Todd Sucherman here!

[2bsticks]

Hi Todd,

The DVD is great, It's something I need to watch over and over to drill it into my head, (age is a wonderful thing) but it's very informative. Thank you.

Like you advised I purchased a digital recorder (Zoom H2) to record my practice sessions. So far I have only been recording myself playing along to music minus drums and what I hear while I'm playing and what I hear recorded are two different drummers. What an eye opener. However I may be setting myself up for doom because I have many music minus drum tracks of different styles and I find myself playing one after another instead of working on one tune at a time?

I do have two questions for you:

1, Would you only work on one song at a time re: music minus drums until your happy with the way it sounds recorded?

2, Would you also record yourself practicing rudiments and solo playing?

I appreciate your feedback and any other tips.

[Todd Sucherman]

2bsticks-

Thanks for getting the DVD and thanks for the kind words. They are appreciated!

Record everything. If you practice for an hour, spend an hour listening to the playback. It can be painful, laborious, but ultimately rewarding when you hear yourself improve and really play what you meant to play. Work on a track or two and spend sometime figuring out why things don't sound the way you want them to. Make the changes no matter how small, record again and listen. Repeat. This may take some time but it's worth the effort. I also answer "yes" to your second question too. Have a plan for the week and be organized. Pick a few rudiments and work on the snare drum and then application to the kit, with grooves in a musical setting. Work on 2 or 3 tracks (and maybe only one if you are really hating what you're hearing) and make daily progress.

Hope that helps.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Todd

[2bsticks]

Todd,

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it very much. Sounds like a great plan. It's amazing what a recording of yourself will expose. I have been playing for 40 years and never really dissected my playing this way. It is certainly an ear opener.

Have a great holiday and thanks for the gift of a little bit of your knowledge.

Pete

[Ciana]

Originally Posted by Todd Sucherman

Deltadrummer---thanks a lot. That was one of the toughest gigs I've ever done. I feel I was far from my best because I (and we) were very out of our element with very little rehearsal---and by very little I mean ONE real rehearsal. I was put in the acrylic box (which I hate) and trying to hold things together between the band and orchestra was a monumental challenge. That being said, the kids were great and I think the overall spirit of the evening prevailed. It was a memorable night and I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've read many notes from people who were moved to tears by the DVD of that show. Nothing worth doing comes easy, right? So thanks for being a reborn fan and I hope you make it out to a gig next time we swing through your area. Thanks for the note!

Cheers from Orlando--
Todd

Hi, Todd! I know the original of this was posted a long while ago, but I have to tell you, I still watch my One With Everything DVD, and I still think it rocks hard! It was wonderful seeing the hard work you seem to have done with the kids. (In spite of the fact that you only had that one rehearsal.) It must have been such a blast, for you (the band) and them. Thanks to you and them for the great gift of music!

And now a question: Why is it that Styx only seems to do double- or triple-billed shows in Dallas these days? I'm not complaining, but it would be lovely to see y'all play around here on a single bill. I know you used to play at Billy Bob's in Ft. Worth with only the house band going before you. Surely there are enough Styx fans here in the big D to warrant an entire 2+ hour show from you guys! :)

I'll talk to you later!

~ Ciana

ETA: Even though I'm not a drummer, I may get a copy of your DVD myself! After reading everything everyone has said about it, it sounds wonderful. And I always love watching a master att work! :) Love ya, and I hope I'll see you this spring or summer.

[supermac]

Hi Todd,

Season's greetings.

Your DVD arrived in the post and went down well with the Xmas turkey!

A tour de force of drumming, which made me wonder what the hell I'd been doing for the last three decades on the drum kit!

Here in England, what we normally do is get a drum kit as kids and start thrashing away, missing out on the theory side that many of you guys get in the US.

That's probably why since the pioneering days of Ringo, Moon and Bonham etc in the 60s/70s, most of the leading players are now from the US or Europe.

Anyway, there's a mountain of stuff for me to learn from the on the DVD.

Applying rudiments to the kit, the double pedal section and the general enthusiam you have for the drums are all inspiring.

Tears Of Joy is pure ball-breaking drumming (I'm still getting my head ariound the 13/8 groove) and I really appreciated you expalining the Weckl fills, which have puzzled me for years.

I also finally got an iPod and downloaded Gavin Harrison's Drop album, so my house was wall to wall with heavyweight drumming over the festive period!

So best wishes for 2009, Todd.

