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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
|
