Show us your tiny kits

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by Tropellor

... i'm thinking of putting a PZM mic in there as it's a contact mic, it should pick up all the bass frequencies. Yeah, it's a 13" Rack tom that i've cut in half, the other half is my "floor tom".

Very inventive, Trop. And to think I thought my 16" floor was tiny :) What style of music are you playing with it?

[Kenny Allyn]

The "suitcase" kit is amazing ...

Here is mine (not as cool as the Samsonite) as seen in use.

This was at an art gallery so it didn't need to be loud, it's a YAMAHA Katche Jr. kit with a Ludwig Supraphonic snare. we dispensed with using the rack tom and mounted a ride cymbal with the bracket, on occasion we don't even use the floor tom. On bigger gigs (small clubs played out of town and such we use the whole 4 piece kit) and that still makes for a pretty small footprint!

It's NOT me on the drums, it's WC Garrison who has played at one time or another with just about everyone in Memphis since 1965 ... that IS me on bass, drums are kinda a third instrument for me.

[Tropellor]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Very inventive, Trop. And to think I thought my 16" floor was tiny :) What style of music are you playing with it?

Heya Polly,

At the moment i'm doing some acoustic folk/blues with it, but it's got great potential to do some drum and bass I think.

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by Tropellor

Heya Polly,

At the moment i'm doing some acoustic folk/blues with it, but it's got great potential to do some drum and bass I think.

Folk/blues sounds like an ideal fit for that kit to me, Trop. Are you going to do a Jim Keltner and ride the tambourine or shakers as you play? That can well in folk numbers.

[Tropellor]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Folk/blues sounds like an ideal fit for that kit to me, Trop. Are you going to do a Jim Keltner and ride the tambourine or shakers as you play? That can well in folk numbers.

Heya Polly,

Yeah, i do like to use a shaker in my right hand with a brush in my left - the tricky bit is changing back to two brushes!

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by Tropellor

Heya Polly,

Yeah, i do like to use a shaker in my right hand with a brush in my left - the tricky bit is changing back to two brushes!

Yep, swapping implements is hard. We have a song where I move from bushes to sticks. Last rehearsal, you hear the noise of the brushes hitting the carpet when I swap. Real classy - not :)

[bobdadruma]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Yep, swapping implements is hard. We have a song where I move from bushes to sticks. Last rehearsal, you hear the noise of the brushes hitting the carpet when I swap. Real classy - not :)

When I listen to Jazz recordings with headphones, I hear things like that frequently.

[BassDriver]

Introducing the revolutionary drum kit with more practice practicality that even a rhythm traveller kit.




Yes, those are acoustic drums, no true shells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkSGZwV9aE0

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Yep, swapping implements is hard. We have a song where I move from bushes to sticks. Last rehearsal, you hear the noise of the brushes hitting the carpet when I swap. Real classy - not :)

Put a towel on the floor

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Mine added to this thread. 18 x 16 Bass 12 rack, 13 floor, 5 x 14 snare

[bobdadruma]

Originally Posted by BassDriver

Introducing the revolutionary drum kit with more practice practicality that even a rhythm traveller kit.




Yes, those are acoustic drums, no true shells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkSGZwV9aE0

I sampled the Traps kit before I bought my Rhythm Traveler. I played, and compared the two kits side by side.
The Traps snare sounded good. I would still never play it at a gig. Even exchange with the RT snare.
The Traps bass drum was just OK, nowhere near as good sounding as the Travelers bass drum.
The Travelers toms blew away the Traps toms by a long shot. The shallow wooden RT toms have some tone.
Bigest downside of the Traps kit is the weight! It weighed what felt to me to be twice as much as the Traveler.
The Traps kit cost a lot more that the RT.

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by BassDriver

Introducing the revolutionary drum kit with more practice practicality that even a rhythm traveller kit.

Yes, those are acoustic drums, no true shells.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkSGZwV9aE0

BD, when I was playing keys and were auditioning drummers a guy came in with a kit like that. The lack of resonance produce an attack-heavy sound that didn't gel with the music, even though the guy was a decent drummer.

GD, good idea, a bunched up towel would help.

Bob, glad I'm not the only one. I start the song sitting on the sticks (pointing sideways!) but once I swap, there's no going back. Be a bummer if I wanted to play brushes again later on; if I had a floor tom to use as a table it would be easier ... but I have a tiny kit :)

[caddywumpus]

Here's my tiny kit that I use at smaller (usually coffee shop and quiet restaurant) gigs. It's a 1920s Slingerland snare, a 1960s Rogers 16"x12" marching tom converted to a bass drum, a pair of super-light vintage Zildjians, and a 20" K Con Light ride. This is a kit that sounds SO sweet and has a lot of complexity, but doesn't get very loud. This is the kind of kit that inspires you to play differently, for sure...

