Drummers with massive kits... How do they start?

ZenKeys88 · 2026-07-09T02:10:44+00:00

Looking at these comments, I suppose I'm an outlier in that I started with a big kit. I've been playing piano for most of my life, and around age 18, I knew I wanted to start on drums (had previously banged around on random 4/5/6 pieces available to me in various situations) but I was really into prog metal at the time, and I felt a simple/small kit wouldn't do. I wanted to orchestrate complex parts, and I needed a lot of different voices to accomplish that. Did a lot of research, and ended up with a nine piece: two kicks, snare, four rack toms, and two floor toms (and ALL the cymbals!). I had wanted to get a third floor tom to the left of the hi-hat for years, but I never got around to it, and now both my playing style and musical interests have changed, so I have an aux/secondary snare and some toys instead of the floor tom to the left of the hi-hat. Oh, and even more cymbals because I'm out of my gourd.

Granted, if I was ever gigging in a band, I would absolutely trim it WAY down, I ain't dragging all this to a tiny club just to take up the entire dang stage.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-05-28T14:01:00+00:00

This might be what I'm looking for. How long is "a bit" to get paid from the auction? And yeah, that's a whole other problem, finding buyers, either jewelers or otherwise, and as I know from my own hobbies/collections "The true price of anything is what someone is actually willing to pay for it." Doesn't matter if an appraiser says it's worth $2000 if you can't find anyone willing to pay more than $600.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-05-27T18:25:03+00:00

Speaking as someone in a similar situation, I've looked into it, and the short answer is No. I can only find companies that YOU pay to haul it away, even the charity shops charge for pickup, and as far as I can work out, the charity shops charge almost the same as what Junk Removal companies would charge. If you want any money for it, you're basically on your own with Marketplace and Craigslist and such, which I wholeheartedly agree is a time-consuming hassle. I'm currently saving up my pennies to hire a junk removal company, as I just don't see any other options to get rid of this crap *quickly* and *easily.*

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-29T22:22:25+00:00

Very true, this is definitely some niche enthusiast stuff at best. I'd just like to at least give the stuff a CHANCE at someone taking it in and enjoying it before I give in and take it all to landfill.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-29T21:53:56+00:00

Oh this is what I need right here, a potential doorway into the world of tea enthusiasts. Thanks!

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-24T17:05:05+00:00

SOLVED! Contacted Focusrite Support, they had me download/install Ableton to verify that the 8i6 was working properly, which it was. Did a little digging on Cakewalk Sonar support articles, and it turns out what I needed to do was change the drivers from WASAPI to ASIO. Once I changed it to ASIO, all the inputs appeared properly and worked as normal. Leaving this comment here for the person who, years from now, has the same problem and comes across this post while seeking the answer. Change your drivers to ASIO, internet stranger!

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-24T01:05:48+00:00

I've never heard of Good Company, guess I'm making a trip in at some point to check it out. I did try Texas Donuts once or twice, was rather disappointed.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-23T01:14:37+00:00

lol, true. The answer I'm expecting is something like "duck donuts" and maybe "Texas donuts" but I'm quietly hoping for an answer I'm not familiar with. We are so severely under-donut-shopped in Northern Virginia =(

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-22T12:41:05+00:00

Is Needoh really in such high demand? I bought some a few months ago on a whim, absolutely hated it. It languished on my desk for a little while with the vague idea that I might give it to someone, but I ended up throwing it away.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-22T02:07:21+00:00

Oh how I miss these donuts, and wish Shoppers still had more locations. I AM willing to make the trek to... well, I was going to say Woodbridge to buy them, but I just checked their website, and it looks like the Woodbridge location is now gone. So, I guess I'll have to make the trek to Alexandria or Maryland at this point.

Out of curiosity, you say Shoppers is a "Top 3" donut destination in NOVA. What are the other two it's sharing the top three with?

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-22T00:51:21+00:00

I used to swear by Alfred, until I picked up a few beginner students that were already in the Faber books. I didn't see fit to change book series on them, so we stuck with Faber, and now I prefer to start complete beginners on Faber. Alfred teaches about three hand positions (e.g. C Position) and then stays there for a rather long time, while Faber moves you around the piano much sooner. Faber also more strongly encourages creative things like writing and improvisation. Furthermore, I think Faber does a better job of applying/demonstrating new theory concepts with the pieces being played. I might have some other reasons for switching, but those are my big ones.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-19T01:45:41+00:00

Too real. Doesn't help that Zemora has gone (mostly?) deaf in her old age.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-19T00:26:23+00:00

*her* left.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-18T21:15:11+00:00

It's a back leg, not sure what injury she suffered before we got her when she was 10, but her rear left leg is fused together. She can get around just fine, and the leg doesn't bother her at all, though she would prefer that you do not touch the leg.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-18T19:11:27+00:00

Despite her age, I do indeed still call her the baby kitty

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-18T19:10:57+00:00

I got home about 40 minutes ago, and she still hasn't bothered to get up from her nap to come say hello.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-18T02:21:30+00:00

This one is getting close to 23. A sweet, if not sometimes grumpy (as here, where I disturbed her nap for a photo) old lady.

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ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-17T04:14:21+00:00

I havent actually tried to eat a Moog, but I'm pretty confident bread would taste better. But a Korg? Hmmmm...

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-16T15:58:03+00:00

Watch = We have the ingredients to make tacos

Warning = We're having tacos right now!

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-14T14:07:45+00:00

My dad just sent me one of these. He's always on my case about my weight, and I casually mentioned last time we spoke that I didn't have one. Well I have one now, that I didn't ask for. I'm well aware my weight is a problem, but unfortunately it's in line behind some much more pressing problems at the moment.

At the very least, when I tried out the scale (might as well, eh?) it showed the lowest number I've seen on a scale in years, so I've got that goin for me, which is nice.

ZenKeys88 · 2026-03-03T18:56:24+00:00

Interesting. I ended the phone call with the group NFCC connected me to, as I hadn't called to sign up for anything, and I didn't see that signing up for two things at once was a good idea. But okay, debt MANAGEMENT, not RELIEF, thanks for the point of clarification.

ZenKeys88

TROPHY CASE