Re: Carlock moves to Grestch
Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 2:07 pm
Gavin is quite consistent also... (another cat taking care of the engineering side of it)
Bringing drummers together since 1999
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Didn't Regal Tip make him a signature stick just a year ago?Clint Hopkins wrote:I didn't realize until today that he also switched to Vic Firth.
I'm not sure how long it's been but he has a signature stick with them and it's still on their website. Maybe he just has a pepper mill endorsement with Vic.DSOP wrote:Didn't Regal Tip make him a signature stick just a year ago?Clint Hopkins wrote:I didn't realize until today that he also switched to Vic Firth.
Indeed! I actually broke one yesterday... Nice sticks, not sure about the finishing, but really nice overall.DSOP wrote:Didn't Regal Tip make him a signature stick just a year ago?Clint Hopkins wrote:I didn't realize until today that he also switched to Vic Firth.
What a privilege it is to have a musician of your caliber and renown come on HOD and set the record straight. Thanks! H2erskoman wrote:I do not know of one drummer who is being paid by any drum company to play their drums. (Historically, Buddy might have had some deals going on, but he wound up playing on an old Slingerland Radio King kit in the end because he loved the way they played and sounded.)
As far as my own switch from Yamaha to DW, there was no financial incentive involved — indeed, I took a loss on 2 signature products that were in the Yamaha catalog or pipeline at the time of the move (which was a bit impulsive on my part, but was based primarily on the fact that DW listened while Yamaha had stopped listening ... to what? My plea for them to make a flat or flush-based cymbal stand! ... and then one thing led to another once I visited the DW factory and played on what would become the Jazz Series kit).
Drum companies DO help sponsor clinic and workshop (and education-related) events & performances, and a consortium of companies will usually work together ... in my case, my clinics are co-sponsored by DW, Zildjian, Evans, Vic Firth, and companies like Samson/Zoom, Alfred Publishing, et al ...) (for the record: Yamaha used to pay more for clinic support!)
If Keith had a reason for switching, it was most-assuredly related to his wanting to play on Gretsch Drums, as well as their willingness and ability to look after him in the travel support department (supplying kits at venues across the country or around the world) as well as clinic support arena (whether music store clinics, or PASIC appearances, etc). And if any drummer is receiving some sort of stipend (usually from a cymbal company) these monies act as an advance or guarantee against a set number of clinic appearances on behalf of that company for a coming year, etc.
The well-known drummers are no different from all of you: they have a passion for a drum or a sound or a legacy or a mythology or maybe they're attracted by something within or without the company and its drums, but it's not for cash. It might be a promise of marketing (often the case: "we'll put your name up in lights, sonny" or "we'll get you in the Modern Drummer polls" or the like) and advertising or a signature product (which DOES generate revenue for all concerned), however — that is the extent of it. Otherwise, it's the drum (or the hardware) that speaks! And just about every drummer I know is always on the prowl for that holy grail of a snare drum or ride cymbal, or 12" tom, or whatever ...
Some of you may choose not to believe this and insist that Drummer A or Drummer B must be paid to play a particular brand of drums, but trust me: it ain't so.
Peter Erskine