Does new or better stuff improve your playing?

[Drummer Karl]

So, just felt that I could ask this. Does new stuff improve your playing or feeling? I had the experience: When I got my new Tama Superstar Custom with new cymbals I got so much more creativity, i was able to play "better" Jazz grooves, my feeling improved.
but also when I got smaller things like new heads or even new sticks I feel better on drums then...and now my story, my soon set up, new buys: I`ll get my K custom 22" Dry light ride soon (i hope:-), then some new Remo Coated Ambassadors for my toms and Snare drum and new Vic Firth SD4!!! Damn, I`m lucky last time... :-D
I`l also post pics when I have this stuff...of course =)

so, what do you think: does it improve your playing when you got new stuff or better stuff? tell...when could you notice that?

Karl

[DrumBuster]

I find I bvecome much more creative when I sit behind other peoples kits in different setups!

[emmerson]

Originally Posted by DrumBuster

I find I bvecome much more creative when I sit behind other peoples kits in different setups!

i find that too its very strange

[Pedro]

Better stuff..for e.g. a professional snaredrum will have more precision, etc. than a cheap one. Therefor you'll start playing more precise because it will be more hearable what you're doing.

[Spacehog]

Certainly my beech custom absolute snare drum improved my snare work considerably over my old stage custom... and my flying dragon has helped my pedal work come on leaps and bounds compared with either the basic Yamaha pedals I had with my double kick kit or with the cheapo Mapex double I had for a while (ended up selling it to my guitarist). That said, sometimes also being *without* something can improve your creativity. Heck, I used to play a huge kit, but having stripped down to 6 or 7 pieces (depending on whether I put the 8" tom up or not) has really improved my playing a lot.

[J.W. Drummer]

I'm positive that it does good for the (encouragement factor.) Who has ever bought new stuff and not wanted to use it constantly for a period of time?

[dunkerton12]

I think I know what you're feeling. In another thread I mentioned that I sometimes play on a CB percussion kit. It's total crap, and when I play on that it doesn't sound good or feel good because I guess subconsciously I know I'm playing crap.

When I bring my Tama kit to gigs or I practice on it at home, it sounds sweet and has much better hardware and looks nicer and it just makes me more comfortable for some reason.

Quite honestly this is totally in our heads, because there's no reason why the kit should make the difference in how we play, but for some reason it does. Just my thoughts...

[BigSexyPanda]

i get the same feeling, whenever i get anything new, it just makes me more excited and just pumps me up. i feel like practicing all day if possible 'cause its like a new toy, you gotta use it right when you get it and because you're so happy, i think it changes just how you play and you can be so much more creative. yeah...

[Joe Morris]

New gear is always inspiring after you get it sounding like you want it. Totally a common factor amoung musicians. Personally, I hate getting a new kit because then I have to tune it, head it and break it in, then hopefully actually dig it. Playing other drummers kits will make you play different. Your out of your zone and it will make you play different or just hit stuff to see how it sounds. very cool

joe

[harryconway]

I think most of us like getting new (at least to us) toys. And I think it's common that most people upgrade in stages. A better snare, better pedals, etc. gives us that little rush. We humans like rewards, even if we have to buy them for ourselves. I too love to drive other drummers kits. Variety.

[neilpscuz]

Any time I get a new peice of gear, it always is very inspiring and drives me to create and practice more. When I upgrade a peice, it's always great ! I love to find new ways of playing (the upgraded peice) trying new and different grooves and fills incorporating my new "toy".

[Drum-Head]

Hi!


I'd rather speak of new gear "stimulating us" more that "making us better." The latter can be confusing and some can interpret that as making you better techniquewise - which is absolutely false.

I find I become much more creative when I sit behind other peoples kits in different setups!

I too experience that phenomenon, it is a very curious thing!


Regards,
Christopher.

[choki]

it doesn't make you play better, but it does make you sound better. your groove can always be good, but if you are fighting the sound of bad equipment, it suffers a little bit. no matter how good your "feel" is, a jazz groove on a good ride cymbal is going to sound a lot better than the same groove on a trash can lid.

for me, i definitely feel better behind the kit when everything is sounding right. when the sounds of the kit match what i hear in my head, everything seems to come easier. if i'm not cringing at the sound of what i'm playing, i can relax more and get my head into the game, and concentrate on playing good music.

