This Is Steve Gadd's Kit?! - Drum Kit Of The Month 

Hi Jim, Thanks for this video. I’m a huge fan of Steve Gadd’s playing and sound. I can dream his sound and kit combinations which probably was the reason that I was asked to take care of kits he was using for gigs in the Netherlands. One of these kits was his Signature kit and the other one a rental kit (Solid Black Recording Custom MIJ). If I may, than I would add here 3:19 that the maple bassdrum has the same shell as the 10mm thick Maple Custom Series bassdrum and the toms are the same shells as the Birch Custom Absolute Series which are exactly the same as the Recording Custom Series. Tom sizes: 10” x 7,5” - 12” x 8” - 14” x 12” and 16” x 14” for the people who want to know that. I guess the 13” will be 8’ or 9” deep and the floor toms will be “square” sized. I don’t have that kind of info. The 18” K was a Dark Crash Thin with the thin lathing like in the K Custom Dark Series (that one sounded so beautiful). You mentioned that Steve used a 20” ride but had it cut down to size 18”. I wonder if that ride was the cracked 20” old K Istanbul he was using at the Grover Washington Live concert. That could be the 18” that he was using in the “Steve Gadd Band - Jazz in Concert - 1985 Full Show 01” You Tube video? I’ve been in touch with cymbalcraftsman Paul Francis who helped me with answering questions I had about Steve’s 18” ride which he used for a long time. In fact it were two and both 18” EAK Rides which were only hammered and wire brushed. One of them cracked and was used to create the 18” Session Ride. I made a video of it and you can find it on RU-vid: “EAK” ISLAND - The end of a never ending search … for a Steve Gadd prototype EAK Zildjian ride clone” if you’re interested to know how these EAK’s were made and the weight of one of them enz. Also on Instagram you can check the ride clone of the ride which Steve used at that Jazz In concert (drummerfkadrumcpachjack on Instagram). That ride sounds thin and trashy because it had a crack in it and Steve taped it on the bottom side. I like your tuning on your Gadd kit! Cheers, Jack

From one serious Gadd fan to another… What a cool and unique vid!!!!

Jim great drum kit and awesome stories! Can’t wait to hear the new song! I hope you get some video of the sessions … that would really go over big here! I hope all is well my friend! 🙏🏻👍🏻🤘🏻😎

Between 91-93 during Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints tour Steve added a 18” floor tom to his left under the hi hats.

A few years ago I scored a pair of his K-Custom Session Hi Hats. The bottom is 14” and the top is 13 7/8”. Amazing chick and semi-open sounds.

this was so much fun! thanks for sharing and i cant wait for the tune. ive got the session custom 18 inch ride with brilliant finish. love it!!!

Thank you so much for this very informative video. Steve's custom hi hats are very interesting. Know we know how he gets that signature HH sound 🥁

Also, I'd love to see a few video's on tuning tutorials. I think ya'll would do a great job!

Thanks for video.. interesting

Whew! Jim, what a Steve Gadd fix this video was. So enjoyed this! Thank you so much for sharing this, knowing what you have and how to talk it, and making it fun to watch. I'll be watching it again. Subscribed!

I love my Evans hydraulic heads! I use the red but might try the blue.

Sound very nice.

I'd love to hear these with a set of two-ply clear, non-hydraulic heads; something with a bit more sustain. What a great video, Jim. Very informative and entertaining. And congrats on all the music you've created! That's an impressive body of work.

You mean "Maple Custom". That´s what it is. Recording Custom is the 9000 kit´s from Yamaha. Mayby he was nervous.. A great kit what so ever.

Great video. Thanks alot for the info about Mr Gadd's gear. The hi hat part especially👍 a great mystery was solved😊

Thank you, great video with really good info. Love this kit, it sounds really good and you are spot on with the cymbals.

This is so awesome, I love your videos, I watch them all the way through, there’s so informative

Mr. Gadd could play cardboard boxes & trash can lids & sound great!

