A soldier entertains himself and other playing beats on coffee cups and metal thermos with pencils.

from Break.com

Enter today for a chance to win a Dixon Outlaw drumkit outfitted with Toca percussion, Gibraltar hardware, and a set of Sabian AAX cymbals, or a Dixon rosewood snare, a Gibraltar snare stand, and a Sabian B8 Pro cymbal set.

Contest valued at over $8,300!

Grand Prize

A Dixon Outlaw five-piece drumset with 22″ bass drum in Blue Burst Sparkle finish, Toca double-row bar chimes, two Toca Pro Line cowbells, a Toca Static Whip, Toca 8″ and 10″ doumbeks with stand, a Toca hi-hat Hit Zone tambourine, a Toca jingle snare with mount, a complete Gibraltar Stealth rack set-up with 6600 Series hi-hat stand, double pedal, and throne, and a set of Sabian AAX cymbals that includes 14″ Stage hats, 16″ and 18″ AAX-Plosion fast crashes, and a 20″ Stage ride.

Second Prize

Dixon 100% Rosewood 6 x 13 snare with bag, a Gibraltar Ultra Adjust pro snare stand, and a Sabian Limited Edition B8 Pro set with bonus 18″ crash.

Enter here!

See the official rules here or below.

The Great Modern Drummer, Dixon, Gibraltar, Toca, and Sabian Sweeps

Consumer Disclosure

1. To enter online, visit www.moderndrummer.com/contest.php between the dates below (one entry per email address).
2. ODDS OF WINNING DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE ENTRIES RECEIVED.
3. CONTEST BEGINS DECEMBER 1, 2009, AND ENDS JANUARY 31, 2010.
4. Grand Prize Drawing: Winner will be selected by random drawing on February 12, 2010. Winner will be notified by phone or email on or about February 15, 2010.
5. Employees, and their immediate families, of Modern Drummer, KMC, Dixon Drums, Toca Percussion, Gibraltar Hardware, Sabian, and their affiliates are ineligible.
6. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, misdirected, and/or delayed entries.
7. Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada, 18 years of age or older. Void in Quebec, Florida, and where prohibited by law.
8. One prize awarded per household per contest.
9. Prizes:

   Grand Prize: One (1) winner will receive a

   • Dixon Outlaw five-piece drum set with 22″ bass drum in Blue Burst Sparkle finish;
   • From Toca: one (1) each: double-row bar chimes, Static Whip, 8″ and 10″ doumbeks with stand (black), hi-hat Hit Zone tambourine, jingle snare with mount package, and two (2) Pro Line cowbells;
   • From Gibraltar: a complete set of Gibraltar hardware;
   • From Sabian: one (1) each: 14″ AAX Stage hats, 16″ and 18″ AAX-Plosion fast crashes, and 20″ AAX Stage ride.

   Approximate retail value of Grand Prize: $6,785.

   Second Prize: One (1) winner will receive

   • A Dixon 100% rosewood 6×13 snare with bag;
   • one (1) Gibraltar Ultra Adjust pro snare stand;
   • one (1) Sabian Limited Edition B8 Pro set with bonus 18″ crash.

   Approximate retail value of second prize: $1,559.

   Approximate retail value of entire contest: $8,340.

10. Sponsored by Modern Drummer Publications, Inc., 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009, (973) 239-4140.
11. This game subject to the complete Official Rules. For a copy of the complete Official Rules or the winner’s name, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to:

Modern Drummer Publications/Dixon-Sabian-Toca/Official
Rules/Winners List
12 Old Bridge Road
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009.

How many drum sets are enough? If you are like me, then you can never have enough drums. Although I can only play one kit at a time, I, for some reason, feel compelled to have many. I mainly play a 4 pc Dixon Outlaw set at all my gigs, but at any given time I can choose what the configuration will be. Maybe I want a 20″ 12″ 15″ set up on Thursday for a tighter more focused sound, but Friday, is a hard rock gig in a big room with large P.A. system so I need the 24″, 13″, 16″ and Saturday’s gig is at a smaller club where volume is a concern, so the 18″, 12″, 14″ will get it done. I take comfort in knowing that I have the right tools for the job, so to speak.

That being said, why then, did I need to purchase that 1970′s 3-ply Ludwig kit, that was beat to hell, and take the time and money to restore it? Aside from the fact that this kit sounds fantastic, what made me “have to have it“? I do not take this kit to very many gigs, I think I had to have this because it was like having a piece of my childhood. When I was a kid I always wanted a Ludwig kit, if you had Ludwig drums then you must be a good drummer, and at the very least you were the coolest kid on the block. As if that is not enough, I also “had to have” a 1961 Slingerland kit. This particular kit is in mint condition and just needs a quick polish on its chrome parts. This one I bought mainly because I felt it was collectible and honestly, the deal fell into my lap, and I could not refuse it. This brings up another point, With eBay, Craigslist, and if you’re like me and go to the many flea markets and tag sales in your area, there are tons of drums available for cheap money. So how many drums are too many?

In addition to these vintage sets, my main gear consists of a Demon series set in Urban Camo finish, Outlaw series kit in Black Burst. I also utilize a rack of snare drums, (this is a whole other conversation/blog) which includes my “go to” snare drum – a 6×13 Dixon Rosewood snare drum.

I am a drum geek – and while I may not be the best player, simply said, I just love to play drums and talk about drums with other drummers. I especially love hearing about what other drummers are using and why. There is a sense of pride when drummers talk about their drums.

So, again I ask how many drums are too many?

(photo by Flickr user victorchapa)

Professional Drummer Lou Mars will officially attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records existing marathon drumming record of 120 hours of drumming.

Lou Mars is already building and training with a support team starting with Nationally renowned nutritionist author and trainer Robb Wolf, plus NorCal Strength & Conditioning professional athlete personal trainer Nicki Violetti.

The event is scheduled for January 14, 2010 and will be Internet streamed live in-addition to Skype access worldwide 24/7 for the duration of the event location in Chico California’s NorCal Strength & Conditioning training warehouse.

Dixon Drums will be providing a new Dixon Demon Urban Camo drum set and hardware (SEE BELOW) valued at $2,300.00 for Lou Mars to play on during the event that will be raffled off afterwards! “All proceeds” obtained will go to the Fender supported “Little Kids Rock“. Since 2002, Little Kids Rock has been dedicated to putting music back in schools by providing free musical instruments and instruction that focuses on their favorite popular music styles, including rock, blues, rap and hip-hop. So far, over 1,200 schools in 21 cities nationwide have benefited from a Little Kids Rock program, and the response from kids, parents and teachers has been phenomenal.

Make a donation ticket to win Lou’s Dixon Demon kit

For every dollar you donate to Little Kids Rock, you’ll be entered into our give-away of the Dixon Demon Drum Set.

$1.00 Donation per entry

(plus a single .44 total mailing fee)

Drum Set & Hardware

Shipping ‘not’ included.v

Drawing will be streamed LIVE on January 20th, 2010

*READ BEFORE PURCHASING Raffle Tickets Contest Rules & Regulations*