If you hang out long enough at your local Guitar Center, you'll see several people test drive the same set. The sound produced will be different for each player.

100% agree.

I think there are as many ways to hit a drum as there are drummers out there.;)

I agree with your general opinion. Although, I will opt for over-thinking as opposed to under-thinking as a rule for life (our highways always seem to be loaded with under-thinkers to me, ha ha ha). New inovations seem to always come from over-thinking though. If you have time to think, please do!

I was a manufacturer's representative in the music business for over 30 years. I represented my company at countless grand openings of Guitar Center and MARS stores. The horrible noise at one of these wank fests can not be adequately described in words. Those experiences plus routine visits to music stores of all sizes helped me to formulate my opinions that I stated to begin this thread. Of course, owning, playing, gigging with, rehabbing, and collecting many different drum sets since 1958 also helped me to be somewhat opinionated on the matter.

I agree totally. Except for the "boop boop" tone of Pinstripes, I can't identify a particular drumhead, or drum brand for that matter, being used by simply hearing it. How many times have we gone up to speak to a drummer to find out what heads, etc. he uses, then try the same setup with different results.

I worked at a music store for over 19 years and still have lingering psd from "customer demos" performed on kits in the store. I suffer from other maladies resulting from guitar players' "lick fests" and tryouts of all the "talent boosting" gizmos available for guitar players.

I agree up to the point of ply counts. Old, 3 ply shells that are thinner than their replacements have much different tones and resonant qualities that later, thicker shells. That is physics. The thinner the shell, the longer the decay. And heads on those two types of shells make a big difference in the way the sound as well. 2 ply heads on 3 ply shells don't sound all that happy to me. My ears prefer a medium weight single ply head on thinner shells. You can tell the difference if you know what to listen for.

Now as for the general, non-drumming public, boom, swish, roll, bang is all they hear...

[QUOTE=jonnistix;126877]I agree up to the point of ply counts. Old, 3 ply shells that are thinner than their replacements have much different tones and resonant qualities that later, thicker shells. That is physics. The thinner the shell, the longer the decay. And heads on those two types of shells make a big difference in the way the sound as well. 2 ply heads on 3 ply shells don't sound all that happy to me. My ears prefer a medium weight single ply head on thinner shells. You can tell the difference if you know what to listen for.

[COLOR="Red"]Now as for the general, non-drumming public, boom, swish, roll, bang is all they hear...[/[/COLOR]QUOTE]

For whom do we play? If playing only for other drummers in a non amplified intimate setting, those details might be of concern.

Considering that this is not a drum forum ... It's in fact a Vintage Drum Forum.

That might have something to do with us Old Joes obsessing over the minutia of these wonderfully crafted handmade instruments.

not sure what else to say here ... It's just what we do.

To ensure accuracy of understanding ... I don't believe for a second that anal retentive attention to detail has anything whatsoever to do with skill, feel, or even basic approach to the instrument. You are blending two totally unique topics and ideas.

Why can't a good drummer also obsess? The two are independent.

To derive joy and satisfaction from the little details of a handmade instrument is healthy for some. It stokes the flames, so to speak.

Again, this is a Vintage Drum Forum ... it's the appropriate place to meet and discuss and obsess and share. It's a healthy outlet for many of us ... good drummers and bad. We all appreciate these quality instruments.

I remember arguing with the Master Builder (not Billy Detamore) when I used to work at Pork Pie. He used to refer to Vintage drums as : "Garbage"...

Man, Those arguments went for days and weeks and months...