(EDIT: sorry, the first picture is "flipped". I'm not a lefty...)

[bobdadruma]

Thats a little beauty caddy! Nice conversion of the marching drum.

[caddywumpus]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

Thats a little beauty caddy! Nice conversion of the marching drum.

She is an absolute beauty! I didn't do the conversion on the bass drum, though...I bought it
"pre-converted". The thing is cherry, and sounds just as sweet as one. Also, the snare is of particular interest, because it was a "Tone Flange" model that somebody took off the flange, removed the screws, and carved it down and cut the bearing edges (that's why the tension rods on top are so short). Nice 80+ year old single-ply mahogany shell with the first-ever version of a sparkle wrap, which looks like a golden sand. Drummers always ask me about it at gigs because it sounds so amazing and looks so unique. Not to brag or anything... :D

[bobdadruma]

How exactly did a Tone Flange work?
I have never seen one up close.

[caddywumpus]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

How exactly did a Tone Flange work?
I have never seen one up close.

Slingerland used to make banjos, so picture a snare with a very dry and snappy sound. The advertisements for the Tone Flange snare actually said something about drying out the "annoying overtones", or something like that. I've only heard one, and it had the original calf heads in bad condition, and it sounded really awful, like a terrible-sounding cheap snare not even tuned just above wrinkling.

But, mine sounds GREAT!!! :D

[Pollyanna]

Caddy, I agree with Bob - your little kit is ideal. The bare essentials and nothing else. Even though I've been gradually adding extra bits to my kit over the past year I could do without all of the additions, except the djembe - a single piece that adds a whole extra dimension for the band.

[caddywumpus]

Originally Posted by Pollyanna

Caddy, I agree with Bob - your little kit is ideal. The bare essentials and nothing else. Even though I've been gradually adding extra bits to my kit over the past year I could do without all of the additions, except the djembe - a single piece that adds a whole extra dimension for the band.

Sumtimes I add a floor tom or a crash or splash. It changes the setup alot!

[drumkev1970]

Just packed up to go to it's new owner. Stagg Jia Deluxe. Quality unreal! Die cast hoops, all Maple ply shells. Sounded deadly when mic'd up but 18 x 14 bass drum didn't punch its' weight acoustically. Wished I could have kept it as a spare but no room/ needed cash. The cymbals on this picture were Paiste PST5 but I upgraded to Alchemy Pro 20" Power ride, 14" Power hats, 16" rock and sweet crashes with a 8" splash I found and a £25 Wuhan China. I've now bought a bigger kit a Mapex M-Birch Tourer with the two floor toms.

[Pollyanna]

Originally Posted by caddywumpus

Sumtimes I add a floor tom or a crash or splash. It changes the setup alot!

Caddy, u r so wiked. "alot" ... th "word" tht rimes wit "shalot" :)

That's the thing about small kits, the addition on one extra piece creates a whole new dimension. Then there's the temptation to just add that extra piece again ... and again ... I think it takes commitment to having a small kit to have a small kit otherwise the natural trend is to renovate.

[Biach]

Here is my tiny custom bebop kit from the Global Drum Company... 14X16 virgin kick, 12X14 floating floor tom, and a 10X12 rack tom. Everything is triggered electronically so that i can play at my condo, and it fits up in my tiny loft next to my bed! I wake up to this beut every morning...

[drumkev1970]

That is such a great kit and a really interesting idea. I had a Roland V kit for a while but it did nothing for me. You've got to have wood to be a drum!

[dodos]

Originally Posted by GRUNTERSDAD

Here is my entry into the mini kit parade.

16 x 16 Catalina Maple Bass w/conversion kit
10 x 9 Renown Maple tom
4 x 14 Keller Piccolo snare...home made

p.s. if anyone has any tuning tips for a non-ringing bass sound my ears are open. I have a Fibreskin reso and
a pinstripe batter.

man
i just want to do the same thing with my bass
i want an remo ambassador powerstroke
and fiberskyn at the other side,without muffling in it..
will it sound good,i mean does your sounds good now?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I have since built a set with an 18 inch floortom conversion so the 16 is now back to being a floor tom.

[wonder1]

[boomstick]

^ Very cool. Looks like a modified cocktail kit...or did it come that way?

[wonder1]

Hi,Boomstick!
That's a 12" Tama Swing-Star tom converted to Kick/Tom(self-made kick's pedal bracket).10" Single head snare(cut from 10"tom!)on the left.8" single head tom(right).I change a new covering for all the drums!!

