danhertlein.com

My Gear Page
 click on the picture to increase the size

       

This page is dedicated to my life long love of the drums. It started back in 1964 and I've been playing in one form or another ever since then. I've been in many bands starting back in South Florida until I moved out to Northern California in 1984.

I've been "on the cusp" of making it several times, but it has eluded me. Who knows, was it luck? Probably or lack of it. Was it lack of talent? I don't think so, although I've never thought I was a good as some people say I was. As a matter of fact, I think I've always been OK. I'm a groove player. in 4/4. I play many styles OK. I've been playing over 40 years and I'm an OK player in my mind. Am I depressed because of it? No. I love playing and I love the drums. That to me, is enough. But I'll always strive to be the absolute best as I can. Do I practice? Not really but I should be. I'd rather be riding my bicycle during the day when I have off.

 

Click here to go to my YouTube Channel for some performance Videos. Feel free to sunscribe! 

So, with that uplifting introduction, here's what I use and why I use it.

Hardware

Currently, I have nine acoustic drum sets that I use at live gigs (more on them later) and an electronic kit for practicing. I use a combination of Gibraltar, Yamaha, DW, Tama and Pearl hardware with all the sets, including an Tama Dyna-Sync Direct Drive double kick pedal.

And I can't forget my throne, an often forgotten piece of the puzzle. Bad throne? Bad experience ;-). I use Roc 'n Soc throne's. I actually have four. One for the gigging kit, one for my practice kit at my home drum studio, one left in Florida where I do an annual reunion gig with my band from the 60's and 70's and one that is left at a band rehearsal space. It is the best throne out there as far as I'm concerned!

 
 

Electronics

Live, I always use a Tama Rhythm Watch for tempos and the liveBPM app on an iPod to help keep my meter steady. I also use a Roland SPD:ONE for hand claps. At hone I use a Yamaha DTX720K eKit when I don't want to bother the family or my neighbors to practice on.

Drum Microphones

The microphones I have are as follows; an Audix D6 for the kick; four Sennheiser e604's for the toms, a Shure SM-57 for the snare, and a AT3568 condenser used on the Hi Hats. I also use a Yamaha EAD10 as an overhead. These get sent to the bands main mixer. It makes for an easier setup and in most situations, simpler is better. A sound company is usually used in bigger venues with my bands and I'll use their mics.

Monitors

I currently have a Behringer Personal Monitor Mix monitor, coupled with Shure ear buds that I use as a wired in ear monitoring system.

Drums

 I've now got nine acoustic kits. The number is always changing because, hey I love drums. I buy some and I sell some. I have incredible Jenkins-Martin fiberglass kit, a Yamaha Recording Custom kit (one of the newer models) a fantastic Yamaha Club Custom kit in orange swirl that is among my favorite kits ever, an incredible Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple kit in a beautiful Polar White finish, a nice little Premier Genista Maple kit I keep in Florida for my annual reunion gig, a beautiful Craviotto Maple kit to die for, a vintage (over 50 years old) Rogers Holiday kit which is another one of my favorites, a Yamaha Stage Custom kit in my studio and a Remo MasterTouch Bop kit.  I have a few snare drums that are listed below but that list is in current flux.

How I set these drums up and do I carry spares?

Through the years, I've changed my setup many times. Currently, I'm most comfortable with actually using less drums. You've heard the saying "less is more". It really is. Having less drums makes you think about using the tools you have accessible. So, with that, I'm most comfortable using a one up/one down configuration where I'm using one rack tom and one floor tom. Or one up/two down, with one rack and two floor toms. On occasion however, I will throw an extra rack tom on top, just to mix things up. When I do that, I have to move my ride cymbal over to the right and a little higher. Also, the days of having cymbals high are long gone. Low is the word, because you can get to them quicker and it's easier on the body. It looks cool too ;-). Also, I always carry spares to things that I cannot do without when I'm at a gig if it breaks. And that would be an extra snare, pedal, and drums heads for the snare and bass drum. With that rule, I'll always be covered unless I forget something...

Tama Star Walnut kit in Sunny Yellow

 

Video of me playing my Tama Star Walnut Kit

Tama Star Walnut! An incredibly well made drum. I love this kit! Click here to see a video of me unboxing this great kit! The sizes I have are 14x22, 7x10, 8x12, 9x13 and 15x16 floor tom.

