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BILL BRUFORD'S DRUM SETS 1968-2005.

An article by Rodrigo Delaveau Swett
rdelaveau@hotmail.com

Please note that Bill is unable to discuss any aspect of Rodrigo's Article

  • Drums and cymbals may probably change from one tour or record to another, or even from one track to another within the same record.

  • Most of the time Bill tunes his snare drum fairly tight, with the bottom snare side slightly tighter than the upper batter side, which is medium tight, no muffling; the Toms are tuned both sides medium tight, approximately the same pitch.

  • Some information is missing or lost in the mists of time, especially regarding cymbals and gongs, hardware, drumsticks and drumheads.

  • Furthermore, Bill used several acoustic rental or "loaner" kits for specific projects, such as The Symphonic Music of Yes or The Buddy Rich tribute, but they were all almost exclusively Tama Drums and Paiste Cymbals.

1968-1969: Premier Olympic drums. (red oyster pearl finish, painted black. Paiste and Zildjian cymbals.

14" x 5" wood snare drum
13" x 9" Tom Tom.
16" x 16" Floor Toms
22" x 14" Bass Drum
14" Paiste hi-hats
18", 20", cymbals (probably Avedis Zildjian crash-rides)
15" Super Zyn crash

Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; clear Diplomat on bottom.

Drumsticks: 5A
1969-1971: Ludwig Drums. (Classic oyster finish, then covered in a plastic-backed flexible chromium like material). Paiste and Zildjian cymbals.

14" x 5" Ludwig alloy (a.k.a. "Ludalloy") chrome-plated Supraphonic LM400 snare drum, (Baseball-Bat muffler)
13" x 9" Tom Tom
(2) 16" x 16" Floor Toms
22" x 14" Bass Drum
1971-1972: Hayman Drums(“natural pine” finish –teakwood actually-). Paiste Cymbals.

14" x 5" Ludwig Supraphonic snare drum; (or 14"x5.5" wood Hayman snare drum).
13" x 9" (or 12”x 8”) Tom Tom.

14”x 14”; 16" x 16" Floor Toms
22" x 14" Bass Drum
15” Giant Beat hi-hat
16” , 17”, 18” or 20” crash, 602
22” or 20” ride, 602.
15" Super Zyn crash
Cowbell

Drumheads: Remo coated on top; Ambassador on bottom.

Drumsticks: Ludwig or Hayman 5A
1972-1973: Ludwig Drums (“maple natural” finish) and Hayman Drums. Paiste Cymbals.

14" x 6½" Ludwig Supersensitive chrome plated snare drum; or 14"x5.5 " wood Hayman snare drum.
10" x 8" Premier timbale
12"x 8", 13" x 9" Hayman Tom Toms
13”x 9” Ludwig Tom Tom
16" x 16" Ludwig Floor Tom
22" x 14" Ludwig Bass Drum
15" Sound Edge hi-hats, 2002
14" hi-hat on a 18" medium crash cymbal, 2002.
16" crash. 2002
16" ride 2002
20" Medium Ride with sizzles, 2002
14”, 16”, 24” tuned gongs.
Woodblock, Cow-bell, metal plates.
Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Diplomat on bottom.
Drumsticks: Ludwig 5A
1974-1975: Hayman and Ludwig Drums (natural wood finish). Paiste Cymbals

14"x 6½" Ludwig Supersensitive chrome plated snare drum
12” x 8” Hayman Tom Tom
14" x 14" Hayman Floor Tom
22" x 14" Ludwig Bass Drum
15" Sound Edge hi-hats, 2002
16" thin crash, 602
17" Heavy crash, 602
20" Medium Ride with sizzles, 602
14”, 16”, 24” tuned gongs.
Zilco (or Zilket) Standard ride
4”, 6”, 8”, Children cymbals

2” fingercymbals

Woodblock, Cow-bells, metal plates

Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Diplomat on bottom.
Drumsticks: Ludwig 5A and 5B
1976-1977: Hayman and Ludwig Drums (natural wood finish). Paiste Cymbals