[Fur drummer]

Like Drum-Head and choki said. You will sound better and be more creative but I don't think it will improve your technique or talent level.

I think if Buddy had played a groove on a trash can lid it would have sounded good. Some drummers are so talented, they could play on anything and it would sound good. I saw Louie Bellson play on a coffee table and it sounded amazing. his stick work and rhythm was incredible. I never did find out how he tuned that table. LOL

[Melvin]

I think it's all mental. When you have a new kit you are super inspired, you've got new sounds, better hardware bla, bla. I think that your creativity grows when you buy new extras like bells, blocks and strange new cymbals.

[Class A Drummer]

New stuff can and cant improve your playing IMO. I think it can because if you buy more drums or equipment, you create new patterns and grooves to play on everything. It makes you much more creative in alot of ways.
I also think it cant improve your playing. Good stuff wont just make you a better player. The only way to do that is with lots of practice, the ability to learn new things, and some raw talent.

So i say it can improve your playing, but not your skill as a drummer (although if you get a cowbell or wood block or double bass you can increase your skills on those).
Kind of a paradox i guess.

[defunkt]

I think it could just be the fact that the drums sound different to what your ears are used to and so you think it sounds better....maybe?

[Drummer Karl]

Originally Posted by defunkt

I think it could just be the fact that the drums sound different to what your ears are used to and so you think it sounds better....maybe?

haha, yeah, that is a good point. definitly. that could be true but when I got my new stuff I suddenly could play those abstract playing and solos better...but at the same time I joined and explored Drummerworld so I could be that Drummerworld gave this influence and improvement :-) ...who knows?

Karl

[LinearDrummer]

Its possible...

I'm on a Roland 90 percent of the time so I can't comment too much but I will say this...

I'm in the University band and during rehersal last week I played on this beat up Gretsch kit and honestly I felt totally uninspired ...its used at the football games and its pretty tore-up...

So this week I go in to get my practice time in and that kit was being fixed so they had the new Sonar kit set-up and man my 2 hour practice session was a blast! The sounds were incredible and I felt real inspired especially to do tom-tom type grooves...

Guess me thinks so....too bad that kit is only for the jazz band....

[Paradiddle my snizzle]

Originally Posted by choki

it doesn't make you play better, but it does make you sound better. your groove can always be good, but if you are fighting the sound of bad equipment, it suffers a little bit. no matter how good your "feel" is, a jazz groove on a good ride cymbal is going to sound a lot better than the same groove on a trash can lid.

for me, i definitely feel better behind the kit when everything is sounding right. when the sounds of the kit match what i hear in my head, everything seems to come easier. if i'm not cringing at the sound of what i'm playing, i can relax more and get my head into the game, and concentrate on playing good music.

I just got a new kit and i wondered about this question so i remembered that there was a thread on this, and when i read your post i thought "that's it!!". Is the right word an epiphany? You know when everything is so obvious all of a sudden.

I especially like the thing you said: "fighting the sound of bad equipment" because that's kinda what it feels like, because when i played on my "old" kit i had to play it in a very specific way to get just the right sound or it would sound like crap, but now i can play in many different ways and all of them sound cool in their own way. Does this make sence?

[Nero]

I get like that when i get a new pedal or new heads. Its an awesome feeling. A feeling of being able to go to a different place. Like you dont have to think you just hit the drums and it all comes together like its heaven in your basement (or place you have your set)

But thats just me.

[baz]

...in my case, I would have to say no.

For some reason, the less I play, the more I think new gear will help me to break through whatever musical stagnation I am suffering from. All it really does is make the same old same old sound a little different. Hearing something old or new and different on the radio is what inspires any creativity that I might accidently stumble on.

Somewhere along my musical journey, my passion has been replaced with contentment. Through my years of drum wankery, new and exciting has been replaced by tried and true. I have become a four by four, that is four piece kit, two crash, ride, and hats. I used to add a few extra toms and or cymbals every now and again just to keep things fresh, but I always go back to my comfort zone. I think that staying with my comfort zone is killing my creativity, yet I do see improvement in my playing.

