Low Resolution Illustration

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Elspode

Are the variable length bundled cardboard tubes one of those hollow tone slappy thing instruments?
I've been wanting to make one of those out of suspended pvc lengths.

Yeah, those are cardboard "octobans" - an instrument which scraps of PVC tube seems destined to become. When I worked in residential construction, I would "play" the end of various lengths of PVC as I cut it, listening to how the length changed the pitch. As a matter of fact, right now I have a box full of 12" rims in the garage. I plan to put standard lugs, rims, and heads on lengths of 12" PVC to make... hopefully giant tuned bass cannons. I'm intrigued that you say "suspended" lengths, though. Suspension mounting is a big thing with drums, because hardware taps the resonance out. But I guess you already knew that!

Anyway, I have a knew Low Resolution Illustration. This one shows the Ergonomic considerations I make when setting up my kit. I set up my snare and my throne, then place the bass drum pedals where my feet naturally rest. The bass drum comes straight out from my right leg (note that the bass drum is not the actual "front" of the kit). My high hat is straight out from my left leg, when shifted just to the left of the left bass drum pedal. With those core components in place, the toms can be placed within the green lines (the line down the middle of the bass drum indicates the highest point, which limits placement of deeper toms).

I have this diagram in my head as I set up my gear. Here, I have reproduced it as a 256-color bitmap, created entirely with MS Paint.