Vinnie C- It's Official- Now on Ludwig and Paiste! What say you guys?

Well, I got the official word today that Vinnie has moved from Gretsch and Zildjian to Ludwig and Paiste.

I'm sure there is a good reason, ... but I sure would like to have been a fly on the wall during those discussions!

What say you guys?

Dendy

Maybe he felt it was time to change "his sound?"

Maybe he had a contact leave Zildjian or Gretsch?

Maybe he got a better offer?

I'd watch him play on pots and pans with trash can lids.

You know its all about the M word...

Wikipedia already has a leg up on you, apparently:

I find it a bit odd he'd go to Paiste, as I believe he was instrumental in development of the A Custom line for Zildjian, no? But stranger things have happened.

I think it's a decent coup for Ludwig, and I'm sure Jim Catalano is licking his chops at all the new ad content he can create, but honestly, even considering a player of Vinnie's caliber...it's only a big deal to the parties involved (i.e., the companies and the artist)...

Let's face it: endorsement deals are about giving off the impression that either your using the same gear as so-and-so will magically allow you to be able to play like them, or at the very least the largely unfounded and improbable belief that so-and-so chose this particular gear because it has some attribute that no other manufacturer could possibly provide.

There's almost certainly some level of truth (perceived, at least) to the latter for endorsees, but at the end of the day, it's done for advertising, and when you consider things like who sees that advertising, and who's likely to be impressionable enough to be impacted by it, that's slanted at a younger demo by definition...and as amazing a player as he is, the majority of young and impressionable drummers are not buying gear because Vinne C. says so.

But if that's the gear he wants to play, good for him.

marketing

you could call it that, but I don't think so...think more Cuba Gooding-ish...

What the M word? Here let me get my post out the way.

Lotta players, he's a strong piece, who knows? He's prolly real fickle too. Might be going after the rock market - I feel that outing with Beck was somewhat of a failure. Seemed like Vinnie was just flailing half the time and this might be a step at redemption. Be that as it may, Ludwig/Paiste would certainly offer new cymbal colors if not a whole new "Vinnie".

Most top known drum artists change companies often. I really don't see it as a "shock", just business as usual. I personally prefer new Ludwig's to new Gretsch's, and I most definitely prefer Paiste over Zildjian, anyday.

I think it's a good thing.

It's all about the Benjamins!

But I think kmart is actually right about the marketing also. I'm sure for Vinny it's more about the money than anything else. But for Ludwig, it's about the marketing they can get out of him. I also, however, agree that it's not geared toward a younger crowd... Outside of the Corrosion of Confirmity album he did... that was pretty f***d up.

DB

I think he also did a Megadeth CD, about 5-7 years ago.

I would be willing to guess that he may have left Zildjian because they don't do "signature" lines, and he may have wanted something like that, beyond the A custom line. That's why Peart went to Sabian and now has the Paragon series. Just a thought.

Even the pro's need to freshen things up a bit.

Besides, why don't he concentrate on learning how to play the drums better anyways???? Doesn't matter what gear you are playing if you suck. He might get to play with good musicians if he didn't have all those weeknesses.

what

Vinniewannabe - does this mean you'll be switching to Ludwigs in your avatar? :poke:

he did...and his drumming was phenomenal on it

Megadeath, that's what I was thinking... it was Staton Moore who did the C.o.C album. my bad...

That being said, Peart went to Sabian not as much for his own signature line, but he wanted to be involved in development and I think he felt Zildjians R&D was lacking or non existant. If you notice, the Paragon line don't have "Neil Peart" plastered all over them. Zildjian wont even make something that isn't in line for an artist.

Sabian on the other hand will basically make ANYONE a custom cymbal. I also think most of the "innovations" in cymbals these days have started with something in the Sabian lines that Zildjian than started toying around with. (Ozone / Aero crashes, holy china etc...)

DB

haha

It's funny you say that....in the avatar are my Gretsch's and Zildjians...but I've switched to Yamaha and Sabian about a year ago (BEFORE Vinnie changed over! I know I know, you don't believe me! lol)

I know sometimes we mimic certain favorite artists sound etc etc...but I have been playing for a while and I kinda know what I like to hear nowadays. And without going into a long rant..I really get annoyed with players that copy EXACTELY what a particular artist or drummer is doing/playing. Do your OWN thing! Just because Vinnie plays this or that, doesn't mean you have too. Have your own voice.

And really, no matter WHAT I do or what equipment I buy, I can never sound or play like that space alien!

^^^^ This.

