Carter's kit in the early days?

[jammin2theday]

anyone have any idea about the details of it? was it nearly as intricate as it is now? or was it fairly simple? just a question i found myself asking today. thanks

[BMEGroove]

It was still damn big, not quite as much stuff, but definately big. His kit waaaay back in the day with his fusion band called Secrets (which Butch was in!) was a pretty standard size.

[GHB#13]

I'm not sure on the specifics, but I have an MPEG from '93 and the set is signifcantly smaller than now. It was still big by most drummers standards, but compared to what he has now was pretty small. I know it only had Three Toms including the Floor Tom, One Hi Hat, One Snare, One Bass Drum and about 4 cymbals. Looked like 2 crashes, one splash and a huge ass ride. although he also used one of the crashes as a ride too, so it might have been a dual cymbal. I've seen those before but usually with starter drumkits. Hope this helps. Let me know if you want a copy of that show and I'll shoot it to ya. That's the only information I know of about Carter's set in those days.

[jammin2theday]

^ i would love a copy of that MPEG, is it a whole show? or just one song? if its just one song and small enough to send through AIM then hit me up there i am online right now. thanks alot bro :)

[Quizads]

he used to play on a pearl...

[Quizads]

if you have ever seen the instructional video "under the table and drumming", there is footage of his old kit.

[saxman1083]

on the van rypers mpeg his set is pretty standard. looked like 4 toms and a few cymbals. what i found wierd was that there was no china cymbal, which i cant imagion him playing without. it's wierd to see him back there and be able to see most of his upper body.

[Quizads]

all I can say is that the NEW KIT is the best damn kit in the world.

[jammin2theday]

anybody have an MPEG of one of these shows/songs where Carters set is small, that is short enough to send through AIM??? if so let me know thanks :)

[GHB#13]

anybody have an MPEG of one of these shows/songs where Carters set is small, that is short enough to send through AIM??? if so let me know thanks :)
The one I have is not small enough, but if you PM me with your address, I'll send it to you on a CD. let me know if you're interested. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. The show I have is from '93 and I'm pretty sure its the Van Ryper's show. Its at some small festival kinda thing. interesting to watch because DMB is not really the main event.

[drummin69]

I think the first time they played SNL, Carter had a Pearl. If you look at the kick drum you can see a piece of Black tape over the logo. But the medallions on the toms say Pearl. Don't know when he changed over to Yammy's

[BMEGroove]

I was looking through some pics of carter, and I just had to post these :lol

[justinfisher78]

I think the first time they played SNL, Carter had a Pearl. If you look at the kick drum you can see a piece of Black tape over the logo. But the medallions on the toms say Pearl. Don't know when he changed over to Yammy's

from the Under the Table and Drumming footage, i believe he is playing a Yamaha kit. but his smallest tom is indeed a Pearl. i'll have to double check that though.

[Root]

does anyone know how much Carters kit cost. I don't have a clue but I would guess about $10,000

[GHB#13]

I would guess around $10,000 is about right. especially when you consider that the snare and some of the toms and alot of the cymbals are all special editions. I've always wondered what the cost of upkeep on tour must be per day. I would guess anywhere from $1000 to $2000 a day. especially if you consider that they replace all the drum heads and he new sticks and stuff every day. I'm sure there's some deal worked out with all the companys he gets his stuff from, but still.

[justinfisher78]

I would guess around $10,000 is about right. especially when you consider that the snare and some of the toms and alot of the cymbals are all special editions. I've always wondered what the cost of upkeep on tour must be per day. I would guess anywhere from $1000 to $2000 a day. especially if you consider that they replace all the drum heads and he new sticks and stuff every day. I'm sure there's some deal worked out with all the companys he gets his stuff from, but still.

the Yamaha drums would probably run around $6-7,000. he also has 2 custom snare drums by Dunnett Drums. (not sure what those run, but probably in the $1,500-3,000 range for both.) then, he's probably got $1,000-1,500 worth of cymbals.

the upkeep should be relatively inexpensive. he's an endorser of Yamaha (drums and hardware), DW (hardware), Evans (heads), and Pro-Mark (sticks). and techs don't replace heads for every show. at most, his heads may be changed 1-2 times a tour. also, pro-mark probably keeps him up to his ears in free sticks.

