimes these guys with huge kits in famous bands don't even really need them.

I have to agree, I have seen some drummers on here (amatuers) who have amazingly expensive and large kits. But once I heard their playing the two just didn't go together meaning their playing abilities didn't justify having a kit like that. I guess I would rather sound good than look good, but that is just my opinion. For example Jason Bittner is known for his fast feet and he has a pretty big kit, but as for anything else he really is not that good.

[Mikecore]

I get annoyed when people completely miss the point of a thread.


As for kit issues, my biggest hangup is improper selection. To wit:
A) Using (and breaking to bits) 16" paper-thin crashes in your metal band.
B) Tuning 8", 10" and 12" toms like they were 15", 16" and 18".
C) Complaining that DW's sound like crap when you tune them in such a manner.

The only setup gripe I have is imbalance, such as a single bass drum with a thousand toms and cymbals hovering overhead. Just a personal thing. Nothing more.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

All drums, because of their size and ability to move air, have a max volume. Standing up and slamming down on the drum with the stick as one sits back down again, will not make it any louder. Same with cymbals. Using a sledge hammer will not make them any louder than hitting the cymbal on the crown with the shoulder of the stick. If your wallet is bigger than your skills, then SLAM on.

[spartacus1989]

I HATE to see a dusty, abused, run down, duck taped, under tuned, overly dampened, drum kit in a smelly, dusty, spider-webbed garage!!!

[NUTHA JASON]

how about this:

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/jipix/yam/image/obj2geo3pg1p22.jpg


i can just see the ebay advert: 'well loved old kit, some pitting on the chrome'


.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Those are the guys that play at night and make beds by day on the cruise liners. All of the salt air.

[Michael G]

Those are the guys that play at night and make beds by day on the cruise liners. All of the salt air.

Is that what is is though? Salt air does that to the kit?

*Note to self, stay away from cruise line gigs.

[IDDrummer]

Is that what is is though? Salt air does that to the kit?

*Note to self, stay away from cruise line gigs.

Yeah, salt air is HARD on metals. (I know, I know - I live in Idaho. But I grew up on the Atlantic coast.) The green cymbals are a giveaway. The salt air will pit aluminum and cause stainless to rust, too, if you don't clean often. Still, it's obvious that guy doesn't take great care of his stuff...

As for things I hate on a kit - not much. If one thing bothers me, it's a snare way down between the knees and tilted toward the drummer at an extreme angle. There's no way to get the full range of sounds out of a drum like that. How the heck can you do a good rimshot?

Of course, some guys have no use for the full range of sound.

[bonzolead]

when a drummer has more drums than Talent also when I see duct tape on cymbals UGGGH! and when somebody puts a pinstripe or some ungodly thick head on a snare drum totally kills the tone.some drummers like that but not me.

keep swatting,
Bonzolead

[el_frenko]

when i see a terribly set up/maintained kit i usually just lol. but when im playing a gig where im using someone elses kit, thats a different story.

im sick of kits with 1000 stands, all of which belong in a junk yard and dont even have proper felts or protectors. i now bring a stock pile or cymbal protectors/felts with me in my stick bag to make sure my cymbals dont suffer as result of someone elses laziness.

and yeah the amount of times I've had to tune up a guys kit for him on the night of a gig!

or how about the kids who play ZBTs and think their the shiz cos they've "got zildjians, which r teh best symbolz eva!" then i come along with my sabian hand hammered and AAX and he's like "whos this joker?" hahaha

[Wavelength]

I just found this nice video clip. Can you spot one or two things you could change to improve the setup's efficiency?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qE07hMDoZY

[Garvin]

This is a shot of my kit. I keep everything close and fairly low. I play jazz mostly so this works for me... I tend to move cymbals around a lot and in fact that flat hammered ride is usually not overlapping so dramatically. I think this was set in a tight corner when I took this photo.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/Garvin80/IMG_2066-1.jpg

[PreppieNerd]

Of course, the main thing in the right setup is the most comfortable setup. In my opinion, the most comfortable way is to think of your snare drum as the center of the kit, rather than the bass drum. Many people begin setting up with the bass drum because it's the biggest, and/ or they want it facing directly forward. I set my snare up first, get comfortable behind that, then add everything else, bass, then hihats, then ride, then toms and crashes.

[Terra]

But a good rule of thumb is to just set the kit up the way you like it--not how your idol likes it.

