What's up with the current 4 pc. sets?

katzrock · Sea Monkey Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

Back in the "day", I'm thinking particularly of the 80's, but there are other decades as well to which this pertains; In those earlier eras, the drum sets were at least 5 pc., usually much more than that.

For example, Robert Sweet of Stryper boasted an awesome touring kit of "21 drums, 21 cymbals", & that wasn't counting the numerous gongs, chimes, & other related items.

Much of todays' music features drummers using 3 or 4 pc. sets. What the heck is up with that??? I don't mean to offend anyone, but coming from a time when mega sets were all the rage, it just seems like it is "shortchanging" the potential of this wonderful instrument.

What do you guys think? I welcome all comments.

Wink

The Dale · Goldfish Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Posts: 59

I think alot of it has to do with money and also having space to put such a kit.
I'm probs wrong but that's my theory

katzrock · Sea Monkey Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

I've given it a bit of thought, & I can't really come up with a good reason. I'm mainly talking about "pro" bands that can afford a large kit. I know it is less to lug around physically, but I would say that is a "cop out"! Razz

The Dale · Goldfish Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Posts: 59

yeah i guess, i mean i'm not from the era and i don't really know much about it. but i know i wouldn't want to lug it around ahaha i'll stick with a 6 piece Smile

random white person · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:23 am Post subject:

i think its cause theres really no need to have dozens of drums, in any situation. with some exceptions, the 80s glam rock era was really one of the only times where big sets were the norm. also, i'd say in the late 90s/early 00s theres been a trend towards drummers paying more attention to musicianship and the sound of their instrument, and less attention to glitzy over the top ridiculousness.
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edgewood_drummer92 · Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 694

I think that it's just the change in music. Nobody now really needs all those drums anymore except the metal drummers and some others. (I'm thinking about all the "newer rock" or "punk" drummers that aren't using big sets)
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diesel · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

Being a rock/metal drummer from the 80's and 90's I think I can answer this....back then it was all about the image and show as much as the music. Big hair, big drums. You could play your *Horse's Patoot* off but if you didn't have the "look" or a big kit you weren't taken serious. It was just the style then.
Now days the look is looking like you just rolled out of bed and not to piss anyone off but listen to the drums of Queensryche or Iron Maiden or Van Halen compared to say Weezer, Gym Class Heroes or whatever...

diesel · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject:

katzrock · Sea Monkey Joined: 02 Aug 2007 Posts: 14

All good points guys, keep 'em coming! I am still up in the air over this question. It may not be that important, but it really bugs me for some reason. I tend to agree with diesel on several points; The visual is just as important as the musical talent...isn't it? In my initial post I mentioned Robert Sweet of Stryper - always played a hugh kit. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) typically play a large kit, likes to experiment a lot. Neil Peart (Rush) -

Sketchyy564 · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

tylerdrummer · Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject:

The large kits will rise again, just like stunner shades did, all fashion and crap goes in a circle, in style, 10-20 yrs nothing, then back in style

it loops

i for one am waiting for that day to come

kuniggety · Lion Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 906 Location: Okinawa

Most of today's music doesn't call for a big kit. In the 80s, they were about epic rock sounds where the guitarists would go crazy in the solos and the drummers would do these monster fills. That's just not music today. You still have some drummers who do amazing things nowadays with some decent sized kits. Mike Portnoy has a monster kit and was mentioned, Danny Carey has a pretty good sized one when you factor in all of the electronics he has in there too and then there's drummers like Martin Lopez who wow and amaze without the large kit - his is/was medium sized.
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The549 · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

I am glad that I have my experience with a 4 piece kit. I think it would be limiting if you got to a gig/band on a 4 piece and found yourself lacking due to being unfamiliar with less - or needing more comfort drums. I'd love a huge set but there are other space and sound issues in an apartment limiting that.

In my dream band, a 4 piece would be included in my gigantic setup. It's like having different cars in your garage or something... Cool

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doofus_drummer · Newbie Alert Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 2

First post ever.

I play a 4 piece, with hats, crash and ride only. But big drums with plenty of punch. And think several things make this attractive:

Money - I don't have much and would rather spend alot on 1 good cymbal than 4 cheap ones.

Style and Fashion - you tend to do what people around you are doing, all the bands i see now are on small kits. This has an effect on what I'm going to go out and play on.

Playing technique - I believe having a small kit makes me have to think more about my next move, for a fill to sound as impressive I have to put more thought than some dude who can simply smash 5 cymbals and 6 drums. I believe this improves my technical skill.

Dale Crover - one of my favourite drummers does this pretty well, he isn't super fast or amazingly technical but is completely unpredictable and brutal in the way he approaches drumming. Manages to be completely unconventional using only the simplest methods.

This is one of the things that annoys me about some modern metal drummers, being really fast and having all this talent but playing the same predictible and repitive beats all the time.

Arrogance - I get a beautiful sense of arrogant self-satisfaction being able to out-drum people with really expensive kits on my little 4 piece.

drummer5359

I picked up sticks for the first time in the 70's. The "standard" size kit for rock was a 5 pc, usually in thease sizes: 12", 13" 16" 22", ans a 5" or 5 1/2" x 14" snare. All of the major manufacturers concentrated on that set-up.

Jazz kit were 4 pc back then, occasionally 5pc, but the jazzers favored a "one up, two down" setup if they did play a 5 pc. (Buddy Rich style set up...)

The kits got bigger and the rules went out the window. Fusion kits, concert toms, monster sized kits and pretty much endless possibilities...

Of course this eventually got silly and Grunge happened. The grunge drummers went for simple 4 pc kits for the most part. It was about "back to basics" and I think we are still seeing the remnants of that movement.

I started out with a 5 pc, I've owned 4 pc kits and currently I have three 6 pc kits and one 5 pc. I beleive that there is a place for 4 pc kits, but they are not really me. I like having four toms to do fills on and I think thats okay too.

That's my view of the trend to 4 pc kits for whatever it is worth.
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