Spaun custom makeover and new Black Sea cymbals

Andy

Honorary Member
Hi guys,

I've just given my Spaun maple custom a makeover with a new rack & effect cymbals.
I bought two curved Pearl DR sections then shortened the side one to be as compact as possible. I already had some Yamaha cymbal arms and added more to complete the setup. I prefer the Yamaha cymbal arms to Pearl but I like the Pearl rack better than the Yamaha (a lot cheaper too). The whole setup suffers a little from hardware overload but the kit occupies a much smaller footprint than before. A lot faster to set up too.

Most of my cymbals are a combination of modern & traditional dark styles with the odd modern bright cymbal thrown in for good measure. I've replaced some of my bright effect cymbals with new ones from the Turkish maker, Murat Diril. They make four cymbal ranges. I strongly suggest you check out their Renaissance range as a direct competitor to the top series of the big brands (no, I'm not getting paid to say that). These are the darkest of all, the Black Sea range is really trashy, short, a bit quiet but very musical. Apparently, I'm the first in the UK to use these. They're very specialised and certainly won't suit the modern player wanting bright cutting cymbals but they're perfect for my mixed bag approach. Even my little old beloved B8 splash mixes well with them!

Both my kit and cymbal setup gives me huge tonal range in a compact package. Although my cymbal set is wierd by most players standards, I love the range of textures and contrasts is presents. I could have chosen matching stuff but that just didn't do it for me in the major brands. I even use my Vault hats upside down for rock, normal way for everything else. Maybe not what Sabian intended but it really works for me. It was quite a nice day today so I took the kit outside to get some better light. Anyhow, here's the spec's;

Spaun custom maple 5.5mm shells, gold plated brass lugs:
8x7
10x8
12x9
14x11
20x18
14x3.5 Pearl brass free floating shell snare
13x5 Spaun stave maple snare (not pictured)
Pearl DR rack
Yamaha cymbal arms, tom holders, hihat stand, remote hihat
DW snare stand, 5000 pedals, stool

Sabian:
20" HH leopard ride
14" HH hihats
14" Vault hihats
16" HH duo crash
16" HHX power crash
16" APX ozone crash
20" HHX china
8" B8 splash
10" B8 chopper

Murat Diril "The Black Sea"
16" china
10" splash
12" splash

Thanks for taking the time to look at my setup.
 

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Very nice looking set. I love the 8, 10, 12 setup. Must be because that's what I have. And great photos. None of that cell phone stuff. Great job and definitely comfy to play
 
The first word that popped into my head was "inspiring." That's about a high a compliment I can give. I like nice, clean, orderly setups. This one fits the bill. I like the gold hardware on the natural finish, too. High quality outdoor pics really showcase the set. Good work.
 
The first word that popped into my head was "inspiring." That's about a high a compliment I can give. I like nice, clean, orderly setups. This one fits the bill. I like the gold hardware on the natural finish, too. High quality outdoor pics really showcase the set. Good work.
Thanks guys, my kit takes up very little space and that's a big bonus in a lot of gigs. Just looked at your stuff TPT. Really love that green lacquer finish.
 
Wow KIS, that's an awsome drumkit. I would really love to hear it. I'm very curious about those Black Sea cymbals aswell. Great pictures, beautiful place to live I think.

What's the writing inside the 10" about btw?
 
Wow KIS, that's an awsome drumkit. I would really love to hear it. I'm very curious about those Black Sea cymbals aswell. Great pictures, beautiful place to live I think.

What's the writing inside the 10" about btw?

Thanks Frank, I wondered if anyone would pick up on the writing. They're the signatures of Simon Phillips, Jojo Mayer & Carmine Appice. The guys kindly signed the shell for me.
 
that kit is just amazing KIS. I love how clean everything looks on it and it looks like it would be a blast to play. I was also wondering what the writing was but luckily Frank already asked that question haha. I also noticed that you have no hi hat rod, what are the advantages of that because you aren't putting anything above it?
 
Nice kit !! Same sizes and configuration as my taye kit. I see that you're using ec2's for your batter heads too, whatcha using for reso's ?
 
I also noticed that you have no hi hat rod, what are the advantages of that because you aren't putting anything above it?
You guys have such an eye for detail! I used to have the little chopper mounted directly above the hats and the rod got in the way. I also tend to use both hands to move from the hats to the 8" tom. Thanks for the complements.
 
I see that you're using ec2's for your batter heads too, whatcha using for reso's ?
Actually Jay, I'm using EC1's. I find EC2's too heavy. The reso's are original Spaun branded Evans G1's. I find EC1 batters are a bit heavy on most kits but these toms are extremely resonant due to the thin shells without re rings. The kit spends a fair bit of it's life mic'd up otherwise I'd be using a lighter batter than EC1 for acoustic work.
 
Matching cymbals are like wearing all GAP clothing.. shirts, bermudas, socks et al.. humbug! What does it say about you? Sweet nothing, I say!
..never saw the point in doing that unless someone was doling out free gear or money...

I love your cymbal set up..spectacular is the word that comes to mind. Its all about colors isn't it even if some get it out of 2 cymbals ,its still all bout the colors & textures.. I specially like those cymbals from hell... Murat? ( wasn't there a movie with Sasha Cohen by that name?? ).
Actually there is very little that I dont like about your kit.. the weird cymbals, the hardwares all sorted nicely, the blonde wood, the sizes, the way you have it all snug around the seat.. perfect.

And nice touch with the shutter too btw, nice yard too, ... I wish there was something, anything, that I could crank your chain about , but alas, you have foiled me old chap.

PS- I thought I'd have a go at the heads, but they are the same ones I use. Ah, well.

...
 
I wish there was something, anything, that I could crank your chain about , but alas, you have foiled me old chap.

PS- I thought I'd have a go at the heads, but they are the same ones I use. Ah, well.
I thought you'd pick up on the fact that keep it simple hadn't kept it simple!

The camera's a 7 year old Casio, nothing special and way off spec compared to the latest stuff. The Black Sea cymbals are very different to anything else out there. Very trashy, not very cutting & short but with beautifully musical lows you just don't get with other dark cymbals. Not sure I'd use them for my front line cymbals. In another genre, I certainly would. The Murat Diril Renaissance series are superb though. I mean, really superb. If I was starting again, or building up a second set, I'd use them over any of the three big brands. They really are that good and half the price of the big three.
 
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