My 6pc. DW Collectors Series Kit

[zambizzi]

I just realized I never posted an official "here's my kit" thread on DW so here goes.

I bought this kit in January '07 at the Boise Guitar Center and have just now settled in w/ it after several configurations, cymbals, and two different snares.

You can see a thread here (http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22054) on how I went about buying it and how it was setup initially.

Shells:
DW Collectors Series (born date of Aug. 08, 2006)
The ply wrap is called "Black Onyx Swirl"

18x22 Kick
14x16 Floor tom
12x14 Floor tom
10x12 Mnt. tom
8x10 Mnt. tom

Snare:
6.5x14 DW Craviotto Solid Maple Shell (autographed by John Craviotto - made in '01)

Cymbals (Zildjian):
20" K Custom Dry Ride
18" A Custom Crash
16" A Custom Crash
12" A Custom Splash
14" A Custom Mastersound hats

Heads:
Remo Fiberskyn 3 batter / DW Remo (clear) heads resonant

Sticks:
Vic Firth 5A American Classic (hickory)

...and finally, the pics!

[Guinness]

That is an awesome looking kit. I love the wrap. Absolutely beautiful. Do you have any close ups of the Craviotto snare?

[75sling]

SWEEEEEEET kit! Yeah, SWEEEEEEEEETTTTT!!

Great looking kit!!

75sling

[Deathmetalconga]

Great set! Top-of-the-line components and a beautiful finish.

I, too, would like to see more of the snare, maybe even with the heads removed so we can drool over the shell.

[maddrummr]

Sweet sweet man.
Love the finish and the set up is da bomb!

How do you like the fyberskins?

[mikei]

Wow!

That is all I can say.

Absolutely beautiful!

You also have THE best sounding hi hat in my opinion. I miss my 14 A mastersounds!

[zambizzi]

Thanks all! It was a toss-up between this wrapped kit and the other DW that GC had in stock...which was a full lacquer finish. I thought this one was much sharper looking and ply wraps can take more scratching w/o showing as much wear.

I *love* these hats. I had plain A Custom hats at first and had to trade them in for the mastersounds a couple days later. The guy I worked w/ at GC traded them even, no extra charge...nice guy!

I'm lovin' the fiberskyns...I doubt I'll use anything else anytime soon. They're 2 mo. old and they look brand new...and I play this kit 2-4 hrs. everyday. They bring out the low-end which, on these shells, is just tasty!

Deathmetalconga - you almost talked me into pulling the heads off...but I remembered the 45 min. it took me to tune this sucker last week. I'll definitely do this next tune-up! I'd like to see the inside of your shells too...I hear each kit has uniquely cut grooves inside the shells?

[d.c.drummer]

Can i borrow that snare? ;-)

[Ironcobra]

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[zambizzi]

Can i borrow that snare? ;-)

Sure! It's in the mail. ;)

[Mapex589]

She's a beauty!!! That is a great looking kit and like the set up too!!

[Trommur]

OHHHHH SNNAAAPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS F****IN SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ESPECIALLY THE SNARE..............bet it sounds even better, i just realized that fi you switch dw upside down it says MIKE PORTNOY XD XD

Jordan, I know what you're saying, it's all about how you understand it, it can also say Melrose Place XD

Joe

[Deathmetalconga]

Deathmetalconga - you almost talked me into pulling the heads off...but I remembered the 45 min. it took me to tune this sucker last week. I'll definitely do this next tune-up! I'd like to see the inside of your shells too...I hear each kit has uniquely cut grooves inside the shells?

You can see the inside carvings on the second page of the thread (see link the signature). The carvings do look bizarre and the drum maker said they keep the sound in the shell a little longer, increasing the richness of sound.

Like you, I'm hooked on Fiberskyns. They're the most beautiful heads around and they really control the sound of the drum and give it a strong, mellow, even quality.

I like how you have suspended all your toms. As a helpful suggestion, you should be able to mount all your cymbals on your two tom stands. You would save having to schlep around at least two of your stands that way and you'd have less stuff on the floor. On one stand, I have mounted a 14 floor tom, a 12 rack tom, an 18 china, a 17 crash, a 12 splash and an 8 splash. Of course, I use a cymbal boom and Dog Bone to help out and I rely on memory locks for quick set up. I use DW hardware do it can handle the stress, especially with the heavy ironwood drums.

[zambizzi]

You can see the inside carvings on the second page of the thread (see link the signature). The carvings do look bizarre and the drum maker said they keep the sound in the shell a little longer, increasing the richness of sound.