I read a few years back the SG uses a diplomat snare side head. I tried it and noticed a difference in articulation with ghost notes. Clear at low volumes and records very well. I use a coated Ambassador on top with a 1967 Supraphonic . Happy with the sound.

Just picked up a TC and am waiting on the release of new AHMs once Yamaha gets the paint supplier sorted. I’m not going to praise Gadd because what more can one say?

you've got a new subscriber! This is awesome, looking forward to more videos

Thanks and Blessings Jim!

So nice

Love the kit, Jim. And How about that, the one and only Steve Gadd playing on one of your tunes! Can't wait to hear the marimba solo!

Excelente Vídeo !!!!!

Interesting, especially the choice of cymbals,

Oh, this is a drumset ? Never seen before. Crazy, the aliens are back.............

You got some good sounds on that kit.

Very interesting. Cheers

I bought a set of (sold as) Gadd K Session Customs. 18" Ride, 2 x 18" crashes (one Session, one K Dark Crash), 16" Session Custom, 14" Session Custom HH, and the top is heavier. I seldom used them previously, but have been using them in the tribute band exclusively. I just discovered a crack in the top HH cymbal and am completely bummed about it.

Absolutely inspiring ❤

This was great thanks!

I wish I could have heard the hihats, they were the most interesting item on the kit for me.

If I had this kit, It would be on display in my home like a grand piano. I wouldn't even set it up in a studio to play.

listening to Chick Corea for tbe first time i thought Gadd plays on cardboard boxes for footwear. Cheers from Russia! Gadd is greatest.

What is the other Tom to the left of the hi hat?

At the start of the video, you call this the Steve Gadd 30th Anniversary Yamaha Recording Custom. I know this was his limited edition signature kit but it is not a Recording Custom. It does NOT state that on the badge or any Yamaha documentation that I can find. I'm sure Yamaha would not classify this as a Recording Custom as it has a maple kick drum and the lugs from the '90s Maple Custom. Can you please clarify as you seem to be extremely knowledgable in all things pertaining to Steve Gadd.

Thank you very much for your demonstration. But I'm though wondering why you call that an Anniversary kit? That's doesn't look like his first Yamaha 9000 series (with the European tenstions) I owned the 9000 series back in 1977. Anyway I like to say that I found all these drums to sound both tight and with a very good clarity, except the kick drum that was for my taste too bright or light. And then I really liked how you processed the microphones you used (witch are also my favorite ones to put on drums the 421 & the Shure SM91) P.S. I think my tom-s were 12 and 13 inces

You didn’t play the Hi Hat for us ? It would have been nice to heat it as you told us how good it is and we can see it is something you don’t normally see, apart from that your video was great, thank you.

Great video, specs 10x?, 12x?, 14x? & 16x?

How does he muffle his bass drum?

The floors aren’t nearly as resonant as the racks. Weird. Also, I thought Gadd used 14 and 15?

don't know what your motives are man but all I can say is just try be yourself

Jim, you sort of have the facial features of a beardless Steve Gadd.

Is that A custom bottom hat rivet custom made ?

STEVE GADD GOT THAT ORCHESTRAL RIDE BECAUSE HE SAW ELVINS JONES PLAYING ONE AND HE THOUGHT IT SOUNDED GREAT SO HE GOT ONE TOO! GET YOUR STORY CORRECT!

You forgot to play the hi-hats?

You thah coolest and sweet man you are . I use the blue evans .Love em .Great show .Hi from Australia and you can't beet a 22 / 14 bass drum . What has happened with the world Bass drums are growing in lenght .Insane

Play the kitt

to bad you put hydraulics on everything...

Crazy. Dosent look anything like any other R.C.s. small lugs like a t.c. interesting.

Th hydraulic heads are nowhere near as good as they used to be.

Flappy sounding rac toms. Almost no difference.

This guy is very cool