neil peart's new drums and cymbals

[mrface2112]

FWIW, neil's signed on with Sabian and they will be debuting his new signature series cymbals at the upcoming NAMM (there's your homerec content, since we're all interested in NAMM).

also, he's apparently gotten (or in the process of getting) a new kit from DW, which is reported to have some "marking" representing each of their albums (or album covers) on each drum. word has it this will be for Rush's upcoming 30th anniversary tour this summer.


wade

[fldrummer]

Sweet wonder how these cymbals are gonna sound compared to the dave weckl's Evolutions.

http://sabian.com/english/gopopup/index.php?pageid=4

[Rimshot]

Neil Peart is now endorsing Sabian? WOW! That's a real coup for Sabian.
He's always been so outspoken about how he only prefers Zildjian cymbals. They must've made him a sweet deal.
It really doesn't matter. Sabian makes great cymbals. I myself use mostly Zildjian because that's what I'm used to and I like them, but most of the big cymbal manufacturers make a good product. I just find it surprizing that after these years, he would make such a break. Somebody at Zildjian must've really pissed him off.

[mrface2112]

i think it's due to a couple things:

first, and my apologies for the memory-blank early in the morning, is that the old owner of zildjian (can't remember his name!!) just recently (relatively) passed away, and as is always the case with that sort of situation, you wonder where the company's gonna go. i'm sure that had something to do with it.

secondly is simply that Sabian does artist signature lines and zildjian does not. neil's been around long enough that he wants his "own" cymbals, made to his specs, and it's my guess that sabian came up with cymbals close enough to the zildjian a's that neil's always used--close enough for neil to slap his name on em.

i too am somewhat shocked. i've always played zildjians (and more accurately--never considered anything playing BUT), largely b/c of neil's endorsement. i mean, neil can play anything he wants--there must be a reason he's playing zildjians, right? now, it makes me want to check out these sabians. at least they're not the rocktagons that Gil Moore (Triumph) was playing at the end of their career.

although i suppose i shouldn't be TOO shocked. he's always played Wuhan chinas instead of the zildjian ones, and his drums have switched brands several times over the years, from Slingerland to Tama to Ludwig to DW.


regardless of this fact, the fact that he's getting new drums, that he's now endorsing sabians, that Rush is going on tour this summer and talking about recording a new album is a GREAT thing. it means that he's been bitten by the drumming bug again, and after the events in his life between 97 and 2002, just seeing him pick the stick up again was nothing short of amazing. these are good things said the cat in the hat.


wade

[rushfan33]

You are correct about the Sabian information. I'd also like to add that Sabian is related to Zildjian (I think they're brothers) so the quality is up there. I doubt that Neil switched because of the money. I really think that he's not hurting for cash, and I don't think he will be anytime soon. After all, Rush is the 12th top grossing music act in the biz.

RF

[mrface2112]

from what i understand, sabian and DW don't pay their endorsees a stipend, but rather they just get free gear. of course, not like neil really needs the money (although, if you read Ghost Rider, you'd think otherwise).

in this case, i think it was simply a matter of neil wanting cymbals designed for him, that he could be proud to put his name on.


all i know is that i'll be checking out these cymbals when they come out. i've been saving up for a 20in K Constantinople, but if the sabian paragon ride sounds better, then i'll pick it up instead.


wade

[Rimshot]

Originally posted by rushfan33
You are correct about the Sabian information. I'd also like to add that Sabian is related to Zildjian (I think they're brothers) so the quality is up there. I doubt that Neil switched because of the money. I really think that he's not hurting for cash, and I don't think he will be anytime soon. After all, Rush is the 12th top grossing music act in the biz.

RF

Sabian is in fact owned and run by a member of the Zidjian family (family feud involved) the name Sa-Bi-An comes from the first two letters of his three children's names (something I heard in a drum clinic once).They are definitely a high quality cymbal, bu I have found that they are a bit brightr in general to Zildjians, although that has changed in the last few years. It is quite understandable that Dave Weckl would prefer their cymbals because he likes very bright sounds. I personally prefer darker and drier cymbals and I know that Peart usually does too. Sabian has been making a lot of very dry and dark cymbals lately in addition to their others as is heard in the playing of Jeff Tain Watts who only plays Sabian.

You are not entirely correct about Zildjian not producing signature cymbals. I currently have a 22" ride on order from them that is a Terri Lynne Carrington signature cymbal. They must've just started doing that.