Wow...can't wait to hear those babies!


I like how you have suspended all your toms. As a helpful suggestion, you should be able to mount all your cymbals on your two tom stands. You would save having to schlep around at least two of your stands that way and you'd have less stuff on the floor. On one stand, I have mounted a 14 floor tom, a 12 rack tom, an 18 china, a 17 crash, a 12 splash and an 8 splash. Of course, I use a cymbal boom and Dog Bone to help out and I rely on memory locks for quick set up. I use DW hardware do it can handle the stress, especially with the heavy ironwood drums.

I actually was using dogbones in place of the stands holding the 16" and 18" crashes - when I had the 10" and 12" toms sitting directly over the kick on two separate tom stands (see older pics in link of original post at the top.) I just recently moved the toms to the left on a single tom stand so my ride would sit in the gap above the kick, traditional/jazz style.

I may try something new as you've suggested, to cut down on cymbal stands. I do have an extra dogbone and DW tom stand sitting around now, since the reconfiguration.

What type of cymbal boom is that you have holding your crashes/splashes?

Thanks!

[macmarkus]

you got a dream. i believe it sounds great.
and you must be one of the luckiest in cause of owing one of the best snares ever built, but:

... autographed by John Craviotto - made in '01 ...

maybe yours is from 2000.

[Deathmetalconga]

What type of cymbal boom is that you have holding your crashes/splashes?



That's a stacker thingy I made in my shop. Details at http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23501

I wanted something with a few inches of offset, but with only a few inches of separation. No manufacturer made anything like that so I just made my own.

[zambizzi]

maybe yours is from 2000 .. look at "my" autograph. ;-)


Ahh yeah, I had thought about that actually. I got this snare on ebay - it came with my second DW kit. The previous owner said it was made in 2001 but what he probably meant was, he purchased it in 2001. I noticed someone else on the forums had one made in 2007 and it has the eyes in the zeros w/ a "7" at the end, similar to yours. You're probably right - 2000 fits better. He mentioned that it was back when Craviotto was making them exclusively for DW....so - whenever that was!

[Stixxs]

Zambizzi,

Great looking setup!

You got any tracks of how the fiberskyns sound on the DW's? I'm looking for heads now.

-thx

[cjl71178]

Beautiful set man! That finish looks close to my Ludwig maple's black diamond finish. The drums are almost the same sizes as mine except my 14" is a 13x14 and my 12" is an 8x12.

Enjoy those DW's. *drooling*

[zambizzi]

Zambizzi,

Great looking setup!

You got any tracks of how the fiberskyns sound on the DW's? I'm looking for heads now.

-thx

Sorry, no clips (yet). I actually started experimenting w/ other heads after using the fiberskyns for a few months. I started by putting the factory dw/Remo heads back on it since they're actually top-shelf heads. I started playing w/ a new guitarist about a month ago and for some reason...the fiberskyns stopped sounding as good to me. I was missing that high-end on my smaller toms.

I think I'll try Aquarians next...maybe one of their med-weight single-ply lines (clear) for the toms and whatever the equivalent Aquarian makes of a coated ambassador on my snare batter. I have a c.a. on there now and it sounds incredible!

If you want to even out the pitch of the drums, like DMC said earlier...and focus more on warmth and low-end tones....fiberskyns are the way to go. I found, over time, that the tuning range is rather limited on them compared to a nice, clear, single-ply head.

I'll post pictures of how my fiberskyns died a horrible death...I was surprised they didn't last very long as they give the impression of being very durable.

[radeq]

wow :) it looks so clear :) very nice setu, although I dont like this kind of finish, it doesnt disturb me :)

[Michael G]

1000 views, nice.

And absolutely stunning kit!

[Class A Drummer]

Man thats nice as hell. I want a drivers seat pic stat. lol.

[Drummer Karl]

Very very nice kit.
As I said so many times: I like, no love the DW sound and also love their quality and look....buuut how much was it??

However, good kit.
btw, how thin are the A Custom crashes?

Karl

[zambizzi]

Karl:
I got a great deal on the kit...WITH 3 DW 9900 tom stands it was around $3000. This included the snare I picked off the shelf (which now sits at my secondary kit, having been replaced by the Craviotto.) The A Customs are pretty thin...but I like my new Signatures way better ;)

Class A:
I tried to get a shot but I'd have to be suspended from the ceiling in order for everything to make it into the view of the lens...

radeq:
If I've managed to disturb you...my work here is complete! :D

I sold all of the Zildjians and replaced them with Paistes...attached are some pics. The new lineup is:

20" Signature Dark Dry Ride
20" Signature Full Crash
16" Signature Full Crash
12"/16" Noise Works Trash Set
10" Twenty Splash
14" Signature Sound Edge Hi-Hats

Everyone knows what your everyday sigs looks like so I only posted pics of the (somewhat) unique ones.

