WELCOME TO MY EQUIPMENT PAGES.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE THE VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS THAT I PRESENTLY PERFORM & RECORD WITH.  YOU WILL FIND DIAGRAMS FOR VARIED LIVE & STUDIO SETUPS, PICTURES OF THE MANY INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTS THAT I USE AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS (USEFUL FOR ANYONE WHO’S CONSIDERING BOOKING A LIVE PERFORMANCE).  THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OVERALL GUIDE OF HOW I LIKE TO REMAIN AS VERSATILE AS POSSIBLE BY ADAPTING TO ANY ENVIRONMENT OR MUSICAL SITUATION.

INSTRUMENTS

HERE YOU CAN VIEW A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL THE INSTRUMENTS THAT I USE FOR PERFORMING LIVE AND/OR RECORDING.  THIS INFORMATION IS INCLUDED ON THIS SITE IS MAINLY WITH DRUMMERS AND PERCUSSIONISTS IN MIND… WHO GENERALLY ENJOY UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES AND WHY.  TO ANYONE CONSIDERING BOOKING BEATS DE VYNE THIS SECTION CAN ALSO PROVIDE A BRIEF INSIGHT IN TO WHAT TO EXPECT.

LP GALAXY SERIES - FIBREGLASS CONGAS

I PREFER TO USE LP FIBREGLASS FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES, ESPECIALLY WHEN FACED WITH A VERY LOUD SOUND SYSTEM OR BAND, SO MY SOUND WILL CUT THROUGH MORE CLEARLY.  THE SOUND THAT THESE CONGAS PRODUCE IS CRISP AND CLEAR, AND I GENERALLY FIND THAT FIBREGLASS SHELLS OFFER A SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER TONE AS OPPOSED TO WOODEN SHELLS, WHICH TEND TO BE DEEPER & WARMER.  HOWEVER, THE WIDE BELLY AND NARROW BOTTOM STILL HELPS TO CREATE RICH, DEEP BASS WHILE ALSO RETAINING THE CRACKING HIGHS.  I CHOSE THE LP GALAXY GLITTER FINISH AS IT HAS A SPACE AGE SPARKLE THAT DEFRACTS LIGHT INTO A SPECTRAL EFFECT, WHICH DANCES UNDER STAGE OR CLUB LIGHTING.

LP GALAXY SERIES – MATCHING FIBREGLASS BONGOS

LP CONGITAS LP SIAM OAK CONGITAS ARE AN OPTIONAL ADDITION TO MY STANDARD SET UP AND CONSEQUENTLY I DON’T GET TO USE THEM AS MUCH AS I’D LIKE.  THE WOODEN SHELLS PRODUCE A BEAUTIFULLY RICH SOUND BUT DUE TO THEIR SMALLER DIAMETER THEIR TONES PRODUCE A SOUND THAT IS A CROSS BETWEEN A BATA DRUM, A BONGO AND A CONGA.  THE COMBINATIONS BETWEEN CONGAS & CONGITAS, FROM FIBRAGLASS TO WOOD, LOW TONE TO HIGH TONE IS QUITE UNUSUAL BUT VERY EFFECTIVE …… JUST WHAT I LIKE!!  THESE LITTLE BEAUTIES ARE GREAT FOR ACCENTING OR SOLOING AND ARE A GREAT ADDITION BESIDE MY CONGAS & BONGOS WHENEVER THE RIGHT OCCASION ALLOWS.

REMO 14” DJEMBE I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A TRADITIONAL DJEMBE FOR SOME TIME NOW BUT THROUGHOUT MY QUEST FOR THE RIGHT SOUND I’VE STILL YET TO FIND ONE THAT I AM TOTALLY HAPPY WITH.  MAYBE I’LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT LONG DESIRED TRIP TO AFRICA TO GET THE REAL THING!!  IN THE MEANTIME I CAME ACROSS THE BEST COPY OF A TRADITIONAL DJEMBE THAT I COULD FIND, MADE BY REMO.  NOW I’M A BIG FAN OF REMO FOR THEIR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH DRUM HEADS SO I KNOW THEIR STANDARD OF CRAFTSMANSHIP IS HIGH.  IT WASN’T UNTIL I PLAYED THIS DRUM THOUGH THAT I TRULY FELL FOR THE AMAZING DYNAMICS THAT I COULD CREATE WITH IT.  FROM BELLOWING LOWS TO WHIP CRACKING HIGHS ALL WITHIN 14” ……. WOW!!

