Mike's Drum Blog

Gregg Bissonette classes Thursdays in March

Administrator — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:12:35 +0000

Hey Drummers! Gregg Bissonette will be teaching at Mike’s Drum Shop through the month of March, Thursdays at 7:00 pm. From the Kotton Mouth Kings to Ringo Starr, Gregg Bissonette has made a career as a professional drummer. Learn his tricks of the trade. The classes are done in a group with drumsets or pads for everyone. This is such a great opportunity for all of us. I know I have enjoyed the class. Call the shop @ 805-962-1211 for more information.

FREE drum clinic with BOBBY ROCK December 3rd

Administrator — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:52:41 +0000

Mike’s Drum Shop and Sabian Cymbals present a FREE drum clinic with BOBBY ROCK!!!

As one of the drumming world’s rare touring solo artists, Bobby Rock has released three CDs, two top-selling drum videos and is recognized as one of the premier performers and educators in the industry, having done over 800 drumming workshops and exhibitions worldwide. He has also worked with a diverse roster of artists, including ex-Kiss guitarist’s Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Gary Hoey, Rare Earth, Nelson, Slaughter, Brett Garsed, funk bass phenom Bill “The Buddha” Dickens, and has played on a variety of other records, soundtracks and session dates.
Check out one of a kind prototype SABIAN cymbals with a SABIAN product specialist!

Up to 50% off on select SABIAN cymbals

Monday Dec. 3rd event starts @5:00

1109 De la Vina St.
805-962-1211

Why Buy At Mike’s Drum Shop

George — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:30:13 +0000

Mike’s Drum Shop has been a part of the Santa Barbara and beyond drumming community for 40 years now. Yes we are old school. WE HAVE THE SAME PRICES AS EVERYONE ELSE!!! But even better than that we have a better value. Our drums have always included our service warranty absolutely FREE. This means any drum you buy from us gets tuned for free, if you break something you buy the part (if it’s not manufacturers warrantied) and we replace it for you for free. Plus 40 years of drum advice….free. This is not something you can put a monetary value on.

I am always amazed when our students that come to our shop for lessons are looking anywhere they can to find drums and accessories sometimes without even inquiring with us to see if we can price match. Why? Is the thrill of being up a 3:00 am finding some random website that has drumkeys for .25 cents less than us that exciting? I could see if we were way off with our prices, but the big companies love us and extend discounts to our shop so we can compete.

We are never going to get rich selling drum gear in the internet/wholesale world of retail but we would love to have the opportunity to continue to serve the drumming community for 40 more years, and all of your support and patronage will allow us to keep volunteering at local schools, donating instruments and having a facility that keeps kids out of trouble and doing something they love.

Zildjian Day at Mike’s Drum Shop

George — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:12:49 +0000

On November 19th starting at 5:00pm Mike’s Drum Shop and Zildjian Cymbals will be hosting a Drummers Day at the shop. This event will be an introduction to The Biggest Cymbal Inventory on the West Coast. Not only will Zildjian be bringing up cymbal inventory to check out but Mike’s Drum Shop will now be home to one of the best cymbal selections available.

Also featured at this event will be Aquarian Drumheads “Break a Head” contest. This is a fun event intended to prove that you can’t break an Aquarian head and if you can then you get free Aquarian heads!

Okay so maybe not Daily

George — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:11:00 +0000

Hey folks! Rename this category errrr? Look I am up to my eyeballs in drum stuff and logging on and writing has been difficult to find time for. No excuses!! I have lots of cool vintage drum gear for sale, maybe even more than I’ve had for a long time.

I wanted to write today because I am overwhelmed with the number of successess and famous people that have come out of and still come in to Mike’s Drum Shop. Just this month we’ve had Bucket Baker, Ainsley Dunbar, Kevin Winard, Luis Conte, the house drummer for Ellen Degeneres and Otmar Leibert’s percussionist. Gnarly eh? And they all say the same thing. How lucky we are to have such a special place. It really is. Thanks to all of the customers and students and stars that have graced us here.

Kevin Winard Brasilian Workshop

George — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 05:34:35 +0000

Every Tuesday in August from 6:00 to 7:30 Mike’s Drum Shop will be hosting Kevin Winard for an authintic Brasilian Drumset and Percussion workshop. Take this opportunity to play in an ensemble setting. Classes are $75.00 per session. Call the shop for more info 800-267-9223

Luis Conte Percussion lessons

George — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:14:58 +0000

We have the good fortune of having one of the percussion world’s most accomplished players living in our area. Luis Conte’s resume reads like a greatest hits collection of the last 30 years with artists like James Taylor up to John Mayer relying on his beat. Luis loves what he’s doing and I can safely say that includes teaching private lessons at Mike’s Drum Shop. His schedule changes and is usually every third thursday but check the site for his next day of lessons and take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Drummers using Pro Tools

George — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:50:57 +0000

So last night I crossed over to the dark side. I was engineering. I know, you’re asking yourself “What is a guy who hits things with sticks doing engineering a recording?” Well some of the best engineers and producers are drummers!! Butch Vig, Dan Moore, Dave Grohl….come on. This is something drummers should be thinking about. Unfortunately we are often in a position to have to convince singer/songwriters and even bands of our value. We provide the groove, but it’s the melody and lyrics you get paid for. So rather than roll over, add some value to your job as the drummer. Can you write lyrics, melody lines, or do basic pro-tools engineering? How about produce or arrange? If you can’t, these are good things to be thinking about and learning and usually someone in your band or project will help you with this. As far as pro-tools goes, please try to nail your track as a drummer and don’t just edit all of your parts to sound good. Most of our legends were required to pull off recording in time with perfect takes and perfect feel. You know what? They were able to do it, why can’t you? I admit for certain projects, whatever — punch me in, beat detective me, sound replace me, loop me — but for the projects that I take pride in and want other drummers to listen to as examples of my playing…leave that alone, no edits please. Now, this is my opinion, and you’ll be getting a lot of that, by the way. Singers and guitarists have been doing multitrack, effected, overdubbed, comped tracks for years and that is acceptable, but I think the drummer should nail it. Don’t you?

The Guru is watching

George — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:50:55 +0000

And he likes what he sees….

The Guru Speaks

George — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 06:44:28 +0000

The Guru has been given the opportunity to BLOG on Mike’s Drum Blog. The Guru is stoked. Many of you who did not grow up in the fertile grounds of Santa Barbara do not now the power of the Guru, but there is always time to learn.
That is it for now.
-The Guru.