14"x 6½" Ludwig Supersensitive chrome plated snare drum
13” x 9” Ludwig Tom Tom

12” x 8” Hayman Tom Tom
16" x 16" Ludwig Floor Tom
22" x 14" Ludwig Bass Drum
15" Sound Edge hi-hats, 2002
(2)16" thin crashes, 602

11” splash atop the crash, 2002
20" Medium Ride with sizzles, 602

Percussion rack
Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Clear Diplomat and power center on bottom.
Drumsticks: Ludwig 5A
 
1977-1978: Remo Roto Toms, Hayman and Ludwig Drums (natural wood finish). Paiste Cymbals

14"x 6½" Ludwig Supersensitive chrome plated snare drum
14" and 18" Roto Toms
12” x 8” Hayman Tom Tom
16" x 16" Ludwig Floor Tom
22" x 14" Ludwig Bass Drum		  

 		 15" Sound Edge hi-hats, 2002
(2)16" thin crashes, 602
11” splash atop the crash, 2002
20" Medium Ride with sizzles, 602
24” tuned gongs.
20” China, 2002
8” Bell, 602

Percussion rack, including woodblocks, 3 swissbells, 3 untuned metal plates, 6” and 8” rototoms, triangles and finger cymbals.

Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Clear Ambassador on bottom, Pinstripe on rototoms.
Drumsticks: Ludwig 5A
1978-1980: Remo Roto Toms, Hayman and Ludwig Drums (natural wood finish). Paiste Cymbals

14"x 6½" Ludwig Supersensitive chrome plated snare drum
(x2) 14", 18" Roto Toms
14" x 14" Hayman Floor Tom
22" x 14" Ludwig Bass Drum

15" Sound Edge hi-hats, 2002
16" thin crash, 17" Heavy crash, 602
20" Medium Ride, 602
14”, 16”, 24” tuned gongs.
20” China, 18” crash, 2002
8” Bell, 602, 11” splash 2002
4”,6”,8”, Accent cymbals;2” finger cymbals
Percussion, including woodblocks, untuned metal plates, triangles.
Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Fiberskin on rototoms.
Drumsticks: Ludwig 5A and 5B
1981-1982: Tama SuperStar Drums (light blue finish); Remo Roto Toms, Simmons SDS5 electronic drums.
Paiste Cymbals.

14" x 6½" 8056 steel snare drum or
14" x 5½" AW456 birch snare drum.
14" Remo Roto Tom
22" Tama gong drum (with 24” head)
(6) Simmons drum pads on kit
(5) Simmons drum pads on front frame
22" x 14" Tama Bass Drum
Simmons electronic bass drum
(5) 6” Dragon drums
 
(2) 12" Avedis Zildjian splashes
10" Avedis Zildjian splash
20" Sound Creation or 2002 China
18" 2002 heavy ride.
18” 2002 crash
Assorted percussion
Slit drum
Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Fiberskin on RotoTom; Clear Diplomat on bottom.
Drumsticks: Pro mark 5A
1982-1983: Tama SuperStar Drums (natural birch finish); Paiste Cymbals.

14" x 6½" BB156 Brass snare drum
12” x 9” Tom Tom
16” x 16” Floor Tom
22" x 14" Tama Bass Drum
(4) low octave 6” Octobans
14” 2002 Sound edge hi-hat
16” 2002 or 602 crash
20” Sound Creation or 2002 ride
18” 2002 or 602 crash

Drum heads: coated Ambassador on Snare; clear power center on Toms.

Drum sticks: Pro Mark 5A
1983-1984: Tama SuperStar Drums; Remo Roto Tom; Simmons SDS7 electronic drums; Paiste Cymbals.

14" x 6½" 8056 steel snare drum
14" Remo Roto Tom
22" Tama gong drum (with 24” head)
(5) Simmons pads on kit
(7) Simmons pads on back frame
22" x 14" Tama Bass Drum
Simmons electronic bass drum
(4) Low octave Octobans
Slit drum
18" Sound Creation China
18" 2002 crash
14”, 16”, 24” tuned gongs

Assorted percussion

Drumheads: Remo coated Ambassador on top; Clear Ambassador on bottom.

