Gavin Harrison here!

[Michael Segura]

Hey Gavin,

I was recently listening to the Circles album you did with 05Ric and I was curious if you were still interested in making another album with him?

 

[dave mc]

Hi Gavin,

Got my 12" Protean yesterday and couldn't be happier!! Looks killer with my white Sonor Martini kit!

A question for you regarding your toms. I know that you use S-Hoops. On your toms do you only use S-hoops on the batter side or also on the reso sides? Thanks so much!

Cheers....Dave

 

[Drumdame]

Hi Gavin,

Got my 12" Protean yesterday and couldn't be happier!! Looks killer with my white Sonor Martini kit!

A question for you regarding your toms. I know that you use S-Hoops. On your toms do you only use S-hoops on the batter side or also on the reso sides? Thanks so much!

Cheers....Dave

That's one black beauty... enjoy!

 

[Gavin Harrison]

My question however is, have you ever played a gig where you maybe did enjoy the music but the musicianship of the players was subpar? If so how did you handle that? Did you say anything to them or quit or just “suffer in silence” because of good pay?

I suppose I have been in situations like that. If someone in the band is putting me off with their 'alternative' timing - I try to get them turned way down in my monitoring.

I was recently listening to the Circles album you did with 05Ric and I was curious if you were still interested in making another album with him?

We made three albums together around the start of the last decade. It was a great project and we even managed to play three short tours with a live band. Great fun times and a project that we were happy with in the moment. I got busy with King Crimson and then also joined The Pineapple Thief. I think the interest never went away - but whether we'll get back to it? I don't really know.

A question for you regarding your toms. I know that you use S-Hoops. On your toms do you only use S-hoops on the batter side or also on the reso sides?

yes I do have them on the reso sides as well as the top. Hope you enjoy playing the 12" Protean snare drum !

Cheers
Gavin

 

[Blackcat2]

Harrison won the Modern Drummer readers' poll for "best progressive drummer of the year" consecutively from 2007–2010 and again in 2016 and 2019. He won "Best Prog Drummer" in DRUM USA magazine 2011. Prog voted him best drummer in 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

krnt.run

indigocard.ltd

 

[JimmyM]

Harrison won the Modern Drummer readers' poll for "best progressive drummer of the year" consecutively from 2007–2010 and again in 2016 and 2019. He won "Best Prog Drummer" in DRUM USA magazine 2011. Prog voted him best drummer in 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

krnt.run

indigocard.ltd

I’ll give it up to this spammer. At least he attempted to be relevant with a cut and paste about Gavin before posting links to his crappy ripoffs and/or malware.

 

[iCe]

I’ll give it up to this spammer. At least he attempted to be relevant with a cut and paste about Gavin before posting links to his crappy ripoffs and/or malware.

Let's see and wait if his posts are genuine or appear to be... futile *
*See what i did there?

 

[iCe]

Hi Gavin,

I was thinking about how foolish it was that i sold my 18" Crash of Doom and thought about that you have/had a 16" in your setup. How did that cymbal came to be? Was it a custom order or did Zildjian have a prototype lying around that you liked? Just curious about the story behind that cymbal. Thanks in advance for answering!

 

[Gavin Harrison]

I was thinking about how foolish it was that i sold my 18" Crash of Doom and thought about that you have/had a 16" in your setup. How did that cymbal came to be? Was it a custom order or did Zildjian have a prototype lying around that you liked? Just curious about the story behind that cymbal.

I believe almost all Crash Of Dooms were 20" - the 18" was super rare and I did have one and absolutely loved it (unfortunately I broke it). I asked Zildjian if they would make me some 15" 16" and 17" Crash of Dooms. The 16" is really very nice. It was a prototype project that never went any further. I also have a 22" which surprisingly makes a very interesting ride cymbal.

cheers
Gavin

 

[JimmyM]

I believe almost all Crash Of Dooms were 20" - the 18" was super rare and I did have one and absolutely loved it (unfortunately I broke it). I asked Zildjian if they would make me some 15" 16" and 17" Crash of Dooms. The 16" is really very nice. It was a prototype project that never went any further. I also have a 22" which surprisingly makes a very interesting ride cymbal.

cheers
Gavin

Wonder why they didn’t market them in at least one of those sizes. 16 seems like it would be a seller, at least. Dilution of the marketplace, perhaps?

 

[wildcatspirit]

I talked to him last year. he's an interesting man.

 

[jnchristp]

Hej Gavin,
just watched your Vic Firth YouTube-Video. Great one, very informative. As I'm not a drummer myself, but like to record and mix, I really enjoyed your mixing advice. I also think one should treat the drum not as many small pieces, but one big instrument.
Just one question: I see you are clipping the logic-meters quiet heavily. Is that okay for you? I'm always concerned about not clipping, because I fear some negative effects. It doesn't bother you?
I'm really looking forward to seeing you again in Berlin this October. Saw you with Pineapple in Hamburg a few years ago and really enjoyed the concert and your playing. Keep it up!
Just an Idea. Maybe you could get Steven to make a kind of session-mixing-video, where he shows a full PT-session? That would be great!
All the best to you
Jan

 

[Gavin Harrison]

Just one question: I see you are clipping the logic-meters quiet heavily. Is that okay for you? I'm always concerned about not clipping, because I fear some negative effects. It doesn't bother you?

yes I used to worry about that too - but it doesn't matter if the individual channels go way into the red as long as the Master channel never goes over zero. Sound On Sound magazine proved this many years ago. They put a sine wave through a channel and added 96db to it so that it blasted way into the red - but they kept the master fader below zero and examined the sine wave against the original sine wave and concluded that there was no distortion at all. Since then I've never worried about it - or heard any clipping.

cheers
Gavin

 

[jnchristp]

yes I used to worry about that too - but it doesn't matter if the individual channels go way into the red as long as the Master channel never goes over zero. Sound On Sound magazine proved this many years ago. They put a sine wave through a channel and added 96db to it so that it blasted way into the red - but they kept the master fader below zero and examined the sine wave against the original sine wave and concluded that there was no distortion at all. Since then I've never worried about it - or heard any clipping.

cheers
Gavin

Thanks, Gavin, that's nice to know. And of course: When it sounds good (as your drumsound does) it must be good.
Cheers
Jan

 

[dave mc]

yes I do have them on the reso sides as well as the top. Hope you enjoy playing the 12" Protean snare drum !

