Drummers Unite

enharmonic · July 2006

My favorite songs with drums usually end up being Melvins songs because Dale Crover's kit is mixed so HUGE

Memories of Grey · July 2006

hey ebowie how's that 17" A Zild crash? I was thinking of getting a medium crash instead of medium thin.. but my teacher recommended med thin cuz he's had his for years and it sounds great. also Guitar Center didnt have any Mediums..

yeah i liked Matt Cameron's style when i first got badmotorfinger. then i was like.. oh crap, he's on this album and this one too! hahaha

blackredyellow79 · July 2006

Matt is insane, i just went to the 3rd SF show, my first PJ experience/enlightening and i'm speachless.
Matt kicks ass, Dave A kicks ass, Jack kicks ass man, they all kick ass.

I agree. Each drummer added their own flavor to Pearl Jam, but in my opinion, Matt completed the band the best.

DrummerGirl · July 2006

Hey, happy to see this thread! I learned to play on a Ludwig silver sparkle, my dad's jazz setup. Stuck with Ludwig for my own setup -- two toms on bass, floor tom, snare, Paiste high-hat, 17" Zildjian A Custom crash, a crappy Zildjian rock ride that needs replacing, and I still have a sizzle ride from my original kit that is so damn old, it doesn't have mark (at least one I can find). Sounds fabulous, though.

I wish my talent and career were true to my screen name, but alas, I have a crazy corporate job and don't have much opportunity to pursue music, even for fun. But I love it. I can't say I have a favorite drummer, but I love loud, heavy, pounding, almost oppressive rock. I wish I could play that stuff well -- Pearl Jam included -- but I'm better at what you might call the "indy" stuff -- funkier, nuanced, almost melodic drumming. Just don't say my playing is "feminine." Irks me! I can rock out!

As for songs, I've been playing "Low Light" lately because it forces me to count. I'm a little lazy.

EBowie · July 2006

Memories of Grey wrote:

hey ebowie how's that 17" A Zild crash? I was thinking of getting a medium crash instead of medium thin.. but my teacher recommended med thin cuz he's had his for years and it sounds great. also Guitar Center didnt have any Mediums..

The 17" A Med. crash is great. I haven't really owned too many crashes, as I've only been playing five years. But to me, it sounds like a great all-around crash, and it goes nicely with my Z custom. I'm sure you can't go wrong with the Med. Thin as well, just try some out in a store if you get the chance--always let your ears decide. I believe the Med. will be a bit louder than the Med. Thin--probably higher pitched as well. It all comes down to what you're after, in terms of sound.

pattystu · July 2006

Ok this page is genius. Anyway I totally agree with how the drivers seemed to be a bit ignored. If anyone can show me a good site for tuning drums I'd really appreciate it.

Scarlet Ledbetter · July 2006

Memories of Grey wrote:

by Pearl Jam?

well i've been playing Evenflow for a while now, pretty much got it down, i love it, its hella fun.

I'm challenging myself to learn all the songs from Ten since i find myself listening to that CD the most out of all of their albums.
sofar I can play Once, Evenflow, Alive, Why Go, Black, Jeremy fine (along with the CD player that is) havent tried the others except Porch.. kinda having a little bit of a prob there but i'll get it. all that matters is that i'm having fun right?

rock on brothers

Now, on those songs, Do you play the Dave A versions, or the watered down Matt versions, or even worse, the original studio versions?

Come on guys, you wont hurt any feelings in here by admitting that Dave was far and away the best drummer PJ ever had. I'm OK with Matt as second, even as a close second, but I refuse to believe that any of you think that Matt is even in the same ballpark as Dave regarding skill, flow, and just all-out rock factor.

I dont know if I have ever heard a drummer who plays in the pocket better than Dave A did.

chopitdown · July 2006

Scarlet Ledbetter wrote:

Now, on those songs, Do you play the Dave A versions, or the watered down Matt versions, or even worse, the original studio versions?

Come on guys, you wont hurt any feelings in here by admitting that Dave was far and away the best drummer PJ ever had. I'm OK with Matt as second, even as a close second, but I refuse to believe that any of you think that Matt is even in the same ballpark as Dave regarding skill, flow, and just all-out rock factor.

I dont know if I have ever heard a drummer who plays in the pocket better than Dave A did.

i personally love to play the dave A versions of even flow / animal... neither dave nor matt is better they bring different things to the table.

