Dick Sol's Tama Molten Lava Burst Drum Kit
Dick Sol, drummer for Gerbman & Blues Flood, plays a striking TAMA Molten Lava Burst drum setup built for live blues and blues-rock. The kit is centered around a 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, a 16" floor tom and several 14" snare options. Around that shell pack sits a bright Zildjian cymbal setup, a Tama Speed Cobra double pedal and AKG drum microphones.
It is a practical stage kit with a strong identity: deep enough to drive the band, clear enough to leave space for guitar phrasing and dynamic enough to move from shuffles to heavier blues-rock endings. The finish gives the kit a dramatic visual presence, but the real value is musical. It gives Gerbman & Blues Flood a rhythm-section foundation that is powerful, controlled and alive.
Manufacturer and Model Background
The supplied description calls the kit a TAMA Starclassic Molten Lava Burst. The exact badge should be verified with a close-up shell photo before publishing it as a Starclassic. Based on the visible kit, the Star-Mount detail and the 22/10/12/16/14 configuration, the setup appears to align most closely with the TAMA Superstar Classic Maple CL52KRS-MLS Molten Lava Burst.
That distinction matters because the Superstar Classic Maple is a serious stage-ready drum line in its own right. The CL52KRS configuration is a five-piece maple shell pack built around a 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" toms, a 16" floor tom and a 14" snare. The Molten Lava Burst finish gives it a deeper, more dramatic stage look than a standard natural or black kit.
The Superstar Classic concept is rooted in classic TAMA design: maple shells, streamlined hardware, low-mass lugs and resonant tom mounting. For Dick Sol's role in Gerbman & Blues Flood, that combination makes sense. It gives him a kit with enough projection for live blues-rock, but without the oversized footprint of a large rock or metal setup.
Why This Drum Kit Matters in Blues
In blues, the drums are not there to dominate the song. They are there to create movement, tension and release. The drummer has to push the groove while leaving room for the vocal, the bass line and the guitar phrasing.
Dick Sol's setup fits that job very well. The 22" bass drum gives the band a strong center. It can sit under a slow blues without becoming muddy, and it has enough authority for Texas blues and blues-rock. The 10" and 12" rack toms keep fills quick and controlled. The 16" floor tom brings weight when the song needs drama.
That balance is essential for Gerbman & Blues Flood. Gerbman's guitar tone needs room to breathe. Stratocaster attack, Les Paul sustain and Fender-style amplifier breakup all live in the midrange. A good blues drum sound supports that space rather than fighting it. Dick Sol's kit gives the groove muscle while keeping the arrangement clear.
What Respected Blues Drummers Did with Comparable Setups
This connection is musical rather than literal. Dick Sol's setup follows the same practical blues-rock logic used by great rhythm sections behind guitar-driven blues: a strong bass drum, musical toms, controlled cymbals and a snare sound that drives the band without overcrowding the song.
Chris Layton's work with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble is a natural reference point. His playing shows how a drummer can create enormous energy without burying the guitar. The shuffle has to move, the backbeat has to hit and the band still has to breathe. Dick Sol's TAMA setup supports that same type of role: strong, direct and groove-first.
Steve Jordan is another useful reference. His work with John Mayer Trio, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Eric Clapton shows the value of deep pocket and controlled dynamics. He can make a groove feel huge without playing too much. That philosophy fits this kit well. The drum sound is full, but the setup stays compact and musical.
Sound Profile
The heart of the kit is the maple shell character. Maple gives drums warmth, body and a rounded attack. In a blues-rock setting, that means the drums can sound full without becoming harsh.
The 22" bass drum produces a deep, controlled thump. It anchors the band and gives the bass guitar something solid to lock into. It is powerful enough for big endings, but still quick enough for shuffles and walking blues grooves.
The 10" and 12" toms are fast and articulate. They are ideal for short fills between guitar phrases, especially in songs where the drums answer the guitar rather than filling every open space. The 16" floor tom brings the darker side of the kit: low-end authority, slow-blues drama and big accents.
The cymbal setup is bright, modern and stage-ready. The Zildjian A Custom Brilliant cymbals add a polished, glassy top end. The 20" A Custom ride keeps the pulse clear, while the 14" A Custom hi-hats give the groove crisp definition. The 17" A Custom crash and 17" A Custom Fast Crash give Dick Sol two different accent voices: one fuller and one quicker. The 10" A Custom functions as a small effect cymbal, giving short bursts of brightness for transitions and accents.
The 18" Z Custom Brilliant Crash is the aggressive voice in the cymbal set. It is brighter, louder and more explosive than the A Custom crashes. In this setup, it works best for bigger blues-rock peaks, dramatic accents and strong endings.
Dick Sol's TAMA Molten Lava Burst drum setup gives Gerbman & Blues Flood a powerful blues-rock foundation, combining maple-shell punch, bright Zildjian cymbals and multiple snare voices.
