Real Cool Dudes ! (Drums & Percussion in general)

Member Name: sidneygee

Product:	Drums & Percussion in general
Date:	21/02/01 (1022 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See Opinion

Disadvantages: Not particularly portable and "Too loud, Man. Too loud".

With 3 ‘musical’ children, our house has been filled with music for at least 13 years.

Our son (at University in Edinburgh) is in a flat about 7 miles’ away, but still comes home at least once a week. After all, he can get 'proper food', ‘steal’ my beer (and whatever pizzas are in the freezers), to get his washing done, to ‘taste’ my collection of malt whiskies (if I am in a very good mood), to moan about his course - Oh! and to rehearse with his ‘electric’ band.

To recap, he plays Scottish Fiddle music either solo or with a number of ceilidh bands. He may use his normal fiddle but he does have three electric fiddles and he plays sometimes with a group comprising guitar, bass, drums, percussion, vocals AND Highland Bagpipes.

Thus the fiddle, guitar and bass need a lot of amplification to compete with the bagpipes and the drums.

Having concerns for the good burgers of Marchmont (where his flat is situated) we (as the landlords) have placed a moratorium on this group (and also any of ‘his’ ceildh groups that include an accordian) from rehearsing in the flat.

We doo have a well-detached house with a reasonably large lounge, which has good acoustics, so we ‘allow’ rehearsals in it (usually making arrangements for a quick exit to a restaurant before-hand).

A major problem for any group rehearsing, is the transport and setting up of equipment, and the drummer does not have a car.... Thus, my son, who was getting tired of acting as drum transporter asked if he could buy the drummer’s old set of drums – and leave them set up in a corner of the lounge !

The drummer was buying a better set and had been offered £130 for his existing set in part-exchange. He was "willing to let them go for that price to a good home".

With some reluctance but with the usual ‘understanding’
we show to our children - and other animals - we agreed, deciding that the drums could ‘fit in’ to the corner beside the piano.

A deal was struck and the house acquired a set of ‘Premier Olympic’ drums. I am no expert, but they doo seem to doo the job and, from what is quoted in small adds and in dooyoo opinions, they seem to have been a bargain.

The kit comprises a bass drum with two ‘tom-toms’ mounted on top, a side drum and a snare drum. There are 3 sets of cymbals (Paiste 200 make), one on the bass drum, another side mounted, and the foot-operated pair. Although I doo not think my son is interested in up-grading, suggestions from 'real drummers' would be appreciated.

All that is missing is a ‘proper’ drummers’ stool (no lewd comments, please from Lord Percy or alkaliguru !).

The drums are finished in ‘black pearl’ and are in very good condition. Heather has become quite attached to them and has even been know to have a ‘bash’, when particularly annoyed with me.

Sometimes even I will ‘sit in’ with some of my favourite CD tracks (and can now doo a personable impersonation to some of Shelly Mann’s ‘licks’ if I am in the mood).

The drums do not intrude as much as we thought, and they have become part of the 'decor'. Often there is a violin or two, a bass guitar and an electro-acoustic guitar also hanging around casuallly, but we insist that the (ugly) amplifiers are removed and the bagpipes are kept in their cage as much as possible (nasty, viscious little beasties they are when they get ‘riled’!)

Indeed many of our friends express great envy when they visit. (OOH I’ve always wanted some of those !!!). Most think that it is me who has bought them because of ‘frustrated early ambition’ (as in the latest Nescafe advert)........ But I always
explain that it is Heather, who is known to adore the film "Some Like it Hot".

The main point is that having this kit set up permanently (requiring just some minor adjustments for rehearsals) is that they save so much aggravation for ‘the band’ and maximises their rehearsal time together.

The band members also think that Heather and I are "real cool dudes" as parents for allowing this - perhaps the ultimate teenage accolade ?

Should every home with a teenager or two in residence have a set ? After all, they doo get US out of the house !

© Sidneygee 2001

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