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[ Late Show Set | Live/Recording Set | Gigs Around Town Set ]
[ Studio Equipment ]
[ Yamaha Signature Snare | Vic Firth Signature Stick ]

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Late Show with David Letterman Set

The reason this set is so huge is because I need to be prepared for a wide variety of styles. I don't have the luxury of being able to set up a 'jazz sounding kit' or a 'metal style kit', so I get a good strong sounding setup that will work in a variety of styles. This applies to the cymbals as well.

For example: I have my main snare drum, which is my Yamaha Signature model, that I use most of the time. If I want to have a small, high sounding snare drum for some funkish stuff, I will use the little Peter Erskine 8" snare mounted on my hi-hat stand. I have a timbale off to the left for that kind of sound and electric pads and pedals sprinkled around the set for the occasional gong or timp or whatever is required. There are some songs I only use parts of the kit, but I have to say that everything is used quite frequently at some time or another.

The drums are the Maple Custom Line, which I really like. They are the lighter drums and they resonate really well. I am very lucky that I can leave the kit in place and just show up and play.

 

Late Show Kit Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute A 10" Timbale B Electronic Pad C 10" Peter Erskine Signature Snare D 14 Anton Fig Signature Snare E 10 Tom F 22X18 Bass Drum G 12" Tom H 13" Tom I 16" Tom J Electronic Pad K Electronic Kick Pedal L Remote Hihat M Remote Bass Drum Pedal O Bass Drum Pedal Cymbals Zildjian: [left to right] 14' Oriental Trash 18" K Custom Dark Crash 16" K Custom Dark Crash 20" K Custom Ride 22" Oriental Effects 8/10" Splash

 

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Live/Recording Set

This kit was my older Letterman kit but it sounded so good I use it for recording and for live playing. This is not to say I don't have other speciality drums that I like to use in certain recording situations, but if I want a good powerful, modern sound, I use this kit. I start with this basic configuration for both situations and then add or subtract drums. If I have my way, I will only set up exactly what I need for a specific song - that way I won't bash things out of habit. Likewise with the cymbals - I will change the rides, hi-hats and crashes to suit a particular song or situation.

Drum kit for recording Figments

Drum kit for recording Figments

RECORDING/LIVE KIT Yamaha Maple Custom A 8" Snare Peter Erskine Signature Model B 14" Snare Anton Fig Signature Model C 22x18 Bass Drum D 10" Tom E 13" Tom F 16" Tom All toms are regular sizes Cymbals Zildjian: Hihats 14" A custom Crash 18" K Custom Dark Ride 22K Custom Ride (with 3 sizzles) Crash 18" K Crash Double foot pedal

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Gigs Around Town Set

I have a couple that I like to use. One being a more powerful 2 tom kit - however the one pictured here is the Hip Gig kit. I like it because it fits into a cab easily a must for NY gigs. It also sounds pretty good - people tell me that the bass drum sounds punchy out front - although the one I have is 16" [it is quite long though].

Not every gig is the big show at the Garden [Madison Square] and I don't need massive road cases for everything I do. I usually set my own stuff up for the gigs around town and recording sessions. I can get every angle just right and I find it quite relaxing before I play.

GIGS AROUND TOWN A 14" Manu Katche signature snare B 22" bass drum C 10" tom D 13" tom Cymbals Zildjian: 12" HiHats 16" Paper thin A crash 20K custom ride w/3 sizzles Toms are regular sizes Double foot pedal

 

 

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Yamaha Signature Snare Drum

A few years ago Yamaha asked me if I wanted to have a signature line of snare drum. I was very honored and jumped at the opportunity. I had been experimenting with wooden hoop drums so we decided to build one of those for me. The first prototype hurt my ears a bit and I made some sonic and design suggestions - they got it right on the second time.

This drum really works. It is very simple: It has a basic snare mechanism and lugs; the shell is thin - 6 ply maple; the rims are very strong 19 ply maple.I have been bashing on the drum at the show for a few years now [in the same spot] and there is very little sign of wear on the rim.

I love the sound of it because you can get a deep strong sound with bottom and a lot of crack on the top. Also the cross-stick sound is phenomenal. I use a Remo CS batter head [white coated with black dot on the underside] to get my sound. Sometimes I put a half inch dead ringer on it if I want to dampen it a bit - depending on the music. I usually make the bottom head a lttle tighter than the top which is at medium tension. It really works well in the studio and for live.

Kevin Shirley, the producer, who also mixed 'Know Where You Go' and 'Anyway That You Want Me 'for me], uses it all the time - In fact he insists all his drummers use it [from Aerosmith to Journey] because it records so well.

I'm not just raving about it because it is my model - I truly believe this is a quality drum.

[click for larger view] The Anton Fig Yamaha Signature Snare Drum

 

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Vic Firth Signature Model Drumsticks

Vic was my percussion teacher at the New England Conservatory. He has a very dynamic personality and makes you want to study hard for him [and not waste his time]. Besides playing in the Boston Symphony and teaching, Vic has many other succesful enterprises - one of them being drumstick manufacturing. I am very happy with my personal model stick, which is quite big and great for rock, but there are a large variety of others - for whatever your playing needs may be. I am proud to be one of his endorsees.

The Anton Fig Signature Stick by Vic Firth