Preston Nash: "Slam" with Pearl Rhythm Traveler Drums part 1

[stix4Him]

Hahahaha..awesome!

[laladuplex]

hi, i juts got this set, hear what you do, makes thing i am in th right pad, but how do i tunning it?

[prestonnashmusic]

@laladuplex Tune it like any drum. Just make sure the head is in tune with itself, with the same pitch from lug to lug. Without a bottom head on the toms, you just have to make sure each top head is in tune. I personally tune my toms to intervals, so for the Rhythm Travel, I use my floor tom as the "root note", the highest tom is a fifth above that, and the second tom is a fourth above the floor. Hope this helps.

[cearleywine]

Wow, fantastic use of the toms supporting the melody and showing what a minimal kit can do with creativity and proper mixing.

[prestonnashmusic]

@cearleywine Thank you! That was the exact point of the video...to demonstrate that the size or cost of the drumkit doesn't matter in the end, it's what you do with it. You can be creative on a small set with one cymbal...so thank you again!

[microhound]

Is the kick drum triggered?

[prestonnashmusic]

@microhound nope...no sound replacement at all. EQ on all drums, but again you do that on any drumset in the studio.

[TheM3TaLMeTaLLiCa]

@prestonnashmusic wow then this is amazing !

[TheM3TaLMeTaLLiCa]

this not the exact Pearl Rhythm Traveler, what did you change on it ?

[prestonnashmusic]

@TheM3TaLMeTaLLiCa Nothing except the cymbals...everything is as it is. Used my Sabian cymbals, otherwise exact RT kit, heads and all.

[Suprematista]

amazing!! unbelievable!! but obviously this is EQ as hell and with H expensive Mics. As Sabian Channel showing those B8 that sounds like AAX haha juas!!

[prestonnashmusic]

@Suprematista Yeah there's EQ, but you use EQ on all drums in a professional studio. My point on this was to show than a really inexpensive drumkit can sound great. Does it sound like a Masters or Reference Series from Pearl? Well no of course not. But, can they sound good with good drum tuning techniques, and yes, some help from EQ (again as all drums get in the studio), and, dare I say, OK playing? Yes they can. Thanks for watching and for your feedback! I hope you enjoyed the song too.

[Suprematista]

@prestonnashmusic yeah!! the song and your drummin' rocks!! really like the solo/bridge killin the toms!

[prestonnashmusic]

@Suprematista Thanks!!!

[kopitayable]

teach how you tune it! i have this kit but mine sounds awful

[prestonnashmusic]

@kopitayable Really just tune it the way you would any drumset. No matter what you're going to get that one-head tom sound, almost roto-tom like, because it doesn't have bottom heads, the shells are shallow, and the drums are smaller in diameter. As long as the head is in tune with itself, it should sound decent.

[prestonnashmusic]

@joe39363 Thanks!

[jeffholm]

Any way you could post the isolated drum tracks from this recording? I'd love to hear the mic'd kit w/o the music tracks.

[prestonnashmusic]

@jeffholm unfortunately I'd have to go back to the studio and remix a drums-only track...so for time reasons I'd have to say no...sorry...

[SephBentos]

I want one of these kits so badly. They sound freaking ace!

[prestonnashmusic]

@SephBentos Thanks man...they're great little kits for either practice or small club gigs. I did this to demonstrate how they can rock like a big kit...depends on what you do with it. Thanks for checking it out!

[SephBentos]

@prestonnashmusic The snare especially is the bees knees! I really enjoyed the vid, dude. Keep them coming.

[prestonnashmusic]

@SephBentos I'm going to be starting another one soon, this time on a regular kit. Stay tuned and thanks again!

[latinjazz73]

Why did you remove the resonant head on the bass drum? How does it sound with it on? Do you think it would work well with a hole in the front head?