...AND

I put the factory DW heads back on...I found over time that I missed the high-end that these drums are capable of. See the pic below of how my fiberskyns died a horrible death. In all fairness, I tune my snare very high so it's ultra-sensitive...that's probably why this one bubbled up so badly.

[zambizzi]

Scaling down to a 4 pc. for a while!

[de Nick]

looks really comfortable...:)

[fijjibo]

looks really comfortable...:)

I second that.

Nice kit in everyway, right down to the wingnuts on the second cymbal stand :)

[aydee]

Thats is a beaut............ enjoy!

[stasz]

Your kit looks fantastic as a four-piece.

*Chalks up another on the KILP list*

[Mendozart]

Zambizzi,
How do you like those original DW/Remo heads? I've thought of ordering a set for the heck of it, to try on my 89' keller shelled DW set. Give me some details on your thoughts and experiences with them, if you can. Thanks.

[thumper]

Wow-DW = "DREAM Workshop" as far as I'm concerned..that Paiste Dark Dry Ride looks absolutely incredible! (and I'm sure it sounds that way as well!!!!)

[beatsMcGee]

love the kit, but i love the four piece look alot. nice job.

[zambizzi]

Zambizzi,
How do you like those original DW/Remo heads? I've thought of ordering a set for the heck of it, to try on my 89' keller shelled DW set. Give me some details on your thoughts and experiences with them, if you can. Thanks.

I like them a lot - they're definitely top-of-the-line (not what you'd usually find in a "stock" head on a new kit). I think they're better quality Remos than the boxed Remos you'd buy in a music store. I think I'll give Aquarian a try next time around but I'm pretty certain I'll be ordering these same heads again eventually.

It's funny, I put these heads on my second kit...a DW made in 1997...and they sounded like wet s@#$ - for lack of a better description. They sounded horrible. The Fiberskyns sound great on the older kits though. I think the older DW I have just won't sound good w/ clear tom heads...the coated seem to bring out the character of the shells.

[zambizzi]

Wow-DW = "DREAM Workshop" as far as I'm concerned..that Paiste Dark Dry Ride looks absolutely incredible! (and I'm sure it sounds that way as well!!!!)

Uhh....yeah...well? About that *scratching head* I sold it...I'm awaiting my K Custom ride in the mail - should have it any day. :D

Honestly, after playing this ride for a month or so...I grew to hate it. It's beautiful...its appearance is striking...but I *HATE* the sound that comes out of it....ugh. I'd say it's akin, sonically...to banging on the side of an empty beer keg (not that I've ever used an empty beer keg as a ride...though I've learned to never say "never")

I'm just not a Paiste guy...it took a few band rehearsals to come to that conclusion.

[zambizzi]

To everyone else...thanks! I'm enjoying the 4pc setup...my focus was much better w/ the band today...fills even sounded better! I love the simplicity of it.

I may find, somewhere down the road...that I'm a 4pc man...and I'd then sell this kit and get a new 4pc (DW, no second thoughts there) - maybe in an exotic finish that I haven't seen around yet.

[Deathmetalconga]

Karl:
I got a great deal on the kit...WITH 3 DW 9900 tom stands it was around $3000. This included the snare I picked off the shelf (which now sits at my secondary kit, having been replaced by the Craviotto.) The A Customs are pretty thin...but I like my new Signatures way better ;)



Very nice kit, top-quality and classy.

If I could suggest, you could cut down on the stand clutter (and gear hauling) with some economizing. For example, in the six-piece configuration, you currently have four stands holding two toms and three cymbals over by the floor toms. With some Dog Bones and experimentation, you could have one stand holding all that. You show some ingenuity in how you use a Dog Bone to hold a crash and splash above your two smaller rack toms.

DW stands can hold the weight. I only use DW hardware for my ironwood drums, which are extremely heavy.

[zambizzi]

Very nice kit, top-quality and classy.

If I could suggest, you could cut down on the stand clutter (and gear hauling) with some economizing. For example, in the six-piece configuration, you currently have four stands holding two toms and three cymbals over by the floor toms. With some Dog Bones and experimentation, you could have one stand holding all that. You show some ingenuity in how you use a Dog Bone to hold a crash and splash above your two smaller rack toms.

