MattA
Senior Member
There are a few threads on the forum at the moment about asking for advice in the process of buying drums and cymbals: http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83495 and http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83452
There's some interesting points that I've taken from these and other threads, as well as attitudes in the real world. One of these points is that there is multiple factors that influences purchases. These range from wanting to buy gear that your favourite drummers use, the look or image of a brand and last but not least advice from other drummers, such as on this forum.
All of these things may hold some validity up to a point. But what is more common within these threads the is advice to people to follow their own ears. What I'm wondering, is if there would be any merit in the idea of testing drum gear blind. I know drumming blind may not be ultimate, but something like a translucent blindfold that would let you see where the objects were but not what brand they are. I know some drummers that are very brand loyal for one reason or another. Some drummers also assume that more expensive is equal to a better choice for them. Often these drummers may be right. I'd be very curious to see if these type of drummers would always pick out 'their' brand or 'the most expensive' gear in a blind test.
I worked in hospitality for a long time and a coffee company that I used to work with did a blind taste testing with all of their reps. Alarmingly one of their cheaper blends ended up being marked the highest by the most reps. I can't help but feel this same concept could successfully be applied to drums too.
Not all people think that sound is the be all and end of all drum and cymbal buying, but I'd argue that it would be the first thing I'd test, the more even of a playing field the better. Do you think there's merit in an idea like that? Would you particiapte in a blind test next time you went to buy a new cymbal or kit?
There's some interesting points that I've taken from these and other threads, as well as attitudes in the real world. One of these points is that there is multiple factors that influences purchases. These range from wanting to buy gear that your favourite drummers use, the look or image of a brand and last but not least advice from other drummers, such as on this forum.
All of these things may hold some validity up to a point. But what is more common within these threads the is advice to people to follow their own ears. What I'm wondering, is if there would be any merit in the idea of testing drum gear blind. I know drumming blind may not be ultimate, but something like a translucent blindfold that would let you see where the objects were but not what brand they are. I know some drummers that are very brand loyal for one reason or another. Some drummers also assume that more expensive is equal to a better choice for them. Often these drummers may be right. I'd be very curious to see if these type of drummers would always pick out 'their' brand or 'the most expensive' gear in a blind test.
I worked in hospitality for a long time and a coffee company that I used to work with did a blind taste testing with all of their reps. Alarmingly one of their cheaper blends ended up being marked the highest by the most reps. I can't help but feel this same concept could successfully be applied to drums too.
Not all people think that sound is the be all and end of all drum and cymbal buying, but I'd argue that it would be the first thing I'd test, the more even of a playing field the better. Do you think there's merit in an idea like that? Would you particiapte in a blind test next time you went to buy a new cymbal or kit?