Tour of my Sonor Hilit Exclusive kit

A subscriber asked me to give a "tour" of my Sonor Hilite Exclusive kit, so here it is, complete with a couple of demos at the end of the video!

[@DrumAttic]

“I wanted it to match!” I totally understand that impulse! Such an amazing kit! It sounds great too!

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you for the positive comment, I appreciate it! Thank you for watching.

[@marcr9181]

I took drum lessons from you in the late '70's/early 80's through a music store in Lewis County Mall. I recall you telling me a story about getting a new cymbal. A few days later I attended a Christmas concert at a local community college where you played with the band. One of the pieces featured an impressive solo from you. You later mentioned to me that you had played that cymbal in concert for the first time at that gig. I bet it is one of the cymbals you featured in this episode.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

That's amazing! I bet if I saw a picture of you (or knew your last name) I'd remember you. Thanks for your comment; it takes me back to Lewis County and "The Great Music Company." Good times.

[@mariomorenodrums9715]

These drums are amazing and sound really good. I liked what you did with the Hihat stand and the story on the 16” little ride was cool. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you for watching, I appreciate it!

[@natevanslyke7274]

Muted unmuted that kit is amazing! sounds great ...Bravo sir 👏

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you for being one of the few viewers who is so open-minded! :) Thanks for watching!

[@natevanslyke7274]

@@christhedrummerkimball open mind hears the song ...right? ..ps just subscribed...keep up the fantastic videos.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@natevanslyke7274 Thanks, I really appreciate it!

[@DrummerChristianHoffe]

Nice kit! Greetings, Chris!

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you, I appreciate it, and thanks for watching!

[@ivanbajovic3476]

Wow. I didn't expect such a good drumming

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you for the kind words, but I gotta tell you, it's pretty humbling when I check out drumming videos on KZbin--there are so many incredible drummers out there it's amazing. It makes me wish I'd practiced more when I was young!

[@ivanbajovic3476]

​@@christhedrummerkimball Yeah, most of us have the same feeling.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@ivanbajovic3476 :)

[@jaggass]

I think Chester Thompson used a Sonor Hilite drum kit on Phil Collins's Serious...Hits! Live tour. It had a powerful sound.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

They are interesting drums--the lugs are screwdriver-like flat blade screws instead of normal, square-head lugs, and the tom mounts are quite different, too. Thanks for watching!

[@frankspikes7858]

Beautiful set, tasty drumming! I saw the same set on another video. It was Jack Dejonette during the 80s or 90s.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you!

[@michaelroby6538]

You amaze me...

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Likewise!

[@sticksbass]

great! much prefer the open sound. boom baby.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Me too! I used to love the dead sound, but as my mother used to say, "A wise man changes his mind sometimes, a fool never does." :)

[@TessaAnderson]

Hi hat made the video worth watching

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I wish they still made those--I really like mine. Thanks for watching!

[@SONORSQ2guy]

They sound much better without the muffle rings! 🤟

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I think that's the feeling of the majority of viewers--I'm starting to like the open sound better, myself! Thanks for watching.

[@krusher74]

they almost sound like concert toms here.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@krusher74 I agree, thanks for watching!

[@shanemichaels124]

The copper is absolutely the one element that puts your kit over the top and elevates it to "wow" status. Is that snare 8 or more inches deep? Somewhat rare to see one that old that size. (Unless you have been hanging out with Louis Bellson or Krupa! lol) I'm also a little surprised to see that we own quite a few duplicate cymbals. I've had a lot of people ask why I use the larger hi-hats. Although it really wasn't anything more than I got a good deal on them, I used to tell them it was a volume "thing", that I could always use lighter sticking but I can only get so loud and then I'm cracking them. Oddly enough, it turned out to be true, as I progressed from Big Band to Fusion and then much more straight ahead Rock by '78-'80.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you for watching! The reason the snare is so deep is because it was, in fact, an old marching snare drum. It dates back to the forties, but works really well as a mellow sounding snare drum along with my kit. I used it playing big band jazz for many years in high school, college, and beyond. Thanks again for watching, I appreciate your comment!

[@krusher74]

the full tube lugs are early hilite, the open back ones are late hilite, its not an exclusive or standard thing. its early or late.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

That's great to know! That means the 16" floor tom is a late model. Thanks for watching, and for your instructive comment.

[@jabbingjabberwocky5243]

Hey Chris I have a close friend who has the single tom post and arm in the exclusive copper NOS .... If you know anyone who might be interested in this? Please let me know? P.S amazing kit you have there.😳

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you, and thanks for watching! As far as your friend, 1) how much does he want for it, and 2) I'm sure he could sell it on ebay or Amazon marketplace if the price was right. Heck, if the price was really right, I might buy it! :)

[@joerico9461]

After the cost of all that you are now missing a left nut lol they look good though

[@christhedrummerkimball]

:)

[@godbluffvdgg]

groovy...

[@christhedrummerkimball]

That's a word I find myself using a lot--it makes people chuckle and gives away the fact I was in high school during the '70s...:) Thanks for watching!

[@godbluffvdgg]

@@christhedrummerkimball Plus, as a drummer my self; It's synonymous with "being in the pocket"...:) You were Groovin' there...:)

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@godbluffvdgg Thanks for the kind words! I hope this Covid thing ends soon so we can all get back to playing gigs.

[@shanemichaels124]

@@godbluffvdgg had to laugh, as Porcaro became one of my favorite players, and as far as I'm concerned, the very definition of "in the pocket" we started using the word groove and it's variants and never stopped! 👍

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I loved the way he played. I modeled my crash cymbal technique after his playing on the first Toto album, which I still think is one of the finest debut rock albums of all time.

[@TheSPACEDIEVEST1]

Way better without muffles

[@christhedrummerkimball]

A lot of people agree with you. I've always liked a more muffled sound, but after reading so many comments saying open is better, I must confess I am starting to change my opinion. In fact, in my next video (which should be up in a week or two) I compare my North floor toms using Remo CS heads vs, Remo Fiberskyn, both muffled and open. I found the open Fiberskyns do, indeed, sound a lot better! Thank you for watching and for your comment, I appreciate it.

[@TheSPACEDIEVEST1]

@@christhedrummerkimball the muffles sound like the drums are being choled and unable to properly resonate naturally. Anyways that’s my opinion. I appreciate your home studio. I just finished mine a couple of months ago., us drummers need to play! Don’t worry about a reply :)

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@TheSPACEDIEVEST1 :)