DW stands can hold the weight. I only use DW hardware for my ironwood drums, which are extremely heavy.

Yeah, I've played around w/ this a bit but have found the dogbones to be a bit limited in reach sometimes.

The original idea, when I bought the kit, was to have two toms above the kick and two on the floor to the right. I used one stand to hold up the two floor toms on the right and since I like crash to the right and a crash to the left...I used 2 stands above the kick...each one held a tom and a crash. This is a total of 3 tom stands. I later moved the toms above the kick to the left, getting rid of one of the tom stands. This, however, required more cymbal stands as I had my ride down low, to the right, above the kick...and the big crash I keep to the right above it. Also, since I took up both L posts on the tom stand above the kick, I had to have somewhere to put the small crash I like up-and-to-the-left.

Now, I could have tried to use two dogbones and my now extra tom stand over to the right, above the kick, to hold my ride and my big crash. I'm still thinking about doing this...but it'll take a lot of finagling. It's tricky because the dogbones don't have any swivel at the top joint, they just move forward and backward. This means you have to swivel the entire arm where it joins to the stand to tilt the cymbal 360 degrees at the top. Sometimes this means the elbow of the dogbone smacks into something else and there's no room for it.

Currently, as a 4 pc, I could do what I said above and use another dogbone next to my mounted tom and eliminate all 3 cymbal stands...but shoot man...I can't settle on any one configuration for more than a couple of months! I like changing it up fairly regularly to get a different perspective. I could see myself going back to all 4 toms eventually. :D

I think you're right...and I could minimize the amount of chrome sitting around my kit and the extra effort up-front will probably be worth it. As it is, right now, this kit never moves.

The few times I've gone out and played anywhere I've taken my older, secondary kit. It's a 5pc w/ one tom up but I usually leave one of those floor toms at home...and the floor toms have their own legs on that kit.

I think I need to buy a couple more dogbones!

[Victor_se]

REally nice kit..

im thinkin' buying a dw set in some months

[MadDrummer21]

Hey, here's an off-the-wall/out of no-where question for ya,

How are the fiberskyn's as far as rebound is concerned? For some reason, I have this impression that the fiberskyn head's would give less rebound than normal drumheads? I hope i'm completely wrong here, cause I'd love to throw some of these on my jazz kit.

Thanks!

[zambizzi]

Hey, here's an off-the-wall/out of no-where question for ya,

How are the fiberskyn's as far as rebound is concerned? For some reason, I have this impression that the fiberskyn head's would give less rebound than normal drumheads? I hope i'm completely wrong here, cause I'd love to throw some of these on my jazz kit.

Thanks!

Well...I suppose they might feel a little more "mushy" than your typical clear head - but no worse than any coated head, IMO. If you've never played them, the looks might make you think they wouldn't rebound well. They don't feel or play like they look.

[zambizzi]

OK, just a couple more pics - couldn't resist!

I replaced all of my Paistes with...well...more Zildjians! They came in today (thanks Groove!)

Also, I put the two stray toms back into the kit...but in somewhat unusual places. At first it was just for novelty but....strangely enough...I actually like it! It's a "tear-away 4 piece"...when I take it out I'll leave the 10" and 14" toms in the back, off of the kit.

[aydee]

OK, just a couple more pics - couldn't resist!

I replaced all of my Paistes with...well...more Zildjians! They came in today (thanks Groove!)

Also, I put the two stray toms back into the kit...but in somewhat unusual places. At first it was just for novelty but....strangely enough...I actually like it! It's a "tear-away 4 piece"...when I take it out I'll leave the 10" and 14" toms in the back, off of the kit.

very cool set up. its nice to see unconventional tom/cymbal arrangments. will try something like this on my 7piece... great drums, btw.

[bonzo49]

Very cool as a four peice and cool with the unconventenal set up.

[Victor_se]

looks nice jojo mayer kit :P

nice looking kit

[Victor_se]

Lookes Like* joj mayer kit....

[zambizzi]

Thanks! It's been fun playing w/ this setup. I wish I would have tried putting a tom to the left of my hats a long time ago.

One thing I've figured out by frequently rearranging my kit is; I do *not* like two large toms on the floor to my right. I like having the big, boomin' 16" right next to me and it's definitely more comfortable not having to reach.

I guess Jojo has the small tom behind his floor tom like this. I didn't set my kit up to mimic his, I just had an extra L rod on the tom stand and a sweet 10" tom sitting around...so I figured...what the hell? It's made filling and soloing a bit....different.