TITO PUENTE 12” & 13” TIMBALES I COULD NOT EASILY SURVIVE IN MY WORLD WITHOUT MY TIMBALES.  THEY HAVE TO BE MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE INSTRUMENT AMONGST THE MANY BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENTS THAT I OWN.  I ACTUALLY OWN 2 PAIRS OF TIMBALES BUT PICTURED HERE ARE MY PREFERRED CHOICE WHEN PLAYING WITH OTHER MUSICIANS.  WHY TITO PUENTE?  WELL AFTER ALL IF YOU’VE EVER HEARD TITO PUENTE PLAY THEN YOU’D KNOW WHY HE DESIGNED AND CUSTOM BUILT HIS OWN VERSION OF THIS PRODOMINENTLY LATIN BASED DRUM.  I CHOOSE THE BRASS SHELLS FOR THEIR ADDITIONAL WARMTH WHEN PLAYED NEARER THE CENTRE WHILE STILL RETAINING THE LOVELY BRIGHT HIGHS THAT TIMBALES ARE ACCUSTOMED FOR WHEN PLAYED ROUND THE RIMS.  DEPENDING ON MUSICAL REQUIREMENT I REGULARLY USE MY STAINLESS STEEL SHELLS INSTEAD FOR THEIR CRACKING, BRIGHT & CRISP SOUND.

LP MINI TIMBALES AGAIN THESE LITTLE BEAUTIES ARE A WICKED ADDITION TO THE DRUM SECTION OF MY SET UPS.   AT ONLY 6” & 8” IN DIAMETER THESE MINI TIMS REALLY CRACK OUT A LOVELY HIGH PITCHED DRY TONE THAT TRULY COMPLIMENTS ANY STANDARD SIZED TIMBALE.  I USUALLY ATTACH THEM DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SMALLER SIZED TIMBALE SO I CAN EASILY SWITCH FROM LOW TO HIGH TO EVEN HIGHER IN ONE SMOOTH RUN.

TAMA OCTABANS WHEN I FIRST PLAYED A SET OF OCTABANS I DIDN’T GET OFF THEM FOR HOURS.  NEXT TO TIMBALES THESE HAVE TO BE MY FAVOURITE DRUMS FOR STICKS.  THEY COME IN 8 DIFFERENT SIZES, 4 IN A LOW PITCHED SET & 4 IN A HIGH PITCHED SET.  THEY CHANGE PITCH THOUGH BY USING SHELL LENGTH INSTEAD OF SHELL DIAMETER.  THE SOUND THEY CREATE IS INCREDIBLE, VERY HIGH PITCHED AND WHEN PLAYED WITH THE RIM THEY PRODUCE SUCH A SNAP YOU WOULD EXPECT THEM TO JUST BUST OPEN!!  THE REASON I LOVE THESE DRUMS SO MUCH IS FOR THE MELODIES THAT YOU CAN CREATE WITH THEM.  WHEN PLAYED CORRECTLY THEY CAN ALMOST SING TO YOU IN HARMONY.  YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TUNE THEM AND MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT NOTES FOR THE RIGHT DEPTH IN THE DRUM BUT ONCE THIS IS ACHIEVED THERE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN.

TAMA ROTO TOMS YET ANOTHER FAVOURITE, HOW MANY FAVOURITES CAN I HAVE?  SOMETIMES I’LL ADD TO OR SWAP THESE FOR TIMBALES, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE MUSIC ORIENTATION DEPICTS, OR IF I JUST FEEL LIKE A CHANGE. THE COMBINATION BETWEEN ROTO TOMS & OCTABANS CAN ALSO BE A VERY EXCITING MIX OF TONES, BEARING IN MIND THAT WITH JUST THESE TWO INSTRUMENTS YOU HAVE 7 DRUM HEADS TO PLAY WITH.   WHAT I FIND MOST FUN ABOUT THESE DRUMS IS THE WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN CHANGE THE TONE OF EACH DRUM WHILE YOU PLAY.  THE DRUMHEADS ROTATE, HENCE THE NAME, AROUND A CENTRAL THREAD AND THIS IS HOW YOU TUNE THEM.  HOWEVER, IF YOU FANCY CREATING SOME MOVEMENT IN YOUR TONES THEN TRY ROTATING WITH ONE HAND WHILE PLAYING WITH THE OTHER!