Rogers Holiday (Dayton and Fullerton era) Kit

 

Video of me playing my Rogers Holiday Kit

I used to use a Rogers Holiday kit in the High School Jazz band back in 1970. It was a red sparkle kit that I had no idea what I was playing on. Rogers was the "Cadillac" of drums at the time. Of course, because Ringo Starr was my number one idol, I would have none of that! Ludwig was "the had to have" drum set of my time.  Well, I recently was able to purchase a Rogers kit in fantastic shape and I'm proud to be playing it in both of my bands. The Blue Onyx finish is in great shape for being 49 years old! Lucky guy I am!!! That kit sizes are 14x22, 9x13 and a 16x16.

Ludwig Classic Maple Kit in Burgundy Pearl wrap

Video of me playing my Ludwig Classic Maple Kit
 
I got an opportunity to get another Ludwig Classic Maple kit. Have to have a Luddie! Just what you expect from the wonderful line of Classic Maple Ludwig's. It also has a very limited burgundy peral wrap. I'm building up a shell pack while they still have this rare finish available.14x22, 7x10, 8x12 9x13 with 14x14 and16x16 Floor Toms.

Jenkins-Martin Fiberglass Kit

  

Video of me playing my Jenkins-Martin Kit

I recently ordered this kit because of my love for my Blaemire snare drum. I was not disappointed. Very small company that is dedicated to producing phenomenal drums. Just a great sounding kit.  14x24 bass drum, 9x13 rack tom and 14x14 and 16x16 floor toms. I actually have extra drums which are a bit smaller in size, which I use for smaller venues and/or funkier gigs. The sizes of those drums are a14x22 bass drum, 8x10 and 8x12 toms.

Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple Kit in polar white lacquer finish



Video of me playing my Yamaha Absolute Hybrid Maple Kit

This kit is an incredible playing and sounding kit. I had to wait six months to be made but that's OK. It was worth the wait. 14x22, 14x24, 9x13, 15x16 with matching 6x14 snare. YUM!

Gretsch Renown Maple RN-2 Maple Kit

  

I recently picked up this mid level Grestch Renown kit for a song (the basic 22/13/16 configuration). Then, it sounded so great, I sold my Gretsch Broadkaster kit and started to purchase add-on drums to this fantastic sounding kit. IMHO, it really does match up to Gretsch's top level lines (USA Customs). Piano black (so classy) in a 18x22, 7x10, 8x12, 9x13 with14x14 and 14x16 floor toms.

Summit One ply Mahogany Drum Kit



Video of me playing my Summit Mahogany Kit

These are fantastic drums made by Gary Posey at Summit Drums in Ohio. He made this kit for me out of mahogany planks with a maple reinforcement ring. Just top notch quality by a one man option. I will be getting more of these drums...Maybe a birdseye maple...

Heineken

One of my fans ;-) did this...

Cymbals

Since I don't have any endorsements (there is an upside to this fact I guess), I can use whatever I want. So there! I mix and match as the gig demands.

Live Gigging Cymbals 

15" Paiste 602 Modern Essential HI Hats

17" 602 Modern Essential Crash

18" 602 Modern Essential Crash

20" 602 Modern Essential Crash

20" 602 Modern Essential Ride

21" Sabian HH Raw-Bell Ride

18" Sabian HHX Evolution Ozone

Snare Drums

My relatively small snare collection sounds great. Honestly, it's hard to keep up with which snare drum I have and use at any moment. It's a combination of round drums, good tuning and good heads that are the key to having a great snare drum sound.

Kits I've owned in the past

My first drum set! My parents bought this kit for me. A brand new top of the line Ludwig in my my favorite color, blue sparkle! I was extremely lucky to have such loving parents. I used this kit during the 60's until I got the bug to have other drum sets. Silly me!. 14x20 bass, 9x13 tom and 16x16 Floor tom with Ludwig (Paiste) cymbals. oh, the snare drum? A 5x14 Supersensitive! Like I said, top of the line :-)

In 1970 I bought a silver sparkle Ludwig kit and soon bought another with exact sizes to have a double kit!

Around 1973, I was a big fan of Billy Cobham who was quickly becoming the "man". I purchased this acrylic Fibes kit with a 24" bass drum. 14x24, 9x13, 10x14 and a 16x16 Floor tom. Yes, that is a Ghost bass drum pedal!

I got a Premier Resonator kit in the late 70's when I was playing with a local band, Hemlock. Of course, I had to get a double kit! Roto toms as well.

When Hemlock started recording in California, I had a great Pearl fiberglass kit with concert toms. Loved that kit and my lifelong love of fiberglass drums!

