Guitarists have this disease that makes them buy old crappy amps that to get a sound, while it just sounds the same. The keyboardist in my band envys me playing the drums. He says that drummers always got something to improve or practice on. The possibilities are endless. Just take some days of, and get back to it!
I think guitarists are worse than drummers when it comes to sound.
One more amp, one more effect pedal, maybe if I just twist the mid EQ a hair more.
I can't tell you how many countless hours I've spent in a rehearsal or recording studio waiting for the guitarist to dial in that perfect sound, when it doesn't sound any different an hour later than it did when they started. Although at least they never think about moving their frets around.
As for my set up, I've learned over the years the exact placement thing isn't that important.
When I was at P.I.T.,you spend a year on intense practice, but never on your own kit.
You had one kit in your little practice room, that you had to share with 3 or 4 other people, a different kit in another room to rehearse with your band, another one on stage for when you band performed, other kits for other classes. Basically, you were on different kits all day long, so you were forced to get used to maybe set the snare height and angle, and maybe the hats, and whatever everything was is where it stayed. There just wasn't time to think about it.
Then in the real world, I've played at numerous events where all the bands had to share the house drum kit, or I've sat in on some else's kit and changes aren't really permitted. Or I did bring my kit, but the stage wasn't level, or bowed in the middle, which threw all my settings off.
I do set my kit up in the way it's most comfortable, and I carry rug with markings, and mark my stands so I can get everything as close as possible to the way I want it, but I've learned to not sweat the exactness of it all.
But trust me, there are a million other things that I get tired of when it comes to drumming:
Set up and tear down.
Sound checks that take longer than the gig itself.
Flaky band members.
Booking agents.
Dealing with band members who do one or more of the following:
- suddenly turn into an alcoholic
- move to a different city,
- quit for no reason.
- quit because their significant other or family member told them to
- don't show up,
- lose interest,
- get arrested,
- chase underage girls,
- hit on your girlfriend/wife,
- move on because they say they don't feel included even though they wrote 90% of the music and are in on every decision.
- Decide they own all the songs, regardless of your or anyone elses input
- fire you because they're too drunk to keep time, but it must be the drummers fault they can't keep time.