Brian - I think stuff like chimes, bells, coconuts and huge gongs etc. are all one-trick-ponies that only add to the amount of stuff that has to be loaded in, set-up, and later packed and loaded out. Why haul all that extra crap around for use in 'maybe' one section of one tune in the entire set. Doesn't make any 'practical sense' to me. The last band I worked with, I had stripped down my gig kit to bare minimum, Club Date drums, single braced hardware etc. anything I could do to lighten the load and set-up/break-down time.

Chimes? Yeah, maybe if I was playing Madison Square Garden and I wanted to impress the crowd with my Peart-like set-up of cool gear. For local gigs? Travel light young man, travel light. Like a thief in the night, in and out with no muss, no fuss. Chimes? You're talking about lugging around a dust collector.

Now, would you like to know how I really feel? :p

John

Years ago I used to use a set of wind chimes. That band was a rehearsed band and used set lists so I knew I was going to be using them. The 2 bands I'm in now are bands that the leader is the lead guitar and vocalist. They both know about 200 songs and just yell out a key signature and start playing. A lot of times it takes me a couple measure to recognize what the song is so having any special effects is a waste of time. I just use a stripped down 4 piece kit and hang on for the ride.Keep on Pl

Instruments like tubular bells, concert bells, etc., are easily emulated with a small multipad and a general midi sound module. Small and compact way to add virtually any sound you want. I have a little yamaha multipad surface that has a GM engine in it. I can sit it on a snare stand next to my snare or floor tom and have all type instruments and extra percussion sounds. Of course you have to run it in to the sound system console.

As someone said earlier bar chimes are a one trick pony.

In my uni years I was in a theater group and every year we did a musical in which I played drums. I did a lot of weird sounds with bells, gongs and toys including the bell chimes but I normally used everything once or twice per play but I felt that I needed all those specific sounds.

Nowadays unless I need that specific sound I look for something else because carrying it to use it once or twice makes little sense to me.

I don't agree. I made my own set of chimes - I knew them in the studio as Mark Trees. I used quality bronze piping and they sound great. I take them for my Sunday band and get so many comments. I use them in quite a few songs for effect - I play with one hand while I'm using them. They are a bit more work to take, but I have been lumped with the percussion bag anyway, so they go in here. They sound pretty good on this clip:

[ame]http://youtu.be/Hx5cFMcIHUg[/ame]

Agree with txalapartalari - I primarily use them for theater. If I had a sample pad I would rather use that, as the chimes are very easy to jostle by mistake and then they ring for ages.

They sound great for certain songs, and certain songs only. You would not want to drench every number in chime tree.

Nice chimes,but dude ....you're swinging that shuffle so deep ,you're need a 2x4 strapped to your butt, if you ever fell in.That's some really nice groove and dynamics,not a mention a great overall sounding kit....bravo sir.

Steve B

Nice playing Paul.. and the kit sounds great.. good job on knocking up those chimes too...

Cheers

John

Haha you could be an aussie - thanks very much. btw that snare is a tama and I might just take it with me . . .