I'm the proud owner of a Drum Workshop drum kit. This one is made out of an exotic "Curly Maple" wood, with a beautiful turquoise lacquer finish. All that eye candy is great, but how does it sound? In a word: amazing. The tone is warm and powerful. I've recorded with these in the past year (2005), and it was easy to get a great drum sound.

I recently added a Roland SPD-S Sampling Percussion Pad, Roland FD-8 Hi-Hat Controller, and Roland V-Kick trigger to expand my range of sounds and ways to get those sounds. To hear the electronics balanced with the acoustic drums, I record everything through Audix Microphones, mix it on an 8-channel Yamaha mixer, and listen to the output on Stereo Isolation Vic Firth headphones. Occasionally, I'll pump the electronics through a Roland KC-350 amplifier (originally bought for my Yamaha Motif 6 keyboard).

The great thing is I can also use the SPD-S as a standalone "mini kit" of sorts with the Hi-Hat controller and V-Kick trigger (which I use with a double-bass pedal). This works great as a super practice pad of sorts that I can play late into the night when the wife and kids are sleeping.

Go to Pictures of Drums

Drum layout of my kit

Pictures of Drums

Click image to see a larger view. Note this is my "Chris Mess" project kit, which does not include the electronics and all effects cymbals. These pictures were taken on 11/20/2005 during a recording session at the Opium Den.

Chris Mess adjusts the microphones	Between takes	Between takes 2	Yours truly behind the kit