Drum Kit Idea #6: Vintage

Its been a very long time since I have thought of a drum kit idea, atleast a coherent one. I think about drums on a daily basis!

Since getting my custom it has all gone a little quiet in the thrashing sea that is my brain. I would be lying if I said I wasn't already thinking of a new kit as my current one was being birthed. So, I wont lie!

I have bounced a few ideas around in my mind and I was pretty much dead set on my next set up if i ever have the opportunity or god willing, the money! Slowly things have been starting to turn and the original idea started to morph. I want something vintage.

The original idea was red glitter, Natural claw style("hide a head") hoops with red glitter inlays and brass tube lugs. Pondered on the thought of no glitter at all and just using a stain, possibly no inlay on the hoops at all. Thinking of what color stain had my head hurting! As time went on the vintage idea started to creep in and make itself at home. More and more I was looking at different kits and thinking about most common vintage sizes, looks and styles. Stripping the proverbial onion to a much simpler, basic and easy form. Not to mention inlays, brass and wood hoops also equal more money and the odds of myself ever actually falling into a good situation and getting this created are slim. So with basic and simple comes more affordable. There isnt anything wrong with that either.

C&C posted this kit on instagram and at 7:30am half awake I said "THATS IT!". With thinking vintage I have been trying to decided whether or not to go the super old school route with single lugs in the middle of the drums. A friend of mine had bought an early 60's KENT kit for himself to try to get a band going, i used the KENT rig to try out and thats when my band Fortune Healers was born. The Kent kit had all single lugs on the rack tom and snare.

Notes to self: Kick- Maple poplar maple with walnut outter/Floor-walnut poplar walnut.
red mohogany based stain on walnut.

The C&C kit is PERFECT. Beavertail lugs is my choice for sure when it comes to vintage. This kit has single beavertails on the floor and regulars on the kick. Really digging the singles! Instead of red glitter, im going for a hue of red stain. Not too sure exactly what this color is but I asked if a Cherry stain would have the same result. Cutting down from wood hoops on all drums to just naturals on the kick with a matching inlay from the kit. I personally would not get a banana rail. This kit is a solid inbetween from what I was originally thinking about to the new stripped down vintage look.

Here is a picture of a Darkhorse kit with a Cherry stain on it for an example:

As far as sizes go:
24x16 Kick
13x9 Rack
16x14 Floor

BIG.

So since I was heading south to DC and my snare drum just happened to be ready, we made a little pit stop in Kenilworth, NJ to pay a visit to the Dark Horse Percussion shop! Unfortunately DHP is not a 24/7 operation like I thought it was so I didn't get to take a tour of the shop. Real big bummer considering I didn't have to go pick up my drums like I had originally planned to do when they were finished. To actually be AT the shop and still not be able to see it was a bummer. Hopefully Healers will get down to New Jersey at some point or if I'm ever passing by again I'll get to check the joint out!



What was waiting for me in the hallway however was this beefy young lady:

14x8 15ply maple. Aged marine pearl wrap, single tube lugs and diecast hoops.

I originally ordered a 10ply but Anthony had this 15 on the shelf and decided to hook me up. Which I appreciate! I've seen a lot of people ordering 14x8 snares lately, you could say its the "cool thing" right now. So I kind of figured hey, why not? I already own a 14x7 why not go for a little more. I did NOT know what I was getting into! This snare is SO big its crazy. They never look all that big when I've seen others or when you're holding it yourself but once its set up in your stand, whole other perspective. It could be the single tubes that give it a bigger effect, I don't know but shes one big bitch!

I haven't had much time with her, I took her to the healers practice space last night and tuned her up to how I usually tune my snares but I haven't gotten an ear for her yet. My drums took a little while for me to get used to and this snare won't be any different. My tuning methods might not work for this snare. Theres still some kinks to be worked out. I'm used to a 7ply birch shell, so this is a HUGE difference in sound. In the end I'll figure everything out and get used to her and she'll be amazing. Can't wait for my band mates to see and hear it. I'm really interested in opinions of how she sounds. The shows I'm playing in June will hopefully give some valuable feedback.