[Just Drums]

Thanks! It's been fun playing w/ this setup. I wish I would have tried putting a tom to the left of my hats a long time ago.

One thing I've figured out by frequently rearranging my kit is; I do *not* like two large toms on the floor to my right. I like having the big, boomin' 16" right next to me and it's definitely more comfortable not having to reach.

I guess Jojo has the small tom behind his floor tom like this. I didn't set my kit up to mimic his, I just had an extra L rod on the tom stand and a sweet 10" tom sitting around...so I figured...what the hell? It's made filling and soloing a bit....different.


I'm glad we could help you out!! Is that ride not one of the best rides ever?? I have the same ride on my kit.

[zambizzi]

I'm glad we could help you out!! Is that ride not one of the best rides ever?? I have the same ride on my kit.

You did great, thanks for getting them to me so quickly. I'll definitely be ordering again!

The ride is beautiful...it's exactly what I was looking for. The Dry was *way* too dry and this baby is the perfect balance. The splash is awesome too, very powerful for the size!

[KONA]

I just realized I never posted an official "here's my kit" thread on DW so here goes.

I bought this kit in January '07 at the Boise Guitar Center and have just now settled in w/ it after several configurations, cymbals, and two different snares.

You can see a thread here (http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22054) on how I went about buying it and how it was setup initially.

Shells:
DW Collectors Series (born date of Aug. 08, 2006)
The ply wrap is called "Black Onyx Swirl"

18x22 Kick
14x16 Floor tom
12x14 Floor tom
10x12 Mnt. tom
8x10 Mnt. tom

Snare:
6.5x14 DW Craviotto Solid Maple Shell (autographed by John Craviotto - made in '01)

Cymbals (Zildjian):
20" K Custom Dry Ride
18" A Custom Crash
16" A Custom Crash
12" A Custom Splash
14" A Custom Mastersound hats

Heads:
Remo Fiberskyn 3 batter / DW Remo (clear) heads resonant

Sticks:
Vic Firth 5A American Classic (hickory)

...and finally, the pics!

I like the drums and the drum sizes - nice kit!
I'm over looking at your new Ludwigs right now...

Cheers,

[Muffled Tom]

That's an odd place to keep your splash.

Nice set regardless!

[zambizzi]

That's an odd place to keep your splash.

Nice set regardless!

Think so? I move it around as I'm always experimenting w/ placement...but I currently have it back there again and like it. It allows easy access w/ both hands w/o reaching too far...and can be used for accents while grooving w/ the hats.

[macmarkus]

hi, zambizzi, did you try the bruford-style in setup? maybe another possibility.
and (sorry, it's more a joke) what cymbals do you play right now? Z or P? :D

best wishes to boise, your set and yourself. ;)

[zambizzi]

hi, zambizzi, did you try the bruford-style in setup? maybe another possibility.
and (sorry, it's more a joke) what cymbals do you play right now? Z or P? :D

best wishes to boise, your set and yourself. ;)

Yo Mac! Didn't you once tell me that you lived in Boise at some point? Maybe that was someone else?

Anyhow, I eventually sold the Paiste 2oo2s, after playing them for a while...I just didn't like the sound of them as much as Zildjian A and K customs...so that's what I have a mix of and will probably stay w/ it until I hear something better ;)

I moved the splash around to the front last night and added my 16" K Custom Special Dry Crash. I call this my "big cymbal setup"...as I'd probably never haul all of these around outside of the home studio.

I had to take two "driver's seat" pics as I'm backed into a corner and couldn't get a wide enough shot.

Kit:

9"x12" tom (up)
12"x14" tom (down)
14"x16" tom (down)
18"x22" kick
6.5"x14" snare

Cymbals (left to right):

14" A Custom Mastersound hats
16" K Custom Special Dry crash
16" A Custom Med. crash
10" K Custom Dark splash
22" K Constantinople Hi Bell Dry ride
18" K Custom Dark crash
18" A Custom Med. crash

[slingerland755]

That's my kind of kit....Sweet! I know you're having some fun back there.

[Big_Philly]

Jordan, I know what you're saying, it's all about how you understand it, it can also say Melrose Place XD

Joe

I don't know... I seem to miss where it says XD. It does say SWNLP right under MP, whatever that may mean;)

Beautiful kit, looks very comfortable.

[macmarkus]

Maybe that was someone else?

yes ... i never lived outside germany; just for vacations.
good choice, your zildjians; better sound would just paiste traditionals. ;)

thumbs up for your stuff and all the best,
m.