percussion for backing unplugged musicians?

[Money$hot]

For backing acoustic guitars, would a set of brass cymbals [planet Z, paiste 101s, pst3, meinl headliners] sound alright? Bronze ones just seem really overpowering, especially 'cause the acoustics aren't mic'd or plugged into a soundboard.

Don't get me wrong, I love laying the beat down with just a djembe, tambourine, cajon and egg shaker but if I can use a kit it would just make me happier.

[Talos]

Use Hotrods or whatever theyre called, I forget [pieces of doweling wrapped together]
I see a lot of drummers use them at acoustic shows.

[billdrum]

Nah, the cheaper cymbals will just sound worse. What Plasma said......use hot rods/multi-rods. They're great for acoustic type stuff. I'd rather use hand drums and percussion though!

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Hand drums if you can. But rods or even brushes would be great

[dairyairman]

for acoustic shows, i bought this kit from pearl that i use to turn my floor tom into a bass drum. other than that, i just set up my snare, hats and a small crash cymbal. it works really well! i use the lightest rods i can find. i just got these new type of vic firth rods that are foam filled. they're ultra light and quiet, but are still more more like sticks than brushes.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Yeah man. Small cymbals and small drums

[moogoogaipan]

buy some expensive Zijdian Constantinoples... those cymbals are so beautifully expressive in any dynamic range.

of course, there's the whole issue of money.:thumb:

[drummguy731]

If you're looking into buying, I'd get a pair of those 12" A Custom Hats, 14" Crash, and the 18" Session ride, and then for a kit(if you're not using yours), the Taye Go-Kit.

[moogoogaipan]

to be serious, though.

As a drummer who understands the concept of "dynamics"
It takes almost no effort to make any part of a drumset fit into an acoustic set. If you can't, then you are not practicing what you should be when you go into the practice room.

[drummguy731]

Not to call you out or anything Moogs, but applying that theory, would you personally bring a 24" bass drum to a small-time jazz bar where nothing is mic'd versus an 18"?

[moogoogaipan]

my point isn't what I would or wouldn't bring, but what I would make work.

Our studio has 3 really usable drumsets:
Pearl Master Series
20" x 18"
14" x 14"
12" x 10"
10" x 8"

Yamaha Recording Custom
same sizes

Yamaha Stage Custom
24" x 16"
16" x 14"
12" x 10"

Because of the sound quality, during acoustic jam sessions in the auditorium, we regularly use the Stage Custom. It takes no effort to make it blend.

[drummguy731]

Ahh, ok, I see where you're coming from dude.

[dairyairman]

one reason i got that kit to convert my floor tom to a bass drum is some of these acoustic venues are really small. they have postage stamp sized stages, so small is good.

[crazyguy832]

Vater Whips/Regal Tip Blasticks.

I've also played acoustic gigs on a "rock" setup with 7A's. It's not impossible, by any stretch of the word.

[Money$hot]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I started this thread 'cause I'm a Soldier getting sent to Korea for a year. Dorm-style living limits the amount of gear I can bring and how loud I can play. Guitar players who've served where I'm going generally bring an acoustic or an electric paired with a tiny, low-watt amp. So I've broken down everything I have to two setups. Because of a 500lb. weight limit on shipping personal items I can only bring one:

A)
Remo 14" x 25" Djembe
LP "Shake It"
18" Sabian Sabor Picante Hand Crash w/ Stand

B)
Artwood snare 14" x 5.5" w/stand
14 x 14 floor tom
16" K Custom fast crash
Clamp/Cymbal arm with closed Hi Hat mount + 14" Wuhan hats
RemO's dampener rings and Cool Rods
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/nugyruss/miniset.jpg

^^Obviously the heavier setup, so I'd have to do without a throne.
Any suggestions to what I have in mind?

[Sammy_L_D]

Huh... Well, which would you rather bring?

If you're going to be living on a base in Korea, it'll be totally up to what you'd prefer for a year.

[statdat]

thats a pretty nice set up you have there for your limits. have you considered a pedal for the floor tom? they make hot rod beaters

[Money$hot]

After some thought I've decided to go with that first setup I mentioned:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/nugyruss/IMG_1386.jpg
Since I won't have a car there, I want something I could conceivably carry by myself onto a shuttle bus. I've got a crossback "slider" strap for the djembe, so I won't need a stand - I have a slim sheath/bag for the cymbal stand and a bag for that Sabian hand crash....awesome cymbal BTW.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Looks cool man.

Shame bout the no van thing coz I wuda got one o these

http://forksdrumcloset.com/zc/images/djungle_JSH-4Jungle-Kit.gif

[Money$hot]

Oh, that ^^ looks like a fun kit to play on. Especially for venues with tiny stages.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

It is fun to play.

I may get one for playin with a lil acoustic band am tryin to form