Who cares what (insert your drum hero's name here) plays? Either you like them or you don't. Either they are awesome (to you, regardless of others' opinions) or they're not. I play PDP drums. Not because any of my drum heroes do, but because I got a good deal on a quality set at the time I was looking. I have (and use) Zildjian, Paiste, Sabian, Supernatural and Wuhan cymbals. Same reasons. Hell, I like Vinnie Paul's drumming on a couple Pantera albums, and, not like I follow who he endorses, but I seem to recall seeing him playing Pearls back in the day, and then seeing some full-page ad in Modern Drummer (or Musician's Friend?) touting the awesomeness of DDrum. I've never actually played a DDrum set, but my impression of them, based on their market placement, seemed to indicate low-cost, entry-level stuff.

Well of course it's money. And: who cares? 14 year-olds? They don't listen to Vinnie anyway.

1. Heaven only knows what he uses, or will use, in the studio. Hell, sometimes you can't even tell if a stage set is the real thing or not.

2. I'd rather hear Vinnie on a bunch of pots and pans than almost any other drummer on any drums you could name.

My Deux Cents ( and I'd better hurry, they just killed the penny up here in the Great White North:eek:)

As far as the actual drums themselves, I'm pretty sure you're going to see the exact same configuration that Vinnie used while with Gretsch. He might even go with the white/powdercoat black hardware again. For Ludwig this is a bit of a coup, and a badly needed one. Since they ' relaunched' a few years ago, they've been sort of flailing round the middle, looking for something to anchor their brand on. I'd guess that Vinnie will be seen in ads with the Ludwig Legacy series, their ' in house boutique' brand. Will it change anything about his playing? not an iota. As previously mentioned, Vinnie C would sound killer on a set of your momma's favourite Stainless steel cookware:facepalm: Point is; this is like your favourite athlete switching from one energy drink, or set of sneakers, or clothingware, or deodourant , You name the tie in. I like the Buddy Rich Vic Firth sticks, but I would never say that they make me a better player. Bottom line: Ludwig gets a rub being associated with one the elite first call drummers of the world, and Vinnie gets a little extra cash to help pay the kids university fees. Win win for both sides, and certainly nice money if you can get it.

PEACE.

I think that the Armageddon is upon us!

OMG! THE SKY IS FALLING! VINNIE IS PLAYING LUDWIG AND PAISTE!!!

COME BACK SHANE!

as i always like to say...it's always a good thing when a drummer comes over from the dark side (the "z" word) to Paiste!! :)

So if he is with Paiste, I'm guessing his signature Zildjian stick is no longer going to be made. What sticks is he going to use now?

My Deux Cents ( and I'd better hurry, they just killed the penny up here in the Great White North:eek: ) As far as the actual drums themselves, I'm pretty sure you're going to see the exact same configuration that Vinnie used while with Gretsch. He might even go with the white/powdercoat black hardware again. For Ludwig this is a bit of a coup, and a badly needed one. Since they ' relaunched' a few years ago, they've been sort of flailing round the middle, looking for something to anchor their brand on. I'd guess that Vinnie will be seen in ads with the Ludwig Legacy series, their ' in house boutique' brand. Will it change anything about his playing? not an iota. As previously mentioned, Vinnie C would sound killer on a set of your momma's favourite Stainless steel cookware:facepalm: Point is; this is like your favourite athlete switching from one energy drink, or set of sneakers, or clothingware, or deodourant , You name the tie in. I like the Buddy Rich Vic Firth sticks, but I would never say that they make me a better player. Bottom line: Ludwig gets a rub being associated with one the elite first call drummers of the world, and Vinnie gets a little extra cash to help pay the kids university fees. Win win for both sides, and certainly nice money if you can get it. PEACE.

THIS ^^ As DW said years ago, A crappy drummer will still sound crappy on the most elite set, A good drummer can make a POS set sound good.

Just like Phil Collins known for using a Gretch single headed kit live with Sabian cymbals has been known to use an older Premier double headed kit in the studio with old Pearl Concert toms and older Zildjian cymbals. Or Jeff Pocarro of Toto known for his Pearl Endorsement, was using an old Gretch kit in the studio. and so on. Or even Peart who used a lower line snare for much of his career, they will sign the deals, pose with the equipment for pics and use them at clinics etc. But in the end, it's close to like you and me, If the song calls for a cheap and trashy sound, then they just might use a cheap and trashy sounding kit??

i never understood why he left yamaha,i heard yamaha was telling him what color of drums to play.

Paiste tweeted this info this morning ...

Press Release

and this on You Tube

[video=youtube;QgYY3kpFQPs]

?????

I wont get it till the recordings. lol