Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Sly and Survivor
  • In My Life
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • One chord Diamond
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Kits

In Pictures: Derek Grant kit shots

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 27 May 2010

Alkaline Trio drummer talks us through his kit

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

In Pictures: Derek Grant Kit Shots

In Pictures: Derek Grant Kit Shots

Last night Rhythm caught up with Alkaline Trio before their awesome, anthem filled headlining show at the Bristol O2 Academy. We checked out drummer Derek Grant’s kit and spoke to him about his choice of gear, his penchant for huge bass drums and his unorthodox dampening methods. Check it all out for yourself…

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
The Alkaline Trio stage set-up

The Alkaline Trio stage set-up

"The kit I use over here is vastly different to the kit I use in the States. The kit I use here is a kit I’ve had for six or seven years and I shipped it over here and it lives over here. This kit is the kit I would have played in the States six or seven years ago which is a 24” kick drum, a 13” tom and a 16” floor tom. It’s built by C&C, which is a company I’ve been with for about ten years."

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Derek's 24" bass drum

Derek's 24" bass drum

"In the States over the last five years or so I’ve gone from a 24” to a 26” to a 28” kick and the toms have got slightly bigger as well. So, the kit Ive got used to playing is quite a bit beefier than ths one. Anytime I come here and play this kit there’s a certain learning curve. I tend to hit more rims and the kick drum sounds totally different. But, it’s a beautiful kit, it sounds great and I really enjoy playing it. One of these days I’ll have to get replica kits over here."

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Derek's kit

Derek's kit

"I like to have everything nice and tight. I don’t like to over extend myself reaching for a drum. I feel like by doing that I’m conserving energy that I need for certain drum fills and songs."

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
Floor tom

Floor tom

Derek's 16" C&C floor tom - which he interchanges with his bass drum throughout his playing to create his signature punchy sound - all miked-up and ready to go.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Heads...

Heads...

"I’ve always used Remo heads, whether or not I had a deal with them I always used them in the studio. Now I work with them exclusively so I get to use them live and they’re without a doubt my favourite heads."

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
One up..

One up..

"I use a little bit of Moon Gel on the toms. I don’t like overtly ringing toms. I like the tubbier sound. When I was a kid I wanted such a dead sound that I used to take a full sheet of paper and tape it to the drum heads. Thankfully I’ve gotten away from that."

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Derek's kit in all its glory

Derek's kit in all its glory

Derek uses C&C drums, Sabian AAX cymbals and Remo heads.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

Latest in Drum Kits
Slingerland Radio King 3-piece drum set
“Not the most thunderous of kits. Not particularly loud, but sophisticated, rounded and darkly inviting": Slingerland Radio King drum set review
 
 
Man playing acoustic drums on the left of the image and electronic drums on the right
Is an acoustic or an electronic drum kit better for beginners?
 
 
Where to start with a drum kit
 
 
DrumCraft Urban Beats
“A good-looking kit which won’t break the bank”: DrumCraft Urban Beats review
 
 
Alesis Crimson III
Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain
 
 
Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set
“Boasts an array of features above its relatively low price”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review
 
 
Latest in News
Nick Jonas as Danny and Paul Rudd as Rick in Power Ballad. Photo Credit: David Cleary
Watch Paul Rudd and Joe Jonas going from friends to foes in the trailer for songwriting drama Power Ballad
 
 
Untypical car accident on the street
Always crashing in the same car: Major album releases lead to increased traffic fatalities
 
 
Joe Satriani wears dark shades and performs with his Ibanez "Chrome Boy" signature guitar.
Joe Satriani on what he told David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen when they called about EVH tribute tour
 
 
Michael Steele, Debbi Peterson, Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles on 8/19/86 in Chicago, Il.  (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage)
When Prince gave the Bangles Manic Monday he assumed they would just sing over his demo, but the band had other ideas
 
 
bitwig
Bitwig Studio 6 is here with improved automation, Clip Aliases and tons of workflow enhancements
 
 
Alex James of Blur performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
“Who knows what’s next?”: Alex James on Britpop Classical, Blur and prospect of returning to Coachella
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...