That shell in the for sale section is PERFECT for a cocktail drum!!!

Okay- cocktail kits are just a different animal. Are they like fretless basses? Yes and no. Will you gig with one? Depends on the music you're playing.

Right now, I am playing a cocktail kit with a band project where we have a small, small rehearsal space. And the rules to make a cocktail kit are this: There are no rules.

I have a 16x14" floor tom I converted to a cocktail kit. It's hybrid, as I just can't stand up any longer. I am using a Pearl M-80 snare, a couple of floor tom leg mounts to hold up some cymbals, an 8" Paiste Accent over an 8" roto tom frame for a hi hat, and a Fat Kat pedal with a shaker taped onto it. I will use some Octobans for my higher toms. What I now have is a drum kit that kits in a smaller footprint that is lower volume for quieter gigs.

I think you'd dig it. You had better snag that shell or I will grab it!!!!

The shell is mine. From what I have been told, not really much difference. But I can't say for sure. My only experience is with a 15"x24" main drum with a 10" firecracker snare. They are fun. This is my old kit.

[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/SRT80/cd4.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c40/SRT80/cd2.jpg[/IMG]

My original plan for this shell was just a main 14x24 to use as bass/floor tom and I was gonna use a 14"x4" snare on it's own stand to the side. I was then gonna use a couple cymbal stands to mount larger cymbals/closed hi-hat.

On this kit, I didn't want to have everything mounted to the main drum. I was probably gonna doa bracket or 2 to add cowbell/woodblock.

I have a ton of extra stuff if you are interested and can make you a good deal. I will post pictures of everythhing and update my sale thread.

I have...

*5 pearl floor tom leg brackets (4 new in package with gasket/mounting screws and 1 without gasket and no mounting screws)

*4 gibraltar floor tom legs (3 new in package, 1 out of package)

*Meinl Z shaped cymbal arm

*40 lugs with gaskets/mounting screws. Would only need 16 for the main drum if you do 8 lugs to a side.

As far as gigging, this band is pretty cool and this drummer uses a cocktail kit thats a 16x24 cocktail drum and 14" snare. Cymbals on one stand. Nothing mounted to his cocktail drum.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am6yATASYnY[/ame]

You may want to consider whether you can stand on one leg for long periods of time, or not (to play the bass pedal). The taller shells are used for that, but if you want to sit, then a floor tom hieght may be better. Cocktails can be fun!

Good point, You could probably use a tall bar stool to prop up on and play the taller shell.

But if you want to sit, go for a standard floor tom.

Steve

My contradiction: I love the look of the cocktail kits and I really like SRT's project kit. I would love to own one, but I don't think I'd be comfortable playing a gig on one. Maybe it's a matter of getting used to standing like a flamingo. My lazy butt needs to sit. After all, isn't sitting why we all decided to play drums, anyway? :o

B

Bill-

I physically can't stand like that any longer. I would say the perfect sit down cocktail kit shell would be between 14-18" deep, depending on how low you like to play. My kit has a larger footprint than a typical cocktail kit, yet smaller than most jungle kits.

Cocktail kits also encourage you to play with smaller sticks, as well as the bound dowel-type drum sticks (brushes are a no-no for me, as I play coloured Paistes). I don't know why this is, but that's just what I end up doing when I play a cocktail kit.

But after looking up many configurations of cocktail kits, I have determined there really isn't a "standard" cocktail kit. I call mine a hybrid. I will post pics on my blog.

Im in the works on my own cocktail kit.

Im using an oak wine barrel and a 8x5 snare drum.

I definitely prefer to sit

[IMG]http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/2011-03-25222311.jpg[/IMG]

I hear what yer sayin'. Perhaps if I had a real need for one (I currently don't play out on a reg basis), I would do a sit-down type set. Would love to see pics of your setup.

I was looking at the Cocktail Drums section of the "Guide To Vintage Drums" and it was interesting to see what concoctions the drum makers were putting together, at that time. Ludwig had one called The Gold Coast, where the top section of a standard snare stand was mounted in the tom holder of the BD (Slingerland had a very similar, if not identical offering). Pretty interesting, though I still wouldn't want to stand whilst playing. I'm not really lazy, but after 37 years of sitting, it would be hard for me to change (maybe I really am lazy?).

B