Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamz  25 years ago!? Wow! Missed them for sure in the 80's. I guess I was getting into the Simmons thing too much 
Not saying they didn't exisit but even while working part time at Zaph's Music in Philly during the early/mid 80's I don't recall that design. Today every GC I walk into has a few of them on display. I'm just curious if these drums and cymbals have opened up new doors sonically for percussionists or is it merely a way foor drum/cymbal manufacturers to motivate new buying interest.
The cymbals remind me of those designer jeans that have the razored holes in them. |
Ludwig made a split shell mahogany 14x10 that had individually adjustable snare strainers. Used it live like a madman from 1981-1986. Still got it somewhere. Maybe my Mom's house.
Premier made a drum called the "Project One(?)" with a big old hole for the mic on the side in a really bizarre "double shell" design. Had onna doze 2. Used it in studio on a record with Clarence Clemmons and some Singer-Songwriter cat from the Bahamas called "Capt. ???"(Can't remember/dreadful). Engineer was the ever grouchy/hilarious Bob Yauger. Who dubbed it a "Boat Anchor" to the concerted amusement of the assembled mob. I took it down in shame and put up the Radio King. Sold the drum about a week later to some drum shop in Syracuse. I thought it sounded decent on my side of the glass, but it really had gone down like a fart in church more than once in sessions.
As for the holey cymbals. Well... like I said... one man's poison... and speaking of bizarre china stylee stuff. Does anybody remember the Meinl "Double Dragon" line of chinas from the mid 80's? They were very "hit or miss"... but if you got a good one, the 16" china was one of the most useful and unusual sounding pieces of brass I have ever encountered. Shaped like a standard crash. Made of very soft metal. Amazing for "fast china" fusion stuff. Cracked the first one I had after about a year of VIGOROUS use. Ordered another. Sounded dreadful. Unusable. Ordered another. Also lackluster. Went to dealer in desperation. Tried about 8 of them. Found one. Not as amazing as my first but very respectable.
Cracked after about 6 weeks.
Gave up in disgust.
Ahh me.
Anyhoo.
BTW. The sole reason for my disparaging comments on the "holey cymbals" stems from a less than wonderful experience about 3 weeks ago attempting to integrate them sonically with a conventional cymbal/micing array. Disastrous. Might have been where the kid had them hung/Player. In any event... I'm sure we'll see more of them soon. Maybe I'll have a revised opinion then.
Certainly wouldn't be the first time. HOHOHO.
Best regards,
SM.