You deserve all the success and publicity you're getting...


PS Looking forward to the MD 2008 Festival DVD. Any idea when it's out?

[Todd Sucherman]

Hi Ciana,

Glad you're enjoying the DVD. As far as shows in Dallas goes, I really have no answer for you. I don't book 'em---I just show up and play. That's all I've got.

Supermac,

Thanks for getting the DVD and thanks for your positive feedback! I appreciate you compliments and I hope it entertains and inspires new ideas in you playing. As far as the MD fest DVD goes, I think they are looking for a March release. But that can always change. I'm sure they'll do plenty of pre release press on it. Thanks again!

Cheers,
Todd

[Joe P]

Hey Todd!
I was watching the Tears of Joy video, and I couldn't see the model on that HHX hi-hat. What hi-hat are you using there?

[Todd Sucherman]

Hi Joe,

The hi hats I used for Tears of Joy on the Methods and Mechanics DVD were 14" HHX Evolutions. I hope you decide to pick up the DVD!

Cheers,

Todd

[Matt]

Hello Todd! I got your DVD for Christmas, and I wanted to say that I thought it was awesome, Thanks for making it! I didn't know who you were until I saw here at Drummerworld that the DVD was getting a bunch of attention, but after getting and watching it, I was blown away by what a monster player you are. I also think it is extremely cool that you come here and personally answer people's questions and help other drummers get better. I hope to start trying out bits and pieces of the patterns you demonstrated as soon as possible (I just broke stuff in both arms three nights ago!). Anyway, thanks to you, I've got some awesome practice material to look forward to and "rehabilitate" with when I'm better! Hope to see more of you and your drumming in the future!

[intheruff]

This thread has long been full of rave review and congrats of your ability and your DVD, and now I know why. Todd, what can I say… or what can anyone say that’ll explain or somehow communicate the quality of your DVD, ‘Methods and Mechanics’? Guys and dolls, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, if you haven’t yet, and if you’ve been procrastinating and pinching pennies and whining about the economy and how its got tough to find a gig and you’ve no more dough in your pockets… buck it up dude! Panhandle on the nearest corner, go out and sell yourself, hell… sell your sister, or do whatever it takes and go buy this DVD (ya’ can’t steal it cuz its only available on the internet… I think). After a five hour trip through the life and thoughts of this tender and fantastically talented musician, Todd Sucherman, I’m sure you’ll likely consider tossen’ the skins out the back door and instead take up the Kazoo. But don’t let this mans talent scare ya’ man. His insane humor and implausible and hard to believe ability will drive you crazy and make you wanna’ play, play, play til’ the cows come home. Not to over state my enthusiasm, but honest to God Todd… nice job man!
However I’ve one question. Where’s the PDF that’s part of the DVD? I’ve gone through the set a couple of times and haven’t found it. I’m hoping to find there transcriptions of the compound sticking exercises showing examples of how they might be strung together. I’m slow to pick up on some of this and the visual transcriptions always help me understand the timing better – how to get in and when to get out. Boy, so many grooves, so many chops… and seemingly so little time. Thanks for putting your time in this project that’ll give anyone, at any level of playing, something to strive for and long remember.

[Todd Sucherman]

Matt--

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you are enjoying the dvd! Yikes---hope you are feeling better soon and have a speedy recovery. Thanks again for your feedback.

intheruff--

Thanks for the enthusiastic accolades. I really, really appreciated it! The PDFs are on either disc 1 or 2 (duh....I forget which one) and can only be viewed on your computer. From there you can print it out....simple as that! Thanks again for your kind words!

Cheers-
Todd

[kgrubb]

Hello Todd recently i've been kinda discouraged from playing and haven't played in a while but last night i watched the concert with styx and the contemporary youth orchestra and your drumming on that show was amazing and it was the inspiration i needed to play again and learn new things and get better.

[Todd Sucherman]

kgrubb,

I'm glad seeing the Styx/CYO DVD gave you a little spark to get behind the kit. That's good news. That was a very hard, very challenging night for me trying to hold everything together--but a good memory that was captured on film. I'm happy that you got something out of it.

Don't be discouraged. Ever. You're here, reading and participating in the drum community. This isn't a contest and you are in a race with no one. Relax and remember to enjoy simply playing--and enjoy the process of improving. Have some structured/focused practice time. That's the best way to see results. Don't forget to be patient. If you have an agenda for your practice sessions it's hard to become stagnant which is something we all deal with. But having a goal, or goals, will help you get in the direction you want to go.