Barry

[Joe Morris]

You will find that if you change up your snare drum or get some new ones, that will inspire your playing. It does for me.

joe

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I think new or upgraded equipment may give one a sense of excitement that would allow them to want to practice more, and in that regard improve. But if you have a new snare in front of you or an old snare in front of you, and your practice routine is the same, my guess would be you would not improve. The new snare may cause you to want to practice more or inspire you, but in itself wouldnt make you improve.

[Sirwill]

After 30 + years of drumming I feel from my experence that there is nothing like the sound or fell of a new kit or even heads and sticks. It gives you a new feeling from your fingers and hands then to your brian. I remember the fist time I too discovered this area in our craft. Its my honor to welcome you!

[hauk]

i think its true it's all in your head, but then you have to remember - drumming is very much a mental thing, in addition to physical. so it may actually help... who knows

Originally Posted by hauk

i think its true it's all in your head, but then you have to remember - drumming is very much a mental thing, in addition to physical. so it may actually help... who knows

Kind of like sex? 90% mental 10% physical? Emperors new clothes?

A new kit can be inspirational. But at the same time, I find that if you go from beginner to pro gear, it will help to a degree.

Beginner gear tends to be imprecise, wobbly, slow, noisy, poor responding, limited and so on. When those barriers are gone, it will help a little.

One thing that used to hold me back was the limited options some beginner kits had for positioning, and stability.

Sure, a lot of it's mental, but some of can be practical.

[baz]

...New gear may inspire, but what happens when that new gear grows old ?

I can only speak for myself, but I find that boredom is the main reason that I used to go looking for new gear. Any inspiration I may find in a new cymbal or head change is only temporary. Once again, the same old boom bip bap becomes the same old boom bip bap.

I am more than happy with the way my kits have evolved. I have my dream kit set up in my drum/hockey/music shrine, and I have a kit that I can take when I play out. In putting these kits together, I was looking for versatillity, especially in regards to my cymbals. I have always liked thin washy crashable rides, and trashy crashes. Sabian HHXtreme crashes are great as they serve double duty as my second crash, and china, while my Manhattan rides work as both rides, and crashes. That way, my two crashes and ride are like three crashes, a ride, and a china. I can't think of anything that I could add or would be willing to subtract that would inspire me enough to change what I already have.

Regarding my drums, if I was to take all of my unused heads and stack them just right, I could make a copy of the Stanley cup with them. No matter how many different head combos I have tried, G-1 coated over the stock batter heads sound the best on my toms, reverse dot power center over hazy 3000 work best on my snares, while the SK1/coated white stock res head sound the best on my bass drums. I still get caught up in the hype that surrounds the launch of the next in the neverending line up of latest and greatest, which is why my Daughters high school band is going to end up with a set of nearly new EC-2 coated and clear heads.

As I stated in my previous post, the passion that I felt while on this quest for my ultimate drum sound has been replaced by the contentment of finding it. That unfortunately has led to a certain amount of boredom, but also, the self realization that new gear may only be a temporary fix at best. That being said, no matter how bored or stagnant my playing may feel, my greatest inspiration comes from playing through it.

Barry

[RudimentalDrummer]

Yes Karl


New & Better Stuffs improve my playing..cause it accelerate my mood & feel.....in particularly - "Better Sounding Cymbals"

No, it doesn't. It may improve or change the sound, but not your ability. Only education and applying what you've learned to the kit, does this. And, of course, practice, practice, and more practice! Good Luck Drummer Karl...Play On! ;-)

[theduke86]

I find it helps your attitude. At school we have about 8 beat up Taye kits that are played on for 12 hours plus a day, an Ayotte kit (which is beater) and an old Gretsch thing (the dirt is the only thing holding it together. It sounds great.)
The other day, we got a new DW kit with a Craviotto snare drum... oh boy. I would not get out of the practice room for a very long time after I saw that thing in there, makes me sound better!
I'd like to grab one of those Sonor Delite kits, I played my friend's sitting in for a set at a jazz gig the other day and the tone out of those drums was completely unbelievable. I've never played a kit like that before.
Alas, the jazz life does not allow it.
Karl- good luck with the 22' K Custom.... those are very, very, very nice cymbals. A word of advice, though. Put a few rivets in it and you'll be made for life, it's a cymbal that really sounds great with rivets.

[zappafan]

In some aspects it will make you play better depending on what you get. i.e. A DW 5000 pedal will make you a better player if upgrading from a cheap , bottom of the line gibraltar for example. I guess , you could call it "the physics" of it.

