I was out and about in our fair Metropolis back in September when the PiercingMetal Canon needed to be serviced and on my way back from the Phototech Repair shop I decided to wander into the brand new Sam Ash Music Store. Believe it or not I had never been inside this new space even though I was a regular customer/visitor to the now desolate “Music Row” of 48th Street. As I walked inside there was an immediate sight that caught my attention or in the words of Ralph Kramden “homina, homina, homina”. Perhaps you see why…..

Yep, here we are at probably the largest drum set that I have ever had the privilege of seeing in front of my own two eyes (and I have seen Mike Portnoy a number of times). It’s very impressive and seems to include everything BUT the kitchen sink but if you look a little closer you will realize that this is not a conventionally playable kit in the fashion that it has been built. Some of it is but not the whole thing as you see it.

From the front view this set looks like a drum roadie’s nightmare and quite a task for the drummer who braves the task of wielding the sticks behind it. Oh so about playing this “as is”…..Let’s go behind it.

As you can see there is not a real setup to easily maneuver on the left-hand side. Granted the stool here is not a proper drum throne but it would work out if you moved those two floor toms a little bit to the side and angled those bass drums a little bit better. Back in my own Metal youth I loved a big drum kit so this impressed me.

I asked if I could play it but they wouldn’t let me do it. I said I would bring them some added attention via my official YouTube.com channel but they were not buying it. I guess I need to sharpen up those powers of persuasion a little more in the new year 🙂

This is a Tama kit as you can see on the bass drums and while I didn’t count the actual number of drums I will assume that there are close to thirty actual drums. The cymbals are Zildjian and as you notice there are no pedals connected to the bass drums. I guess that guarantees customers will not sneak a sit down and start bashing away.

As much as I loved this display, it was even a bit too much for me when it came down to it, plus I am a Ludwig gus. Twenty drums maybe (since I already had a set with thirteen so what is seven more), but definitely not thirty plus. Still if some generous benefactor decided that I MUST have this then I would not argue with them at all. It would be a good excuse to come out of drum-tirement 🙂

Weblinks:
Sam Ash Music: www.samashmusic.com
Tama Drums: www.tama.com
Zildjian Cymbals: www.zildjian.com