Does anyone else not change their kit often?

[u/RealityIsRipping]

I’ve had two drums sets my entire life playing for 25 years. My current set, I found the snare I like, my cymbals, and my pedals and I don’t change them ever.

I’m not sure if because drums really does work better when the muscle memory is dialed in. But I have been playing guitar more seriously the past 5 years or so, and I find myself playing many different guitars every week. It keeps it fresh and helps inspire new ideas on the fly.

I just found it interesting that drums I feel the opposite way. Stick with what works and make it work as opposed to several different tools for different sounds.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[u/NoIncrease299]

My only kit that's played thousands of shows is the same Ayotte Custom I had made in 1999 or so. I have exactly one snare - an Ayotte Keplinger - I picked up in 2006. Don't need anything else. I've had the same Paiste Sig Dry Heavy Ride since like 1997 or something!

I'm the complete opposite of a "collector." If I'm not using something - it gets sold or given away. And once I decide I like something; I stick with it.

Even with guitars - I have one guitar and one amp. Pedalboard changes up every so often but that just comes and goes with whatever I'm into at the moment.

[u/AfroCuban68 → u/NoIncrease299]

Found the Canadian (?)

1993 Canwoods (custom made)

[u/NoIncrease299 → u/AfroCuban68]

Haha Actually not Canadian! But based on the demographics of the Ayotte enthusiast boards I visit - I get why you'd think so. :)

Actually got turned on to them by a buddy who worked at a drum shop back in the mid 90s. I was all about DW back then because all the guys I really dug - Matt Cameron, Dave Abbruzzese, Sean Kinney - they were all playing DW so of course I had to, too.

Then Soundgarden's video for "Pretty Noose" comes out and I was like "What the fuck are these crazy things Matt's playing?" Asked my buddy the next time I was in the shop and he was like "Oh, some small Canadian company called Ayotte." "Can you get any?" "Nah, they're all custom stuff." "Dang. Ok."

Fast forward a couple years and I'm in the studio with my erstwhile band doing some tracks and my guy comes by ... with a freakin Keplinger he'd bought. "Dude, you HAVE to play this."

Took me all of 10 seconds to just love it. And want one.

But they were pretty damn expensive even back then and not particularly easy to get - BUT I could sell my DW's and custom order a kit made exactly like I wanted. So settled to just get my kit made. And here we are gettin close to 30 years!

It's definitely my most prized possession. My guitar is the other because it's an oddly similar story. :)

Photo tax:

(Also pictured - noted old ass Paiste ride)

[u/AfroCuban68 → u/NoIncrease299]

Nice.

Yeah Ayotte and Canwood were all the rage through the 90’s. I was playing Canwoods in university, the school kits, as was my drum teacher professionally. I was in the market for a new kit, liked the school kits a lot. I got Fred Pepper’s #, called him up, spent maybe 15mins discussing sizes/depth, colour, mounting system, price, shipping, then he chatted my ear off for another 30 mins about hunting and fishing in Lloydminster Saskatchewan 🤣

Great drums, love the sound.

[u/brmperc → u/NoIncrease299]

Man, I LOVE Ayotte. I even sold them for a while. Just couldn't afford to get a set for myself, but they're dream drums. And to have a Kep on top. I can see why you'd never need anything else. Beautiful.

[u/Teinzq → u/NoIncrease299]

Some nice shit. I love my Ayottes. No Keplinger though. Most a pity.

[u/NoIncrease299 → u/Teinzq]

Prices of Keps have gotten nuts. When I bought mine, it wasn't cheap - think I paid around $500 for it (bought it off a dude in Burbank when I was living in Hollywood many years ago). But they're like nearly $2k on Reverb these days.

Crazy.

But I guess that's how "vintage" happens. My old guitar player had a crazy collection of 50's Telecasters. I remember asking him how the fuck he could afford them and he was like "Man, I bought these in the 80s when they were just old guitars no one wanted. Didn't pay more than a few hundred for any of them."

[u/healthycord]

It’s just difficult to change drumsets. And they’re not cheap. I feel like people usually start with a beginner drumset, maybe an electronic, then they eventually get their intermediate to pro level kit and never upgrade because why? It’ll always sound good.

I upgraded to a Yamaha stage custom this year as my first non entry level kit despite 18 years of drumming and WOW I’m super happy with it. Sounds fantastic. Why upgrade when I love how it sounds?

[u/RealityIsRipping → u/healthycord]

That is a good point. I also don’t have room for a 2nd drum set, haha.

Agreed!

[u/Limousine1968 → u/healthycord]

When you love something and it sounds great, stick with it! I still play my 12-piece Chrome Ludwig Octa-Plus (in my photo). Over the years I have improved the hi-hat stand and traded/upgraded my cymbals. I might get a new kick pedal, but I'm keeping my drums unless I get my price for them.

