In the studio, I know ahead of time what I'm doing, and the potential sounds I need, and I select my drums and cymbals accordingly. I may bring a change of batters for one drum, but I try to keep logistics to a minimum. I don't want to carry a bunch of stuff, and there's seldom time for "How does this drum sound? How about this one? Okay, how about this one? And, now this? Okay, let's go through them again." I know the sounds my snares make, and the sounds I want, and if I need to audition them, I do that before going in.

Basically, I'll bring as few or as many as will make the tracks sound their best.

On local gigs, it's one snare. On tour, I have a second drum as a spare, because I play harder, more frequently, and am more likely to break a head during the show (although that's happened only a couple of times in the last 33 years on the road!)

Bermuda

I used to play in a band where the band leader would bring five guitars or more to the gig, all lined up on his rack, ready to play a different one on different tunes, and he really hated it when I used to joke about about bringing seven snare drums and say I'll play the Slingy on this one and the Luddy on this and the Pearl on that one etc...

Drums are a musical instrument, but it seems we drummers are the only ones who know that. Why can't we wank on like the guitar players do? Hmmmm

I typically bring just one snare to a gig. Every once in a while, I might bring something to contrast my main snare.. I keep extra snare cord with me in case I need it. It would probably be a good idea to bring an extra used head so if I break one... but, I'm not a heavy hitter and haven't busted a snare head since I was a teenager, when I was a heavy hitter LoLoLoLo

I can see bringing a few guitars or even basses to a gig, if they sound suitably different. I know that snares may sound radically different, but a gigging band is likely to be playing one or a limited number of styles that sound similar enough to successfully use one snare. For bands that play a variety of covers - oldies to modern, let's say - a more average sounding snare covers more territory than an 8x14 beast, or a high tuned 3x13. So for me, a 6.5 Supra, Copperphonic, or pre-serial COB goes a long way in almost every situation.

I do have one trick that quickly and radically changes the sound, which is to use put a mylar overlay on the snare, which drops the pitch and adds a slightly gated wet sound that tuning and damping alone cannot achieve. It's an old studio trick, a cut-out head works perfectly and I normally keep one in my main snare bags. When it's time to do an old ballad, or and ELO song, I'm all set! :)

Bermuda

So true about some guitarists. I remember once trying to count all of Rick Nielsen's guitars displayed on stage. I'd like BEC to jump in here with how many drum sets or snares he brought on tour to counterbalance all those guitars.

Thanks Bermuda for chiming in. I always wondered how you and the rest of W.A's touring band managed to replicate the sound of so many different bands live on stage. Guitarists can change the sound of their instrument with the touch of an effects pedal; Nirvana to Queen with a tap of the toe, but drummers are pretty much locked into a sound.

I'm with Brewkowski... I haven't had the need for either a backup snare, batter head, or bass pedal since I was a longhair pounding out covers of Deep Purple, Grand Funk, Mountain, etc. in noisy bars. I can't even remember the last time I broke a stick.

Mike

I bring one snare to any gig, usally a supra, I take as little gear as possible. The only reason I can see a guitarist taking more than one guitar is to make a quick change if he breaks a string.

Only one snare drum as others have eluded to. Carting this stuff in ain't no fun. The less the better. I have extra heads snare wires cord etc if needed with me.

I have found that just one snare with an overlay (cut out head, "A La Bermuda") plus a RemO ring option provide enough tonal/volume variety for me to handle our current 60's-80's cover song repertoire.

Hard to tear myself away from an '84 Tama 6.5 rosewood shell.

While I do have some great other options, it's usually the Tama, a 6.5 SK, or a 6.5 Dynasonic subbed in. When I do use either of the latter (both brass shells) I usually find myself attempting to emulate the Tama wood shell sound anyways...

Cheers

John

One with really good strings on the snares and I still usually have a screwdriver and a spare set of strings. I'm like Mark and try to keep it to a minimum hauling effort. But I've been known to bring two pedals. It's crippling to lose the snares or the bass pedal. You would struggle, but could get buy even if the hat pedal let go. HurtingHurting