Not trying to drum up a sale here (or use bad puns) but I recommend my DVD "Methods and Mechanics." I worked very hard on what I had to say to do my best to inspire the viewer to get on the kit and get to work. It might help spark a new found enthusiasm in your playing way more than the Styx show.

You can check out some clips here at Drummerworld or here:
http://www.altitudedigital.com/todd-...mechanics.html

I wish you luck (and fun) with your playing!
Cheers,
Todd

[2bsticks]

Hey kgrub,

GET the DVD. You will be happy you did. I'm 55 and have been playing for 40 years. I find myself at this age rejuvenated and excited about playing all over again. The DVD will really light a fire under your a%$ if you know what I mean. He explains things in great detail but at the same time he keeps in simple terms. He will show you how to apply rudiments to the kit and plays some great tracks as well. Every time I pop in the DVD I learn something new.

[Artstar]

Hello Todd !! I was wondering if you could give a detailed review on the Pearl shell/sound vs. the Sonor shell/sound given even thickness model. I am definitely a Sonor guy, however the newer Pearl stuff just blows me away at how far they have come, and I have owned ALOT of Pearl as well.

I mean, none of these guys at Sonormuseum seem to understand this, nor will they accept it. I find that hilarious, to be honest.

I have one really cool friend who has his Delite set up right next to an older MMX, and I always ask him if the Sonor is leaving the Pearl in the dust. He tells me time and time again, ABSOLUTELY NOT!

[Todd Sucherman]

2b--

Thanks for the back up---and the kind words are always appreciated.

Artstar--

It's hard to compare 15 to 30 year old shells to new shells. I really believe they mature as drums (and the wood) gets older. As well, my Pearl kits are custom Masterworks so they are not standard fare. But a strong fundamental tone (a trait of Phonic, Lites & Sigs) was my template for the thicker shelled Masterworks. My current road kit rivals anything I've ever played and is my favorite kit. The 8" through 12" are 8 ply and the 14" through 22" are 10 ply--and with inner and outer plies of bubinga like the old Signature Series by Sonor. In my opinion thicker shells produce a stronger fundamental tone---a stronger defined note if tuned properly. The mic has an easier time reading that information than many thin shelled drums that produce more overtones---then the mic has a harder time deciphering that note. That's when the engineer starts rolling off frequencies in the EQ. With thick shelled drums I've found over the years that most engineers have to do very little (if nothing at all) to get sounds. And then they end up sounding very natural.

I digress I suppose. It's impossible to do comparisons. Each of my Sonor kits from different lines have qualities unique to themselves--as do my Pearl kits. I'm sure the Masterworks will only improve with age. I guess my current kit is the most Sonor-y, but classic Sonor as opposed to modern Sonor. Make sense? I hope so.

Cheers!
Todd

[Trip McNealy]

Todd, that's great info about the kit's shell composition and sound. I love the depth and punch of my Mapex Saturn (6-ply) but hate the lingering overtones sometimes. I could definitely see the problem when mic'ing live.

I guess for my next drum set, I'll experiment a litle thicker! And definitely with Bubinga. Awesome material.



Dominick

[Artstar]

Hey Todd, thank you! I guess I was asking more about modern Sonor vs. modern Pearl.

You are one of the first to basically spell out what I tell all my drum buddies, (who won't listen to me). The thinner shells, mic'd, will have to be WAY more tamed by the sound guy or whoever, because it's gonna "distort" with ovetones much quicker and more frequently with an ANNOYING/UN-USEABLE low end. They always end up having to muffle the crap out of them, and modify the settings.

The other thing about the really thin shells, is that all that buttery super low end is usually positioned so low that once the bassist and any somewhat low end guitar come in to the mix, you floor toms and kick are more part of that, and as a result, more transparent as being "the drums".

[Todd Sucherman]

Dominick--

Like everything, it's a personal opinion. But check out some thicker shelled drums if you're in the market for a new kit.

Artstar---

I really have no experience with much "modern" Sonor kits so I can't make the comparison. I used a Designer kit on the Styx '96 tour. It's the only kit I've ever unloaded and sold to a friend. It was a great kit, but not really "special" as it was thin shells, maple, just like every company was making. I do have a Pearl Masters 4 ply MMX kit which is lovely. I used that in the DVD for the small jazz kit segments. It works great in that context in my opinion. But the Masterworks really shine for the "big kit" stuff in the DVD.