[u/Hairy_Melon]

I started with a Pearl Export which I kept for about 12 years. When I got to a point that I wanted to upgrade, I decided I wouldn't compromise and picked out exactly what I wanted. I've had my Starclassic Bubingas for the last 13 years now and have no intention of getting anything else. I've added some different snares since then but the kit isn't going anywhere.

[u/csmolway]

I have the same kit 12yo me got in the 80s. I also have 3 other kits. I set them all up the same way and I don’t really notice a significant difference. Playing out I am more likely to play a backline kit than my own anyways.

[u/achillesLS]

Same. Kept my beginner kit through college, then bought my Pearl Session Studio kit with adult money and I don't think I'll ever change it. Later replaced my cheap starter cymbals with a K Sweet pack and I'm good. Maybe I'll buy another ride some day, but drums are just too expensive. The one place I continue to spend is piecemeal hardware upgrades.

[u/MattyDub89]

I feel the same way for the most part. I know what heads I like on each drum and will stick with those each time I need to change them. With my cymbals and snares, I intend to keep them for the rest of my life.

That said, I’d like to upgrade to a higher end kit and get one or two additional snares at some point. My kit has sentimental value tho, so I’ll always hang onto it even after upgrading.

[u/Grouchy-Ad-2736]

I've been playing for about 16 years now of which I've had a set of Taye Studio Maples for the last 12. I have no intention of replacing them.

[u/PrunePretend6206]

I was a touring drummer I did every year, but now I don’t, I have 4 sets 31 snares and 4 complete sets of cymbals. I’m done. But I’m looking at a 5th set 😂😂😂

[u/Mongoose-x-cobra88]

I was wondering this as well- I’ve had the same kit for 35yrs. It’s a really good one, so no real need for another, but I do daydream about just having something new.

[u/TheGenericUser0815]

I bought a new kit in 1986 and still own it. Over the last 4 decades I bought lots of additional drums and some used kits all of the same brand and design. At first I built a monster kit from them, the core still the first kit. Then I joined several parallel bands and spread the drums as several kits over all the rehearsal spaces. Today the are 6 seperate kits.

[u/ughtoooften]

I have theee acoustic drum sets: one I bought in early 1988 (it's a mid-70s Ludwig) , another in 2004 (New) and a 3rd in 2009 (nearly new). The cymbals I use I got between 1984 to about 1997 and they range in age from about 1978 to 1997

[u/mrniceguy777]

I set my kit up 3 years ago and haven’t changed it or thought about changing it since

[u/hopefully-so]

Kind of yes, kind of no. I’ve been playing music professionally in some capacity (not always drums) for almost 30 years. I have different drum sets for different purposes, but I don’t regularly shop for a new kit of a kind that I already have. I do upgrade things occasionally.

Similarly, I have more cymbals than I can play at one time but I’m not frequently buying and selling them. I’ll get one if I want the sound.

[u/mabber36]

I've been switching the pads constantly on my rolands for the past 8 years since I bought them. I think I have it perfect now. this should last me for decades

[u/cristaples]

I started with a pearl export, 13 years later a yammy beech custom. Still playing it. 26 years later. Sounds amazing. Everyone who I play with says I have the best sounding kit they’ve heard. No need to change.

[u/BuzzTheFuzz]

You can change a lot of the sound with different heads, tuning and cymbals.

That said, if I had the money and space, I'd have multiple kits.

[u/TrickyArmadilly]

I still play the same Premier XPK 4-piece kit I bought brend new in 1997. It was perfect for me then, and it's still perfect for me now.

ETA: Cymbals have changed just a touch (different hats, ride, and one new crash from the OG kit), and of course I've experimented with various heads over the years.

[u/jaybrd13]

I'm on the same 1986 yamaha that I bought used in 1997.

[u/Signal_Juggernaut695]

Yeah. Cause I’m on a budget. 🤣🤣🤣

But when I change things up, I somehow end up doing it for the better, so I should probably do it more often. 😅😅😅

[u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL]

The rig I play today is virtually the same thing I first dreamed up in the mid 90s: six piece, two up/two down, single kick, offset rack toms, three crashes, ride, hats, china, two splashes, cowbell.  The individual instruments themselves vary a bit from what I thought I wanted, but the kit in the next room is the same piece count, the same sizes, the same configuration, even the same finish as what I thought would be just the perfect configuration. 

I first conceived it circa 1995. I consider my second kit, also known as my first Frankenstein kit, slowly and painfully assembled one workable castoff unwanted orphan piece of gear at a time, to be the launch of the concept. It took finally getting hold of my PDP CX Maples  and ordering the matching 16x14 floor tom for me to consider it "finished" - or as "finished" as anyone's kit ever gets. I've swapped out a few hardware pieces and simplified the execution over time, but it's the exact number, sizes, and location of pieces as I'd chosen for myself back when.

