Asba Stainless steel

[K_50]

I came across a deal I couldn't pass up. So now I'm the proud owner of a stainless steel Asba kit.

I picked it up earlier today, and had enough time to quickly tune and set up the 24", 14" and 18" with a 15" 50's Slingerland snare at my practice space, and get home before the handball match started (European championship, France vs. Norway - very important ). I also got a 13" tom, and a second 18" which is missing it's legs, and one of the brackets.

[quicksticks]

Interesting find. I’ve never played a SS kit, but have heard them on recordings and to my bad ears, they sound much like acrylic shells, which I find pleasing. I’m unfamiliar with the manufacturer. It looks like the rack tom has a die cast hoop and the floor has an angel hoop. Is that by design? I’d be interested in hearing them. The hardware looks very similar to vintage Slingerland and Gretsch.

[K_50]

Interesting find. I’ve never played a SS kit, but have heard them on recordings and to my bad ears, they sound much like acrylic shells, which I find pleasing. I’m unfamiliar with the manufacturer. It looks like the rack tom has a die cast hoop and the floor has an angel hoop. Is that by design? I’d be interested in hearing them. The hardware looks very similar to vintage Slingerland and Gretsch.

I haven't played any acrylic kits, so I can't comment on that comparison. They sound like drums to me, with a lot of oomph, which is just what I needed. The toms are a bit on the dry side of things, but that could be due to the hoops just a much as the shell material.
Asba is a French brad, which made some very cool drums back in the 60's and 70's. Their wooden drums were quite similar to Gretsch with thin, unsupported shells and die cast hoops. The story about the hoops on the floor tom is that they didn't have a mold for making 18" cast hoops, so in stead they made up these rolled no flange hoops with welded-on ears for the tension rods.

[Track12]

I dig a set-up with big pies!

[K_50]

I dig a set-up with big pies!

#metoo. I think that like big cymbals sit better in the mix of the band (at least with the sound we're going for), while giving me more sounds and dynamics to work with than smaller ones.

[Blisco]

Nice score! I bet that sounds great (and loud). Would love to hear some audio of it.

[K_50]

Thanks
They can get loud, at least compared to my vintage Premiers. But not louder than a thick shelled wood kit like a Tama Superstar or Sonor Phonic.
I still have to play around with different heads and tunings, but so far I like what I'm hearing. I have them tuned quite high right now, and they are surprisingly responsive with a light(ish) touch. Rimshots on the toms have a nice bark to them which I hope will cut through the guitars nicely.