Cheers-
Todd

[LinearDrummer]

Man if I walked into a concert hall and saw that kit but didn't know who the drummer was, my first thought would be " Man this cat is probably going to be a badass!"

Hey Todd have you developed any shoulder problems from hitting that monster tom?

[kgrubb]

Originally Posted by LinearDrummer

Man if I walked into a concert hall and saw that kit but didn't know who the drummer was, my first thought would be " Man this cat is probably going to be a badass!"

and you would be right to.

[ytsejam45]

Originally Posted by Todd Sucherman

Dominick--

Like everything, it's a personal opinion. But check out some thicker shelled drums if you're in the market for a new kit.

Artstar---

I really have no experience with much "modern" Sonor kits so I can't make the comparison. I used a Designer kit on the Styx '96 tour. It's the only kit I've ever unloaded and sold to a friend. It was a great kit, but not really "special" as it was thin shells, maple, just like every company was making. I do have a Pearl Masters 4 ply MMX kit which is lovely. I used that in the DVD for the small jazz kit segments. It works great in that context in my opinion. But the Masterworks really shine for the "big kit" stuff in the DVD.

Cheers-
Todd

I had MMX and MHX and opted to sell the maple kit... everyone makes a maple kit, not everyone offered a african mahoganny kit at the time. I hardly play the kit, only on special occasions. I have other kits I can use... lol

[stillgroovin]

Hey todd, just caught the clip from this years NAAM show with you playing "Tears of Joy". Is that the new Masterworks Kit???? or was it the kit supplied from the NAAM gurus? If so how do you like it? How would you caompare it to the old kit? Also if you're looking for a place to store the retired kit I haver plenty of room!!!!! Cheers, BOB.

[Todd Sucherman]

Hey Linear-

No shoulder problems!! Nothing remotely uncomfortable at all, really.

Stillgroovin'--

Supply the link where you saw that.....I didn't play at NAMM this year at all and haven't since '03. I was there, but didn't play a note. Supply the link and then I can talk about a kit!
Cheers-
Todd

[supermac]

Hi Todd,

Two questions please:

1. I've been watching your DVD a lot. It's great viewing. You seem to use flams on different drums, for example, the floor tom and the snare, now and again. Is that the case? It sounds nice and is something I might try myself. I nearly always do flams on the one drum and don't split my hands.

2. What's your opinion on buying an electronic kit, purely for practice purposes. It's virtually impossible for me to use the kit at home. Neighbours! And a pracice pad is too limited.


Cheers.

[Leadfoot]

Originally Posted by supermac

Hi Todd,

Two questions please:


2. What's your opinion on buying an electronic kit, purely for practice purposes. It's virtually impossible for me to use the kit at home. Neighbours! And a pracice pad is too limited.


Cheers.

If I may chime in here, I bought a Roland electronic kit with Hart Pro mesh bass & snare for just the reason you described. Sure, it's a little bit different animal than my standard sets, but it does allow me to practice, and practice far more than I could on my acoustic set without irritating my wife & frazzling our dogs. More practice as opposed to no practice has to be a good thing, yes? I'm glad I bought it, I wish I had sooner. Coolest thing is I can pump my I-pod into it & mix it into the headphones & play right along to songs I'm trying to learn.

[Funky Crêpe]

Originally Posted by Todd Sucherman

Hey Everyone,

Just dropping a note here at 5 am....just pulling into St. Louis after two amazing days in Chicago, my old hometown.

I've received a lot of positive feedback from the trailer clip of my upcoming DVD, "Methods and Mechanics"shown here at Drummerworld and I thought I'd pass on some news about it.

The release date is August 5th and we're hopefully doing the Blu Ray in the fall. It's an expensive proposition, but for now we have the double DVD shot in HD 16X9 at the replicators now. It clocks in at over 5 hours----so wear something comfortable for viewing! We will start taking pre orders and hopefully ship before the actual release date. You can get the info at Altitudedigital.com
http://altitudedigital.com/todd-such...mechanics.html

It will be available worldwide from them. I hope that those who choose to check it out gain much from the content and are entertained at the very least! I'm happy to pass on more information or answer any questions that anyone might have.

Thanks to Bernhard for this incredible site. I mention it by name in the DVD as well.....

