Hi Souljacker
I heard someone say that the Sonor Prolite kits are the same as SQ2s (parts,drums etc) but the SQ2s are the custom designed versions. Is this true?
Yes they share many of the same top quality parts as the SQ2 range. The SQ2 is completely customizable - in terms of type of wood, thickness of wood, and shell sizes.
Hi euphoric_anomaly
If you could do another "drum-off" (like you did with Simon Phillips) with any other drummer, who would you choose?
I'd love to do something with Steve Gadd - of course it would be very different to the thing I did with Simon (who was AMAZING).
Also, were you ever a fan of Jethro Tull's drummer Barrimore Barlow? The song "Hunting Girl" sounds especially difficult the first few times you listen to it.
I've never really listened to Jethro Tull so I don't know that song.
Hi Embalmer
I was listening to Octane Twisted today while driving and thought of a couple questions. First, I noticed quite a bit of your fills live do not follow the album tracks note for note. Is this improvised (i.e. different night to night) or did you just decide that the live fills felt better than what was recorded in the studio?
A bit of both. I have some that I improvise and some that I just found (what I thought whilst I was on tour) to be better - or at least different - but equally suitable.
Second, maybe it's the mix, but your toms sound like they're tuned slightly higher live than in the studio. Can you comment on this?
I can't say that my toms are tuned exactly the same all the time. On the live Octane Twisted (compared to the original recording) I was using a different drumset and about 18 months had gone by so it doesn't surprise me that it wasn't exactly the same tuning.
Hi amadiani
I'm a huge fan from Indonesia. I know that perhaps gavin harrison or porcupine tree is not very popular here (shame), but i know that you've done drum clinic in malaysia.So is there any chance that you do drum clinic in indonesia too?or perhaps for the band to do a gig here?
We'd love to come to Indonesia - but there's no plan to at the moment.
Hi Kalma
Have you ever tried a akg c214/c414 on snare bottom and md421 on the top?
If so, how do you like it?
Yes - and I didn't prefer them to Shure SM57 or Audix i5 on the snare drum.
Hi K_HiHats
Just a quick question about TMWSH. I have been wondering what the time signature is for the middle section of the song. (I've also been wondering why I haven't asked this question yet.) It starts around 1:10 in the video linked below. And if by some chance it happens to be in 4/4 (which I doubt), I tip my hat to you Mr. Harrison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjB0hBoidsQ
You'd better keep your hat on because it's in 9/8.
Hi deadwing_007
I've got a question about the muffling in your bass drum. I know you've said before that its a "very heavy pillow," but I'm just curious if it is still a normal size pillow, or if it is also very large as well. I've seen videos of guitar center sessions where you can see that the pillow is going halfway up your bass drum head. Do you just have it turned so it is "standing up" so to speak leaning against the head? Or is it actually going the length of the drum as well? I'm also curious as to where the mic that is inside your drum is placed too. Is it laying on the shell itself?
It's a normal sized pillow (at least in the UK it is) and yes on the bass drums that are 18" deep (like the one I have in the States) it's standing up length wise. In my new Blue Tribal Sonor bass drum which is only 15" deep it is lying down side ways. It still touches the front head though. The mic is suspended in the middle of the drum (Kelly Shu)
I was recently watching the anesthetize blu ray, and there was a shot where the camera is panning around the back of the stage and you see a set list hanging on something. I paused it since I wanted to see how different the order of songs was than what is actually presented in the dvd. So on the list I see...
Scooby Doo With Trombones
Yes it's an inside joke. I could tell you what it means...but then I'd have to kill you!!!!
Hi Swiss Matthias
Which exercise or other kind of training/experience do you feel helped you the most
in becoming very accurate in keeping time and being tight?
You just need to learn how to listen...and how to listen objectively whilst you're playing. It's very hard to do. I recorded myself 25 years ago - and at the time I thought it sounded great. When I listen to it now I can hear all the errors (and it doesn't sound too good) - so my ears have got a lot better at hearing these things. If you can't hear the errors then you'll never be able to do anything about it. You need to train your ears and it has taken me a long time to get good at that - and I've still got a long way to go.
I used to record myself and then listen back with the tape slowed right down. That exaggerated the errors and made them easier to hear.
Hi Wolvie56
I have to say though, I am a little disappointed with the pricing of your just released snare drum line, The Protean Series. I was just wondering if you had any input regarding the price point. They look really cool and sound great, and I love the quick change snare idea, but I'm not so sure they are $1000.00 great retail cost for the deluxe package 14" snare. Unfortunately, I think they are now priced out of most everyone's reach except pro, the very rich, and maybe semi pro drummers. Something to think about.
I didn't have any input into the pricing of the drum. However it is a 'no compromise' instrument. No corners were cut (apart from the bearing edges!!! if you know what I mean). If you compare it to the other "Made In Germany" snare drums you'll find that comparatively it's not that much - plus this drum has a lot of extra features and innovations and a really good case. I think folks have become so used to the prices of drums made in China that the stuff made in Europe or USA seems really expensive.
Sonor 'made in Germany' drums are the real top end of the manufacturing drum companies and it's is reflected in the quality of the instrument.
Hi Heitor
First, I'm travelling to London next May and I wanted tips on drum shops and general music shops around town. Instruments and/or records, please!
Record shops pretty much don't exist anymore and there really are not many drum shops left either. You might enjoy visiting Wembley Drum Centre - that's a great shop with lots of stuff. It's a bit out of the centre of London.
Second, is there any chance you'll have any appearances in London next May? It would be pretty awesome to see a clinic/concert/masterclass of any kind!
I don't have any plans for appearances in London in May at the moment.
Hi szokematyi
What's your opinion on full birch kits, birch/bubingas, and shallower sized toms? I know I should hear the kits, thats the only way to be sure, but as I said, I've got zero chance to do that. So I ask as many accomplished players as I can, and than I'll do my best to choose well. Thank you in advance for any advice that you can give!
I don't have experience with Birch/Bubinga mixed shells. I have played all birch drumsets and I really liked them - but for the last 10 years or more I have mainly played maple drumsets with birch snare drums. I haven't played kits with really shallow depth toms.
cheers
Gavin