My Drum Rig

Photo: Albert Longo

My drums set up after load in at The Fortune Healers show we played at The Met Cafe 2 weeks ago.

Matthew Richard...BACK on the internet!

After getting up on The Dark Horse roster list and the website being redone shortly after my presence was extremely short lived. However the time has come again! I now have my drums, a band and all the other appropriate information together and I am back up on the site amongst the other DHP artists!



Head on over to www.darkhorsepercussion.com and check the ARTIST section to see the whole deal!

My Year In Pictures

2010 was an amazing year for me. Probably one of the better years of my life. This blog is actually one quite contrary to all my other year ender blogs that I have posted in the past. I see this to be a very good thing. I set out to do things this year and I accomplished ALL of them. Everything went my way. I feel very fortunate and lucky to be able to say that. I've also met a ton of new people this year, I'm pleased to have met all of them, everyone is so awesome and respectful. Its great. I look forward to the lifetimes ahead with everyone. 2011 starts off amazing and I have only a vague idea of whats in store. Heres to having just about everything I could ever want.

April 2010: I moved out of my parents into the city of Providence.


July 2010: I was referred by a friend to talk to his boss/co-worker about a band he was working on. Thats when I met TJ, who is a dude thats totally on my level. TJ needed a better and more available drummer. Thats when I joined The Fortune Healers. Our Bass player wasn't working either, so I took the pleasure of getting my good friend Derek in the band as well. Not to mention I've known Jae for about 7 years. I'm excited to be in a band with good people.

August 2010: After over a years wait, I FINALLY received my custom drums from Dark Horse Percussion.

September 2010: I visited the country of Australia. This is me on the steps of the Opera House.

December 2010: After months of "dating", I have a new girlfriend. Its nice, different. Wish me luck! I'll need it!

Customs Are DONE!

Here is another sneak shot of them lugged up and assembled. Better pictures to come soon!

I cannot even express how I feel right now. They look PERFECT.

My Customs!

FINALLY! I got this sneak peek earlier this afternoon. I cannot tell you how stoked I am right now!

All they need is drilling, lugs and assembly and they will finally been mine. It's been quite a trip...and wait but it's finally happening.

This picture doesn't really do them justice, the inlay looks white, when it isn't and the glare is making the glitter make it look like a snow storm. I will be posting better pictures in September.

Matthew Richard, On The Internet!

WHOA! Is this true!? YES! IT IS!

I am now residing on the Dark Horse Percussion website. This is AWESOME!

Considering the fact that pretty much ANYONE who gets a kit from them gets on it, im not an actual "artist" OF Dark Horse Percussion. I still think this is cool as hell!

I wish I had a band to promote, was actually in a band and being Endorsed by Dark Horse or even had a good picture of me actually playing drums but I've got a long road ahead! Hopefully the future treats me well and I actually land something. Then I'll be able to get out there and show off a great drum company who I am proud to say that I represent, even on a unprofessional/personal level. Who knows, sponsorship maybe one day in life?

Im VERY excited for my kit to be finished and Im sure that it will be soon! Ive been waiting a long long time.

If youd like to check it out yourself, go to www.darkhorsepercussion.com and check it out! Site just got redone and stuffs getting added all the time, new pictures of kits and more artists. Check it!

Dark Horse Percussion!

Thats right! After MANY years of dreaming up kits and talking to friends trying to get the hook up from the company they play. I have reached the end of the line. I have found a Company that is awesome and gave me an excellent price on a custom kit!

It feels weird. Its been SO long and now its finally happening. Im super pumped! 

heres what I got:

SIZES:

24x18 kick
16x16 floor
12x8 rack
13x8 snare (10ply)

chrome 2.3 mm hoops
chrome Diecast hoops on snare only
chrome mini tube lugs
floor tom mounts for legs drilled into the shell. 

kit color: Custom Navy blue with a glitter finish
kit stripes: 2 Donkey white abalone stripes
Snare finish: wrapped in Donkey white abalone.

The kit in look, will be just like this(minus the diff. colors obv.)

and thats that. I asked Anthony if he could photograph the process as best he can and send me shots so that I can blog the process here. I hope this happens!

STOKED!

DARK HORSE PERCUSSION