Cheers
Gavin

Hi Gavin, Thanks so much for your response. I am enjoying it very much and it looks so classy.

I am sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you could elaborate on how you look at tuning the snare side (reso)head. Once you get the head to finger tight is there some sort of go-to that you use? Like a half turn on each lug? I have been experimenting to reduce sympathetic snare buzz with my toms. Thanks again so much. Dave

 

[Gavin Harrison]

I was wondering if you could elaborate on how you look at tuning the snare side (reso)head. Once you get the head to finger tight is there some sort of go-to that you use? Like a half turn on each lug? I have been experimenting to reduce sympathetic snare buzz with my toms

I crank it up pretty tight - at least a couple of turns or more. Reducing sympathetic snare buzz with the toms - is mostly about the pitch of the toms v the snare - but you'll never get rid of all of it. Best of luck
cheers
Gavin

 

[dave mc]

I crank it up pretty tight - at least a couple of turns or more. Reducing sympathetic snare buzz with the toms - is mostly about the pitch of the toms v the snare - but you'll never get rid of all of it. Best of luck
cheers
Gavin

Thanks so much Gavin for your response. I am having fun reading through this thread. I am a relative new to drums, under 2 years and am enjoying it very much. It is definitely challenging! I love everything you have done and the sound and melody you are able to convey. Wishing you all the best on the PT tour. Take care...Dave

 

[Joaquín Martínez]

How are you Gavin? I hope you are doing alright!

I want to take a moment to clarify a doubt I actually have.

I've seen in your social media accounts and on the official PT website, the kit that you'll be using on the CC tour. It truly is a magnificent kit!
And at the same time I had a concern about the tour that you will do with The Pineapple Thief, will you also take your Sonor kit on tour?

This question is because I'm from Chile, and I would like to know how is this process in which you manage to take your kit to the different stages of the world. For The Pineapple Thief will be the same case that you will take some Sonor kit as you will do with Porcupine Tree? or will you contact with different people or distributors in each country to get some Sonor drums?

I ask this because if you need a Sonor kit for Chile, I could offer you a wide variety of Sonor options. They fit quite well in your standard format.

I'll attach a picture of the kit I'm currently using, which consists of a Sonor SQ2 Maple in 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 22" bass drum.
But I also have other quite complete kits of SQ2 editions (acrylics), Sonor Designer, Signature, and others. I also have 15" and 18" floor toms like you also like.

As I said at the beginning this question came up because you will be performing with both bands in my country, and I would like to know how is the process of bringing your kit. And in the case of maybe The Pineapple Thief, if you need any particular kit. I would be honoured to contact you and help you in securing a particular Sonor Kit.

I will look forward to hearing from you,

I really don't know if this is something you have already contemplated or not, and I don't know how this process of being able to carry your personal kits in each country works. But at least I wanted to take advantage of this forum to consult you directly.

Greetings to you!

Joaquín

 

[GalenMusic]

Hey Gavin! On "Source" from Rhythmic Illusions, you're soloing over 7+7+5 which the click track outlines, but the notated solo is in 4/4. I assume that's because the following section is 6 repetitions of 19, plus two 7s for 128 beats total - very sneaky! Are you thinking in 4/4 or in the 19/8 structure for this solo? I'm playing it for an LTCL performance qualification, and so it seems nightmarish to play it in 4/4 while the click is working against me so hard, but I thought I'd better not re-record the click to suit me if you've got a better way of perceiving the section.

There's also an extra 2/4 but I assume that's to take the song back to the chorus.

 

[Gavin Harrison]

I've seen in your social media accounts and on the official PT website, the kit that you'll be using on the CC tour. It truly is a magnificent kit!
And at the same time I had a concern about the tour that you will do with The Pineapple Thief, will you also take your Sonor kit on tour?

This question is because I'm from Chile, and I would like to know how is this process in which you manage to take your kit to the different stages of the world. For The Pineapple Thief will be the same case that you will take some Sonor kit as you will do with Porcupine Tree? or will you contact with different people or distributors in each country to get some Sonor drums?

For this 2022 Porcupine Tree tour I'll be using my "Tribal Yellow Stripe" Sonor set as we have the budget to bring all our equipment from the UK and we will bring it to Mexico and Chile. I do aslo have a "Blue Tribal" set that I keep in the USA for the tours that I make with Pineapple Thief/King Crimson (and for any other reason). On tours with smaller budgets - it's not always possible to bring the drums out of the country - so at that point local Sonor distributors (in the other countries that we are playing) can provide a set for me. Thanks for your kind offer anyway !

Hey Gavin! On "Source" from Rhythmic Illusions, you're soloing over 7+7+5 which the click track outlines, but the notated solo is in 4/4. I assume that's because the following section is 6 repetitions of 19, plus two 7s for 128 beats total - very sneaky! Are you thinking in 4/4 or the structure for this solo?

To be honest I can't remember why - probably I was thinking of the solo in 4/4 rather than 19/8 - and knowing what I'm like I probably had a 'marker click' counting me back into the next section !

best of luck
Gavin