Our instruments, Guitars and Drum kit information – 2 man band!

About Davids guitars

He loved his Ovation guitars which had lots of switches and toggles, and he knew how to get awesome cool sounds out of them! You can see he treasured his grand kids and in the videos you can see their little hand prints! He had done this with them years ago, He had other guitars as well and he liked acoustic, and had one that was originally acoustic, that had a custom electronic bridge added. While I cannot explain each guitar he had, since he was a specialist of guitars.

I just remember him talking about his Ovations being special to him. He had 12 string guitars. He tuned his own guitars. I would love to hear him talk about his guitars, and he would show what they could do, and he could tune a guitar by ear.

No fancy amps were used when we played, just basic Fender, Peavey and other amps.

There is not a person in family or friend, that has not seen him bring a guitar to an outing. David and a guitar went hand in hand! When he was much younger he liked to show off playing his guitar with it behind his head! He was our entertainer, and family ambassador, and a major talent on guitar!

When we played a new song that we had not done before, he would start some riffs, and picking, and next thing you know the song was figured out! Then he said “I’m ready”, or “lets roll!” or “1234” and then i would start laying down a drum beat, and off we went!

But when we played together, he needed amps since drums were so loud. Our amps were just loud enough with the amps to overpower drums, so some singing and guitar can be heard on our recordings. He would also use foot pedal gadgets, sometimes to control sounds of his guitars and again, used various gadgets.

He and I used basic RCA, and XLR, Mics, and had a mixer we shared that the mics, guitar went in. And that sound came out of the mixer, and was recorded on cell phones, or a camera. And it picked up the raw sounds. He had a variety of picks he would use. We’d often take a break to go the music store in town before or during music sets, to get some picks or guitar strings, were some great times talking about music with David.

About Mike’s Drums

I never claimed to be professional, and my style is self learned. All drummers develop their own style. Just good enough to keep up with Dave. I’ve had different sets through life. Growing up with family, that all played guitars, and stringed instruments. Even with David teaching me some guitar when I was very young,  I had found the guitar was not my thing.

When I got into my teens, I decided to be different and try drums. Just had a snare drum to start, but came upon a deal for a full set, and really got into drums at that time.
I purchased a used drum set. David B. my nephew would bring his trumpet over, and we played some cool songs. Rock around the clock among some songs I can recall from memory. No recordings exist of David B. and I unfortunately, but he was fantastic on his Trumpet!

But I sold that drum set, as in life priorities change, and get distracted.

The current drum set Ludwig brand, last one purchased and had since early 2000’s ,and I have added a lot of accessories to the kit. It has double bass pedals, high hat with tambourine attachment with off lever. Snare drum , 2 toms. plus low drone tom. Cow bell when needed lol.  Roto Toms added late, never got to use the roto toms with David, since we had stopped playing together when got them as a Christmas gift. Also Several Zildjen, Paiste, Sabien cymbals both splash, and crash,cow bell.

When we played for our small family backyard parties, or at my friends Rick’s river lot. I would bring just the basics. But as you will see in the video of us playing for Doris Birthday Bash, on the stage at Frederick Fairgrounds, I had brought the whole set along! I’ve had several sets over the years on and off, as mentioned, but this is the most expansive attached added on accessories set have ever owned.

David would often tell me the tempo speed that he wanted, and if I was not aggressive enough on some of the softer things we played, like “I’ll fly away”. He would stop playing and say “Hey I want you too bang it out”, or “hey! I want you too rock it out”!

David would often say, the hardest part playing guitar and singing with me, was due the fact that the drums were so loud! He would request the type of beat he wanted sometimes too! Was the best times playing drums along side my brother, my friend.

Can still see him laughing and trying to sing, when I’d drop my drumstick! I would sand them down rough at the part where hold on to them. So they wouldn’t be slippery. But some songs like Cripple Creek, a lot of action in that song, and a drum stick would get loose sometimes! Some of the funnier moments.

We got by with equipment we had, we had a great time, and worked things out always.

Since David had passed away, I have retired from playing the drums, If I am down in basement, I will look at them, and some memories will pass. But I’m thankful for the memories I have, and sharing our love of music interest with all.
-Mike