Agreed on that.......when I started I had my rack toms on stands set up like Nicko McBrain.........wayyyyyyyy to high for a 13 year old hahahaha.....it was then pointed out by a drum teacher that maybe I should lower them and make them easier to play............since then the whole set up has been low, cymbals included......I think that looks better as well.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

My drums are set up to be the easiest way to play them with the space I have available. If I had my way there would be more space on the left for an aux. snare, or maybe another tom. But for now its 2 up, 1 down, 1 large ride, 2 crashes, 2 splashes and my chimes., and my hihats. My cymbals are at different levels and do overlap. This makes it comfortable for me to play. Because I have a larger than 34 inch waistline 2 floor toms would be difficult for me to play so I don't bother. As for the "correct" or "right" way, I believe there may be a conventional way, that most of us adhere to as far as tom placement and tom angles, and when we see something that is drastic, such as toms sitting at 60 degrees, and the drummer says that works for me, I think we all offer advice. Some of us have more tact and maybe better ways of suggesting, but I don't feel that any of us try to be "experts on line." I remember Nutha commenting on my one video that I had a relaxed way of playing. All of us should be relaxed. If its work or difficult to reach a drum or cymbal that can't be fun.

[intooder]

I just found this nice video clip. Can you spot one or two things you could change to improve the setup's efficiency?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qE07hMDoZY

You certainly have a knack for passing your childhood vids around as someone else's.

[fourstringdrums]

I've plugged this article many times, and I'll do it again here.

It's something I wrote for my website on setting up for comfort. Not a new idea, but one that helped me a lot when I first heard about it. www.handidrummed.com/articles/comfort.php (http://www.handidrummed.com/articles/comfort.php)

[khanedeliac]

I just found this nice video clip. Can you spot one or two things you could change to improve the setup's efficiency?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qE07hMDoZY

Definitely the most uncomfortable, un-ergonomic setup I have seen.

Someone needs to kick that kid in the face and steal his double bass pedal.

PS: Is he aware he has hi hats?? Cause it doesnt look like it.

You + Playing Drums MUST = Comfortable

If it aint comfortable, you arent maximising your potential output and mobility.

[fourstringdrums]

Definitely the most uncomfortable, un-ergonomic setup I have seen.

Someone needs to kick that kid in the face and steal his double bass pedal.

PS: Is he aware he has hi hats?? Cause it doesnt look like it.

You + Playing Drums MUST = Comfortable

If it aint comfortable, you arent maximising your potential output and mobility.

I remember I saw in Modern Drummer years ago, "Drumkit of the Month" and they had a set where the drummer set his snare drums to the left of his left leg. So he had his hi-hat and bass pedals right next to each other. Apparently he was a funk drummer and this gave him exclusive hi-hat access.I actually have a drummer on my site who setups in this way, but he's in a wheelchair and plays double bass, so he has to. www.handidrummed.com/drummers/profiles/aaron/ (http://www.handidrummed.com/drummers/profiles/aaron/) I even tried this type of setup for a while, but ti didn't work for me. Sandy Nelson lost his right leg (part of it) in an accident and sits side-saddle to the snare like this as well. I suppose it doesn't bother me so much if it's not hindering him at all and especially if there is a physical reason why he has to set up that way, but in this case he has no hi-hat access and the rest of his set is all over the place anyway. If he cleaned some of the angles and made some sort of an effort to m ake everything reachable, then it would be a big improvement even if left the snare where it is.

But we should give the kid a break, he's in 4 bands....soon to be 5 :)

[khanedeliac]

I remember I saw in Modern Drummer years ago, "Drumkit of the Month" and they had a set where the drummer set his snare drums to the left of his left leg.

But we should give the kid a break, he's in 4 bands....soon to be 5 :)

If its for a physical reason, then that is understandable. Even if it was for some unorthodox artistic reason like that funk durmmer.
However, it did not appear that way, and as you said, the rest of his kit was a mess, plus he had no way of controlling his hi hat with his foot.

Oh yes, how callous of us, a mighty 5 bands ;)

All of which Im sure were the type of bands that make you shake....not in a groove way, just shaking in fear of how horrific it is.

[Wavelength]

You certainly have a knack for passing your childhood vids around as someone else's.

Damn, I thought I'd get away with it this time!

[GRUNTERSDAD]

That is without a doubt the worst, whether its comfortable or not, set up of drums I have seen in my many many years. I can't believe no one has taken him aside and helped him with this kit

[fourstringdrums]

That is without a doubt the worst, whether its comfortable or not, set up of drums I have seen in my many many years. I can't believe no one has taken him aside and helped him with this kit

Well he probably doesn't have a teacher, and his parents probably don't play instruments, and his brother who I assume is on the other videos is too metal to care. :)

[larlev]

That just can't be....it's a joke right?

