Postby nomsgmusic » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:48 pm
DSOP, I basically agree with what you are saying. I have been saying for a while ("somewhat" sarcastically) that the four best "inventions" in drum gear of the last 20 years has been Evans' Magnetic key (that stays put on a lug, and doesn't rattle around;) Thrones that are ACTUALLY comfortable and don't move or hurt to sit on for hours (thanks Roc and Soc!!!!) the hi hat clutches that lock with the little set screw in between the cymbals (I still use the DW one, but I'm sure there are others.) And the cymbal bag with the slide out handle and the built in wheels!
I agree with the sentiment that the Yamaha tom mounts are (by far) the best out there (as is ALL there hardware!) I have mine mounted on RIMS, and I use the short rods (made for YESS mounts.) I do admit there is a little extra tension put on the tuning rods, but nothing a little tweaking can't fix. I always thought the 2 nodal point mounts on the older YESS, seemed a little shaky, when I have played them on backline kits. And the DW tom mounts (on backline kits) ALWAYS move around way too much!!! I agree that the black wood mounts on the PHX drums look pretty bad, but maybe they have improved upon them.
But as to your original thought, how many more materials and ways are "they" going to make shells from, before they can turn their full attention to better and LIGHTER, hardware. Those original 4 ideas that I mentioned must have come from "working drummers" like ourselves, and they really made working as a professional musician EASIER!!!! But I have yet to talk to another drummer on a break who has said something like, "Gee, I think (or hope) they would create drum shells vertically, or what about 23" bass drums? Or I really wish that my 12x8 tom was actually a 12x9... Or whatever (you get the point.)
How about an EASY way to boom a cowbell into the "normal position (over BD pedal,)" without having to clamp onto a nice wooden finished bass drum hoop. Maybe a nice little boom that comes off of the SD stand. and doesn't interfere with the BD beaters. Yes I know you can get one off of the tom mount, but if you have 2 rack toms, it's a little tight. How about a music stand top that you can EASILY attach to the top of a spare cymbal stand (boom or otherwise, so you can put music where you want it.) I have a nice little way to mount (one of the many great, mine is a Dr. Beat) metronomes under the HH cymbals, where it is shaded from stage lights, and easily accessible, and hardly visible. But I had to hack up a bunch of stands and clamps.
I have made all of these myself, so I'm set. But it would be nice if a big company started really thinking about the drummers out here that are playing drums for a living! LIke those original 4 ideas that I mentioned.
Anyway,
Mark
[url][/url]bluejayrecords.com/drumatic
[url][/url]vicfirth.com/artists/mark_griffith.html