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I think it's time I stopped playing so many rim shots. I'm not digging the sound anymore. I'm about 2/3 of the way finished on a new "Trio of Stridence" record, and it's coming along nicely, but the sound of my rim shots is getting to be too much. I'm going to consciously try to avoid rim shots for most of my playing from now (or at least try it on my next recording session to see how it comes out). Maybe it's because all my snare drums have die cast hoops, but I prefer the way the drums sound with die cast hoops (both snares and toms).

Anyone else go through this?

I've been going the opposite direction the last few years. I think you really hear the personality of the drum (and player) when you use rimshots.

It depends on the song. As long as you play dynamically, rim shots are very effective for different tones. But slamming a back beat rim shot can choke the drum and make it sound weak.

Ya, rimshots really get the drum vibrating. So for recording, like rock, pop, etc that's a must on the backbeats.

I try to be volume conscious when I play live. Though I haven't had a "quiet" gig in a very long time. Everything lately requires playing with some muscle and energy. Rimshots are definitely mandatory.

I'm not getting a weak or choked sound with rim shots at all, but I think I'm starting to prefer the beefier sound of the drum, minus the transience of the rim shot. Maybe not. I'll give it shot and see how it comes out.

I've been heading toward a "softer" rim shot lately, i.e. not putting anything else into the stroke but just angling the impact to get the pop of rim and head simultaneously. Depends on the gig, though, 2&4 gigs always seem to demand the crack of a beefy rim shot ... to me, anyway.

Acoustically, rim shots seem to sound great, but when I'm playing a mellower groove (either softer dynamic or slower tempo for example), I think avoiding the rim may work better for the microphone and recording.

Totally.

DieCast is the heaviest of rim shot sounds too, maybe check out a triple-flanged or S-Hoop on the snare, see where that takes you sound wise. You can even move to wood hoops for a really mellow and woody rim shot.

I really enjoy Vinnie, Tony, Weckl, Buddy, etc... all these guys would be shredding sticks if they didn't have new ones on demand. They all play at a ferocious level. Absurd power, clarity and over all the sheer authority in every single note.

Every player talked about and idolized (particularly here) plays with an absurd amount of energy and power.

Frankly, if I had free cymbals, heads and sticks. I'd play at that level too. I hold back out of budget concerns. I can't afford to smash my ride and crashes til they are vertical like all these guys did/do...

Buddy Rich was a black belt, you think he was holding back whipping those sticks around at ABOVE HEAD stick heights?

Dave plays with a fairly light touch, actually... unless you see him flip the sticks around and switch to matched (usually an encore tune move).

I Googled it and Buddy was a black belt in Karate. Hmmm, interesting.