Billy Martin's Drum Kit - MMW

cdog · 30th December 2006

Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood has a really sweet drum sound going on.

Its got that fluffy kick drum tone that MPC junkies have been lusting after for years.

That raspy snare with lots of ring and body to it.

The cymbals never sound harsh but seem to smooth out the hartder they're hit.

And of course complete mastery of said components!

What kinda kit is he using? I'm after a kit with this sound for about $1000.

JonCraig · 30th December 2006

i'd be more interested in samples from that kit--for free.

--jon

GravityRobert · 31st December 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdog

What kinda kit is he using? I'm after a kit with this sound for about $1000.

It's a vintage kit of some sort.

[IMG]******//www.drummerworld.com/pics/drum/dpa21/BillyMartin9.jpg[/IMG]

******//www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Billy_Martin.html

T-rex · 31st December 2006

I think it's an old Rogers Holiday kit that is his favorite. Actually it seems like it wasn't even the Holiday kit but a budget Rogers kit that he prefers to record with. If I can dig up the article I will post the details.

This was a few years ago and he was also down to one cymbal because his other one finally cracked completely. He said he would rather just play just one and wait till he found a proper replacement instead of simply putting up any old cymbal. It had to sound right to him or he would rather just do without. Very cool. . .

chetatkinsdiet · 31st December 2006

..not a Rogers Holiday. It's a Tower kit. The student line that Rogers put out in the 60s. The Holiday was the regular double lug shells, the Tower is the single lug toms. These drums are amazing. I've got the exact kit...except mine looks better. Sounds the same though. Killer kicks as always with Rogers. The actual finish on his set, is the same as mine, red onyx. His is very faded.
Folks go on and on about vintage Gretsch, but Rogers is right there with them IMO.

later,

m

chetatkinsdiet · 31st December 2006

here's a pic of me and my kit like illyB's. Well, I left the floor tom at home, but the kick, tom and matching snare.....

[IMG]******//i142.photobucket.com/albums/r82/chetatkinsdiet/music%20stuff/DSC08192.jpg[/IMG]

steve 413 · 3rd January 2007

I take lessons from Billy in NJ, he is also an intense teacher- Always very challenging

The kit is a Rogers Luxor- which was a student model in the 50's. Its a really low end model, but he just happened to get one that sounds great. For a while, he was using a Jamacian Nyhabingi (spelling??) drum as a kick, which gives a great low end thump. His ride cymbal is a cracked to hell, A Zildjian from the 50's- it just has a very unique sound. I have asked him about gear on a few occasions, but he's never really into it- it seems like if something sounds good and feels right, thats all that matters.

For samples... He did put out that breakbeat album, i think there are 3 volumes of it which are just recordings of the drums, i'm sure you can get some individual samples in there.

chetatkinsdiet · 4th January 2007

The Luxor is the name of the 6 lug snare that Rogers shipped with a Tower kit. The badges in the kits all have the names on them.
FYI...there's a lot of pics of his little teaching/practice room in the new Modern Drummer that just hit. In there, he's playing the same color, red onyx, but a regular Holiday kit....well, the toms at least. He's pictured with that old funky Rasta kick. The snare he's using is the 8 lug wooden Powertone. They sound great...I've got one of them too. Love the vintage Rogers drums.

later,

m

spitfire8898 · 2nd April 2007

Funny I came across this thread tonight. I was just listening to combustication in the car all day and was thinking about his drum choice and style. I've been playing for awhile now and he's probably one of my favorite drummers around...
Illy, if you're reading this- You kick some ass

Bang · 2nd April 2007

One of our customer's pointed me to his drum sound and we worked out some similar tones for our V2 coming out. Really kick ass drummer!

fadista · 2nd April 2007

It also depends what album you're listening to,

for Shackman he was using a rogers hollyday set that belonged to a friend.

I think Combustication is already with his own set.

And don't underestimate the enginer's skills on getting these sounds, the amazing (and now unfortunately deceased) David Baker engineered their early albums, and for me they're their best sounding ones.

