[skinslapper]

I was feeling a bit creative behind the kit the other day and thought I'm gona throw my cymbals around and see what happens.

So after I'd picked all my cymbals back up I thought I'd try arranging them differently to spice things up.

I've moved my crashes out wide, lowered my ride, put my splash in the centre, put my 22" china to my far right (from my far left) and positioned my beloved 18" china to my central left right above my 12" tom David Silvera style.

It's been challenging to get the hang of it, but there's been some definate rewards.

So have any of you thrown your kit into turmoil lately and what was the result?

[jhilldrums]

I've moved my ride from up high and practically north and south, to practically flat. Now closer to flat than up and down. I've moved the 18 crash from the upper right over the ride to the left over my 8" tom. I tried 2 different 16" crash over the hats, an 802, and settled for the dimensions med thin. The 17" 2002 crash over the ride, china over the floor and splash between the 10" and 12" toms. Other than closer and further no other major changes, but having the 17" and 18" out front gives a nice mix, as does the 2 16" one right of the ride and one over the hats as they are different models and weights. I'd love to replace the wuhan china for a nice 18" signature or 2002 though!

	Wuhan Cymbals Shop for Wuhan Cymbals at Musician's Friend

[skinslapper]

Have you tried the apha 18" china. I've got one and it is great. sound is immaculate and it's lasted me more than 10 years now.

[jhilldrums]

Not yet, ran out of scratch for now, but anything alpha (except thins) will be on the list. I like them, and since I'm not playing out or recording seriously, they work financially too. My last was a 2002 18" and I loved it.

[CJDG]

I removed my 8 and 12 inch toms. Removing the 12 allowed me to position the ride cymbal a little more "traps" in style... I missed having the ride cymbal that close and flat. I brought the crash in a bit and the splash up over the hats.

I think I may put my 12" rack tom left of the hats, then run the other toms as 10" then 8" and leave the 15" floor tom where it is.

[jhilldrums]

so, left to right, 12" 10" 8? You lefty? or severely ambidextrous?

[CJDG]

Well the 8" is really an accent kind of tom.
So if you look at this as just a four piece kit there would only be a 10" tom and a 15" floor tom.
They tune VERY well together. So 8" as an accent... then 12 left of the hi-hat for expanding options. If you have never put a tom/floor tom left of the hi-hat I recommend you try it. There are some really cool patterns that come about with simple sticking.

But yes you are correct... from left to right
12, 10, 8, and then 15.
I can't write well with my left hand but pretty much anything else I do with either hand.

[CJDG]

WOW what a difference...
I took apart the drums last night and adjusted the racks.

I have moved the bar from my right side to the left side... mounted a 12 tom there just left of the hi-hat.

My toms above the bass drum go from 10" on the left and 8" on the right.
The 15" floor tom is in it's normal position to my right.

Since the 8" and 12" have been moved it opened more space for me to bring the ride in and level. It has been about 16 years since I had the ride in that position. Oh how I have missed it. The ride sings even more and the separation of the toms seems to allow for more resonance. I don't know how... but the toms just open up more.

I played for a good hour last night and loved every min.

On a side note those promark oak sticks 5A and 5B are dimpled from the rim shots... but the tips are in perfect condition. I can only imagine how many hickory sticks I would have trashed by now.

	Pro-Mark Drumsticks Shop for Pro-Mark Drumsticks at Musician's Friend

[guss]

Every once and a wile, I switch were all my cymbals go (chinas switched with crashes... even switch my splash with my ride!).

Once i tried a MAX MAX stax with my 18" china and a 18" crash, try playing your kit that way, once and a wile i try cymbal switching when i get a new cymbal!

[guss]

I rearranged my cymbals, because my my threatened to take them away if I show up at home after dark, at least drum equipment.