Drummer ad... What do you think?

zachoff · December 30, 2011, 12:48:40 PM

So we've been trying out drummers for going on 6 months now. Left previous ads fairly open-ended but are kinda sick of trying out people & want to find the right person. Is this ad too particular? I think it is but I also think we won't be happy with anything less. I've been told by other drummers that an ad like this would be frowned upon by most drummers. What do you guys think?

http://denver.craigslist.org/muc/2775580362.html

liquidsmoke · December 30, 2011, 01:11:30 PM

You know what you want, sounds reasonable enough to me. Not everybody wants to mix and match players of different styles, that worked better in the early days of rock. Trying to get say a black metal drummer to play vintage or stoner rock when they don't want to is probably just a waste of time.

Discö Rice · December 30, 2011, 01:16:42 PM

I would've responded to that ad if I lived in the area, if you hadn't mentioned "no double bass". It's good that you're specific about your needs. If anything I'd say the "plays them like the 60s & 70s" comment is too open to interpretation, but other than that it's specific, not insulting to potential suitors or previous members, and will likely get you what you're looking for.

zachoff · December 30, 2011, 01:22:35 PM

Yeah, the "no double bass" thing is kind of an example like the mentioning Bonham. None of our current songs have double bass but I'm open to it. It's just there to steer away the blast beat metal guys. That's definitely not what we're looking for.

Otherwise, thanks guys. Hopefully we get someone.

hashbrowns · December 30, 2011, 01:35:08 PM

Doesn't seem offensive at all actually pretty polite and informative. I wish more people on CL were like you and actually had some clue what they were either looking for or getting themselves into. I had someone respond to my doom/sludge/stoner bassist needed add by saying "hey I have no idea what this music is but I'm up for anything" I said dude you might want to look into it first it's pretty niche. Told him to listen to the song eko eko azarak by ewiz figured that was slow and oppressive enough to scare off someone who's not gonna be a good fit. He responds saying "what do you tune to?". I told him B standard and he never responded. So much for "up for anything!" lol

zachoff · December 30, 2011, 01:43:00 PM

Alright, changed "no double bass" to "no blast beats".. Ha.

justJon · December 30, 2011, 01:44:22 PM

I'd respond to that ad. You had me at "big drums, hits hard". But I'm in Albuquerque, and already in a band.

Chovie D · December 30, 2011, 02:55:32 PM

yeah, "im up for anything" usually translates to "i have no clue, no direction, and suck at everything equally".

ad looks infe ot me. I wouldnt have included the picture of the old drummer or whomever that is on the kit in the hat but thats a minor detail , not a dealbreaker.

good luck , good drummer is the hardest and most important thing to find.

VOLVO))) · December 30, 2011, 03:15:29 PM

Id respond but you'd have to deal with 24/14/16. Kit size doesnt matter, kit quality does. Tuning matters. I dont judge anyone until I see them play, and if they take care of their shit.

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Hemisaurus · December 30, 2011, 03:20:11 PM

What he said

I was just about to type, I try never to respond to ad's that specify what type of gear you have to had, it often says a lot about the person posting it.

Drummers are often flexible, I'd try and avoid negatives in an ad like no blast beats even if you don't want blast beats, try and just keep on the what you do wants.

I'd just cut everything from 60's and 70's to Bonham and have:

Quote
After keeping our tryouts sort of open to different styles and stuff I guess we'll say exactly what we're looking for as not to waste anyone's time...

Someone with big drums that hits them hard and plays them like the 60s & 70s. Bonham sorta style. Hopefully you get the picture. Probably not many out there that fit that bill but if you do, hit us up. You can listen to us at http://www.straightenthecrooked.com. Please send us examples of what you've done... mp3s, youtube, whatever's cool.

We're in our 30s with kids and jobs and stuff and not looking to tour or get signed or whatever... Just want to play shows around town every month or two and record something every year or two.

Metal and Beer · December 30, 2011, 03:23:49 PM

I think the ad is fine, and I'd definitely respond if I was closer but like Jake0)))™ says, the size insistence might make me not bother. I have a "standard" sized kit (22" kick, etc) and I Bonham 'em much more than many drummers with the JHB sizes...just sayin' the sizes aren't nearly as important as style IMO

Edit: Basically what they said right before me haha

Hemisaurus · December 30, 2011, 03:26:21 PM

Quote from: Metal and Beer on December 30, 2011, 03:23:49 PM
...just sayin' the sizes aren't nearly as important as style IMO

Is that what your wife tells you

sorry, couldn't resist

Metal and Beer · December 30, 2011, 03:27:34 PM

Quote from: Hemisaurus on December 30, 2011, 03:26:21 PM
Quote from: Metal and Beer on December 30, 2011, 03:23:49 PM
...just sayin' the sizes aren't nearly as important as style IMO
Is that what your wife tells you

sorry, couldn't resist

LOL "It's okay honey, it's the motion in the ocean, not the size of the freight barge" Haha Barge Marge

zachoff · December 30, 2011, 03:32:35 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on December 30, 2011, 03:15:29 PM
Id respond but you'd have to deal with 24/14/16. Kit size doesnt matter, kit quality does. Tuning matters. I dont judge anyone until I see them play, and if they take care of their shit.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

We've had a couple of guys try out that could play but both Matt and I walked away saying "He was good but I couldn't hear the bass drum". Good kits... Bubinga something or other & Pearl Masters but both had 20" bass drums and we just couldn't hear it. I understand that tuning matters too but tuning a 20" bass drum to hit deep would probably end up a sloppy wet fart of a tone & same with small toms. Maybe not though... Either way we just haven't heard it and judging from what we've heard we don't expect to hear it from small drums.