[DamoSyzygy]

The 'right' way is the most comfortable way.

[BrokenGlass]

The 'right' way is the most comfortable way.

agreed.

2020202020

[intooder]

Damn, I thought I'd get away with it this time!
Well let's see:
- Named "Jeremy"
- Been in 5 bands
- Rather lady-like approach to the double pedal
- Ahead sticks (way... ahead)
- The humanly-impossible-to-reach tom

Dead giveaway, mate! Watch what you put on the tube.

[TheGroceryman]

I just found this nice video clip. Can you spot one or two things you could change to improve the setup's efficiency?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qE07hMDoZY

WOAH, that was really unexpected. That just hurt my insides just looking at that. That kid needs some help education-wise. What does he think when he sees live performances with all these other drummers who have really comfortable formations on their kit?

[Shinx]

I was getting really depressed watching that video and then I convinced myself it had to be a joke

[Michael G]

I just found this nice video clip. Can you spot one or two things you could change to improve the setup's efficiency?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qE07hMDoZY

Am I missing something? I am not seeing anything obviously wrong, which is what seems to be implied.

[fourstringdrums]

Am I missing something? I am not seeing anything obviously wrong, which is what seems to be implied.

Sarcasm? I'm usually pretty bad at spotting it....

:)

[stasz]

Sarcasm? I'm usually pretty bad at spotting it....

:)

Yeah, that whole schtick doesn't usually transfer very well over the internet.

By the way, although I wouldn't be too comfortable playing the kit in that video, I don't care how he wants to set it up. I will complain about his playing, though, he has terrible time and just wants to show off his double bass, which he might want to work on more.

Anyway, since this thread is about how you set your kit up to be comfortable for yourself:

Horizontally-

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u39/youenjoy00myself/IMG_0003-1.jpg

Bell of every cymbal is uncovered mostly except for the china cymbal, and they overlap otherwise. Hi-hat is to the right of the slave pedal because I don't like to cross my arms too far to reach the hi-hats.

Vertically-
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u39/youenjoy00myself/IMG_0004.jpg http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u39/youenjoy00myself/IMG_0005-1.jpg

Primary snare drum, hi-hats, and splash are all mostly flat, if not slightly tilted towards me. Basically everything else is tilted toward me at a comfortable angle so I can crash and ride (bow and bell) each cymbal. My hi-hats aren't that high, mostly because most of my playing on them is with the tip of stick on the bow, rather than with the shoulder on the edge. Keep in mind these two pictures are below eye level from the driver's seat.

[fijjibo]

I just found this nice video clip. Can you spot one or two things you could change to improve the setup's efficiency?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qE07hMDoZY

Personally, I think he is a dual kick nood who thinks that having his legs that close together will speed him up, and that leaves no room for the snare, hence the weird kit.

In time he will most likely grow out of this setup....

[mrsbarker17]

when people buy a drumset and don't even practice it. it grows dust and dust and is just not respecting the drum

[kjsm]

do u mean like...dust on the setup? is that how its to do with setup you mean?

my dislike - sometimes its angles, sometimes its lack of any angles - bascially any setup pisses me off where it lookks like when someone's playing it they're having to try and play it rather than just play it - for dave lombardo fluiditiy and speed seems to come form having angled and actually, well spaced rack toms! for me that's a big wtf...but he's a lot better than me. sometimes too much too close....its good like derek roddy said to never have to suspend your arm thus lifting up you elbow loads and cutting any whipping motion and this really high or really high and angled things sound out...but then lok at some of the greats....
basically while id like to think the right way is say glat and lcose together or the opposite, its in fact this ->when i see someone playing a kit where it looks like their arms are too close together all the time and theres no freedom of muslce movement but also i hate it when it looks like someones having to leap from rtheir racm tom(s) the the floor tom(s) and massivley adjust their hand agnle in relation to the batter heaeds and technique just to play a roll aroudn the set -something that you should always be able to do in my opinion. if you cant do it comfortably and at different speeds and dynamics without im and stick clicking and discomfort, THATS the wronf setup!