Neil Peart has been gradually changing his style and approach to drumming in the last few years and honestly, though I have always admired him and loved his drumming, I like what he is doing as a drummer even MORE now. I think he got bitten by the bug of Tony Williams and is thinking even more abstractly and allowing his time to be more fluid and less a slave to the "click" track. His opening pattern on he first cut of "Vapor Trails" was clearly a tribute to both Tony Williams and Gene Krupa. (I'm sure Neil would have preferred I said Buddy Rich there ) and I see his direction as a drummer being more inclusive of other styles than ever before. It's good that he's still trying to find himself, it'll keep his stuff fresh and young.

[mrface2112]

LOL.....slave to the click track. so true!

if you can get your hands on some of the live shows from 1997's Test for Echo tour, you'll hear something you've never heard before in Rush's music......a GROOVE. songs like Limelight, Tom Sawyer, etc., all took on a completely new feel as a result of neil's studying with buddy and his new devotion to circular drumming. i think the title track (T4E) bears that out very much so.

neil's always been a fantastically technical drummer, but there was very little "feeling" in his playing in that it always seemed very "on the beat" and sterile. when he revisited his approach after the Counterparts tour and essentially started over (playing traditional grip and whatnot), his drumming got a LOT more fluid and a groove emerged. it was such a strange thing to hear (i'm used to hearing a groove at dead concerts, but not a rush ones!), and it was extremely subtle, but it's definitely there. it was also interesting watching him play traditional grip on a lot of the older material, and then switch back and forth between that and matched. i've always played traditional when i need to do ghost notes or really fast doubles on my left (snare) hand--i just can't do em justice playing matched.

and yeah, Krupa was the first thing i thoght (well, aside from "DAAAAAAAAAAMN" ) when i heard the opening drumbeat to One Little Victory. i thought it was doubly fitting opening the album with thundering drums, given everything neil had gone through in the previous 5 years. especially given that he hadn't even touched the drums for something like 3.5 of those 5 years....

pick up the "Rush in Rio" dvd sometime if you want to be floored at how his chops have come back with a vengence.

can you tell i'm excited to be seeing them again?


wade

[TamaSabian]

Wow!!!, great info about one of my favorite drummers. I was surprised when I read that he has changed to SABIAN and PARAGON is the name of his setup. This brand is making some huge moves, now they got two of the greatest: Weckl and Peart each one in his particular style but both are outstanding players. Do you have an idea how this move will increase their sales??.

Tama

[mrface2112]

<<Do you have an idea how this move will increase their sales??>>


hugely, i would expect. certainly sabian's got my eye now, which has never strayed beyond zildjian and wuhan.


wade

[Drummer4Life05]

Yep. I've always been a Zildjian guy.

But I'll definatley be heading out to check these out now.

[Rimshot]

WHOA! Your choice of cymbals, drums, sticks and sound equipment is personal and should reflect who YOU are and what YOU want to hear coming from your instrument. I personally own several dozen cymbals that I have gathered during the years and I switch off depending on the kind of voices I am looking for at a particular time.I keep buying more, and selling off the ones that I no longer want.
I may think that Neil Peart is a really swell drummer, but I'm not going to run out and replace all of my drums and cymbals to be like his simply because he has made a "sweetheart deal" with a particular company. That would be dumb. Especially since you haven't heard any of these cymbals yet. I'm certain that they are wonderful, BUT are they going to give you what YOU want? I almost think people would be better off going into a cymbal room blindfolded and trying all of the different cymbals. You may be surprised at what you pick, or maybe not. Use your ears.

[zbert]

Sa-bi-an Sally, Brian and Ann.
Both companies have the secret family formula.
I use a combo of Zils and Sabians. There work very nicely together.

[Magpie99]

I'm a drummer and I had a chance to visit NAMM. The other real drummers I know said that the Paragons sound like (what else) old A's. Since Peart has been playing A's for years, that shouldn't be much of a surprise.

Glenn D.

[mrface2112]

old A's, eh? not a surprise, and pretty much what i expected given neil's tastes (historically speaking). thus, my desire to hear what these cymbals really sound like, b/c i've always really liked the sound of the older A's.

FWIW, the 22in ride that Neil plays (or played) was the same one he's had his whole career (since 74, at least). one of those "find one you like and stick with it" things.

rimshot, it's not about "blindly buying that which an idol pimps" (at least, not for me). it's about the constant search for something better and always being open to trying new things. i'm always on the lookout for something that sounds better or at least different. i'm that way with my guitars, too--it's a constant quest for tone. i've just never given sabian the time of day based on not liking what i've heard (same with Paiste), but if they're now making cymbals that sound like old A's (whereas Zildjian's NOT), then that definitely gets my attention and i at least want to see for myself what they sound like. know what i mean?


cheers,
wade