Let's read the Surf 101 gear forum! Blah...blah...blah...Jag...blah...blah...Strat...reverb tank...yawn...coils vs humbuckers?? ...FenderFenderFender...blah...blah

I've got an idea...let's talk about drums!!!

Lovely Ludwigs, glorious Gretsch, Rogers, Premiers, even modern DWs and Craviottos.

Without "2 on the 2" all you guitar players would just be noodling around making weird echo-y noises No surf without backbeat, baby!

So what makes a surf drum kit? Bass - big booming cannon or a little jazz kick? Tuned up tight or JAW? ( ha! See? - Drummers have secret inscrutable expressions just like guitar players do! ). Rack toms - 1 only? 2? Gasp - more than 2? Just one floor tom?

Deep snare(6"+)? Or shallow? Maple? Birch? Bubinga? Or metal? Brass or steel or aluminum? Single or double ply head?

Heavy or light ride? 20 22 24? 1 crash, 2 crash, red crash, blue crash? Rock cymbals or jazz cymbals? Do good surf drummers never touch their high hats with a stick - (almost sounds dirty!)

All joking aside, I would like to know what set ups surf drummers are using, especially on stage. I'm currently using a Gretsch Renown kit ( maple 22x18, 12, 13, 16, with a Ludwig Supraphonic 5x14 snare) wondering if I should move smaller ( I'll keep the Supra no matter what, tho - love it ). Zildjian K Custom ( jazz ) cymbals - I started with Zildjian As but they just sounded too bright esp. For trad surf.

Anyway, would love to hear about other set ups - or at least some opinions about what would be considered an ideal surf drum setup.

Regards

Steve

I can also only contribute as a guitarist...
Our drummer has an old Sonor 18" kickdrum, an old Sonor 14" standtom. A Pearl 10" racktom and a 13" Snare made of brass and thin and a 14" Snare wood and medium deep (don´t know the exact depth sth around 3 for the thin and 5 for the medium) cymbals are normal ones, but they sound good. I would say a smaller and lighter or darker Hihat would be good (13") to keep the level down a bit. Crash one is ok, 16" is big enough. The ride should be crashable and more washy than with a focused ping (which is normally the case with a light ride that can be crashed) add some light sticks, like 7A and a chair. Count 1234 and go for it!
Important for the good drumsound is a room that has some natural reverb. We are lucky to have a large room for rehearsal, it is always hard if we get into a small place with no natural reverb, the drums sound almost dead... but that´s another issue.
best wishes
LoeD

here comes the WEST SAMOA SURFER LEAGUE

Yup, the bassdrum sound was the reason our drummer switched to something different back then (I think he got a Ludwig from the 60s or something with a Slingerland snare). But I still think it was the best looking drumset I've seen and that extravagant look was worth the lack of sound some times. We've always put a blue rotating police light inside the bassdrum

The Hicadoolas

Guitarist and drummer here. I'm playing a mid '60s 4 piece Rogers Holiday kit. 20" kick, 12" rack and 16" floor. I'm using a 6 1/2" x 14 maple snare I custom built. The kit is turquois glass glitter and drop dead gorgeous. Very near mint condition.

I'm using the original Rogers swiv-o-matic hardware on the drums but use all modern Peal stands and a DW 5000 kick pedal. Cymbals are all Paste Signature. 20" dry ride, 18 full crash, 16 fast crash, 14 fast crash, a 12 splash and a 18 china. Hats are 14" dark crisp Paste's.

The thin maple shells are not hugely loud but have wonderful tone and warmth. I typically mic the kit for all gigs with an AKG D112 for the kick and use a Shure SM57 for a single overhead, works bitchin'.

I tune for a punchy sound with a kick that thumps hard. Heads are all Remo coated Emperor for batters and I use an Evans E-mad for the kick.

Keep it Drippy Brothers and Sisters!

https://www.facebook.com/killersfromspaceband
http://www.atomicmosquitos.com/

More pictures, please. These are great looking kits!

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Last edited: Oct 02, 2013 18:52:49

OK, Noel - Here is a shot with my 70's Slingerlands. The snare is a 6-lug Ludwig, which has a great ring to it.

*Dick B.
The Aquatudes
http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521

Thanks! Great pics. This is one of my favorite songs for drummers, played by two exceptional drummers. What kits are these?

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Allow me to post my kit from The Ghastly Ones in the 90's! I still have it! Don't call us "third wave" or you'll get a knuckle sandwich, haha!

1967 Ludwig 20 kick, 13, 19 toms with 14 inch snare (1962?) w/brass badge and hoops. Previously owned by the Four Seasons drummer Gerry Pulci. I have his road case too.

BOSS FINK "R.P.M." available now from DOUBLE CROWN RECORDS!
www.facebook.com/BossFink
www.doublecrownrecords.com

__re: Sing, Sing, Sing

Hey Noel

My kit in the video is a 90's vintage Sonor S Class. Back when they made everything in Germany. The kit has Aquarian modern Vintage heads and it tuned up fairly high by modern rock standards. Heads and tuning really make the sound of a drum kit IMHO. That's really about the only thing that makes the classic surf sound in my book. The kit currently has a set of. Earthtone real calfskin heads which sound great but the jury is still out as to whether I can live with them or not. They need a lot tuning frequently.