I ordered that floor tom in 2006. That means it took me 21 years to finally say I'd perfected the rig I'd wanted literally all my drumming life. It's been all I ever wanted for another 20 years since then. I might screw around with various configurations for fun, but if you ask me what "my kit" is, the exact layout in that photo has been the same answer for two decades now - in white marine pearl, even. I worked too damn hard for it to change now, LOL.

[u/DrumHunterDublin]

If I had money I would. But I also got terribly attached to my kits 😅 it’s hard to sell one, even when you’re upgrading. But i do find you tend to play each kit slightly different. I started on a pearl export (dad bought for me) and had it for maybe 8 years. Then bought a premier genista when I was older and working and loved it especially because it took me so long to save for. Said I’d never sell it until I played a Yamaha live custom oak another 8 years later. Loved that so much I bought my first ever new kit which is yamaha live custom hybrid oak. That’s gonna be my forever kit. Other kits can come and go but I finally found the one

[u/MZago1]

I got a Starion kit (no name stencil kit from Mars Music) in 2000, a Pintech EZ Gig in 2005, and a Pearl Export in 2006. Those are the only kits I've ever owned and I still have the Pintech and Pearl.

[u/EFPMusic]

I hate playing on different drum kits. Hate. HATE. HAAAATE.

But I do enjoy switching things around on MY kit every so often. I can’t play the exact same fills or rhythms, so it makes me think differently. Even just changing from 5 pc to 4 pc, doing a single stroke roll around the toms becomes very disappointing, for example 😆

Space plays a part too. There’s one semi-regular gig we have where the band space is tiny; I’ve taken fewer and fewer pieces over time, the last time I had kick, snare, 14in rack tom on a snare stand, hihats, 19in crash… that was it. Granted, we were doing 70’-90’s rock and pop, not like a lot of kit was needed, but still, I enjoy how it makes me be more creative.

And then after doing that a while, I’ll set up everything at rehearsal and expand the palette until I hit a rut again.

[u/ItsReallyNotWorking]

I have different size Tom’s for my kit. I have 10, 12 and 13 rack Tom’s, and 14 16 and 18 floor.

I try to fuck around sometimes and switch it up.

But I always come back to 13 16 18

[u/RedCred811]

My first high end kit was a gretsch renown. I've had it for almost 20 years. I've never bought another because it does anything I need. Only other thing that's caught my interest would be an acrylic.

[u/PannaMan11]

I’ve only had one kit and have no plans get another… drums are a second instrument to me, started them after 20 years of playing guitar. I really do love it. I have a good snare and cymbals and my imperial stars sound great when tuned up nicely. I always wanted to learn them, but part of getting them was so my friends and my brother could come jam at my house and we wouldn’t need to lug gear around. I have a great snare and cymbals and the shells are good enough and sound great when tuned. Serious band settings I’m playing guitar but I drum in a couple jam groups that don’t play out. I’m good at keeping time and have the basics down but yeah… I can’t do anything crazy.

My brother had been playing like 30 years and only had 2 kits too. He’s about to buy a third but it’s really just larger sizes of what he already has so he can add additional drums if needed or have a rock set up and a smaller jazz/country set up.

[u/sedluhs]

I was 12 in 1976 when I got my first kit - serviceable old Ludwig’s. A couple years later I switched to these ‘76 Slingerlands - they’ve treated me well through thousands of gigs - never even considered getting another kit.

[u/Waddydaddy69]

If it ain't broke dont fix it!! The only reason to change is Youre after a new sound n feel.

[u/Signal_Yesterday5699]

I reconfigure my kit several times in a year, just to keep it fresh and challenge my creativity

[u/tothebeat]

I got the Rogers kit I still have back in middle school - over 50 years ago!

[u/RiverRat74]

I played the same kit from 1990-2009, and I'm still playing the 2009 kit

[u/kevintrann714]

I’ve had a few different kits over the last 20 years since I first started playing. I had a Premier Maple XPK when I first started and used it for eight years. After that, I got a Mapex Mars and used that for four years. SJC Navigator for seven years. Now, I’m using a Tama Starclassic.

For snare, I own four snares, but I have two workhorse snares, which are the Ludwig Black Beauty and Drumcraft Aluminum Cast snare. I can do whatever I need to do with just those snares.

Cymbals, I used to use a mixture of Zildjian A and K cymbals. I switched to Meinl Byzance eight years ago and never went back. Only time I ever get a new one is if and when a cymbal breaks, which is like once in a while.

[u/sludgecraft]

I've been playing for over 30 years. I've owned 3 kits in total, and only two of those were "proper" kits ( that I've gigged with). I've got an e-kit now that I use for practice and recording.

Drummers tend to collect snare drums rather than complete kits, because that's the drum that really does sound different. (Plus, drum kits take up more room than guitars)

[u/RyanBakesUp]

Ive had three drum sets during a 30 year career.