Master percussionist Pete Lockett's idea for the new Vic Firth Re•Mix brushes became an instant success at NAMM2020. The set of brushes are stick tools to give drummers and percussion players a whole new sound range on any instrument. The four Remix-types can be combined as you see fit for your sound setting and grooves. And when you flip them over, there are even more sounds. Watch the demo and story behind the Remix brushes with inventor Pete Lockett himself.
As creative as Pete Lockett is, he tells how he is always experimenting and looking for different sounds. By cutting up the bathroom blinds, for instance! Basically, he is always looking for anything to beat percussion instruments with and put anything together in the search for new sounds.
Vic Firth Re•Mix brushes demo and interview with inventor Pete Lockett
At Vic Firth, the Remix brushes are a set of alternative implements. We would rather call it the Alternative Sound Creation category, because that is just what these brushes do - a message any player understands immediately. Russ Miller's Wire Brushes fall into this category as well. Yours truly actually bought and plays these, but definitely not as an alternative implement.
A little bit of product semantics on marketing there, which is obviously not about the quality of the Remix brushes or any Vic Firth product. Each product Vic Firth launches passes the highest tests for the use on any instrument.
The Remix brushes explained There are four different sticks that you can combine. The Remix will be sold in pairs or in a 2-pack.
RM1: Broomcorn The softest brush in the series.
RM2: African Grass RM2 gives a slightly heavier attack, but still has that subtle sound.
RM3: Birch dowels A fuller sounding set, perfect for acoustic and live settings.
RM4: Rattan/Birch A pair of 3 small and timbale-sized sticks.
RMP - 2-pair combo pack A fifth set seperately sold: a combo pack including the grass (RM2) and birch (RM3) brushes
Pete Lockett demos the Remix Brushes - official Vic Firth video
The Remix brushes can be used apart, but the purpose is to combine them. The rings delivered with the Remix brushes makes that you can combine them all. As Pete states it:
"You can go a long way with all the combinations."
- Pete Lockett
Pete Lockett & Pete Lockett both demoing the Remix brushes
