Updated my Gretsch kit a little for Christmas

[KONA]

Hi drumland people

I've updated my kit a little since my last post Dec 2nd.

I added a great sounding Pearl Ashwood Block, a handhammered Gong (small one - but nice sound) made in Vietnam and some wood snare hoops (not on yet because I had to reorder a notched batterside because my Gretsch throwoff doesn't fit the one they sent). I've also ordered a Dunnett R-Class throwoff. My Axis double pedal system hasn't arrived yet and I ordered it a couple of months ago.

I also switched out my 14" Mel Lewis hats for my 10" Alchemy Bell - top hat - and my 10" Istanbul Splash for the bottom hat. It really cuts and has an awesome sound! I was just playing around and thought I'd give it a try because I liked the bell tone on the Alchemy. I'll leave it there for now and I'm using the 14" hats as crashes. Different, but I like it for now. I've also lowered my crashes and ride and it working better for me that way.

Sorry about the mutes on everything including the cowbell (under the new woodblock). When I get the kit completely together, pedals and all the cymbals up and running I'll take a few photos with no mutes.

Here's the Christmas Kit as it looks now.


The best of the Season to all

Cheers,

Kona

[NIMBY]

i like your christmas spirit, and also that little gong.

do you think you could post a soundfileof those Splash/Bell Hats?
im really interested in what they sound like.

as always your kit has once again blown me away.

merry christmas KONA!

[prempex]

haha, i love it

great kit.

[punkdrummer1]

ah ha ha, no need for a tree this year! Put all the gifts under the drum kit. Now, THAT WOULD BE CHRISTMAS! ah ha ha. Very nice man, as always, love the kit, and the new stuff :D

[KONA]

i like your christmas spirit, and also that little gong.

do you think you could post a soundfileof those Splash/Bell Hats?
im really interested in what they sound like.

as always your kit has once again blown me away.

merry christmas KONA!

Thanks for your interest.
I've never posted sound files - I only have a digital cam with sterio sound, it's a good camera. I can video with that and post it on Shaw Video Mail (my service provider) and send you a "link." I'm also impressed with that little Vietnamese Gong. I don't have time to do it today, but I will do it asap. Ya it sounds pretty cool alright - a really high pitched effect. I'm practicing rudiments around my kit right now to improve my "chops" so the different effect sounds I have going on just adds to the fun.

I'll work something out for ya. These are the hats on my Pearl H-2000, belore adding the Pearl woodblock over the cowbell here.

[KONA]

Thanks everyone.

Yes - it's always easy to do this kind of thing when you're not having to tear it down every day/week as in gigging. This kit aint goin nowhere unless someone wants to steal it and that would not be easy to do (but it is insured for replacement value).

If I was playing and having to move a kit around (at my level of playing) I would develop a secondary kit with mybe two crashes (one being a crash ride) , a ride, hats of course and maybe a splash and Bell, a 4 piece shellpack and probably I would use regular stands (not a rack). I played for a living in the late 60's to mid 70's and used a Gretsch 5pc - it worked nicely, but I couldn't imagine tearing down setting up the kit I have now.

Cheers and Happy Holidays everyone.

[BoxcarDrummer182]

thats the spirit! at least someone followed my holiday cheer -_-

[KONA]

thats the spirit! at least someone followed my holiday cheer -_-

Yes - nice job of wrapping those drums BoxcarDrummer!

[joeybeats]

Sweet, Kona! I am always fascinated by the way people put their own stamp of personality on the kits. Much of the enjoyment in looking at the kits posted here. Enjoy. Joey

[KONA]

Sweet, Kona! I am always fascinated by the way people put their own stamp of personality on the kits. Much of the enjoyment in looking at the kits posted here. Enjoy. Joey

Joeybeats!
I will never get enough of looking at those beautiful RUBY GLASS DW's of yours!
I just took another peak at them. How are they holding out for you?

[NIMBY]

thanks for posting those links kona

i can see why you said they cut through, they have a very sharp sound
also it might be the video, but they sound quite dark for little splashes, i liked that.
is that what they are like in real-life or was it just the video?
they look so cool aswell

[zambizzi]

Sweet kit! I'm going through the same phase right now, adding blocks, jingles, cowbells. It's great to expand your "voices" like that and it can add a whole new element to your playing you didn't know existed.

I'm hoping my wife ordered the Pearl hi-hat jingles I asked for, for xmas...the ones w/ the padded bar on them so you can strike them w/ a stick in addition to using them w/ your foot on the hats.

[criz p. critter]

Hey, Kona. I'm glad to see you've got the whole kit together and can do some bashing. How are you liking the sound of the Purewoods now, with all the cymbals and everything to complement them? Hope all your troubles are past, and that you have a great Christmas and lots of fun drumming in the new year!
Chris

[KONA]

thanks for posting those links kona

i can see why you said they cut through, they have a very sharp sound
also it might be the video, but they sound quite dark for little splashes, i liked that.
is that what they are like in real-life or was it just the video?
they look so cool aswell

NIMBY.
They sound close to the video sound. I only have a digital camera to take video with but it's a good camera with great sterio pickup. I would say they are a little higher in real-life but not much - the Istanbul Agops are a little dark to begin with (all hand-hammered) The Alchemys are a sharper sounding cymbal.

The best of the Season to you.

[KONA]

Sweet kit! I'm going through the same phase right now, adding blocks, jingles, cowbells. It's great to expand your "voices" like that and it can add a whole new element to your playing you didn't know existed.

I'm hoping my wife ordered the Pearl hi-hat jingles I asked for, for xmas...the ones w/ the padded bar on them so you can strike them w/ a stick in addition to using them w/ your foot on the hats.


The Pearl Hat Jingles sound great - hope Santa (wife) brings them for you.

Merry Christmas

[KONA]

Hey, Kona. I'm glad to see you've got the whole kit together and can do some bashing. How are you liking the sound of the Purewoods now, with all the cymbals and everything to complement them? Hope all your troubles are past, and that you have a great Christmas and lots of fun drumming in the new year!
Chris

Thanks.
The drums sound beautiful - couldn't be happier with them.

Yes - I'm bashing around and adding stuff all over the place. The fact that these drums aren't going anywhere (staying in "the room") means I don't have to even think about taking them down unless I do some renos like move a wall or something. If I get to the stage that I want to "gig" or play in a band and move around I'll buy a smaller kit for that.

Merry Christmas to you too!