Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1: The Kit features samples of the authentic Drum Workshop® Signature "Snakes and Arrows" kit of drum legend Neil Peart from the band Rush. Recorded by producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains) this multitrack kit offers the ultimate high fidelity rock sound with incredible realism for keyboardists and e-Drummers.

In 2006, they [Drum Workshop] built me a "West Coast Kit" on which I recorded a few songs for my friend Matt Scannell, as well as Snakes and Arrows. Everybody who heard those drums was blown away by their sound, but John continued to develop his ideas—combining different combinations of laminates for the shells, like his "Vertical Low Timbre” innovations. Just as the West Coast kit had eclipsed the R30 drums in tonality and resonance, these new ones take it to what my teacher, Freddie Gruber, would call "another place.” After I had rehearsed a couple of weeks on the West Coast kit, my drum tech, Lorne "Gump” Wheaton, put up the new ones, and I truly couldn’t believe how different they sounded—how much bigger and warmer.

One of these drums is bigger—the 23” bass drum, which is another unique innovation of John Good’s. Back in the 70’s, when Rush were opening shows, I used to be able to go out front and listen to other drummers. I noticed then that 24” bass drums had a particular "kick” (for once the word is apt), but I preferred the playability and dynamics of a 22”. John suspected that the 23” would combine the best of both, and he was right. The "VLT” approach was also applied to the snare drum’s shell, and it was another revelation—the best I have ever played, for both response and sound. The toms are 8”, 10”, 12”, 13”, two 15”, 16”, AND 18”, with DW’s Coated Clear heads. Remo supplies some of the other heads, while the drumsticks are Pro-Mark signature models.

In an earlier Web story, I noted that "black is the new gold,” and this time the hardware is plated in black nickel. Likewise, "red is the new black,” the finish is Aztec Red, inset with a pair of logos Hugh Syme and I created for the CD package. The Greek symbol ouroboros, or snaking eating its tail, surrounds a calligraphic rendering of my favorite road sign: the universal symbol for "winding road.” (On a motorcycle or in a fast car, that’s the best kind of "snake and arrow” you can see.”) The repeating motif, in gold leaf and metallic gray satin over the Aztec Red, was created by DW’s master painter, Louie Garcia (a true artist).

The cymbals are my signature Paragons, by Sabian, with a 22” ride, 20”, 18”, and two 16 crashes, 13” high-hats, 14” "x-hats,”8” and 10” splashes, 19” and 20” China types—plus our new innovation, the "Diamondback,” with tambourine jingles." - Neil Peart

Format : BFD 3.4+

Quality : 24 bit 44.1 kHz stereo

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