30th December 2006	#1
cdog Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 3,559 Thread Starter 3 Reviews written	Billy Martin's Drum Kit - MMW Billy Martin of Medeski Martin & Wood has a really sweet drum sound going on. Its got that fluffy kick drum tone that MPC junkies have been lusting after for years. That raspy snare with lots of ring and body to it. The cymbals never sound harsh but seem to smooth out the hartder they're hit. And of course complete mastery of said components! What kinda kit is he using? I'm after a kit with this sound for about $1000.

31st December 2006	#4
T-rex Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville Posts: 204	I think it's an old Rogers Holiday kit that is his favorite. Actually it seems like it wasn't even the Holiday kit but a budget Rogers kit that he prefers to record with. If I can dig up the article I will post the details. This was a few years ago and he was also down to one cymbal because his other one finally cracked completely. He said he would rather just play just one and wait till he found a proper replacement instead of simply putting up any old cymbal. It had to sound right to him or he would rather just do without. Very cool. . . __________________ We use a PC. We have lots of programs that make binary code sound very much like rock n roll.

2nd April 2007	#10
Bang Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,701	One of our customer's pointed me to his drum sound and we worked out some similar tones for our V2 coming out. Really kick ass drummer! __________________ Steven Slate Hear drum samples used by today's top mixers and used on tons of top billboard hits at: www.stevenslatedrums.com SSD Drum Suite now Available for DOWNLOAD!! 40 WORLD CLASS DRUMKITS FOR RTAS/VST/AU www.slatedigital.com DOWNLOAD NEW TRIGGER DEMO! www.slateproaudio.com

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30th December 2006	#2
JonCraig Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,800	i'd be more interested in samples from that kit--for free. --jon

31st December 2006	#5
chetatkinsdiet Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,493	..not a Rogers Holiday. It's a Tower kit. The student line that Rogers put out in the 60s. The Holiday was the regular double lug shells, the Tower is the single lug toms. These drums are amazing. I've got the exact kit...except mine looks better. Sounds the same though. Killer kicks as always with Rogers. The actual finish on his set, is the same as mine, red onyx. His is very faded. Folks go on and on about vintage Gretsch, but Rogers is right there with them IMO. later, m

3rd January 2007	#7
steve 413 Gear Head Joined: May 2006 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 40	I take lessons from Billy in NJ, he is also an intense teacher- Always very challenging The kit is a Rogers Luxor- which was a student model in the 50's. Its a really low end model, but he just happened to get one that sounds great. For a while, he was using a Jamacian Nyhabingi (spelling??) drum as a kick, which gives a great low end thump. His ride cymbal is a cracked to hell, A Zildjian from the 50's- it just has a very unique sound. I have asked him about gear on a few occasions, but he's never really into it- it seems like if something sounds good and feels right, thats all that matters. For samples... He did put out that breakbeat album, i think there are 3 volumes of it which are just recordings of the drums, i'm sure you can get some individual samples in there.

4th January 2007	#8
chetatkinsdiet Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,493	The Luxor is the name of the 6 lug snare that Rogers shipped with a Tower kit. The badges in the kits all have the names on them. FYI...there's a lot of pics of his little teaching/practice room in the new Modern Drummer that just hit. In there, he's playing the same color, red onyx, but a regular Holiday kit....well, the toms at least. He's pictured with that old funky Rasta kick. The snare he's using is the 8 lug wooden Powertone. They sound great...I've got one of them too. Love the vintage Rogers drums. later, m

2nd April 2007	#9
spitfire8898 Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 502	Funny I came across this thread tonight. I was just listening to combustication in the car all day and was thinking about his drum choice and style. I've been playing for awhile now and he's probably one of my favorite drummers around... Illy, if you're reading this- You kick some ass

2nd April 2007	#11
fadista Gear Head Joined: Oct 2005 Location: portugal Posts: 52	It also depends what album you're listening to, for Shackman he was using a rogers hollyday set that belonged to a friend. I think Combustication is already with his own set. And don't underestimate the enginer's skills on getting these sounds, the amazing (and now unfortunately deceased) David Baker engineered their early albums, and for me they're their best sounding ones.