Taye Vs Mapex

[Jared]

Hey, I'm going to be buying a new set this new years, wondering if I could get some feedback with some choices I've been looking at.
Mapex Saturn: 20x18B, 10x8 Tom, 12x9 Tom, 14x14 FT, 14x5 snare
Or
Taye Studio maple: 20x16B, 12x9 Tom, 10x8.5 tom,14X14FT, 14x5 10 ply sugar maple snare with wood hoop.
Both are in the same price range.

[nhzoso]

I don't know much about Taye, or Mapex for that matter other than I have heard alot of good things about Mapex recently and I love the look of those saturns. They are what I hope to get when I upgrade someday of course that is after I hear them in person.

Any chance you can hear these 2 kits in person before buying?? I personally would not spend that kind of cabbage w/o hearing the kit 1st. Good luck and let us know what you decide on.

[dingbat]

I have the Taye Studio Maples, click on my sig at the bottom to see the thread. Also had a chance to tinker with the Saturns, lovely drums as well, tough decision you have to make. Am I biased, yes, a little, ergo Taye SM for me. Not sure what your budget is, but my six piece in fusion sizes (although with a 22 inch kick - package/model number SM622FD with hardware pack "A") with the hardware package was $1559 U.S., no tax, free shipping.

[spw]

Do yourself a favor and sit behind and play the kits you are choosing to purchase!

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I have a lesser model TAYE set, Pro-X, and I have found absolutely nothing wrong with them. The maple Im sure are much better so I dont see how you could go wrong with them.

[Hitman]

Wow, I actually have experience with both.

Tayes for me are harder to tune, I have to work harder to get the tayes sounding good. I also do not like the hardware. I posted some pictures below, notice the pic with the tayes, all my stands are Tama's.

I have a Mapex Pro M, and I don't have as much trouble tuning it, The bass drum and larger toms sound great, nice punchy low end...everyone who hears them loves the sound. The hardware is much better, a whole lot sturdier. I did check out the Mapex Saturn, and all can say is OMG! amazing drums. My local drum shop called me in after they got one in for me to try and right out of the box, with little to no adjustments to the drum heads the drums sounded incredible.

I was going to buy that mapex saturn but I chose to go with Tama Starclassics instead. Anyway, I would go with the Mapex Saturn for sure!!!

Also, go to your local music store and try them out for yourself...and VERY IMPORTANT, don't just sit and play them, have someone play them for you, stand back and listen to both kits.

http://myspace-563.vo.llnwd.net/00690/36/57/690917563_l.jpg

http://myspace-309.vo.llnwd.net/01244/90/32/1244092309_l.jpg

[dingbat]

Hitman, what series Taye are you playing/refering to? I have no trouble at all tuning my studio maples, they are like "butta" to tune. Looking at the picture of the kit you are playing, they look to be the "tour pro" series, not the studio maples, due to the finish, studio maples are a piano black lacquer, the tour pros are the ebony stain as displayed in your picture, knowing that, we need to compare apples to apples, Saturn to Studio Maple. The Tour Pros are a composite of basswood and birch, a thicker shell than either the Saturns or Studio Maples. The composition of these two woods and shell construction will give the drums a sound unlike the contemporary sound of a thin all maple or all birch shell, this as lifted directly from the Taye site -

"...in creating the TourPro. We started with Basswood, an integral component in the sound of those revered drums of forties through the sixties. A softer wood than Maple, its open grain structure diffuses the sound somewhat, warming it. Then we add Birch, a wood with maple-like density to the formula. What Basswood spreads out, Birch tightens up. The result is centered attack with a pronounced roundness and complex overtones—very much a vintage vibe..."

The hardware that came with my kit is a lesson in simplicity, clever design and ease of function, thick, double braced and beefy as heck, I would not want to lug this hardware around to the gig, it will break your back, perhaps keeping it in the studio as is the kit's namesake is par for the course.

Just giving some food for thought and definitely proclaiming the Studio Maples to be crafted and sounding to the highest calibur in high-end kits.

[Hitman]

Dingbat, yes you are right, the drums on the pic are the Tour Pros, sorry I meant to mentioned that but I got excited writing about the Saturns. However it's just my opinion (we all have different tastes) and the tayes no longer do it for me. I thought they were going to be cool, something different (you know not a tama or pearl, yamaha etc...) but I was dissapointed overall with the taye brand, specially the hardware. Bottom line! go see and hear them for yourself. You'll figure it out once you experience them.

