cocktaildrum.com

I have both 10" and 12" snares I use with my kit. Both are 6" deep and work well, but I have been using the 10" more often for a smaller setup area. A 12" snare is pretty heavy to be mounting onto the main drum, so I use a tom stand when I use my 12" (more of a Micro Ki...

ricky, My kit is also based upon a 16 x 16 floor tom (I like to sit and play). This is the head setup I use, and I think it really sounds great. No additional dampening is required. KICK = Aquarian Performance II head with 2.5 inch Remo Falam Slam pad (NOT the larger 4 inch size). Tune this as low a...

The Hi-Lifers (romantic retro lounge music) now have a standing gig at the Balcony Club in Lakewood. We play from 5:30 to 8:00pm on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. Come by and check us out if you're in the area. The Balcony Club presents two live bands every night of the week (mostly jazz), an...

John, Wow! Thanks for the idea. I never would have thought of going to Zildjian. I'll contact them and let you know what they say. Matthew, No problems there, man. My job as a Tool Designer has me in touch with lots of machine shops. I've got a guy who'll make anything I want for a fair price. Of co...

Has anyone here ever had a cymbal cut to a smaller diameter? I have a 16 inch Zildjian thin crash that I would like to have cut down to 14 inch. This cymbal is slightly bent also - the bell is not exactly true to the outside diameter anymore. I have been thinking of getting a local machine shop to d...

Pro-Mark all the way. For Jazz playing, it's like this: TB5 brushes: I play with these most of all. Nice soft vintage sound. Ringo Starr sticks: 7AL (long), I love the extra length on these thinner sticks, 747 Naturals are very nice, too, just slightly shorter. Teardrop shaped wood tips sound best t...

robertm, I'm not a guitar player, but I do own and noodle around with guitars both electric and acoustic. I play a cocktail drum kit, though, and in a jazz / small club / low volume context. For my .02 worth, I'd say a small amp is plenty loud for most gigs. As an example, I own a medium-sized 40 wa...

What color is this kit?

That is one killer paint job! I love the way the tikis are integrated between the lugs. Versatile color scheme, too.

Yes, I'm jealous.

tikifreak
Dallas, TX

I am now told we will be playing at 4:10 pm on Saturday.

The historic Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, TX presents "Sonstock" on Saturday, August 15th. Twelve bands / performers will play from noon to midnight in a celebration of the original Woodstock festival. Jennifer Mansfield Peal and the Hi-Lifers will be performing at approximately 4:30 (a...

The Aquarian Performance II is a great kick head for cocktail drums. I use one on my 16 x 16 kick/floor tom with a Remo Coated Pinstripe on top. Killer tone from both ends, with no extra dampening needed. Remo is now making a coated Vintage Ambassador (Vintage A) head that is a two-ply. I am liking ...

zimbop, I have seen ads that say the Superkick II head comes in a 16" size, but I have never found a retailer who can get one - I think it was a misprint. The Performance II head has a built-in muffler ring and extra ply around the edge. I'm not sure if the entire head (center part) is one ply ...

Traleeman,
Try the Aquarian Performance II for a kick head, tuned low with a 2.5 inch Falam Slam pad on it where the beater hits. Then put a Remo coated Pinstripe (or Evans Hydraulic) on the top, tuned like a small floor tom.

This setup works great on my 16 x 16 floor tom / kick drum.

tikifreak

I have been working on my kit for over three years now, buying one piece at a time and developing the concept as I go along. It's a micro kit made from Yamaha Absolute series drums that can be reduced into more of a true cocktail kit if needed for super small setup spaces. The cannister throne was o...