Instruments Used

The Gregory Tech Drum Center features the following equipment:

• The “Student” kit:
     Yamaha Recording Custom drums:
         22x16 kick drum; 10x8 tom; 12x8 tom; 15x13 suspended tom
         Also available: 14x12 and 16x14 suspended toms
         Ludwig Supraphonic 5x14 snare drum
         A & K Zildjian cymbals
         DW5000 double kick pedal
         DW9000 hi-hat stand
         Audix microphones: D6 kick mic; i5 snare mic; two D2 tom mics;
           D4 floor tom mic; two
         Rode NT5’s for cymbals and hi-hat
  
  
• Teacher’s kit:
    Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drums:
         20x16 or 22x18 kick drum; 10x8 tom; 12x8 tom; 14x14 &
           16x16 floor toms
         Brady 4½ x14 snare drum
         K Zildjian and Sabian cymbals
         DW9000 double kick pedal
         DW9000 hi-hat stand
         Audix microphones: D6 kick mic; i5 snare mic; two D2 tom mics; D4 floor tom mic; two
         Rode NT5’s for cymbals and hi-hat
  
  
• Recording kit:
    Yamaha PHX drums:
         22x18 kick drum; 10x7 tom; 12x8 tom; 14x13 & 16x15 floor toms
         Yamaha Brass 5½ x14 snare drum
         K Zildjian and Sabian cymbals
         DW9000 double kick pedal
         DW9000 hi-hat stand
         Microphones: AKG D112 kick mic; Shure Beta 57A snare mic; four Beta 98 D/S’s tom
         mics; two Rode NT5’s for cymbals and Byer-Dynamic M422N(C) for hi-hat
  
  
• Sound Equipment:
    Yamaha MG32/14FX Mixing Console
    JBL EON 15" 2-way speakers
    JBL 18" subwoofer
    Byder-Dynamic DT 770 PRO/80 headphones
    DrumKat; h.at.Kat.; PoleKat (midi controllers)
    Roland R-8 Human Rhythm Composer (drum machine)
    Roland R-8M
  
  
• A/V System:
    Six Geo Vision bullet cameras:
         One overhead camera and one kick drum camera at student’s kit
         One overhead camera and one kick drum camera at teacher’s kit
         Two cameras on tripods
    Three flat screen Samsung 40" color monitors
    Canopus ADVC 110Video input adapter
    MacBook Pro laptop computer
    Mac mini w/dedicated webcam
    Sony DVD player: DVP-NS50P/S

If you’ve listened to some of the sound files posted here, then you have heard me play in many different musical situations. One way I treat these diverse styles with respect is by using different drums, drum head combinations and cymbals. I like to swap out the hi-hats, ride cymbal or snare drum in order to quickly change the entire character of the drum set. Tuning and technique are so important in all situations, but above all, it’s essential to have an understanding of what the music requires before the gig — live or in the studio.

I take the following equipment to live gigs and recording sessions:

• My newest kit:
  Yamaha Phoenix:
         22x18 kick drum; 10x7 tom; 12x8 tom; 14x13 & 16x15 floor toms
         These drums have a beautiful rich tone and I love their sustain.
  
  
• My workhorse kit:
  Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute Nouveau:
         20x16 or 22x18 kick drum; 10x8 tom; 12x8 tom; 14x14 & 16x16 floor toms
  
         The 20” kick drum works well for smaller bands and also when amplified, but also sounds incredible with a
         front head without a hole. I take this drum for big band gigs — it’s never let me down.
  
         I have two complete sets of toms for this kit as well which allows me to have at my disposal different heads and
         tunings immediately. There is also a 13x9 tom and an 18x16 floor tom. I have fun using this floor tom in a cradle on
         the floor as a bass drum. Whether being used as a floor tom or bass drum — it rocks!
  
  
• My Jazz kit:
  1960’s Ludwig:
         20x14 kick drum; 12x8 tom; 14x14 floor tom
         Over the years, I have received many complements on how this kit sounds.
  
  
• My kit that always sounds great:
  Yamaha Recording Custom:
         22x16 kick drum; 10x8 tom; 12x8 tom; 14x12 and 16x14 suspended toms
         There is also an 8x8 tom and a 15x13 suspended tom.
  
  
• My “Circus” kit:
  1960’s Leedy (duco finish – red with yellow stripe):
         22x12 kick drum; 12x8 tom; 16x14 floor tom; 5x14 snare drum
  
         I bought this kit from Billy Ward and had Nodar Rode at Manhattan Drum Shop work his magic by cutting custom
         edges on all the drums and a deeper snare bed. When I use a front head without a hole on the kick drum, it just
         sounds beautiful — a musical resonant sound.
  
  
• Some of my favorite snare drums:
         Yamaha 5½ x14 Copper snare drum
         Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute Nouveau 5½ x14 snare drum
         Yamaha 6½ x13 Steve Jordan snare drum
         Brady 4½ x14 wood snare drum
         Nodar Rode 7x14 maple wood snare drum
         Yamaha 3½ x14 Brass snare drum
         Yamaha 6½ x13 Brass snare drum

• Other Microphones:
  • AKG D112 kick mic
  • Shure Beta 57A snare mic
  • Beta 98 D/S’s tom mics
  • Rode NT5’s for cymbals
  • Byer-Dynamic M422N(C) for hi-hat

• Cymbals:
         I have quite a few cymbals and use a combination depending on the gig — Sabian, Zildjian, Paiste and Dream.

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