[drummin69]

the Yamaha drums would probably run around $6-7,000. he also has 2 custom snare drums by Dunnett Drums. (not sure what those run, but probably in the $1,500-3,000 range for both.) then, he's probably got $1,000-1,500 worth of cymbals.

the upkeep should be relatively inexpensive. he's an endorser of Yamaha (drums and hardware), DW (hardware), Evans (heads), and Pro-Mark (sticks). and techs don't replace heads for every show. at most, his heads may be changed 1-2 times a tour. also, pro-mark probably keeps him up to his ears in free sticks.


Yeah those snare drums are all custom made and weigh about 30 pounds each.....They surely cost a pretty penny. And remember he's and endorser of Zildjian as well. So chances are, he's getting those for free too.

And I think you may be underestimating the changing of the heads. I bet his snare head is changed more than the rest but I'll bet the toms are changed 5-6 times a tour, depending on the length of it. Either way he's not paying a cent for it anyways.

[CarterStreet]

Yeah, they've gotta change those heads more than once or twice each tour. Otherwise, we wouldn't get that lovely ring from each drum.

[rawlogicdrumz]

His heads are changed every show, there is absolutley no way they could keep the same heads thorughout all of the day to day humidity changes and still get that nice warm tone. If they didn't change them for every show they would definitly sound flat and dull.

[RushianSyrinx]

id say every show is a beat extreme...
ive been using the same heads on my set for 6 months and in that time span ive beaten them up alot and kjust a lilt tune up and they sound perfect

[rawlogicdrumz]

id say every show is a beat extreme...
ive been using the same heads on my set for 6 months and in that time span ive beaten them up alot and kjust a lilt tune up and they sound perfect


I don't mean to sound like an ass, but do you go on tour from city to city, dealing with intense weather changes, maybe playing one day in very hot, sticky 100 degree weather, to playing in nice dry 75 degree weather? There's no way a set of heads could keep their tone and sustain after that immense of a change. Besides, most touring drummers, Carter included, have endorsements, I believe Carter's is Remo, but it could be Evans, I'm really not positive. They definitly hook him up with everything he'll need for the summer tour cause he is a role model for the endorsing company, he more or less sells the heads for that company. Carter is ovbiously a great player and very infulential on many players, so they may buy that companies products based soley on how good Carter's drums sound, so they don't want him to sound like shit.

Moral of the story: Carter is a very infulential player to many percussionists and Remo or Evans, whoever his endorsement is from, uses that to their advantage to sell heads. Therefore they give him a ton of heads and he switches them out after every gig so he has that nice brand new head sound for every gig.

[RushianSyrinx]

no i dont tour, but still, changing them every day is rediculous
ill say every other gig is good, but every show is rediculous...
id even say every new city is reasonable, but every show is excessive

[rawlogicdrumz]

Bruce Springstien's (spelling?) drummer changes heads before every gig, and most of those are indoor gigs.

[justinfisher78]

His heads are changed every show, there is absolutley no way they could keep the same heads thorughout all of the day to day humidity changes and still get that nice warm tone. If they didn't change them for every show they would definitly sound flat and dull.

that's quite wrong. drumheads are made out of plastic, not animal skin. research drum heads, and you'll find that this is why they came to be made out of plastic, to not be so weather/climate sensitive. that's why Remo sported the logo 'Weather King' for years.

also, if his heads were changed daily, his drums would sound like shit. even though modern heads are made of mylar, they still stretch, and would detune, and have to be tuned mid-set.

and for the record, Carter is an Evans endorser. and for that nice sound, that's why Carter has a drum tech ;)

[rawlogicdrumz]

that's quite wrong. drumheads are made out of plastic, not animal skin. research drum heads, and you'll find that this is why they came to be made out of plastic, to not be so weather/climate sensitive. that's why Remo sported the logo 'Weather King' for years.

also, if his heads were changed daily, his drums would sound like shit. even though modern heads are made of mylar, they still stretch, and would detune, and have to be tuned mid-set.

and for the record, Carter is an Evans endorser. and for that nice sound, that's why Carter has a drum tech ;)


I am aware of all of this, but that is why the heads are changed pre-soundcheck in the morning, so they have an oppertunity to drop and then brought up again for show time. Also, I know this doesn't really prove anyhting, but look at his heads before the show, they are always clean and dialed as hell, if he used the same heads from a previous show, they would be all dimpled and marked up. I can understand how on two day stands he keeps the same heads, but I'm sure at every new location he has to switch out the heads.

