Drumset Setups in the PRFB Percussion Studio
.Below are the drum setups in the PRFB studio
This drumset features oversized drums and cymbals, giving it a bold, commanding sound. Like the Sidekick, it’s a seven-piece studio kit, but the layout and tone palette set it completely apart. It’s nicknamed the Red Giant for good reason, it can be combined with the Sidekick to form one massive, Mike Portnoy-style mega-kit.
The tom layout is tailor-made for progressive rock. You can move outward from the center in either direction, left or right, and still descend in pitch. That opens the door for duple and triple-based fills starting with either hand, tons of musical flexibility baked right in. (Several drummers do this, but my main inspiration was from Virgil Donati, my all-time favorite drummer!)
The bass drum is a 20″ shell seated inside a 24″ woofer, adding depth and boom. The 15″ remote hi-hat stands out too, it’s perfect for articulating left-foot patterns and laying down grooves that contrast nicely with the main 14″ hats.
Two electronic pads and a foot trigger round out the setup, letting you drop in any sample or sound you want without cluttering the rig with extra gear. It’s an efficient way to bring variety and flavor to an already massive sound.
This kit is a powerhouse built for players who want range, muscle, and voice. Check out the full specs below. (This is the kit used for SyracuseDrums.com lessons!)
Sabian Cymbals; A: 6″ AA Metal Splash stacked above a 13″ XSR Effeks Clap, B: 14″ AAX X-Celerator Hats, C: 7″ Vault Alu-Bell, D: 16″ AAX Concept Crash CC1, E: 8″ AA Metal Splash, F: 20″ AAX Stadium Ride, G: 17″ AAX Saturation Crash, H: 10″ Signature Vault Max Stax, I: Remote 15″ AA Rock Hats / 15″ AAX Studio Crash combo, J: 12″ AA Mini China, K: 12″ AA Metal Splash named “Chad”. Yamaha Stage Custom Drums; 24″x17″ bass drum, 8″x7″ rack tom, 12″x10″ rack tom, 16″x14″ rack tom, 18″x16″ floor tom. B Meson Custom Drums; 14″x6″ snare drum, 14″x13″ floor tom. Alesis Electronics; 8″ pads (2), foot pedal, module. Remo Drumheads; Coated Emperor / Clear Diplomat snare, Clear Emperor / Ambassador toms, Powersonic / Powerstroke3 bass drum. Innovative Percussion Drumsticks; IP-NZ1. Yamaha Hardware.
The smaller of the two studio kits is the Sidekick, the other half of the Red Giant. Like its counterpart, it’s a seven-piece setup, but with more compact drum sizes and a different flow that leans into agility and high-end clarity.
Cymbals on this kit are on the smaller side, with multiple splashes and a unique 10″ remote hi-hat stack that includes an inverted 8″ splash for added sizzle and weight. This mini hat contrasts beautifully with the main 13″ hi-hat and has a dedicated mic for foot articulation. It also pops cleanly when played closed and doubles as a splash when opened using its drop clutch.
While the cymbals are mostly machine-finished and quick to respond, they’re all visually and sonically upstaged by the towering Apollo Ride, a massive raw ride cymbal mounted high and vertically on the right side. It projects outward, grabs the overhead mic perfectly, and adds a dramatic visual flair to the performance.
Drum-wise, the layout is mostly traditional, with one clever twist: the octobans are reversed, placing the longer drum on the left and the shorter on the right, just like the top rack toms on the Red Giant. This setup opens the door for creative triplet and paradiddle-based fills that move naturally around the kit.
One standout feature is the 14″ rack tom, which includes a 40-strand snare wire system on the bottom head. It can uniquely be played like a field drum, adding even more tonal variety to this smaller drumset.
Just like the Red Giant, the Sidekick includes electronic pads and a foot trigger for layering in samples or effects. Altogether, this kit delivers sharp, expressive sounds that cut through any mix and fit across a wide range of styles. Check out the full specs below!
Sabian Cymbals; A: 12″ AA Mini China, B: 13″ AAX X-Celerator Hats, C: 12″ AA Metal Splash, D: 6″ AAX Metal X Splash, E: 16″ AAX X-Plosion Crash, F: Remote 10″ AA Metal Hat Custom Stack, G: 14″ AA Sound Control Crash, H: 8″ AA Metal Splash, I: 22″ AA Apollo Ride. Yamaha Stage Custom Drums; 20″x17″ bass drum, 10″x8″ rack tom, 14″x12″ rack tom, 16″x14″ floor tom. B Meson Custom Drums; 13″x6″ snare drum, 6″x16″ octoban, 6″x18″ octoban. Alesis Electronics; 8″ pads (2), foot pedal, module. Remo Drumheads; Coated Emperor / Diplomat snare, Clear Emperor / Ambassador toms, Powersonic / Powerstroke3 bass drum. Innovative Percussion Drumsticks; IP-NZ1. Yamaha Hardware.
This third drumset is a custom eight-piece show kit designed with live performance in mind. Every component is mounted on its own free-standing stand, no racks, which makes quick changeovers and tight setups on the road a breeze.