And thanks to you guys as well! Cheers and happy drumming--

Todd Sucherman

Todd,
question for you, im a jazz drummer and am wondering if there is much in your new DVD for drummers like me...
ive seen many of your vidoes on drummerworld and your a great all round drummer, but do you focus on things that can help me??
and what snare do you use in your new DVD??...sounds great!
cheers

[stillgroovin]

Excuse me while I wipe the egg off my face.............That clip, was from the Modern Drummer fest 2008.....sorry!!!!!

[Todd Sucherman]

Supermac-

By all means, split your hands. A snare/tom flam with the tom hitting first and the snare last is a musically powerful thing---and the beginning of lots of Tony Williams-ish ideas that you can build on.

As far as the electronic kit goes, I echo Leadfoot's sentiments. It's great for maintenance practice. I mean, you can't develop your ride cymbal technique on a piece of rubber, you know? But it's better than nothing. And some of the sequencing gizmos on those things are downright fun. While nothing is like the real thing, electronic kits are great for drummers who have noise issues with their living situation.

Bosphorus--

I certainly hope there are things in the DVD that are applicable to ALL musicians! Besides obvious lesson type things-- there are thoughts on approaching music, musicians, career navigational ideas--tips and thoughts that I've developed over 34 years of being a working musician. I think the ideas are applicable to drummers of all types and styles---because it's up to the viewer to get what they want out of the materials. If some of the concepts are thought provoking it's up to the viewer to add the ideas to their musical bag---physically playing wise or just mentally.
Here's the text from the back cover of the DVD and will give you an overview:

"Todd Sucherman brings the knowledge of thousands of gigs, shows and recording sessions along with over three decades as a professional drummer to this useful and unique DVD package. Astonishing technique, power and musicality explode from the various musical and solo performances throughout this presentation. Working with artists over a myriad of genres diverse as Styx, Brian Wilson, Spinal Tap, Eric Marienthal, Peter Cetera, John Wetton, Steve Cole, The Falling Wallendas and countless more, there's a wealth of knowledge imparted that goes way beyond just the technical aspects of drumming. Methods and Mechanics is filled with practical career tips that will help you navigate through the music business as well as mental aspects and cerebral approaches to the art of playing music on the drums. Filmed in 16X9 in High Definition at a stunning location this DVD features music from Styx, Taylor Mills and Jerry Goodman and contains various solos and playing examples in an array of styles as well as technical lessons to enhance your rhythmic and musical vocabulary.

Methods and Mechanics includes:
Grip and stroke analysis with many rudiments and hybrid rudiment exercises on a practice pad with slow motion examples
Orchestration of hybrid rudiments and stickings for musical application on the drum set
In depth analysis of hi hat techniques and how they effect groove and feel
Emphasis on mastering a simple vocabulary before moving on to more complex concepts
Thoughts on practice and patience
8 performance songs with full analysis--some with "play by play" voice over
Full double bass drum vocabulary for unique use in grooves and fills
Odd time break down of more complex time signatures
Musical notation and downloadable PDFs
Jazz kit performances and tips for swing time and brushes
Tips for music business career navigation, as well as tips for recording sessions, shaping songs with dynamics, paying attention to lyrics, traveling on the road, keeping things fresh, thoughts on gear, gear maintenance, Building a drum room, and loads of extras that include A Day On The Road, Drum Room Tour, Thoughts on working with Styx, Brian Wilson and Taylor Mills, personal history, tribute fills, an extensive photo gallery, and even a blooper reel.

Methods and Mechanics is a stunning achievement that reminds us the music comes first and that the arts are one of life's greatest joys. Entertaining as well as educational, music and truth flow through this epic presentation.

Available worldwide from Altitude Digital Video Production Altitudedigital.com"

I hope you check it out and that it helps inspire creative ideas in you playing and thinking.


Stillgroovin--

The kit at the MD fest was a Pearl Reference in Crystal Rain finish.


Cheers!
Todd

[Funky Crêpe]

thanks a million for the response...."Jazz kit performances and tips for swing time and brushes"...THERE WE GO!...
the dvd really has a bulk in it!....i'll probably be going in on saturday to get it, im sure it will help me!
cheers

[Leadfoot]

Hey Todd,
I hope the Peoria show went well. I very much wanted to go but just couldn't work out the logistics, being in Champaign an hour & a half away, & having to be at work early the next morning as well as having a 9-1 gig after work :~( A little too much to swing.
Maybe next time, have a good one!

[*JOHN FAVICCHIA *]

Hey T-

Hope you are well!!!

