I'm not sure if Steve Gadd said it first, but I agree that each instrument in a drum set should have a voice of its own, despite being part of one kit. My 12"x9" rack tom made its way to a recording released last month, and it sounded really nice. The tuning were spot on. But the more I played it, the more it sounded too close to my 14"x10" floor snom in pitch and timbre. This made me consider selling it and just settling on a snare/floor/kick combination.
A week later, I saw an ad for a mint-condition Pearl Decade Maple 10"x7" in Gloss Deep Red Burst. Was this the solution to my dilemma? I've always had a soft spot for 10s, but never owned one. So this was my chance. I struck a deal with the seller to trade my old 12" for his much newer 10", and I'd add cash. It took a day before the seller accepted the trade, and things moved quickly after. Shipping took three days because he was in Pampanga. After carefully peeling off several layers of bubble wrap, the perfunctory anti-viral alcohol rub taking care not to ruin the wood finish, and an overnight quarantine, I took it up to the drum room, replaced the batter head with a used Ambassador, and tuned it one full turn just above wrinkle. It has a very happy, excitable character, an interesting contrast to the throaty Midtown kick, laid back snom, and the poppy Omar Hakim snare. In addition to needing some time to figure out how to use it musically, I'm also thinking of what new heads will give it an even more unique voice and feel to the stick. All my snares have coated heads, and my floor snom and kick have Fiberskyns. Hmmmmmmm. Could clear heads make it different? How about Pinstripes? I'll probably end up getting both during my fortnightly shopping run.
Whichever head/tuning combination I eventually choose, my bop kit is now a bonafide frankenkit. Each drum has a unique color/finish, sound, and feel.
P.S.1 July 2022 - I eventually settled on Ambassador coated batter and Ambassador clear reso. It sings even with a drum mute on top.
Midtown poplar kick drum 16” x 14” Black Gold Sparkle
Competition mahogany marching snare (CMS-1410) 14” x 10” Chrome
Decade Maple tom 10” x 7” Gloss Deep Red Burst
Omar Hakim African Mahogany Signature Snare (OH1350) 13” x 5” Natural Mahogany