Sonically, this kit covers serious ground. The 10″ snare is bright and snappy, perfect for cutting through, while the deep 15″ snare sits more in line with the toms, blending smoothly. (This side snare setup was inspired by Robert Searight, Larnell Lewis, and Anika Niles.) With a layout modeled after marching tenors, the toms feel instantly familiar, a perfect fit for someone with my tenor drum roots.
Bass drum contrast is another highlight, an 18″ main kick delivers punch, while the massive 24″ auxiliary bass adds thunder. The auxiliary drum is link-pedaled and right-foot controlled (inspired by Dave Weckl’s old kits, Stanton Moore, and even Terry Bozzio). The entire right side of this kit is a self-contained powerhouse with this huge bass drum, oversized snare, and a chunky 16″ hi-hat, making it a full-on sonic zone of its own when needed.
Front and center is a custom 12″ remote hi-hat, placed to showcase left foot patterns right to the audience, form meets function.
The Custom Epiarch “Time Machine” Kit is a true one-of-a-kind showpiece built for me by Jesse Lizer at Epiarch Drums in Iowa. It’s designed to be seen, heard, and remembered. Check out the kit’s specs below!
Sabian Cymbals; A: 6″ AA Metal Splash stacked above a 13″ XSR Effeks Clap, B: 14″ AAX Freq Hats, C: 8″ AA Metal Splash stacked above a 16″ AAX Saturation Crash, D: Remote 12″ AAX Metal Hats Custom Stack, E: 10″ AAX Metal Splash, F: 17″ AAX Freq Crash, G: AA 14″ Mini China, H: 22″ XSR Monarch Ride, I: 16″ AA Apollo Big & Ugly Hats dummy hats. Epiarch Custom Drums; 10″x4″ snare drum, 15″x6.5″ snare drum, 18″x19″ bass drum, 24″x24″ auxilliary bass drum, 8″x8″ rack tom, 12″x11″ rack tom. B Meson Custom Drums; 14″x13″ floor tom, 16″x14″ floor tom. Alesis Electronics; Sampler, 8″ remote pad. Remo Drumheads; Coated Emperor / Diplomat main snare, Clear Emperor / Ambassador side snare and toms, Powersonic / Powerstroke3 bass drums. Innovative Percussion Drumsticks; IP-1 Generals. Gibraltar Hardware.
The smallest kit is just 5-pieces and is called White Noise. It’s the most compact and travel-friendly kit in the lineup. Don’t let the clean look and standard sizes fool you, this thing knows how to speak up. The small bass drum may not take up much space, but it delivers a surprisingly punchy low end that holds its own in any mix.
This kit is your no-nonsense, get-it-done workhorse. It’s simple, versatile, and always ready to roll, whether it’s a rehearsal, a quick gig, a studio session, or anything in between. While it might be the most “average” in terms of specs, that’s exactly what makes it such a reliable, go-anywhere option.
White Noise is proof that you don’t need to be flashy to sound good. It’s clean, clear, and always in control. Check out the kit’s specs below!
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Sabian Cymbals; A: 8″ AA Metal Splash, B: 14″ AAX Freq Hats, C: 17″ AAX Freq Crash, D: 20″ AAX Stadium Ride, E: 12″ AA Metal Hats Custom Stack. Yamaha Stage Custom Drums; 14″x6″ snare drum, 18″x15″ bass drum, 12″x10″ rack tom, 14″x13″ floor tom, 16×14 floor tom. Remo Drumheads; Coated Emperor / Diplomat snare, Clear Emperor / Ambassador toms, Powersonic / Powerstroke3 bass drums. Innovative Percussion Drumsticks; IP-NZ1. Yamaha Hardware.
Marching drums are available in the studio for both lessons and recording. The setup includes a 14″x12″ Yamaha Sforzando snare and a 6″/8″/10″/12″/13″/14″ Yamaha Field-Corps six-pack tenor drums. The 6″ and 10″ drums use custom B Meson inside shells, making tuning easier and helping those voices cut cleanly.
Both drums are equipped with custom B Meson Shellshock Mounts, quarter-shell wooden surfaces mounted to the sides for a natural shell sound when struck with sticks. These mounts are shock-isolated, rugged enough to take abuse, and protect the actual drum shell. They fit both 13″ and 14″ drums and can be quickly removed by loosening just two tension rods. You can learn more about Shellshock Mounts via the Articles page.
The marching snare also features a top-mounted snare wire, offering four different sound combinations for varied timbres. Each drum sits on a solid stand, so you don’t even have to wear them!
Yamaha Marching Drums; 14″x12″ Sforzando snare drum, 10″/12″/13″/14″ Field-Corps quads, 18″ Field-Corps bass drum. B Meson Custom Drums; 6″ inside drum, 8″ inside drum, Shellshock Mounts (3). Remo Drumheads; White Max / Clear Ambassador snare drum, Suade, Pinstripe tenor drums. Innovative Percussion Drumsticks; FS-BK snare drum primary sticks and IP-1 General secondary sticks, TS-4 tenor primary mallets and TS-2L, FS-2T, IP-JC secondary tenor drum sticks. FB-2 bass drum mallets. Yamaha Hardware.
Other drumset pages: Private Lessons, Drumset Warmups, Studio Recording, Studio Setups, Equipments List, and Articles.