I get the "this is the type gear we're looking for" is a total turn off & that's what I kinda figured I'd get posting this in here and what I got a long time ago posting something similar in another forum, but if we were looking for a bass player we'd probably say a 2x10 combo wouldn't cut it, either... Tube watts & 810s (or a pair of 215s)! Similar sort of thing for guitar... Anyway, I digress. Got one reply so we'll see.

zachoff · December 30, 2011, 03:39:39 PM

Edited a bit... Kept the drum stuff in there but said we're looking for something similar to a 26" bass... blah.

Metal and Beer · December 30, 2011, 03:53:38 PM

Plenty of times I've seen bands setting up little combos, or a tiny drumkits and scoffed (so immature haha) until they started playing.
Seems like you might be better off naming a few drummers instead of sizes? "Please hold John Bonham in sacred regard or don't waste our time" LOL

VOLVO))) · December 30, 2011, 04:03:24 PM

"Pro/show worthy equipment"

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zachoff · December 30, 2011, 04:06:28 PM

Quote from: Metal and Beer on December 30, 2011, 03:53:38 PM
Plenty of times I've seen bands setting up little combos, or a tiny drumkits and scoffed (so immature haha) until they started playing.
Seems like you might be better off naming a few drummers instead of sizes? "Please hold John Bonham in sacred regard or don't waste our time" LOL

It's more about sound & tone than maturity and having little rigs live is different than writing/practicing. You're generally mic'd and EQ'd at shows with big PA speakers supplying the noise & we aren't at practice aside from vocals. I get a lot of inspiration and happiness from huge sound when practicing and writing. Keeps me into what's going on and the feeling of that rattle in your chest and walls can't be replicated with little rigs.

Hemisaurus · December 30, 2011, 04:56:49 PM

There's also the depth of the drum to consider, I've heard some people prefer a deep 22" or 24" drum to a larger 26" that tends to be shallower.

That said, I think the musician playing the gear should be the one to spec. what he plays, not his bandmates. You should find a better way to finesse the type of drummer you want.

Even the pro-gear ad's are a bit insulting. Think about it what makes gear pro, where does amateur gear end and pro begin, still that's philosophy, not craigslist.

Discö Rice · December 30, 2011, 05:39:51 PM

It's not about big drums until you have and play big drums.

Metal and Beer · December 30, 2011, 06:16:35 PM

For the record I totally prefer big ol' tubs and big ol' full stacks....in the wise words of a shaman somewhere: "I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'"

I do know this: If distance wasn't a barrier we'd have some badass bands with the mugs in this forum

Hemisaurus · December 30, 2011, 07:01:26 PM

Quote from: Metal and Beer on December 30, 2011, 06:16:35 PM
For the record I totally prefer big ol' tubs and big ol' full stacks....in the wise words of a shaman somewhere: "I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'"

I do know this: If distance wasn't a barrier we'd have some badass bands with the mugs in this forum

Oh so very, very, true.

justJon · December 30, 2011, 07:06:10 PM

Quote from: Discö Rice on December 30, 2011, 05:39:51 PM
It's not about big drums until you have and play big drums.

True. For convenience sake, in our current, shared practice space, I rehearse on the other drummer's "standard size" kit, and I always feel like I'm going to break something. Still, it's better than cramming 2 drumkits and all the other gear in a 10 1/2'x10 1/2' space. At home, and at shows, I feel like I can relax and stretch out.

Discö Rice · December 30, 2011, 07:07:29 PM

Quote from: Hemisaurus on December 30, 2011, 07:01:26 PM
Quote from: Metal and Beer on December 30, 2011, 06:16:35 PM
For the record I totally prefer big ol' tubs and big ol' full stacks....in the wise words of a shaman somewhere: "I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'"

I do know this: If distance wasn't a barrier we'd have some badass bands with the mugs in this forum
Oh so very, very, true.

^^^

ROWDYBEER · December 30, 2011, 08:50:13 PM

So I'm in this band and I think we all know what we are talking about here. Im not sayin I'm just sayin. It's fuckin tough finding a drummer who fits the bill. Big drums, little drums, no drums. A good drummer for our type of music is hard to come by. Especially when your last drummer had huge drums, huge drum sticks, and played the fuck outta them huge drums. So sad to lose a great friend and great drummer. Lots to replace. Cheers to badass drummers.