Memories of Grey · July 2006

Scarlet Ledbetter wrote:

Now, on those songs, Do you play the Dave A versions, or the watered down Matt versions, or even worse, the original studio versions?

Come on guys, you wont hurt any feelings in here by admitting that Dave was far and away the best drummer PJ ever had. I'm OK with Matt as second, even as a close second, but I refuse to believe that any of you think that Matt is even in the same ballpark as Dave regarding skill, flow, and just all-out rock factor.

I dont know if I have ever heard a drummer who plays in the pocket better than Dave A did.

I have the most fun playing the Dave A version (the version on the greatest hits album if im correct?) i really like his style alot. I also love matt's style and same as jack's. And i dont think Matt butchers any of the pearl jam songs, you just gotta keep in mind that he has a different style from dave. so he's bound to play each song a little differently.

eflo10 · July 2006

Scarlet Ledbetter wrote:

Now, on those songs, Do you play the Dave A versions, or the watered down Matt versions, or even worse, the original studio versions?

Good way to put it. I guess it has to do with the different styles and the amount of songs he has to play on a given night....but.....Dave had to take Krusens body of work and he made it much better (even flow, alone, breath, why go, alive and so on). Dave's take on Alive is fantastic and the fact that they re recorded even flow tells you something too. Matt is awesome too - on Badmotorfinger, TotD, and Superunknown. Don't care for him too much in PJ. His odd time signatures make the band sound so different from ten-yield, but some folks call that evolution; I call it unnecessary - but thats just my opinion.

Scarlet Ledbetter · July 2006

eflo10 wrote:

Good way to put it. I guess it has to do with the different styles and the amount of songs he has to play on a given night....but.....Dave had to take Krusens body of work and he made it much better (even flow, alone, breath, why go, alive and so on). Dave's take on Alive is fantastic and the fact that they re recorded even flow tells you something too. Matt is awesome too - on Badmotorfinger, TotD, and Superunknown. Don't care for him too much in PJ. His odd time signatures make the band sound so different from ten-yield, but some folks call that evolution; I call it unnecessary - but thats just my opinion.

Listen to Matt drum on the "Down on the Upsaide" record. That was his pinnacle. An amazing album.

Scarlet Ledbetter · July 2006

By the way, Just to add a little more to this thread.

I have been playing since I was 9. I play a vintage Slingerland 5 peice kit with a black crushed diamond finish. The bass drum was a 20 inch, so I bought an old Pearl Maple custom 24 inch bass, and re-wrapped it to match the rest of the kit (Bought the wrap from DW). For snare, My main is a Drum Workshop black nickel snare, with an Evans G2 Coated head, My auxilliary snare is a Pearl steel Free Floating snare with a Remo Falams II marching head, tuned as tight as a tabletop. On the toms I use Evans G1 Coated heads, and on the bass, I use an evans EMAD head with a black remo ambassador ported front head. Evans clear resonant heads on all the toms also.

For Cymbals I use:
2 - 14" Z-Custom Crashes
1 - 16" Z-Custom Crash
1 - 18" A-Custom China
1 - 22" Zildjian Orchestral ride
1 - 8" Avedis Zildjian splash
1 - 6" Avedis Zildjian splash
1 - 10" Wuhan Mini-China
1 - 6" Zil-Bel
1 - 14" Avedis Zildjian New Beat Hi-Hats

And to think I use a Sabian case for all those cymbals! (hey you gotta buy what's on sale when it comes to things like that)

I use a DW 5000 series 2-legged hi-hat stand, and a Pearl Power Shifter II chain drive double pedal

I only use Vater 5B sticks.

mol.cameron · August 2006

awesome thread. awesome. its interesting that no one has placed 'jimmy chamberlin' in the 'my favourite drummers' catergory. i think he rules. he performed a drum clinic in a place called colchester (england) last year and it was immense. him, moon, bonham, pasillas (incubus-really underated) dave a and mr cameron are personal heroes.

in terms of 'whose better' matt or dave a, i think matt maybe a better all round drummer, but dave a was more suited to pearl jam-especially ten-vs vitalogy era. therefore when matt plays songs from this period, people sometimes question him....however, if dave a played songs from binaural onwards, people would be saying 'its not the same without matt'. it shows that drummers influence bands!

i enjoy playing along to several pj tracks, in terms of imitation; i dont tend to copy exactly(time factor plus no drum tabs anywhere) but regardless im more of a dave a even flow than a matt c! other favourite pj 'play alongs' jeremy, alive, why go, animal, rvm, corduroy, dte, gone.

by the way, how cool is matt cam!