Drumsticks: Pro Mark 5A
1985-1986: Tama SuperStar Drums; SDS9 Simmons electronic drums. Paiste 2002 and 602 Cymbals

14" x 6½" 8056 steel snare drum
12” x 10” Tom Tom
16” x 16” Floor Tom
22" x 16" Tama Bass Drum
(7) Simmons electronic pads
14” medium hi-hat
16” crash
18” crash
20” medium ride
16” china

Drumheads: Remo Coated ambassador on batter, clear ambassador on resonants.

Drum Sticks: Pro Mark 5A
1987-1991: SDX Simmons electronic drums, Tama drums, Paiste Sound Formula or Signature cymbals.

14" x 6½" Brass chrome Tama snare drum
(9) Simmons ZI drum pads on back frame
(7) Simmons ZI drum pads on drum set
Simmons electronic bass drum
14" medium Hi-Hat
18" Power China
16" Power Crash
18" Crash ride
20" Dry heavy ride
24” Gong

Drumheads: Evans.G1 coated on snare

Drumsticks: Pro-Mark SD-9
1992-1993: Simmons SDX electronic drums, Tama Artstar II Drums, Paiste Signature Cymbals
14" x 6½" Tama wood snare drum
(10) Simmons ZI drum pads
22” x 16” bass drum.
12" x 10" Tom Tom
16" x 16" Floor Tom
14" Sound edge Hi-Hat
18" Power China
16" Power Crash
20" Dry heavy ride
Gong

Drumheads: Evans. Genera 190 snare batter, Genera G1 on Tom tops, Resonants on bottoms, Genera G2 on bass drum and Genera G2 on front

Drumsticks: Pro-Mark, SD-1 or SD-9
1994-1998: Tama Starclassic Drums (yellow canary finish) Paiste Signature Cymbals. Simmons SDX Electronic drums.

14" x 6½ maple snare drum
(10) Simmons ZI electronic drum pads
10" X 10", 12" X 11" Tom Toms
16" x 16" Floor Tom;
22" X 16" Bass Drum
14" Sound edge Hi-Hat
16" Thin Crash
16" Thin China
18" Full Crash
20" Dry ride
Yamaha DX 11, DW 5000 TE Electronic Bass Pedal

Drum heads: Evans. Genera 190 snare batter, Genera G1 on Tom tops, Resonants on bottoms, Genera G2 on bass drum and Genera G2 on front
Drumsticks: Pro-Mark.SD-1 or SD-9 Bill Bruford Signature
1998-2001: Tama Starclassic Maple Drums (canary yellow; green sparkle, and others finishes); Paiste cymbals.

14" x 6½" wood snare
10" x 8", 12" x 10", 13" x 11" Tom Toms
16" x 16" Floor Tom
18" x 16" (sometimes 20" x16" or 22" x 16") Bass Drum
14" Medium Light Traditional Hi-hat
16" Extra thin Traditional Crash
16" Thin Signature China
15" Thin Traditional Crash
20" Medium Traditional ride
10” splashes on top of rides.
Cow bells : 5" A.A.Meinl, and 8" L.P.
Drum heads: Evans. Hazy 300 Snare side; Genera G1 Clear Toms; EQ1; G1 Coated Snare
Drum sticks: Promark SD-4 Bill Bruford Signature
2001-PRESENT: Tama Starclassic or Starclassic Perfomer Drums (Tequila Sunrise, Royal walnut and others finishes); Paiste cymbals.

14"x 6" BB146 Bill Bruford Signature Snare Drum
10" x 9", 12" x 11", 13" x 12" Tom Toms
16" x 16" Floor Tom
20" x 16" (or 22” x 16”) Bass Drum
13" Dimensions Thin Heavy Hi-hat
16" Traditional Thin Crash
20" Signature Flat Ride
18" Dimensions Medium Ride
20" Traditional medium swish china.
Cow bells: 5" A.A.Meinl, and 8" L.P.
Drum heads: Evans. Hazy 300 Snare side; G1 Coated Snare. Genera G1 Clear on Toms; EQ1 on Bass Drum;
Drum sticks: Promark SD-4 Bill Bruford Signature.

© Rodrigo Delaveau Swett. March 2005

rdelaveau@hotmail.com

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