ZILJIAN Q SERIES 16” CRASH	ZILJIAN CHINA	ZILJIAN 7” SPLASH

GROWING UP AS A DRUMMER I HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO TRY OUT A VARIETY OF CYMBALS, I.E; SABIAN, PEARL, PAISTE  ETC.  I ALWAYS PREFERRED THE SOUND OF ZILJIAN AND IN MY OPINION THEY ALWAYS SEEMED TO HOLD THERE SOUND BETTER OVER TIME.  MY FAVOURITE IS THE CHINA FOR IT’S WONDERFUL EFFECT.  ALTOGETHER THESE THREE OFFER A BALANCE OF HAVING SUSTAIN AT A LOWER PITCH AND QUICKER RESPONSE AT A HIGH PITCH, WHICH ALWAYS WORKS WELL FOR ME.

I FIND THESE INSTRUMENTS ARE PARAMOUNT TO ADDING FLAVOUR AND TEXTURES TO THE DRUM SIDE OF MY KIT.  THEY CAN EASILY ACCENTUATE THE GROOVE AND BRING SHARP, HIGH & LOW TONES IN TO THE EQUATION.  THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS BUT THESE ARE MY PREFERRED CHOICE.

JAM BLOCKS ARE THE MODERN REPLACEMENT FOR WOOD BLOCKS AND NEVER FAIL TO CRACK THROUGH WHILE BLAST BLOCKS I FIND COMPLIMENT THE JAM BLOCKS TONAL STRUCTURE, APPROXIMATELY ONE MINOR THIRD APART.  ADD THE SAMBAGO BELLS THAT ORIGINALLY COME FROM AFRICA AND YOU GET A COLOURFUL ARRAY OF CRISP AND CONSISTENT SOUNDS THAT ALL COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER.  THESE NEVER FAIL TO GET ATTENTION.

THE CLAVE IS AGAIN AN INSTRUMENT I WOULD GENERALLY ONLY USE WHEN RECORDING LATIN BASED MUSIC AND SOMETIMES WHEN PERFORMING IN CERTAIN BANDS.  THE WHISTLE HOWEVER, IS ALWAYS WITH ME WHEREVER I’M PERFORMING OR RECORDING OR EVEN SOMETIMES JUST OUT ON THE TOWN ….!!
THE TRI-TONE ENABLES ME TO CREATE MELODIC STYLE COMBINATIONS THAT BLEND WITH THE MUSIC AND ALSO, WHEN THE MOOD AND ENVIRONMENT DICTATES, MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS POSSIBLE!!  CHIMES ARE GREAT FOR STUDIO WORK WHERE SHORTER SUSTAIN AND ADDED CONTROL ARE DESIRED, THEY ALSO PROVIDE A BEAUTIFUL ADDITION TO ANY LIVE SET UP.

AS WITH ALL PERCUSSIONISTS I’M SURE, I AM ALWAYS BUYING NEW TOYS AND MORE INSTRUMENTS.  AS I CRAVE TO DEVELOP MORE TECHNIQUES AND CONTINUE SEARCHING FOR FRESH & EXCITING MATERIAL …… OFF TO THE SHOPS I GO.   HENCE, I WILL BE ADDING MORE INSTRUMENTS TO THESE PAGES AS I EXPAND MY KNOWLEDGE SO IF YOU GO TO THE LINKS SECTION YOU CAN FIND SOME OF MY FAVOURITE PLACES TO SHOP AROUND FOR INSTRUMENTS & EQUIPMENT.  ENJOY.
I AM GREAT SUPPORTER OF MANY PERCUSSION PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET AND THERE ARE SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.  HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE PRODUCT NAMES & DISTRIBUTORS THAT I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMMEND FOR THE UK:

SET UPS
WELCOME TO MY PERCUSSION SET UP PAGE.

HERE YOU CAN VIEW THE VARIED PERCUSSION SET UPS THAT MANOS CHOOSES TO USE FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES.  THEY OFFER YOU SOME IDEA OF HOW VERSATILE HIS SET UPS CAN BE, WHICH PROVIDES HIM WITH THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO ANY MUSICAL ENVIRONMENT.  WHEN PERFORMING WITH BANDS OR RECORDING MANOS INVARIABLY DECIDES UPON WHICH INSTRUMENTS TO USE BY TAILORING HIS SET UP TO BEFIT THE MUSICAL REQUIREMENT.

