The Bronze Age: 2013 AD

[Kiwi]

That's a nice kit, Mike. Very nice.

Your kit looks great! Very comfortable and organized. Great job! I hope you're enjoying them.

I love that finish. I feel like guys like us are a dying breed - drummers who don't push their 2nd floor tom way out to the right. I don't find that comfortable or practical but I guess it looks cooler in pictures, having a wider kit with more floor tom exposed. Anyway, great kit!

Wow. Absolutely beautiful.

It's quite similar to my set up haha.
Very neat you should be super happy with all that gear! Looks sensational and I really want to hear you play it.

That looks really nice Mike. I am glad you finally have it all set up. Enjoy playing it!

Perfect Mike!

Stunning rig. Great stuff Mike. Just beautiful.

Thanks for the generous comments gents, I am very fortunate to own this kit and all it includes.

Now that it is the weekend, I will enjoy its pleasures again soon, and put some marks on that Gong Drum head!

[RG1820X]

What snare is sitting on the shelf between your Singer and Greb?

https://www.pearldrummersforum.com/a...1&d=1500668172

[quicksticks]

Mike, I keep going back and looking at your kit and trying to figure out how I could incorporate a gong bass. Yours looks sooo nice. While I would like to have it behind my floor toms, that area is filled with cymbals. My remote hihat is right behind my 14" tom. I'm looking at how you have placed your remote hat. I'd still have several cymbals to reposition. I'd probably have to place the gong bass where you have yours. That would involve the least disruption to my current set up, but I fear that it will be quite the stretch to hit it, especially in the center of the head. I'd like to hear your opinions on placement and access after you've played it for a few weeks. I realize that a gong bass isn't going to be played as much as a 12" tom and doesn't need as accessible.
Also, I have a question about tuning. I tune all my toms to major thirds with my Tunebot. Would a gong bass be tuned to work with toms, or tuned as one would tune a bass drum?

[RG1820X]

Also, I have a question about tuning. I tune all my toms to major thirds with my Tunebot. Would a gong bass be tuned to work with toms, or tuned as one would tune a bass drum?

I will double check but I believe you can tune it like a tom (to a pitch).

[Drumming-4-Life]

Mike, I keep going back and looking at your kit and trying to figure out how I could incorporate a gong bass. Yours looks sooo nice. While I would like to have it behind my floor toms, that area is filled with cymbals. My remote hihat is right behind my 14" tom. I'm looking at how you have placed your remote hat. I'd still have several cymbals to reposition. I'd probably have to place the gong bass where you have yours. That would involve the least disruption to my current set up, but I fear that it will be quite the stretch to hit it, especially in the center of the head. I'd like to hear your opinions on placement and access after you've played it for a few weeks. I realize that a gong bass isn't going to be played as much as a 12" tom and doesn't need as accessible.
Also, I have a question about tuning. I tune all my toms to major thirds with my Tunebot. Would a gong bass be tuned to work with toms, or tuned as one would tune a bass drum?

Mike should answer as well, but I wanted to add in my $0.02. I like having the gong bass drum in between my two floor toms. That disrupts my "old" ride position, but I'm going to try out the Todd Sucherman/Jeff Wald ride position, which will free up space on the right. I know a lot of guys have their ride cymbals there, but I mention those two cats because they have larger set ups, and I like the way they play. As far as tuning goes, you would have no trouble tuning the gong bass drum to the next lower major third, after your 16" floor tom. However, I'd still experiment with it to see if you find another "note" that really makes the drum sing the way you like. As far as heads go, I know you like your toms to have more controlled resonance, so I would suggest a clear Pinstripe head, or some Evans equivalent with some dampening.

[quicksticks]

Mike should answer as well, but I wanted to add in my $0.02. I like having the gong bass drum in between my two floor toms. That disrupts my "old" ride position, but I'm going to try out the Todd Sucherman/Jeff Wald ride position, which will free up space on the right. I know a lot of guys have their ride cymbals there, but I mention those two cats because they have larger set ups, and I like the way they play. As far as tuning goes, you would have no trouble tuning the gong bass drum to the next lower major third, after your 16" floor tom. However, I'd still experiment with it to see if you find another "note" that really makes the drum sing the way you like. As far as heads go, I know you like your toms to have more controlled resonance, so I would suggest a clear Pinstripe head, or some Evans equivalent with some dampening.

I have room for one, but I would have to set it up like Mike's. I approximated where one would go on my kit and I don't know if my left arm will reach it. On a side note, I decided when I bought my present kit that I wanted my ride in the same position as a ride on a typical four piece kit. I just never felt comfortable with my ride up high over my rack toms or far over to the right. I wanted my ride to be in a position that was natural and comfortable.

[RG1820X]

I have mine next to my 16" tom and I can reach it with my left hand.