[prestonnashmusic]

@latinjazz73 In the studio, I sometimes record the bass drum with the front head off, and some engineers prefer recording it that way to get more mic placement options. Like any bass drum, how you tune your front head will affect the tone of the drum...same with the RT kit.

[BLdrummer740]

The unfortunate thing is anything is possible with studio miking. Sound replacement, enhancement and what not.

[prestonnashmusic]

@BLdrummer740 No sound replacement. If EQ is what you mean by sound enhancement, then yes of course. If you've ever recorded in a professional studio then you know that, because drums (as well as guitars, vocals etc.) are EQ'ed in the studio.

[jcmotleycruefan]

that was great man totally buying this song haha and the drum kit

[prestonnashmusic]

@jcmotleycruefan Cool thanks! Unfortunately I didn't put this song on iTunes or anything...hit me at prestonnashmusic@yahoo.com for info on how to get the song...

[immortalandz]

what heads are used? cuz with traveller kit this sound is not possible:/

[AJFearr]

@immortalandz these are the heads that come with it, some decent pearl ones, this kit is surpirisngly good haha

[prestonnashmusic]

@AJFearr Thanks! With proper tuning, they sound great.

[prestonnashmusic]

@immortalandz For this I used the stock Pearl heads which came with it...I wanted to show that the kit could sound great as is out of the box (I didn't use their cymbals though...eek!) I've since signed on with Evans. But for the recording/video, with some proper EQ (like you'd do on any drums in the studio) and proper tuning, the RT drums sound good. There was no sound replacement, I swear! It's all really them...

[prestonnashmusic]

@immortalandz Those are the Pearl heads provided with the kit...and yes it's possible.  Good tuning, and yes, proper eq that you would do with any drumset in the studio, and trust me that's what you're hearing. I normally use (and proudly endorse) Evans Drumheads, but I wanted to prove that an inexpensive smaller kit, with proper tuning, can sound great.

[vil2rok]

@immortalandz It clearly seen in the video.Its having pearl pro tone skins..they r good !

[xsodrummer]

This can't be possible :O

[prestonnashmusic]

@xsodrummer :)



[bakersfieldmusicnow]

MASTER P....PRESTON NASH...AWESOME DRUMMER AND GREAT GUY!!

ROCKIN KROTCH TOO....AND ...RADIO ASSAULT ORCHESTRA....AHHHYEEAH

[tornmask]

now dis is wat im talk'n bout!..Pearl Traveler Drum Kit..all da wy! =0D

[archonish]

haha i like how you can lead with both hands, and i love the crossover fills! i bet it'd look sicker behind a bigger kit (with such a small kit, the fills looked "small" in a way) but nonetheless, great playing! keep rocking, man

[prestonnashmusic]

@archonish Thanks!

[JPMauldenMusic]

Are you using a gate?

[prestonnashmusic]

@JPMauldenMusic As with any live drums in the studio, there is EQ and a little bit of gating, just to get better isolation...mainly to keep the cymbals out.

[Blacksabbath211]

that was BADASS!!!!!!!

dude, thanks a TON! you proved how awesome this kit can sound:D

[tony13fg]

saved this to my favorites because you're a fucken beast on the drums. would dig seein you in the drum circles they have at venice beach. your rhythms sounded very tribal and extremely musical. Keep up the great work.

Tony the Drummer

[prestonnashmusic]

@tony13fg Thanks for the kind words Tony, I really appreciate it, and for adding it to your favorites. Gonna go right now and check out your channel!

[jordigan57]

Awesome, I love the stuff on the toms the toms.

[prestonnashmusic]

@jordigan57 Thanks man!

[jordigan57]

@prestonnashmusic Dude why is it not on i-tunes? I'll buy it!

[prestonnashmusic]

@jordigan57 Thanks man...we have stuff from Rocky Na$h & The Average Americans up there for you to check out to see if you like...otherwise for Slam email me at prestonnashmusic@yahoo.com and we'll figure something out...

