Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Hey folks,

Like Diego, I first saw Simmons on TV ( I was raised in West
Virginia, no jokes please!). Seemed everyone had them. The sets that
are most in my head are of course, Phil Collins on "Home by the Sea"
and the "Brazilian" playing his SDSV's, Chester Thompson with Genesis
playing the Montreaux Jass Fest - White pads and white Paistes!! Then
of course Bill Bruford and his Crimson sets. But everyone had a few
Simmons or other e-drums if not just for looks...

Oh yeah, gear! My first electrics were a Simmons SDSV set (second
hand) which I got in 1988 with the hard plastic pads; I got a second
hand Tama Techstar set at the same time. The good ol' days... That
first SDS% brain got stolen later:( These days, after selling a few
Simmons pieces, I have had the good fortune (aka "hard work") to
have at my disposal:

8mb Simmons SDX - with 21 pads! 16 at a time though...
7 module SDSV - with cymbal and hihat module (found at pawn shop)
12 module SDS7
4 octave Simmons Silicon Mallet
Simmons SPM8.2

I've owned at some time the SDS8, MTM, and EPB. Somebody "borrowed"
then left town the SDS8. Bastard. Maybe it's hangin' with my stolen
SDSV...
If anyone cares here's some other goodies,

Korg Wavedrum (w/ RE-1)
Roland TD-10ex
Yamaha DTX2.0
Drumkat 3.8 (on the IR)
Akai S5000
Akai Mpc2000Xl
Korg MS2000
Korg Kaoss
Roland JV-1080
Alesis AirFX
Alesis Datadisk (also on the IR)
Alesis Midiverb4
Yamaha REV-100
Dbx 1066
Mackie 1604-VLZ
Pearl SC-40
Nobley & Cooley 7 piece acoustic kit
Tama Rockstar! 5 piece kit
Too many Zildjian cymbals
various DW and Drumtech electronic pedals
plus some other less exciting junk. Wingnuts, cymbal sleeves...


I know some might say that's a bit overboard (it is), but I love all
this stuff and Simmons has always been my favorite on many levels. As
I've gotton older I've been blessed that I was able to buy the gear a
saw and wanted as a kid, but sometimes it's more fun to try and push
the limits of just one machine; to make it do what you have. Like in
my SDSV, Techstar days. I never was told this thing could do this
that or the other... With no extra dough and a Radio Shack reverb, I
tried to push these old drum modules to the limit. I miss that
feeling a bit with this much gear. I have damn near any sound I can
think up. Will I downsize? Naw! Anyone seen a SDS6 or Notron
sequencer?? :) I think it's an affliction...

Peace,

Graham