[Kiwi]

What snare is sitting on the shelf between your Singer and Greb?

Andy that's the Tama SC145 Stewart Copeland Sig brass snare. I bought it well over a year ago in a US sale, but by the time I got it back to NZ it cost me more than if I had bought one in store here. I haven't actually played it, and have been trying to sell it "as new" at reduced cost, without success. Looks like a keeper!

Mike, I keep going back and looking at your kit and trying to figure out how I could incorporate a gong bass. Yours looks sooo nice. While I would like to have it behind my floor toms, that area is filled with cymbals. My remote hihat is right behind my 14" tom. I'm looking at how you have placed your remote hat. I'd still have several cymbals to reposition. I'd probably have to place the gong bass where you have yours. That would involve the least disruption to my current set up, but I fear that it will be quite the stretch to hit it, especially in the center of the head. I'd like to hear your opinions on placement and access after you've played it for a few weeks. I realize that a gong bass isn't going to be played as much as a 12" tom and doesn't need as accessible.

I like having the gong bass drum in between my two floor toms. That disrupts my "old" ride position, but I'm going to try out the Todd Sucherman/Jeff Wald ride position, which will free up space on the right. I know a lot of guys have their ride cymbals there, but I mention those two cats because they have larger set ups, and I like the way they play.

I have room for one, but I would have to set it up like Mike's. I approximated where one would go on my kit and I don't know if my left arm will reach it. On a side note, I decided when I bought my present kit that I wanted my ride in the same position as a ride on a typical four piece kit. I just never felt comfortable with my ride up high over my rack toms or far over to the right. I wanted my ride to be in a position that was natural and comfortable.

Marv & Matt, thanks for the comments. I wanted the gong drum to be reasonably within reach, and started positioning it 8-10" to the left of where it is now. It effected cymbal holder placement, and the left tom holder was supported by a UX-80 clamp attached to the rack bar. It didn't seem correct as I looked at it, and placing the tom holder directly into the rack leg inside a PCL-100 clamp was logical. I just had to move the kit further away from the back wall. It also allowed space on the rack bar for the two cymbal holder clamps, without arms crossing over each other. I will certainly give more feedback as I get used to having the drum there. I like Andy's gong drum set up too, like a huge floor tom.

It's no secret that I have been influenced by Carter B in my set ups, but in recent months I have actually been watching a lot of Todd S, and our friend Jeff W before that . My rearranged crash cymbal set up is somewhat influenced by Todd's, with four out front. His ride position does look comfortable as he plays it, but the lower position is what I am used to. To move the ride would have also changed my set up more than I wanted.

Also, I have a question about tuning. I tune all my toms to major thirds with my Tunebot. Would a gong bass be tuned to work with toms, or tuned as one would tune a bass drum?

Mike should answer as well, but I wanted to add in my $0.02. You would have no trouble tuning the gong bass drum to the next lower major third, after your 16" floor tom. However, I'd still experiment with it to see if you find another "note" that really makes the drum sing the way you like. As far as heads go, I know you like your toms to have more controlled resonance, so I would suggest a clear Pinstripe head, or some Evans equivalent with some dampening.

I defer to Matt when it comes to tuning, so of course I agree . I have not used the TuneBot with it as yet, but have been playing around with basic tuning to find what my ear likes. I would like to try an Evans EQ3 on the drum, but I'm using the G2 Clear I bought 2 years ago for now. Resonance is more open but I can live with that.

[quicksticks]

I have mine next to my 16" tom and I can reach it with my left hand. <img src="https://www.pearldrummersforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=504010"/>

Your kit is amazing. I'm going to guess that this is not your gigging kit.

[Drumming-4-Life]

I have mine next to my 16" tom and I can reach it with my left hand.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]504010[/ATTACH]

I already told you before how much I love your set-up, but there is no way I'd be able to hit your gong drum with my left hand, and I stretch my arms, legs, and trunk everyday. I wish I could see video of you playing your kit, so I could understand better.

[LDdrummer]

Looks great Mike! I love this setup, I looks like it's a blast to play. This has really came together for you!

[Kiwi]

Looks great Mike! I love this setup, I looks like it's a blast to play. This has really came together for you!

Thanks LD! Yes more than enough fun for me haha

[PhilB1029]

Thanks LD! Yes more than enough fun for me haha

Love it man. Your setups are so clean and tidy. And Sabian. Mmmmmm.

[Kiwi]

Love it man. Your setups are so clean and tidy. And Sabian. Mmmmmm.

Cheers man, and remember you have inspired me with your set ups. The double bass kit with single post in between the bass drums gave me the idea I used with my Ref kit, and I now have 18" & 19" X-Plosion Fast crashes.

[RG1820X]

That is a great setup you have there and your cymbal setup is very impressive. Are you liking the gong bass drum?