[TheTrueHappy]

Dude you're awesome.

I have a question, I need a smaller kit, because I live in an apartment, but I don't wanna shell out how much a electronic kit costs. So I was wondering, what kind of heads you are using? And how the stock heads sounds.

That is, it's only a 500$ kit, but would I have to spend a lot more to make it sound as good as yours?

JAH bless

[prestonnashmusic]

@TheTrueHappy In this video, I'm actually using the Pearl heads that came with it...did it on purpose, to highlight that you can make an inexpensive kit sound great. I do use Evans heads and highly recommend them. But, as the video hopefully shows, with the kit as it is out the box (except cymbals), with proper tuning it can sound that good.

[Rockcissors]

Awesome Job ...

Thanks for the vid

Opus13

[Eastonplaya]

Yeah i Got a RT and have had lots of trubble tunning the toms to sound good. They also have a overtone to them that i dont like. any tips?

[moldylocks123]

@Eastonplaya hey dude been drummin a while, i dont hav an RT but u cud get sum E-rings which are these rings that go round the edge of the drums which dampen them alot, or use moon gel.

[prestonnashmusic]

@Eastonplaya Like moldylocks said, you can use and E-ring, moon gel, or even a little piece of duct tape. However, I prefer trying to tune out unwanted ringing, which, with single headed "concert" type toms like these, isn't really hard.

[prestonnashmusic]

Hoowahdrummer, thanks for the really nice words on my playing, sorry you didn't dig the tune...for aostereo, everything used except for the cymbals were included with the RT kit package, including the heads. If you tune them up right, they'll sound good and fat like a Remo Pinstripe. Good luck!

[prestonnashmusic]

Of course eq'ing is part of studio recording with drums, just as it is when mic'ing a kit up live. But, to say the sound on this is "pure process" is pure nonsense. These drums sound surprisingly good for their size, design, and affordability, which is why I did this demo on the RT kit...to show that if you're on a tight budget, especially in these economic times, you can still make something happen on a less-expensive kit. When I use it live people are surprised and amazed by the sound.

[hoowahdruma]

I too think that this sounds so good because of the mics and processing (eq and effects) but I gotta say, this dude is a talented drummer. Not my style of music but great limb independence and awesome heal toe work (making it sound like a double pedal).

[prestonnashmusic]

@hoowahdruma Thanks...and like I responded to someone else, you use eq'ing etc. on ANY drumset in the studio...you just do. But again, thanks for the nice words on my playing, much appreciated!!!

[PearlDrums2194]

if i had 3 sennheiser md421's, a shure beta 57, and like 4 sm57s....i could make a piece of shit set sound good too. guys, this kit is pure process, you just cant get a pearl RT to sound good in real life...

[PearlDrums2194]

if i had 3 sennheiser md421's, a shure beta 57, and like 4 sm57s....i could make a piece of shit set sound good too. guys, this kit is pure process, you just cant get a pearl RT to sound good in real life...

[bmanlance]

wow thanks for the vid!

I want one of theses things now.

Nice mic positioning! I would love a vid tutorial on that

[aostereo]

would you please, please! tell me what kind of drumheads are you using!? I just bought this kit and want exactly this kind of sound!

[prestonnashmusic]

@RonMan847

When putting the "real" heads on, make sure they're stretched out. Try to tighten each lug to the same tension. Go lug to lug, tap the head and see if the tone is the same. Adjust as needed. There are some videos here on youtube that discuss tuning. Good luck and thanks for the comment.

[princessCJFra123654]

my brothers drum teacher

[drumsdrumdrumdrum]

how cool is that

[JMMNe]

NASH FUCKIN RULE MAN!!!!!!!!!

[prestonnashmusic]

@JMMNe Thanks!

[beavisgenius]

Inspirational! I'm quite impressed and look forward to getting some great advice on technique and pushing myself to become a better drummer. Thanks for the post!