Iāve been behind the kit since my teensāformally trained on the snare and entirely self-taught on the full set. While I consider myself a lifelong amateur, the rhythm has always been there, even during the decades when my progress felt stalled.
The Legacy Kit
In 2002, my acoustic kit received a "transfusion"āa gift of music from my mother. I built it out with Zildjian cymbals (including a beloved 20" Wuhan China type) and heavy-duty Drum Workshop hardware. After 2010, the drums began gathering dust, and in 2021, I placed them on a long-term loan with my nephew to ensure they remained "dust-free" and played.
2026: The Electronic "Rewired" Era
Early 2026 brought an unexpected turnabout. It started when I borrowed my nephew's 2008-era Roland V-Drums, expecting a few months of casual practice. But while troubleshooting a malfunctioning snare, I grew curious about how drum modulesāthe 'brain' of the kitāhad evolved over the last 18 years.
That investigation led down a deep technical rabbit hole, and the verdict was clear: I was pumped to bring a modern, seemingly magical kit with tons of capabilities into my life and return to active drumming. I went all-in on a modern electronic setup. As of March 2026, Iām back on the drum throne, baby!"
In 2000, I decided to pick up the guitar to learn the basics, aided by a friend and a purchased red Epiphone. It was a very casual foray into the world of strings and not long-lived. That guitar has since moved on to my musical nephew, where itās being put to much better use. Recognizable song fragments at one time: ~20. Complete songs mastered: 0.
Drums
14ā Rogers Snare
Pearl 8ā Tom
Pearl 10ā Tom
Pearl 12ā Tom
Pearl 13ā Tom
Pearl 14ā Tom
Pearl 15ā Tom
Pearl 16ā Floor Tom
Pearl 22ā Kick
Cymbals
Zildjian 13" New Beat hats
Zildjian A Series 8" Splash
Zildjian A Series 10" Extra Thin Splash
Zildjian A Series 16" Rock Crash
Zildjian A Series 18" Medium Thin Crash
Zildjian A Series 19" Medium Crash
Zildjian A Series 20" Ping Ride
Wuhan China type 20"
Hardware
DW 9100Ā Throne
DW 9300 Snare Stand
DW Delta 5000 Double Bass Pedals
DW 5500TD Hi-Hat Stand
Yamaha tom and cymbal stands
Accessories
4ā Paiste Accent cymbal
6ā Paiste Accent cymbal
LP wood block
Prior to upgrade in 2002