Three Piece Drum Kit

[Argenta Sugden]

NotSo Modern Drummer is the oldest vintage and custom drum community. Since 1988 it grew from a four page typed newsletter to a print quarterly magazine, then to a website and email newsletter that is now THE hub of communication, commerce and historical information for drummers and drum manufacturers. Pro drummer George Lawrence is chief cook and bottle washer here. Please feel free to contact him at geo...@notsomoderndrummer.com

This is a very rare bird. The information about it was sent to me by Ron M. who would like to remain anonymous since the set is not for sale. He plans on keeping it in the family as an heirloom. He is looking for an appraisal for insurance purposes. I've already given him my opinion which was a range from high to low. I'm not disclosing that because I want to get YOUR unbiased opinions of its worth. You can comment below or email me geo...@notsomoderndrummer.com. Email me especially if you have any pics or documentation that would help in an appraisal. Here is what Ron had to say about it:

"My Dad's kit is stamped 1957 (snare); the added floor is stamped 1962 and is the only one with chrome plated hoops. It is really close to mint condition with original heads also in great shape. The other three pieces are in excellent condition as well - the sizes are so interesting. I found a 1957 WFL catalog and don't see the snare or tom sizes listed!

I ordered a 3-piece drum set on 12/20. The Customer Service Rep said it would be shipped the same day, and it was very possible that I would get it in time for Christmas. Well, you did ship it that afternoon, and the label for FedEx was created the same day. It arrived on Christmas Eve. My granddaughter was thrilled on Christmas Day. Thanks for all of your efforts.

Strata by Sean Patrick Harvey is a collection of three short pieces: One Big Hocket, Particle Emission, and Changing Phases. Advanced in level and ranging in duration from 2:00 to 3:45, all three pieces showcase the intricate textures that result from composite rhythms, canon, and interwoven layers.

An adaption of the 13th-century polyphonic form that takes its name from the French word for hiccup, One Big Hocket contains split rhythms in every bar and includes a flexible improvisatory section. Particle Emission creates textural interest in part by its use of brushes and sticks along with a shared brake drum, and the vivace Changing Phases is a rhythmic showpiece. It is an excellent finale if performed as a suite but, like the other two pieces in the set, it is musically effective individually as well.

This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.

New Products Equitek CAD Live GXL Percussion USB Products PodMaster Acousti-Shield Studio Packs and Bundles Interfaces and Mixers Headphones Wireless In Ear Monitor Systems Wireless Microphone Systems Accessories Astatic Commercial Paging Solutions

Acoustic Instruments Bass AMP Brass & Woodwinds Broadcast ENG Choir Conferencing Drums & Percussion Guitar Amp Karaoke Live Vocals Paging & Communication Piano Podcast Presentation Recording Studio Vocals

7 Piece Drum Mic Pack:

Includes three D29 dynamic tom mics with integrated drum clips

One D19 dynamic snare mic with integrated drum clip

One D10 dynamic kick drum mic with clip

Two C9 overhead condensers with clips.

Protective carrying case included.

A five piece drum sets has two rack toms that are usually mounted on the bass drum. The third tom is the floor tom, with three legs. The toms are used to add colour to the basic rhythms that you play on the bass drum and snare drum.

Drum sizes are always given in inches. The diameter of the drum comes first. This is the same as the size of the drum head. The second figure refers to the depth of the drum. A deeper drum makes for a deeper sound.

I was talking with the bandleader of one of the more successful local bands yesterday. His lead singer had to move to another state a few months ago and they are having trouble trying to find a replacement for him. In the meantime, the drummer has stepped it up and is doing a lot of the lead singing now as well as still drumming (love those headset mics). He's a great singer and sang some songs before the singer left so it isn't like he never did any before.

During our conversation, I asked him if they got any flak from club owners now that they are a quartet instead of a quintet (plus sound/light man). He said that other than a few inquiries as to what happened to their lead singer/frontman, they're still getting booked and still getting paid as usual.

I remarked that some bar owners might say something like "I thought I was paying for a four-piece" when a trio shows up (because one of the guys can't make it or something). He said that it might be different instrumentwise, but since he was a frontman that just sang, the band still *sounds* the same musically with two guitars, bass and drums.

I thought that was an interesting topic of discussion. Has anyone here found a different attitude towards their band when they lost a bandmember? And do you think it would be more significant to lose a singer/frontman or lose a 2nd guitarist?

I wonder myself because my own band went from a four-piece to a trio. A lot of the same clubs still hire us and a lot of the crowds we play for seem to think we sound just fine, but I wonder if there is an overall perception that we may be 'lesser' now that we 'only' have three people in the band.

I have a 3-piece band and I have to say that generally, I have not had anyone really even take issue with it. I actually get comments most of the time where people can't believe that we can put out that much music for just the 3 of us.

Having said that, I have one nightclub that has a "rule" that in order to play there, you must have at least 4 people in the band. ????? I am in the process of trying to get them to give our 3 piece a shot. I will let you know if we get the chance !

So for me personally, I have not really seen it become much of an issue.

Well imagine a 4 piece that has guitar, KB player which also dubbed as rhythm guitar, bassist, and drummer then you lose the KB/rhythm who also shared lead vocal duties. Then continue on as 3 piece after revamping the song list. I've seen this happen to classic rock band after losing their KB/rhythm player.

IMO they just don't sound the same and don't have the impact they once had, it's if they lost half their sound.

I dug them way better as a 4 piece then a 3 piece not that they suck as 3 piece but the KB's really filled up a lot of space and same when the KB player dubbed on rhythm guitar.

Speaking of keyboards, something else just came to mind. There is a band in town that has been around for 30+ years as a trio. The guitarist and bassist both switch off on vocals equally and both harmonize with each other when the other person is singing lead. A few years back (I think around 2004-2005), the guitarist brought his then-girlfriend into the band on keyboards. It expanded the sound of the band and they were able to accurately do songs like The Doors' "Riders On The Storm," I. Ron Butterfly's () "In A Gadda Da Vida," Modern English's "I Melt With You" and my favorite, "Let's Go" by The Cars. Eventually, she added lead vocals to the mix, which expanded their repertoire even more.

She left the band about a year ago because her and the guitarist were about to have a baby. Now they are back to a trio, although they did play one wedding gig recently with her in the band again.

I wonder if a lot of people were disappointed when they saw that she wasn't playing with them anymore. Conversely, I wonder if people that always knew the band as a trio before were hesitant to accept the keyboard version of the group.

The question seems to be framed in the context of reformatting a band when you reduce the lineup from three to four, but what if you increase the size from four to five? One hopes that people are listening with the ears, not their eyes, and if the music "works", it shouldn't matter how many are on stage. A singing drummer left a fairly successful quartet to work with me as a duo years ago. We did quite well. I've also played in a fairly low watt eight piece a couple years ago, so it's not about numbers, at least in my experience.

Does the band sound good or not?

3a8082e126