Snare Character
The snare selection gives Dick Sol several different rhythmic colors.
The TAMA 14" snare keeps the kit balanced and natural. It is the logical main snare for open blues grooves, giving a woody crack and a solid backbeat.
The Mapex Black Panther Shadow 14" snare adds a darker and punchier option. It brings more body and authority to heavier songs. This is the snare to reach for when the band needs a thicker backbeat under driven guitar tones.
The Mapex Orion Birch Emerald Green 14" snare is the rarest and most characterful snare in the group. Birch tends to bring focus, attack and clarity. That makes it useful when the snare has to cut through the band while still staying controlled. It also adds a more vintage-flavored collector element to Dick Sol's setup.
Together, these snares allow the drum sound to change without changing the whole kit. One setup can cover open shuffles, slow blues, Texas blues drive and heavier blues-rock moments.
What Makes It Special
This kit is special because it combines professional practicality with strong visual identity. The Molten Lava Burst finish looks dramatic under stage lights, but the actual layout is not excessive. It is compact, direct and musical.
The maple shells bring warmth. The tom mounting helps the drums stay open and resonant. The Zildjian A Custom cymbals bring polished brightness. The Z Custom crash adds a harder voice when the song needs a bigger hit. The snare choices allow Dick Sol to move from crisp shuffle work to darker blues-rock backbeats without losing the identity of the kit.
The Tama Speed Cobra double pedal adds another layer of control. In this context, it is not about turning the blues into constant double-bass playing. It is about response, speed under the foot, clean doubles, strong endings and the ability to add extra drive when the song asks for it.
The AKG drum microphone setup also matters. The listed High-Performance drum microphone set should be treated as an AKG Drum Set Session I-style package unless the exact model is confirmed by a close-up. That type of mic set gives a practical live or rehearsal capture: kick, snare, toms and overheads. For a band like Gerbman & Blues Flood, that means the kit can be presented clearly through a PA without losing the natural character of the drums.
Why This Kit Works for Dick Sol and Gerbman
Dick Sol's drum sound is an important part of Gerbman & Blues Flood's live identity. Gerbman's music is guitar-led, but the drums are what make the guitar feel alive. This kit gives Dick Sol the weight, clarity and control needed to support blues phrasing, Texas blues drive and heavier blues-rock dynamics without overcrowding the music.
The 22" bass drum and 16" floor tom give the band a strong low-end foundation. The 10" and 12" rack toms keep fills quick and musical. The Zildjian A Custom cymbals add a bright, glassy top end that sits above the guitar tone, while the Z Custom crash gives Dick Sol a more explosive voice for bigger accents and endings.
The multiple snare options are especially useful. A woody TAMA snare can keep the groove open and natural, the Mapex Black Panther Shadow can add a darker backbeat, and the Mapex Orion Birch Emerald Green snare brings a rarer, more focused character. That gives Dick Sol several rhythmic colors while keeping the core of the kit consistent.
For Gerbman's blues sound, the role of the drummer is not to dominate the song. It is to push the groove, support the guitar, shape the dynamics and make the band feel alive. Dick Sol's TAMA Molten Lava Burst setup does exactly that.
The kit at work: Dick Sol behind his own Tama setup during the live Bluezy broadcast at RTV Ridderkerk, July 2026. Photo: Ron van Varik — Popfotograaf.nl.
Rarity and Availability
As a complete setup, Dick Sol's drum rig should be classified as somewhat rare.
The TAMA maple shell configuration itself is not rare. Similar Superstar Classic Maple kits remain available in other finishes. The Molten Lava Burst version, however, appears to be a more limited or less common finish. That gives this particular kit more visual and collector interest than a standard current-production finish.
The Zildjian A Custom cymbals are professional, popular and widely available. They are not rare, but they are a proven stage choice. The Z Custom crash depends on the exact version. Older Z Custom models can carry more collector interest, while newer Z Custom versions are again available through current retail channels.
The Mapex Black Panther Shadow is a specialist snare rather than a basic entry-level drum. The Mapex Orion Birch Emerald Green snare is the more unusual piece in the snare selection and should be treated as the rarest part of the drum setup unless later documentation proves otherwise. The shell pack model family is accessible, but the Molten Lava Burst finish, the snare selection and the complete Gerbman & Blues Flood stage setup make this a distinctive rig.
Variants and Alternatives
Similar Superstar Classic Maple kits in other finishes. The most practical alternative for players who want this kind of sound.
Higher-end TAMA professional range. More premium shell and hardware options for players who want a step up.
Reliable stage sound at a lower price. A solid budget alternative for players who need a working blues-rock kit.
Vintage-flavored alternatives. The Mapex Orion Birch Emerald Green already gives this rig that collector edge.