 My Yamaha Recording Custom in Quartz Gray, circa 1980's. Along with my Simmons kit and Linn Drum. Technology for the times.

DW Maple Collectors Royal to Regal Burst. A great kit that I used for eight years.

This is a DIY Kit. Do It Yerself. I bought the parts and put it together. A lot of fun and it sounded great too. Maple Keller shells. The wrap is turquoise glass glitter. I liked it...

The same kit but in a green sparkle wrap.

Again, the same kit without any wrap. I attempted to give it gloss finish.

A great Premier Signia kit in it's white lacquer finish.

The same kit in a silver glass glitter

A Premier Resonator kit that I covered in purple glass glitter wrap.

A very cool Gretsch USA Maple kit that I am real sorry I got rid of. What was I thinking???

Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute pink sparkle kit. A great sounding kit! I wish I had the space to keep it.

Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute Nouveau pink pearl fade. As the others, a great drum set!

Tama Starclassic Performer. A birch kit that I really, really liked. My first Tama kit and not my last. Had to make room for others unfortunately.

A Gretsch USA Maple kit. A wonderful sounding kit.

A great Gretsch USA Custom kit. The classic Gretsch Rosewood kit.

 Fibes Maple kit from 1990's. An awesome sounding kick. I prefer 22" kicks so it didn't get played much. I recently acquired and Fibes kit with a 22" kick and two floor toms and I couldn't be happier! See it listed above.

Yamaha Absolute Beech Custom Kit. An absolutely wonderful sounding and engineered drum set. I'm sorry I got rid of it.

A 1980's era Yamaha Recording Custom kit. The real deal.

Fantastic Sonor Delite kit. A true classic with unbelievable quality and engineering. 

Ludwig 9 ply Classic kit, circa late 1990's. I miss this one.

Ludwig 3 ply 70's era kit I built up from old shells.

Milestone fiberglass kit that I restored. I hated to let it go but I had to make room for others.

Tempus Carbon Fiber Custom kit. Great sounding kit that now has a new great home.

Gretsch Renown 100% African Mahogany Purewood Series Kit. A great Gretsch kit that could stand up to any Gretsch kit out there. I traded it for my current Rogers XP-8 kit. I'm sure I'll be sorry...

Rogers XP-8 "Big R" Kit. Vintage Maple kit from the late 70's-early 80's. Like the color???

Fibes Maple. A wonderful sounding kit. Jasper shells. Not my favorite color, so when I had the chance to get my Green Ludwig Maples, I sold these. I'll regret it as usual I'm sure!

Tempus Carbon Fiber kit. This was an awesome custom built kit.

Ludwig Blue Vistalite kit. Great vintage kit.

A Tama Granstar kit that I had cut down (the toms that is). Nice sounding kit from the 80's. I re-wrapped it in pink sparkle.

My Gretsch New Classic Maple kit. Loved this kit but alas I had to move something out so I could purchase my brand new Ludwig Legacy kit.

I still believe Yamaha makes one of the best drum sets on the planet. Another drum set I sold to finance my Ludwig Legacy kit .

I had this Yamaha Tour Custom kit for a short while. I purchased it new and kept it in Florida for when I would play at reunion gigs with my old bands from the 60's and 70's. I decided I didn't want to take up valuable space at my fathers house for one gig a year. Great sounding kit with the right heads. Love that Yamaha quality!

This is a unique Ludwig Classic Maple kit built in 2004. I got it used. Real nice kit but I grew tired of the green sparkle. Call me crazy. It was a wonderful sounding kit.

I picked up this brand new Dixon Outlaw kit last year for a song. Great quality and a nice sounding kit but in the end, I needed the room to get my incredible Gretsch kit.

This is one kit that I know I will regret selling but the sizes just didn't work for me. These jazz sizes would better be served with a jazz player, which I'm not. I sold them to a friend who will put them to great use.

A great Ludwig Classic Maple kit in champagne sparkle (love that color) that I needed to sell to make room for a newer custom drum set. I'm sure I'll regret unloading but it did go to a great home up north of the border to someone who will put it to good use as well!

Gretsch USA Custom! What can I say? Fantastic kit. Never played a Gretsch kit I didn't absolutely love.

 C&C Mahogany Kit. Wonderful drums. It's just that Mahogany isn't as loud a drum as maple are. I would own a maple kit in a second. I may someday. Just great drums.

