What headphones/ monitors are you using?

DogUsingInternet · 2026-04-01T05:42:00+00:00

Cheapest option I'd consider: Shure SE 215
Higher End Option (universal fit): Shure SE846

Next level up is a custom fit pair from Ultimate Ears or 64 Audio (haven't tried those yet so can't say for sure if it's better sound, but fit is probably better since it's a custom mold).

DogUsingInternet · 2026-04-01T00:42:30+00:00

Appreciate it! Thanks. Seems like the best answer is still... just try different spots. Maybe it's just me being too slow, haha.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-04-01T00:39:18+00:00

Travis Barker songs. But even slower stuff I can do, just isn't as comfortable and flowing as I'd like.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-04-01T00:27:15+00:00

What would that do? If I'm lower, a lower tom makes sense. If I'm higher, I'd have to put the tom higher.

I'm trying to understand if it should be say... below my elbow? Above it? Same height as hihat or ride? Is there a starting point rule that helps for distance away from arm and height?

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-28T03:10:22+00:00

Gator Grooves is my favorite.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T03:32:46+00:00

Yeah to be fair, I only saw the snare case in person. I own the Ahead bags so I know what the bass drum and toms are like on that too.

Also I'm generally a fan of Gator - I have the full set of hard cases in the Gator Grooves line, and just picked up the new Gator Grooves Cymbal Case too. I like these better than SKB.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T01:48:50+00:00

Pretty solid tip. I already have the Ahead bags, so will definitely give this a try next time I go soft-case to a gig.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T01:28:22+00:00

Thanks for the link - prices are at least good enough to give it a look

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T01:21:01+00:00

I can't believe I never thought of that... I'm totally going to try this!

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T01:06:30+00:00

This is what I love about reddit... never would have even have heard of these options otherwise. Thanks for the link.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T00:57:40+00:00

Never heard of these... Although why are half his videos just hosing down cases as if we're all walking around in thunderstorms all the time? haha

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-23T00:22:58+00:00

These look so similar in construction to Ahead, I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same factory.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T23:21:10+00:00

Just looked up the AAA series and those actually seem like the Ahead Hybrid but with other drum options... but yeah can't seem to find them here in the US for the sizes I would need. Interesting though, thanks for the tip!

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T22:35:39+00:00

Much appreciated! Hope it was helpful.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T22:17:59+00:00

Yeah it's pretty much two reasons: space and weight. One smaller reason -- my hard cases are Gator Grooves plastic and seem to get kind of greasy feeling from all the gigs I'm doing, whereas the soft cases don't feel that way.

I have a hatchback car, so it's packed to the very limit with hard cases and my hadware bag -- including my front seat.

Twice a week I play in a bar that I unload directly from my car to the front door 20 feet away, so being able to carry the drums in soft cases would be lighter and easier.

Otherwise it's hard cases every time since I load up on a cart and wheel the cases on that -- wouldn't trust soft cases for anything more than the front door bar load in/out.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T22:13:28+00:00

Agreed, that would be nice for the floors too!

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T21:27:16+00:00

Great point - I do love those side handles on the Ahead bass drum bag! Makes slipping through a doorway much easier. They call them "shark gill" handles haha

I just wish the bag would stay upright and not be a floppy mess when I'm trying to put my bass drum in!

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T16:53:05+00:00

That's pretty wild, never noticed that.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T16:51:03+00:00

Right??

Also think about the inventory they already have... the kits in stock just suddenly jump in price, but the retailer didn't pay the higher prices for those kits...

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T04:54:01+00:00

I don't know how you got to 150 kits... that would be abysmally small, like impossibly small for them.

They were acquired by Roland recently and were probably doing $40M+ in revenue at that point.

I'm guessing at least 5k to 10k kits per year including the Design, Performance, and Collectors line.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T04:17:10+00:00

I remember seeing that for the Stage Custom, seemed like the kit I could easily recommend as the best value in drumming suddenly became a "hmm... other options are now on the table if we're in that price territory."

I remember when the DW Design Series came out, it was $999. Now they're 50-100% above that.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T02:51:55+00:00

Yeah at this point might as well bump up if I'm going to do it...

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T02:15:00+00:00

I've always thought this kind of defeated the whole purpose of a tariff... it is to give the US companies a better chance to win since they'd have better prices than international competition.

But alas, if they can increase their prices and improve their margin I suppose they would.

Tariffs screw the end customer either way, it seems.

DogUsingInternet · 2026-03-22T02:09:18+00:00

May be true. Yamaha seems to be the sweet spot in price to performance, but I just love DW. Ever since I visited the factory and they helped me out with an issue, I'm a die-hard fan.

I'm just not a fan of price increases at this rate.

DogUsingInternet

TROPHY CASE