On drums...

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Cliff

River City Trio

What if we did all have the same opinions?

I hear that, and generally we have plenty to do without worrying about any other forum's issues. We do have some history there, of course, and it would be petty and debilitating to spend a lot of time looking backwards. But you may have noticed that both Cliff and I posted the article under different threads almost simultaneously, and almost simultaneously predicted the eventual use of the issue to illustrate a future rationale and justification for Sonor's having changed to ersatz veneers (quoted below).

I for one still consider the unannounced switching of veneers to be an act of corporate dishonesty, justifiable only if one accepts the "what the meaning of is, is," defense. To reiterate, I was told by Hohner that all the "Natural finishes" were genuine veneers and not engineered veneers, and if the guys at Hohner believed it, then there is culpability at the corporate level at Sonor - and I'm still smarting over it. So I'm interested by any defense posted by the head of Sonor's unofficial PR wing.







Besides, it's highly entertaining.

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Gregory

Looks like a pretty nice "veneer" on that Empryean snare. What's it make out of?

- D.

While I haven't said much over hear about the Stanbridge/Sucherman snare. I did post over there a couple of quotes from the owner of Stauffer percussion. And since I build custom drums on my own, I agree with his thoughts. While the S&S 5k snare isn't aimed at most, I believe there is a market for it. Dennis used examples such as the Ludwig anniversary snare @ 10k that sold out, the Pro mark version of the Stanbridge that almost sold out @ 3k, etc..

I personally hope this 5k snare sells a boatload, but I like to see most small/custom builders do well. Todd is a hell of a nice guy and a gear whore/collector himself. So if he's willing to put his name on it, it must mean something to him.

What I do find funny/hypocritical is that some of these guys who bitch about the price of this drum don't think twice about buying and have bought brand new Sonor drums, not even wincing at their price. I've seen a Stanbridge or 2 and from what I've seen, Pete does great work.

Would I spend 5k on the drum no, but not because of the price. If I had it, I'd consider it, but in actuality, I don't see the point of buying something I can make on my own, if not better. Second, the amenities are not something I couldn't get if I called in a favor or two...

Flame away...

Cost is relative, isn't it. Relative to the amount of change in your pocket, and relative to the perceived value.

I've checked, and the drum brings up no particular negative responses from me. So I wonder what's the source of moral outrage? Coupl'a things come to mind:

a) I don't have that kind of bread so can't compete on that level

b) I already bought the finest drums in the world so this can't be it

c) b +a

d) I hate capitalism

e) I'd really rather be in Puerto Rico

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Gregory

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Cliff

River City Trio

What if we did all have the same opinions?

My problem with this stuff, and this is obviously just a matter of personal taste, is that to me musical instruments are really fun tools and not priceless furniture or collector's items. I don't want to buy a car that's too fancy to drive on the pot-holed streets of Boston, and I don't want to own a snare drum that I'm afraid to gig with. I don't want to collect things just so I can put them on a shelf and gaze at them once in awhile. Granted, I don't have a lot of liquid assets right now, but even if I did my tastes would probably tend to run to old beat up vintage guitars which I still play. Their value is not so much based on condition but age and originality, and they do tend to hold or increase their value in a decent economy. But I know this is not really a discussion of something holding it's value, 'cause IMO these drums definitely won't.

Todd S. is evidently a very well liked guy and I know he's a monstrous player. But it will be interesting to see if he will be gigging these snare drums with Styx. We'll see... I know the guy owns a snare collection that would fill most people's garages.

- D.

But they can be both. WItness Stradivarius and Amati.

I can imagine owning a snare that cost five grand, but not unless it did something remarkable that I needed. It was a disappointment, for instance, when I set up a Signature snare for the first time -and it sounded like a snare.

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Gregory

Speaking of Strads (which are instruments that need to be played!), there was a great story on one of those crazy cable shows called "Instant Millionaire" or something like that the other day. A cellist who lived in L.A. was coming home one day and must have had an armful of groceries or something because he left his Stradivarius cello (1 of 60 ever made, value of $3.5 million) in it's case on the front porch. When he ventured out a few minutes later to retrieve it off the porch.... Ooops... it's gone! Fast forward two days later and a visiting nurse notices a nice flight travel cello case sitting on the side of the road in the garbage waiting for pick-up. She didn't even know what it was -- just that it didn't look like garbage. She opens up the case and notices that the cello is cracked, but grabs it anyway to bring home to her cabinet-maker husband so he can fashion a cd/media case out of it! They surmise it must have been stolen by some street thug on a bike or something who couldn't deal with how bulky the case was since he managed to crack the cello and then just ditched it. anyway, for 5 days in a row the husband of the nurse forgets to bring the cello to his workshop to slice it up for the furniture project. On the 6th day, the visiting nurse sees a story on the TV of her patient about a "stolen Strad cello" with a value of $3.5 million. They show the exact case she picked up on TV and she knows now what she has. Desperately she calls her husband to see whether he has started dismantling the thing yet, and he says, no he for forgot it again. She hires a lawyer, goes to the cops, they arrange to have the cello verified by the only instrument repair guy who has even done any work on it. He verifies it, it gets returned to the rightful owner and the nurse gets $50,000 for her trouble.

Nice reward for a piece of garbage. And don't go leaving your Stradivarius lying around, OK?

- D.

Life.
I walk up and down my street and find beer cans and McDonalds trash.