hybrid drum kit

Had an idea recently after coming home from one of those church gigs.

Years ago, we started with acoustic drums. Needed loud monitors, etc and the church folk had a cow (maybe a pig as well). So the advent of the electronic drum kit came into play. Churches opened their arms. Then the musicians complained about it not being real. Drummers rose up with arm injury potential and that the "feel" wasn't there. The modern church now has swung back into using real drums with lots of Plexiglas involved.

This is fine. I like real drums.

except . . . when they aren't in tune or need new heads.

For some reason, churches will fix a bad snare drum or kick drum. I theorize that is because both of these instruments tend to be relatively more stable in tuning until someone physically breaks the head. But the church has spent all of its budget keeping the piano in tune and no money is available for the poor toms. So the thought seems to be, "Why fix something that only gets hit once or twice in a song?"

BECAUSE IT SOUNDS BAD (sorry for the scream . . I feel better now)

Here's the idea. Let's compromise. Keep the real kit except for the toms. Use triggers, or pads and only present the audience with the electronic toms. Why not? I have done so many recording projects where I basically replace the toms anyways. I would venture to guess that many, many albums out there have been done exactly the same but no one wants to admit it. (dirty little engineer secret - don't tell the drummers)

I leave it to you. Natural drums with electronic/triggered toms. Don't need tuning, don't need heads replaced and if the drummer behaves will save money in the long run. Think about it.

(I foresee an invention here. Electronic toms with speakers in them so the drummer gets the believable feel of the pad actually making the noise.)

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