Vintage Simmons Drums (UK) Users Group

Ok, here's a question for all you Simmons / King Crimson / Bill
Bruford heads:

It was 1982, and King Crimson released "Beat"...on that album was a
Simmons Masterpiece: "Waiting Man"; which had BOTH Bill Bruford &
Adrian Belew playing 3 Simmons pads each.

Having seen the "Live in Japan" and "Live in France" videos, I do know
this much:

On the "Live in Japan" video, they used 3 SDS5 pads each(each one
STANDING & playing), but using an SDS-7 brain(I am assuming this,
cause of what i spotted in Brufords' racks...might have had an SDS-5
off stage, I dunno).

NOW, I am wondering:  WHAT are the sounds they are using to get that
"soft" drum sound...almost sounds like a conga/tabla/bongo
tuned(almost muted) sound.  Was the SDE made back then, and could this
be from that?  Or the MTX9? (I doubt that these were made at that
time, but I am not sure of dates of manufacture, or pre-release to
Bill Bruford to experiment with...)?

I have gotten VERY close to reproducing the sounds with both the MTX9
and the SDE, and I am planning on setting up 2 sets of 3 pads &
reproducing this song during one of our set breaks (actually coming in
from a set break), but I was just wondering what they used, the
settings, and the sounds, etc. for my own "king crimson geek" curiosity.

ANYONE KNOW, OR CAN GUESS & HELP ME?

Now, discuss!  And Thanx in advance for any info posted!

P.S., If you haven't checked out this track (Waiting Man), it is a
MUST for ALL Simmons users/enthusiasts!



"Tears of a Waiting Man..."