All my best

Fav

[Todd Sucherman]

Bosphorus--

It might be light on "lesson" regarding swing time, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get some good stuff out of the 5 hour presentation. I hope so anyway! Thanks, and I hope you dig it.

Leadfoot--

Missed a fun gig. Next time!

Hey John!

My best to you, brother-

Cheers!

Todd

[drummingman]

Hi Todd.
I was just watching the promo video for the new pearl demon drive pedal and was just blown away by the things that you were doing with you hands in that vid. On your dvd do you cover what stickings and combination of stickings that you use to be able to play those awesome phrases and how to create those types of combinations? The kinds of things that you are doing on your hands in that vid is amazing man!
are there PDF files on your dvd of the examples that you show to print off to work on?
Just to ask, do you teach private lessons? if so what state do you live in? i'd love to get some lessons with you.
Thanks an God bless!

[Todd Sucherman]

Drummingman--

Thanks for your kind words. They are appreciated!

In my "Methods and Mechanics" dvd I go through a section on a practice pad that covers various rudiments, hybrid rudiments, compound stickings that have served me well over the years. Then there's a section with those expamples orchestrated on the kit. It shows musical applications with various different orchestrations and note rates. Then there is a double bass/hand/foot section that does the same. These to me are the building blocks to express different ideas on the drum set. There are PDF files of the hand stuff only---but that covers a lot. I hope it illustrates how these work in tandem with the feet and how to apply these to the kit in a musical way.

I live in Austin, but I really don't teach anymore. There are a few guys I've had over but it's been almost two years. If the band ever takes any serious time off, I'll have something on my website about lessons. Thanks for your interest!

You can order the dvd and have it sent directly to your mailbox here:
http://www.altitudedigital.com/todd-...mechanics.html

I hope you check it out and that it spurs creativity in your playing and thinking.

Thanks again!
Todd

[the-gablushe]

Hey Todd...

Just now I found that "rudiments" pdf on the "Methods"- Dvd, I read about. Very nice! ..Now of course I realize, I misspelled my username---I'll try to fix that....

Here we go: I'm looking forward to getting a new snaredrum one of these days. I own one of these rather cheap looking and nasty sounding tin-type snaredrums. Really nothing special...it came with the kit. Those snaredrums with wood hoops on them caught my attention some time ago and just recently I saw you playing one too (on "M and M", of course ...I believe it's a Pro Mark Anniversary snare---Also on the "Return to Paradise"-tour in 1996, if I'm not mistaken).

How do these types of hoops affect the sound of a drum, according to your opinion and does it make sense to install one on a snare with, let's say a brass corpus for instance (as I assume they are normaly put on wooden drums (?))

Are wooden hoops likely to splinter when you're hitting them on a regular basis, as one would a cast iron one, e.g.? (..gnarly english, I know...) ...

What's your opinion on wooden hoops in general?

Thanks a lot, Todd and servus from Bavaria
Andreas

[hateplow]

Todd.
I am VERY envious of your drum room!
Especially that Sonor Signature kit....just incredible.

[stillgroovin]

Ok folks, time to fill out the Modern drummer Readers poll!!!!! This DVD needs to win on merit alone!!!! One of the best. I already voted how about you!!!! You will find the poll on the MD website.

[drummingman]

hey todd! thanks so much for answering my questions! i look forward to getting your dvd!

[Todd Sucherman]

Gabloosh--


Hey, man. You know, wood is just another "color" or flavor, if you will. The wood hoop drum in my DVD is indeed a Pro Mark 50th made by Pete Stanbridge. Pete's drums are astounding and he makes the best wood hoops in the world, in my opinion. Check out his stuff at Stanbridgedrums.com
The snare from the '96 tour was an Ayotte. Good wood hoops shouldn't splinter and I've never experienced that at all. I used that Ayotte on the entire '96 and '97 tours---same hoops. The sound is really a personal choice and as I said, it's just a different flavor. I will say that the cross stick "rim clicks" on the Stanbridge hoops are hard to beat. Like a clave.

hateplow--

Thanks, man. The Sigs Special Editon....those were great.

stillgroovn'--

Thanks for the support! If anyone out there enjoyed "Methods and Mechanics" your support would certainly be appreciated. Here's the link:
http://www.moderndrummer.com/contest.php


drummingman--

My pleasure. I hope you pick it up and get good stuff out of it!

Off to freeze in Michigan in the morning.....

Cheers!
Todd