Adam Goodhue is the drummer for Aram Danesh and the Super Human Crew. He grew up outside Boston and has been in Oakland, California for the past 11 years. He has toured the world and played styles of music ranging from hip hop to country to jazz and West African music.

"I currently play with Maria Muldaur, Markus James, Terrie Odabi, Aram Denish and Chelle! and Friends as well as a host of local musicians / bands." says Goodhue.

In other words he is a busy guy. He plays a Yamaha Absolute Birch Nouveau.

"I just got it six months ago (sizes; bass drum=22x16, snare drum=14x6.5, tom=10x8, tom=12x9, floor tom=14x12, floor tom #2=16x14). The quick releasing lugs saved A LOT of time in the studio when we were looking for different Bass drum sounds!" he says. "I played Pearl's Masters Studio for 16 years. Both sets were made of Birch wood. The Pearl sounded great but as a whole I think Yamaha does the best job with Birch, plus their hardware is the best!"

Goodhue says that he is not big on using a lot of cymbals.

"Each cymbal has so many tonal characteristics that I like to make the most out a little. I use all Zildjian," says Goodhue. "On the cymbal front I'm playing a 14-inch old A with the bottom hi-hat on top to get more definition and tone out of them. For Ride cymbals, I have a 22-inch "Constantinople" heavy ride with some tape underneath to create a more dry sound and to add to the attack."

And that is not the end of it. While he doesn't use a vast number of cymbals there is nothing wrong with having them available should you need them.

"I also have a 'Left-Side Ride' with three sizzles on one side -- it comes with the sizzles. Though I really love the sound of that cymbal when I take the sizzles out. In fact, if I could make my own custom ride I would have that cymbal without the sizzles and make the bell a bit bigger," he says. "I have an 18-inch Session crash that's great for big punches and a 17 inch A crash that I refer to as 'ol faithful. It's a great all around crash. I mainly use the 17 inch and the Consantinople for crash sounds. I also have an eight-inch splash that I'll use one in a while."

He is particular about his sticks too. Some drummers seem to want them to be straight and beyond that, say the differences after a certain point are minimal. Perhaps because they play one style? Drummers are mysterious creatures.

"I am super particular about what stick I use. For the past couple of years I've used Vater's 8a wood tip model. Vater does an amazing job of producing a stick that is balanced and pitch-matched," says Goodhue. "The tip of a stick is everything. Take two different sticks and hit the same cymbal and you have what sounds like two different cymbals. . . same with drums but not as obvious to the average ear. In the studio the type of stick makes a big difference!"