[justinfisher78]

I am aware of all of this, but that is why the heads are changed pre-soundcheck in the morning, so they have an oppertunity to drop and then brought up again for show time. Also, I know this doesn't really prove anyhting, but look at his heads before the show, they are always clean and dialed as hell, if he used the same heads from a previous show, they would be all dimpled and marked up. I can understand how on two day stands he keeps the same heads, but I'm sure at every new location he has to switch out the heads.

his cymbals are always shiny too....but that doesn't mean they're brand new for every gig. part of a tech's job is keeping the kit in pristine 'stage condition' too....meaning, no fingerprints, visible marks.

also, Carter uses Evans Genera G2's which are a 2 ply head. and to boot, he's also not the hardest hitter in the world when it comes to toms.

[RushianSyrinx]

I am aware of all of this, but that is why the heads are changed pre-soundcheck in the morning, so they have an oppertunity to drop and then brought up again for show time. Also, I know this doesn't really prove anyhting, but look at his heads before the show, they are always clean and dialed as hell, if he used the same heads from a previous show, they would be all dimpled and marked up. I can understand how on two day stands he keeps the same heads, but I'm sure at every new location he has to switch out the heads.

Drumheads do not get beat up and dimpled enough to cause destruction in one gig, unless you platy with iron sticks and carter doesnt. he even has a very light touch, not as hard as many of the drummers, and dimples take MONTHS of abuse to wear in, not hours

[drummin69]

Take a look at videos of Carter. You will see markings on all of his heads except for his snare. Central Park were all new I believe because there was a gap in the shows. But take a look at Folsom and LS and you will see that the heads were used previously.
I believe his snare head is changed before every show but the toms....No Way....They do not take a quarter of the abuse the snare does so there would be no reason to change them every show. Probably, in my opinion, every other show depending on weather conditions and the overall sound of the drum.

[bdfresh62]

I'd have to lean towards his heads being changed quite frequently. Maybe not every show, but probably at least every other show. Plus, if you were endorsed by Evans and they were throwing free drum heads at you, you'd probably change them often to get a good sound out of them. While old heads are not that bad, you cannot beat the sound of new drum heads.

[RushianSyrinx]

Agreede....
Survey says - Heads are changed quite often (more than any of us :lol) But are not changed every day
*end of thread*

[CarterStreet]

Let's talk about how pretty his kit is.

[jammin2theday]

it IS verrrrry pretty. God, imagine what it would be liek to just sit behind that beast and try to play something. haha i wouldnt know what to do with it all.

[Root]

Let's talk about how pretty his kit is.
very shinny :)

[drummin69]

I'm wondering about the set-up time. How long does it take that crew to put that mammoth kit together?

[RushianSyrinx]

I'm wondering about the set-up time. How long does it take that crew to put that mammoth kit together?


thanks to the genious of memory clamps...
no more than an hour

[drummin69]

thanks to the genious of memory clamps...
no more than an hour


But still......an hour to put together a drumkit is a long time. I would love to try it just once.

[RushianSyrinx]

its not really all that long, especially for one that size

if i tear down and rebuild my kit,it takes probably 30-40 minutes and ive only got a 6 piece

[drummin69]

its not really all that long, especially for one that size

if i tear down and rebuild my kit,it takes probably 30-40 minutes and ive only got a 6 piece


I've got a 6 piece too w/ a rack and mine is set-up and mic'ed in 20 minutes tops. Of course Carter has got probably three to five people putting his kit together.

[RushianSyrinx]

Yeah, but carter has memory clamps, and its probably just his tech doing it (thats all it is for MP and NP)

as for myset, I close up each adn every stand for transport, so its an adventure setting it all back up again, it forces me to improvise and even play with my drums in differing positions many times, its an adventure and something I choose to do...

plus if its off even a 1/4", ill notice and have to fix it - call me OCD

[drummin69]

Yeah, but carter has memory clamps, and its probably just his tech doing it (thats all it is for MP and NP)

as for myset, I close up each adn every stand for transport, so its an adventure setting it all back up again, it forces me to improvise and even play with my drums in differing positions many times, its an adventure and something I choose to do...

plus if its off even a 1/4", ill notice and have to fix it - call me OCD


I used to break everything down but now that I have a rack its so much easier. All of my cymbals arms pack neatly away just the way they are. All I have to do is unpack them, tighten them to the rack, throw the cymbal on there and I'm done. The drum rack was the best invention drums and the best investment I have ever made.

[BeaufordBuddy]

I think the first time they played SNL, Carter had a Pearl. If you look at the kick drum you can see a piece of Black tape over the logo. But the medallions on the toms say Pearl. Don't know when he changed over to Yammy's

Nope, Carter played a set of Yamaha Recording Custom drums for the band's first appearance on SNL, in which they played WWYS. The finish was stage white. They're the same drums he played in the Ants Marching video.