I didn't think the Compact was going to work for drummers in any big way, but I might have been wrong.

I'm heading out on vacation today, 1,100 mile drive to Savannah, Ga.
My wife has always wanted to go there, she loves houses and architecture.
Forum member, Roy, lives there too, and I love to play music.
So this should be a best-of-both-worlds vacation.

On my last vacation to the Bose Bash at Little Switzerland I took my drum kit and two Model IIs.
This vacation it's just The Compact, a Porchboard bass, a snare with brushes, a cymbal, and a D'jembe.
I feel very comfortable that the Compact will support my gear and probably more.

As you might know, I'd been disappointed with the Compact's low end with a Porchboard bass...by itself anyway.
But last weekend at a jam session with an 8 pc. country and bluegrass band, the Compact really shined.
We had two vocal mics, acoustic guitar, mandoline, and the Porchboard all running into the Compact.
(the Porchboard was plugged into the iPOD input jack!)

The bluegrass guys, who'd had reservations about having a drummer at all, were really happy with the drum sound (I played super-quiet with brushes), the mandolin, and especially the vocals.

The Compact wasn't even breathing heavy.

The Porchboard's bass was a bit thin, but that was perfect for me to be able to slip in quietly to the music.
When the music surrounded it, that sound was all we needed, and there was plenty of headroom left.
Less was certainly more in this case, it blended beautifully with both the upright bass and the electric.
I even got a couple of drum solos during the day, the the PB got the point across with no problem.

Now with a real bass drum, there will problably have to be a compromise, no mic'ing at all.
Not a big deal really, just pay more attention to bass drum tuning, and keep band volume down.
Of course, you might be seeing a post from me later concerning *Kick Gate and The Compact*, who knows.

So, what I'm saying here is that with some adjustments to gear, and style of music being played,
the Compact can be a drummer's best friend.
Laziness (and driving cross-country) could be playing a part too.
It reminds me of OLDGHM's quote a while back about "when the Model II is just too much trouble".
How did that happen?

So Savannah, here we come, looking forward to sitting in with Roy & The Circuit Breakers at the Tybee Island arts festival, and seeing Roy's new Steel Drum at Doc's !

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DrumrPete,

Hey Pete!

Thanks for the update on the current state of your thinking about the Compact and how it is working (and not) for you in various settings.

For me, one of the really interesting aspects of this forum is the chance to actively think about the music with input from some many others who relate to it differently than I do.

Happy Trails!

Pete,

My drummer last night used the Compact as a vocal monitor on a three-tier system with a sound company. The sound company, of course, wasn't crazy about using it since they had a massive monitor next to the drummer, but he said there was a nice sizzle & more clarity in the Compact than the company monitor had. The Compact actually kept up with the monitor. He used his T1 for compression, EQ, & FX, & fed the Master to the Compact & the Aux to the house.

Hi Tom,

I was wondering when someone would try the L1 Compact as a monitor in an otherwise conventional setup.

I can "picture" how it would work.

Ken

Oh.

Missing Cuchara right about now...

Ken,

Good to hear from you.

Cuchara just had a bunch of snow yesterday.

Tom

quote:

Cuchara just had a bunch of snow yesterday.

The news said it was 17 inches of snow.

Seems a little early for that stuff.
Weren't you just doing outdoor gig's a short time ago.
My Poolside Tiki Bar gig should be 90 this weekend.

Joel,

Weather this time of year is usually a tug of war with snow one day & nice weather the next until winter finally takes hold in November at some point. We had first snow in Cuchara in September this year.