Stardog Champion · August 2006

All of Pearl Jam's drummers were solid in their own ways, and only in their own ways. As mol.cameron said you can't recreate dave a's drumming styles without him, but the same goes for Jack's solid beats and Matt's insane solos in songs.

On to other drum things, I recently picked up a Zildjian 20" A Custom Flat Top Ride and a Zildjian 8" Oriental Trash Splash. All and all im pretty impressed with the splash. Gives a nice little trashy accent where needed. The ride has left me with mixed feelings so far. Its a nice flat ride, don't get me wrong, but there may be too many lows and not enough highs in it. Maybe it just hasn't worked out with the music because they're the wrong songs. Still, its a quality cymbal. Actually these are only my second and third Zildjian cymbals. Have all Sabians, figured I'd switch up a bit.

pearljamason · August 2006

I used to play a 70's Rogers set that was my Dads. For the past 2 years i've been playing a Gretsch Catalina Birch kit..........I love it!!! Using Paiste 502 cymbals not real expensive but they sound pretty good. Pearl eliminator kick pedal. Playing in a band now........PJ songs we do are......... I Got Id, Alive, Release, Ledbetter, Betterman, Porch, Given to Fly, LUKIN, Rearviewmirror where we do a Born to Run/Baba O'Riley thing in the middle, plus Last Kiss, Crown of Thorns. About time there is a thread for drummers..........hahaha

Influences: Ringo Starr, Charlie Watts, Keith Moon, Tommy Lee

zelda4ever · August 2006

Memories of Grey wrote:

by Pearl Jam?

well i've been playing Evenflow for a while now, pretty much got it down, i love it, its hella fun.

I'm challenging myself to learn all the songs from Ten since i find myself listening to that CD the most out of all of their albums.
sofar I can play Once, Evenflow, Alive, Why Go, Black, Jeremy fine (along with the CD player that is) havent tried the others except Porch.. kinda having a little bit of a prob there but i'll get it. all that matters is that i'm having fun right?

rock on brothers

um and sister, im a sister not a brother

PatrickBateman · August 2006

pattystu wrote:

Ok this page is genius. Anyway I totally agree with how the drivers seemed to be a bit ignored. If anyone can show me a good site for tuning drums I'd really appreciate it.

Grab a six pack and head over to http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/

I started a long time ago when I went to my cousins house and banged away on his export. Two weeks later bought a CB700 5 piece for myself. During the late 80's expanded it into an 11 piece with 6 Paiste 200 series cymbals and a Zildjian chinaboy. During early 90's stripped it back to a 6 piece with 5 cymbals. Now I have a Tama Superstar 6 piece with a mix of Paiste Dimensions and 2002's, Wuhan Chinas with Sabian AAXcelerator hats. I use Pearl Double Eliminator pedals and Pearl Roadpro seat.All Evans heads (EC2 over G1 clears and Emad for the bass drum). I will eventually get a starclassic.

Influences: John Bonham, Keith Moon, Danny Carey, Dave A, Josh Freese, Nick Menza, Mike Bordin,Dave Lombardo, Charlie Benante, Jack Irons....

Favorite PJ drumming is probably studio version of In My Tree

CJMST3K · November 2006

zelda4ever wrote:

whats your favorite song according to drums

i love playing the original dave version of SOLAT, hihat/cymbal timing and all.

CJMST3K · November 2006

mol.cameron wrote:

its interesting that no one has placed 'jimmy chamberlin' in the 'my favourite drummers' catergory. i think he rules.

i was about to say the same thing. jimmy is one tight playing bastard. a great musician.

i always wondered what PJ would sound like with Jimmy!

CJMST3K · November 2006

mol.cameron wrote:

but dave a was more suited to pearl jam-especially ten-vs vitalogy era. therefore when matt plays songs from this period, people sometimes question him....however, if dave a played songs from binaural onwards, people would be saying 'its not the same without matt'. it shows that drummers influence bands!

i'm glad I found this thread! very good to see people with the same opinions as me... for once.

Drummers Unite

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