In other aspects it won't but it will make you want to play better and practice more , therefore improving your playing. i.e. upgrading from a beginner kit to , say a Starclassic or even something as simple as new heads or a new cymbal.

Ultimately it is the person behind the drums and not the drums themselves. But new stuff would certainly help.imo.

Peace.

Originally Posted by Synthetik

Kind of like sex? 90% mental 10% physical? Emperors new clothes?

A new kit can be inspirational. But at the same time, I find that if you go from beginner to pro gear, it will help to a degree.

Beginner gear tends to be imprecise, wobbly, slow, noisy, poor responding, limited and so on. When those barriers are gone, it will help a little.

One thing that used to hold me back was the limited options some beginner kits had for positioning, and stability.

Sure, a lot of it's mental, but some of can be practical.

I was just about to post a "sex" comment.....damn beat me to it..

[RudimentalDrummer]

Originally Posted by theduke86

I find it helps your attitude.
I'd like to grab one of those Sonor Delite kits, I played my friend's sitting in for a set at a jazz gig the other day and the tone out of those drums was completely unbelievable. I've never played a kit like that before.

I love the Sonor Hilite so much & our Distributor had a Kit here...it's a 11pcs kit...(coured something like black with gold-dust on it)...and the entire kit is with Plated Gold-HardWare.....the Hardware is so damn solid & thick (I've never seen such solid drums hardware)...wow.....and The sound like you mentioned...fantastic sound from Sonor. The only problem is - I will have to Pay USD8000.00 for it and this is after Less 50%.....Phew....I can only dream...

PS your school sure give it's students the best....lucky you all

Cheers !

[Drummer Karl]

Originally Posted by theduke86

Karl- good luck with the 22' K Custom.... those are very, very, very nice cymbals. A word of advice, though. Put a few rivets in it and you'll be made for life, it's a cymbal that really sounds great with rivets.

First I wanna say thanks you to all who commented here!! I read so many different opinions here, the one says Yes, the other no.
I`m really happy to get to know about so many opinions!

Duke: thank you very much, I got it already a few month ago...and yeah, it`s brilliant!!!
Here you can see many pics of it: http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=18425
Also you can read my little review of it in this thread.
AND you could listen to it if you want...here is it: www.purevolume.com/karldegenhardt

Overall I think that this new Ride cymbal has improved my Jazz playing, especially the consistence of my spang-a-lang.
I also take a look at the K Custom Left Side Ride, would be great, a dry, soft sizzle sound.

Karl

[Latin Groover]

I remembered this thread from a while ago and i thought i just should say something. I played on my teachers kit yesturday and now going back to mine i feel 'deflated' and yes, not as, im going to say musical as on his kit. And now i must get an Istanbul ride! They where the most amazing cymbals. The 19" Mel Lewis crash/ride and its big brother the 21" ride were just amazing, also playing on a 5pce has me begging for a 5pce now instead of a 4.Like as said before in the thread, i feel sort of like im fighting bad equipment now!lol I just wish i suddenly won $7,000. So yes, i think gear does help.

[danp212]

There is definitely a certain magical creative edge I seem to encounter whenever im playing on new equipment, or even my own set in an unfamiliar acoustic space. Unfortunately (but mostly fortunately) it's hard for me to accomplish this because I pretty much have my dream setup drum and cymbal wise, so I often retune my drums to get a "new" feeling out of them.

[Drummer Karl]

Latin Groover: I had a similar experience yesterday...when I arrived at the music school (after some weeks of holiday :,-( ) my drum teacher walked to his car and brought his Pearl Signature JR Robinson snare, an old Paiste 2002 Hi-hat Top (which actually was an 18" crash) and his brand new DW 9000 bass drum pedal. To play one that kit was so much greater then! Especially I love that Snare drum, feels cool to me. Everything sounded so unique then...

Karl

[wy yung]

Originally Posted by Drummer Karl

so, what do you think: does it improve your playing when you got new stuff or better stuff? tell...when could you notice that?

Karl

I think new gear can help inspire one to play better, but it does not make one better.

[Drummer Karl]

Originally Posted by wy yung

I think new gear can help inspire one to play better, but it does not make one better.

But in the end it makes you better, or?

Karl