THE OPTIONS YOU WILL FIND BELOW ARE ONLY SOME OF THE MORE COMMONLY USED VARIETIES.  MANOS LIKES THE FREEDOM TO MIX UP HIS INSTRUMENTS FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT EVENTS TO KEEP THINGS FRESH AND CHALLENGING BUT MOREOVER TO MAINTAIN DIVERSITY, ESPECIALLY FOR REPEAT PERFORMANCES.

HENCE THE ILLUSTRATIONS YOU SEE HERE ARE ONLY A GUIDE

STANDARD SIZE STAGE SET UP

(Please see separate Instrument section for precise detail of the individual Instruments)

THIS IS MANOS’ PREFERRED AND MOST COMMONLY USED SET UP FOR CLUBS AND LIVE PERFORMANCES.  THE SPACE REQUIRED IS APPROXIMATELY 7FT WIDE BY 5 FT DEEP.  HOWEVER, MANY OF THE INSTRUMENTS YOU SEE HERE ARE FREQUENTLY SWAPPED FOR ALTERNATIVES, SUCH AS THE TIMBALES ARE CHANGED FOR ROTO TOMS, THE CONGA & QUINTO ARE SWAPPED FOR CONGITAS, THE PERCUSSION BAR THAT SUPPORTS ALL THE TOYS CAN HAVE MANY OTHER ARRANGEMENTS TO INCLUDE: MINI TIMS, TAMBORIM AND TAMBORINE FOR INSTANCE. 

THIS SET UP BEFITS MOST OF THE MUSICAL SITUATIONS WHERE MANOS CURRENTLY PERFORMS LIVE AND WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY A SELECTION OF HAND TOYS SUCH AS WHISTLES, HORNS, TAMBORINES, AGOGO BELLS AND SO ON, THE OVERALL EFFECT IS RHYTHMICALLY VARIED AND ENHANCES CROWD RESPONSE AND PARTICIPATION.

LARGEST STAGE SET UP

THIS STAGE STRUCTURE IS A GUIDE TO THE LARGER PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY THAT MANOS CAN PRESENTLY OFFER.  THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY WITH THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENTS, GENERALLY WITHIN GROUPS AND USUALLY DEPENDING ON THE GIVEN SPACE AVAILABLE.  THIS IS THE ACTUAL SET UP THAT MANOS HAS USED FOR EVENTS WHERE LARGE STAGE AREAS HAVE BEEN PRESENT, SUCH AS BRIXTON ACADEMY.  NOT ONLY IS IT EXTREMELY VISUAL BUT ALSO THE DIVERSITY OF INSTRUMENTS ALLOWS FOR A REAL CROSS SECTION OF BEATS AND GROOVES TO BE PLAYED.  WHETHER THE MUSIC IS UP-TEMPO, CALLING FOR THE HIGH PITCHED DRUM SECTION, OR MORE SOULFUL AND GROOVY, OBLIGING HAND PERCUSSION, THIS SET UP FITS ALL.

HAND PERCUSSION SET UPS

MANOS QUITE COMMONLY GETS ASKED TO PERFORM IN BARS, SMALL CLUBS AND ALONG SIDE OTHER MUSICIANS WHERE SPACE CAN BE TIGHT.  THE OBVIOUS CHOICES FOR THESE OCCASIONS, DEPENDING ON THE STYLE OF MUSIC OF COURSE, ARE THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES.  AGAIN ALL OF THESE INSTRUMENTS CAN OBVIOUSLY BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ARRAY OF PERCUSSION TOYS THAT COMPLIMENT THE OVERALL EFFECT.   WE CAN EVEN REDUCE THE AMOUNT & SIZE EVEN FURTHER TO ACCOMMODATE ANY REQUIREMENT IF NECESSARY.  MANOS CAN ALSO PERFORM WITH ADDITIONAL INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS TURKISH DARABOUKA OR EGYPTIAN DOUMBEK, WHICH ARE SMALL HAND HELD DRUMS AND SAVE EVEN MORE SPACE.

KEY TO PERCUSSION BAR