[ceckha]

I also hate bad tom angles and Travis Barker like setups that is just stupid. We are all different, maybe you like how he setups his kit but that doesn't mean you'll feel confortable playing like him, so just be yourself.




i guess i don't understand why everybody has such a huge problem with travis' setup. no, i wouldn't set up that way. but i read somewhere once that one of his first teachers was into that kind of setup and it just stuck. i do think its kind of rediculous and unnessescary that he has to stand up to reach his rack tom but, if its comfortable for him then its all gravy.

the only thing that bothers me about his flat rack tom and cymbal set up is that alot of people my age that play will set up like that and then when i watch them play i'll say "you don't like very comfortable, ever tried doing this or that to your toms and cymbals?" and they'll respond with "well the drummer from that one band sets up this way....."

i don't think people should set up based on what they see and think looks cool. they should find whats comfortable.

[janszman]

i hate people who complain about other peoples kits.
Right on brother!

Couldn't agree more.

I bet some of you are reading this thread feeling all superior and than someone posts something they don't like and you go and readjust your kit.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Yep that's what I do. I changed my kit four times today alone. I have to stop looking at other kits.

[Zickos]

IMHO, there is no "right" way to set up a kit, but there are sure a lot of "wrong" ways.

[drumdevil9]

I like flat crashed (not high) but not flat rack toms. I just don't understand how even great players like Eric Singer or Tommy Lee play like that. I guess it was a visual trend and they just became good that way. But man if I played on a kit like that it would just sound like "clickety click click click".

I don't like hi-hats really high, snare drums angled too much towards me, and ride cymbals too far to the right.

The times that I've had to play on someone else's drums, tuning has been more of an issue than setup. I used to open for this guy who had a nice Pearl MLX. He had them tuned up so high they sounded like bongos. It was like torture to play on!

[Mike_]

I have been playing about 46 years and it seems setups are pretty trendy, the 60's double bass drums, then the Bonzo snare stand for the ride tom, then and now you see small toms rims mounts, hanging toms racks, and the infamous double tom stand off set to the right of the bass drum, and it seems with these trends everyone gets on the bandwagon Oh and double pedals (this one is the dumbest one to me) but truth is you have to find your own way to set the drums to where they work for you not against you . You should not have to try hard to play a set it should be easy, if it is hard try different way till it gets easier... but forget what you see on TV and in video's that is someone elses body and what works for them probably will NOT work for you have fun...

[Lotter]

Hey guys I'd like your opinion on my setup the first pic is my current setup and the second is my previous setuphttp://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/394502_328307507189877_100000318924967_1097414_257 748143_n.jpg?dl=1 http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/378003_317787204908574_100000318924967_1063172_657 149_n.jpg?dl=1

[Zickos]

Well, first of all, congratulations. Now you don't have to lug around as much gear.

I realize this is a resurrected thread that dates back to 2007 (didn't realize this when I first commented), but there are some very good points if you go all the way back to the beginning. I repeat, there is no right way but very many wrong ways to set up a kit. And, to each his own. The one thing I fail to understand is how anyone plays a kit with the throne set up so low that your knees point up (sat on one of those yesterday). I compare it to trying to play uphill. I've just never been comfortable doing that.

[topgun2021]

Right on brother!

Couldn't agree more.

I bet some of you are reading this thread feeling all superior and than someone posts something they don't like and you go and readjust your kit.

I think you do not understand the point of the thread and are a little thin skinned. I seriously doubt you have never looked at someone's kit and thought to yourself, "I am not a fan of how [whatever drum thing] is set up, if it was me I would set it up in a different fashion." or 'There is no way I could get comfortable on that."

I have an issue with lots of drum companies not showing love for the 6' 4" drummers. Hardware is sometimes to short and my feet are too big for most pedals!

I don't like how some tom stands that sit on the bass drum can't be moved towards you more and that seriously limits it's move-ability.

I am tall, so low set ups annoy me.

Vampire Weekend's drummer's set up makes me cringe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEIV9xvLzEg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa9Ry7BxTJk

[Netz Ausg]

I have an issue with lots of drum companies not showing love for the 6' 4" drummers. Hardware is sometimes to short and my feet are too big for most pedals!

I don't like how some tom stands that sit on the bass drum can't be moved towards you more and that seriously limits it's move-ability.

+1 to this!

I don't have the cash to splash on a longboard pedal, though I'd love one for my size 14s!

Don't get me wrong, I can play a standard footboard, but I can't help but think it'd just be a little easier on a longer footboard!

I also have trouble with BD mounted toms - I experiment with it occassionally but I can only really get comfortable with a seperate tom stand. I am quite interested in some of the new Tama BD tom mounts that slide forward for more varied set up opportunities.

[yesdog]

Talking about other peoples set ups ? Don't be griping about how your drumming has not improved. It seems a lot of you guys are spending way to much time on D.W. instead of woodshedding.