[Pollyanna]

How does the single-headed snare work? Are the snares directly under the batter? How does its sound differ from a normal snare?

Wonder, I agree with Boom. That's a cute cocktail kit. Just need a cowbell or wood block to top it off :)

[wonder1]

Hi,Pollyanna!
Ya! your're right! there's a snare-wire attached under the drum's head(Home made snare wire bracket attached to the snare's body!!).This single head snare's sound Fat! Tight! & Clearn! when the music call for,I do have the Cow-bell & wood-block attached on this drum-kits!

[wonder1]

This's another one...but is 14" kick/tom.two 6"mini-tom, 10" mini snare!

[bobdadruma]

Some new pics of my Tama StageStar Jazz kit with my 13 x 5.5 Black Panther Maple snare in black stain and my Agop Jazz cymbals along with my 13 1/4" K Custom Hybrid hats and 11" splash.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

Some new pics of my Tama StageStar Jazz kit with my 13 x 5.5 Black Panther Maple snare in black stain and my Agop Jazz cymbals along with my 13 1/4" K Custom Hybrid hats and 11" splash.

Looking good Bob!

Looks nice and inviting to just sit down and play from my end :}

[bobdadruma]

Originally Posted by Steamer

Looking good Bob!

Looks nice and inviting to just sit down and play from my end :}

Thanks Stan,It is an extremely comfortable kit to play! Even though there is nothing fancy about the Tama drums, they sound great! The Panther snare is also great! Of corse, The Cymbals!!!
The whole kit, cymbals, drums, snare, stands, were all bought used.
The total cost of all pictured, plus an 8x10 tom that isn't shown was about $900. A great sounding low budget Jazzer.
You don't have to spend a lot to get a lot.
I spent about a year waiting for the right deals to appear.

[Kenny Allyn]

Mine just got smaller ...

The addition of the Zil K Con 19" prototype cymbal gave me a good one cymbal solution for my micro kit.

Supraphonic 400 snare from 1969
Yamaha 16 x16 kick from a Katche Hip Gig kit
Zil New Beat 14" hats
Tama IC pedals

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

Thanks Stan,It is an extremely comfortable kit to play! Even though there is nothing fancy about the Tama drums, they sound great!
The whole kit, cymbals, drums, snare, stands, were all bought used.
The total cost of all pictured, plus an 8x10 tom that isn't shown was about $900. A great sounding low budget Jazzer.
You don't have to spend a lot to get a lot.
I spent about a year waiting for the right deals to appear.

Great deal and yes i've learned that one too my friend in life { with drums in particular}.

It's the sound that only counts and matters at the end of the day depending on each individual players touch and tuning skills regarding the drums in question and the price paid.

[Steamer]

Originally Posted by Kenny Allyn

Mine just got smaller ...

The addition of the Zil K Con 19" prototype cymbal gave me a good one cymbal solution for my micro kit.

Supraphonic 400 snare from 1969
Yamaha 16 x16 kick from a Katche Hip Gig kit
Zil New Beat 14" hats
Tama IC pedals

Cool...... I use a very similar setup for gigs in REALLY small rooms Kenny with a custom made for me back in 1990 16" bass drum.

[Kenny Allyn]

Originally Posted by Steamer

Cool...... I use a very similar setup for gigs in REALLY small rooms Kenny with a custom made for me back in 1990 16" bass drum.

I was inspired seeing a drummer locally one night using a kit about like this one ... and it was amazing what he could do with it ... and how quickly he was packed up and out of the venue.

I'm all for buying used as about 80% of the gear I acquired was used it just takes waiting for the right deal to come along.

It's ashamed they don't make the Yamaha Katche Hip Gig any more great sounding kit for not a lot of $$$

The whole kit is actually pretty small ...

[hailukah]

Here's my drum set:

This is a $2 suitcase from Goodwill and a cut-down folding stool.


Here are the contents of the suitcase.


Here the cymbals are out showing the hardware underneath.


The 12" snare, stands, and pedal are from a free First Act kit.


I screwed a 3" hinge through the case and into a small backing block on the inside. The suitcase is very stable and with the pedal attached it won't go anywhere. Also notice the beater :) I was using a felt beater, but it was too hard. The bass was all attack and no boom. Now, with the tennis ball on there, I get a nice deep boom out of the case.


The driver's seat. That is a Gibraltar cymbal boom arm inserted into the tom mount from the old bass drum.


My homemade multi-rods. The whole kit is quiet enough that I can practice anytime.

The great thing is how little room the kit takes up. Plus I can (un)pack in about 5 minutes.

EDIT: Here's a short vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pRVvgzzcJw

[boomstick]

^ Awesome. I love it.