[dingbat]

No worries Hitman, yes we all have our opinions. However, have you ever had a chance to play the Studio Maples, if not, I think you may change your mind about Taye. Like I said, the Saturns are excellent drums as well, got a chance to play a set that someone was selling, but had to pull in the reigns knowing that I've already got a high end set and should use the money for something more responsible (like a new set of good cymbals ;-).

[Synthetik]

"I was going to buy that mapex saturn but I chose to go with Tama Starclassics instead. Anyway, I would go with the Mapex Saturn for sure!!!"

" I got excited writing about the Saturns"

Speaking of the saturns in such an enthusiastic way and you ended up with tama. What happened?

[Hitman]

"I was going to buy that mapex saturn but I chose to go with Tama Starclassics instead. Anyway, I would go with the Mapex Saturn for sure!!!"

" I got excited writing about the Saturns"

Speaking of the saturns in such an enthusiastic way and you ended up with tama. What happened?

I've had the Pro M's for a very long time, about six years I think, and I really liked them. I had not considered anything other than another mapex after being disappointed by the tayes and realizing I needed to upgrade. But when I checked out the Saturn that I mentioned in my previous post, there was also a new starclassic there too...the diecast hoops, and the new starcast mount won me over, not to mention the hardware. I think the curved legs on the roadpro hardware is sexy (but thats just me). Also, the only color I really liked on the Saturn was the transparent cherry, but my pro m's were that color and I didn't want to get the same color again. I played the starclassic and I really liked the sound they produced as well. So being very happy with the sound both drums produced I made my choice based on aesthetics instead.

[n2xlr8n]

Saturns....no doubt in my mind.

I own a set, and I'd compare them to anything else I've ever owned.

SJ

[Andy@MIT]

I currently own both... I must say I prefer the sound of the saturn's as the walnut adds a bit of oomph, as well as the wider variety of finishes. That said, you really cant go wrong either way

[Jared]

Hey,
thanks a ton for all the info on the Tayes and Mapex Saturn.
I have had a chance to hear the saturns, and they sound great.
I currently play a friends pieced together taye set, and i really enjoy them.
In the end I will end up sitting down and playing the Saturns and Studio maple, which will then finalize my decision. Can't wait.
I finally got out of an apartment and into a house so a new drum set is long overdue.

Thanks Again

Jared

[Synthetik]

The saturns are my overall favorite wood drum. They cost intermediate, below even the Yamaha oak, but hold thier own against high end maple drums. Maybe it's because the warm tonality is balanced with projection.

Either way, if I were in the market for a wood kit, it would be the saturns.

[Pat Petrillo]

As a former endorser for Taye Drums, I can say without a doubt that they are excellent drums, especially the Studio Maples and the Basswood/Birch Tour Pro. I also used their top of the line hardware, and love the "roller ball tilter" design.

Can' t go wrong with Taye in the mid market drum category. No experience with Mapex, so I can't help you there...

Good luck

patpetrillo.com

[dingbat]

Pat, who do you endorse now, I just checked out your website and it lists Taye under the gear section. Have your vhs tape of rudiments, thanks for the instruction. Edit post - I just noticed your signature, DW.

[KzSgDrummer]

I must say I prefer the sound of the saturn's as the walnut adds a bit of oomph, as well as the wider variety of finishes.

Wow, I didn't realize so many people were passionate about the Saturns. I also own a set of them, and, along with agreeing with Andy about the walnut, I really really like them. I do NOTHING to the snare and I get compliments on its sound. And same goes for tuning the toms and bass. My only complaints are that the 16" tom isn't as overall boomy as the 14" and I ordered the "Amber" color which looked orange in the brochure, and what I got was much closer to red than orange (look at my avatar).. oh well.

Sorry, I don't know anything about Tayes so I can't contribute there..

[Mista Bob]

I personally do not like the Mapex Saturn. The kick on the Saturn is nice, but the toms just sound bleh in my opinion.

I would definately go with the Studio Maple. They are one of the best sounding kits I have ever tried.
Even the Taye Tour Pro blows the Saturn away sound wise, the Studio Maple just destroys it.

You can not go wrong at all with the Studio Maple.

[Pat Petrillo]

Say, Ding..

Actually, I'm in between right now...I

played a GMS kit on my new DVD and it sounds great. Check the clips on the drummerworld page...

The DW in the name I think is from Bernhard..means Drummer World..

Although, DW is a company I am talking too now...I'll keep you posted.

All the Best

[Ozzy Biz]

I really like the drum sound on those clips on your D.W. site with the GMS. The 14" floor has so much more bottom end than mine.

And good luck with DW

Biz