Ludwig red glass glitter Legacy kit! A fantastic drum set that to my mind didn't get played out enough. That's the problem with having so many. I feel bad if I'm not playing them. So, reluctantly, I let them go to. They went to a great home in Montana.

Eames make some of the best shells in the industry. This was a smokin' kit. I bought them on impulse one day for a great price but again, with so many kits (seven at the moment), I decided to pass them on to someone else at the same price. Beautiful drums.

My Beloved Gretsch USA Customs. Loved this kit BUT I got a deal of a lifetime with the Craviotto's and it involved trading this kit for them (plus a lot of cash). They will be missed!

My Fibes Maple kit. Man, I loved this kit to but it had to go to get cash to pay for the aforementioned Craviotto's. If you're a drummer (and I'm assuming you are) and have never played a Fibes kit, make it a point to. You will be hooked forever.

A fabulous Ludwig clear acrylic kit. Love these drums!

And lastly in the Craviotto influenced turnovers, I had to let the Ludwig Classic's go to make room for the Craviotto's. Great drums!!

Like a dope, I can't believe I unloaded this Craviotto Mahogany kit. One move I will always regret! One of the best kits I've ever had the pleasure of owning. I just can't believe they're gone... :-(

Ludwig Keystone kit in mint oyster green. A very big sized kit. I had to sell to make room for others. Sounds like a recurring theme, huh?

Gretsch USA Custom in walnut finish. Beautiful, great sounding drums I had to unload to make room for another Craviotto kit I've purchased.

  A beautiful Yamaha Recording Custom kit with a 14x24, 9x13, 14x14 and 16x16 Floor toms. Not sure why I unloaded. It wouldn't be my last.

DW Collector kit. This was actually Joe Morello's last kit. DW's are fine instruments.

DW Collector kit I actually bought while I was recuperating from a minor surgery. Beautiful tangerine glass glitter wrap.

Pork Pie Nyatoh in the silver blue duco finish. Another great sounding kit that had to go to make room for another purchase.

  Probably the most beautiful kit I've ever owned. Craviotto Birds Eye Maple. I could not get add on drums because Craviotto had no matching wood! 14x22, 9x13 and a 16x16. Big regret selling these...

Yamaha Club Custom orange swirl kit. Just an outstanding drum set. I was a fool to let them go!

Ah, my beloved C&C Gladstone Poplar kit. Unfortunately it had to go to make room for my Yamaha RC kit.

 Tama 1980's Superstar Goodness in white lacquer. Again, I moved this kit to make room for others. A GREAT Kit! 14x22, 8x10, 8x12, 9x13, 14x14, 16x16.

  Another Tama Superstar kit from the 80's. Great kit as well. 14x24, 9x13, 16x16

  Slingerland Conway kit from the late 1990's. Beautiful sound kit. White Marine Pearl wrap. 14x22, 8x12, 16x16

 A Ludwig 3 ply I had for a minute, I'm not sure why I unloaded this beauty. a beautiful white marine pearl wrap faded over time. 14x22, 9x13, 16x18.

My awesome Oriollo Aluminum Phantom kit in 22/13/16

Yamaha Club Custom. Love the drums but they were in the wrong color. Got the orange and never looked back!

I got this beautiful Rogers 50 year old kit but I needed the room and already have my dream Rogers kit (blue onyx) and sold this one to a dear friend. (you're welcome Michael ;-)

This kit was custom ordered from the C&C Company. Maple Mahogany/Maple seven ply layup. I use them with Evans UV1 heads. 14x22, 7x10, 8x12, 9x13, 14x14 and 16x16.

  This was a new kit that Pearl resurrected from the 70's. It is a great drum set made of kapur and poplar with a thin layer of fiberglass. I had perfect sizes, 14x22, 8x10, 8x12, 9x13,14x14 and a 16x16.

  This was newer Broadkaster known for it's 3 ply shells in gold sparkle wrap. I was thoroughly surprised by the warmth and fatness the maple/poplar maple shells and die cast hoops produce. Loved this kit!
                            Sizes were 14x22 kick, 8x10, 8x12 and 9x13 rack toms and a 16x16 Floor tom.

A Rogers XP8 Kit from the late 70's or early 80's. Really great sounding kit that I let go to make room for some other toys. 14x22, 8x12, 9x13 and a 16x16.

My beloved Yamaha orange swirl Club Custom shell pack - I unloaded this because I have to thin the herd. Just an awesome kit. Sorry to see it go. 20/22/24/10/12/13/14/16