Mapex Apologia

[RobertM]

There have been a lot of posts lately regarding good drum kits for incredible prices--basically, "sleeper" kits. Most notably, Mapex Saturns and Taye Studio Maples have received much praise on this forum.

I was quite interested in Mapex Saturns a while ago, but I was skeptical of their quality, mainly from way-in-the-past, word-of-mouth remarks and the fact that they are made in China. I've heard some drummers/drum dealers say that China is the prime location of mid-to-low quality manufacturing of drums, and the recent massive recalls of products--from toys to tires to food--made in China seemed to further my suspicion of their drums, despite the fact that the Saturns seemed like a good kit. I had read the editorial review via mikedolbear.com about Mapex, too: the lads at the site took a tour of Mapex's main facility in China and stated that the quality control of the Mapex plant was amazing. Still, I had doubts.

I just recently learned, though, that Mapex received a prestigious ISO 9001 award, which is apparently a really hard award to receive. The award denotes excellence in manufacturing, from initiation to implementation through customer service; it signals a company's achievement of very high standards.

So, I felt like sharing that news and offering an apology to Mapex for my skepticism. I suppose it is still worth asking if anyone out there has had any problems with their Mapex kits...but it seems that Mapex Saturns and other series are indeed "sleeper drums" like Taye: really sound quality for stunning prices.

I guess it comes down now to Mapex Saturn or Taye Studio Maple. I thought I had that question figured out, but now I'm back to thinking about the Saturns. (Mapex Saturn and Orion tom mounting hardware is pretty cool, in comparison to Taye's rather rudimentary system; both preserve a virgin bass drum, but Mapex's seems more user friendly to the drummer. Perhaps that makes the score 1-0 in favor of Mapex, in a tightly contested match.)

Any thoughts/recommendations?

[DamoSyzygy]

I wouldnt get too carried away with the notion of virgin kick drums. Its convenient to be able to position the kick anywhere independent of the toms, but dont expect huge sonic advantages.

[nickg]

So, I felt like sharing that news and offering an apology to Mapex for my skepticism. I suppose it is still worth asking if anyone out there has had any problems with their Mapex kits...but it seems that Mapex Saturns and other series are indeed "sleeper drums"......

i got my first Orion kit back in 1991 and used it with absolutely NO problems for 15 years. then last year i got my new Pro M kit, and i like it even better than my old Orions.

Mapex makes great drums and their customer service is very good as well!!

give 'em a try.

[tkillian]

Check out my mapex posts here in other spots.

I play the mapex pro-m manhattan jazz kit....the BEST deal for the money no doubt

[Norske]

I'm not all that familiar with Taye's hardware, but you might note that the Mapex hardware has memory locks. So if you tear down your kit and then set it up for a gig, you can get your toms and cymbals exactly where you had them previously.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

All of my TAYE drum hardware has memory locks.

[Norske]

Ahh thanks for clarifying.....as I said, I am not that familiar with Taye.

[Ironcobra]

i got my first Orion kit back in 1991 and used it with absolutely NO problems for 15 years. then last year i got my new Pro M kit, and i like it even better than my old Orions.

Mapex makes great drums and their customer service is very good as well!!

give 'em a try.

I think that would just simply be from their rise in the drum industry, they construct better kits then they did ten years ago. Another pro for the Mapex. But Taye would be my choice for quality.

[Doncaster]

Hi,

Thank you forf this posting. I am also on the verge of buying either Saturn or SM. But my question is: Saturn utilizes two inner layers of North-American walnut and they say it is for lower tone. I have also heard that walnut since it sounds lower, sounds quiter... How does the presence of walnut affect the sound of the drums?

[RobertM]

I've heard that the walnut plies add a lot more low end to the attack of the drums. I've heard some Saturns in person, and they give you a bit of rumble attack--but those drums were also tuned for rock. I'm looking to play jazz, so I'm not sure about the low-end issue. A few Mapex artists are jazzers and they use Saturns (like Herlin Riley, I believe), so it is definitely a versatile drum kit.

If you want to hear a good sound file of the Saturns, go to vicfirth.com and click on the artists roster tab. Select Will Calhoun from the list (Living Colour drummer), and you can watch a good quality video of him playing some Laser Canary Saturns. With the way he tunes them, you can hear some of the low-end punch from the walnut. Basically, I've heard other Saturns players say that the walnut really isn't discernible until you get to the deeper drums--13" toms through the bass drums.

My question about the Saturns is the mounting hardware. With the way that Mapex does their version of mounting the toms without piercing the bass drum, it doesn't seem to let you lower the toms that much--the hardware getup forces you to tilt your toms versus lowering them a la jazz players or, for example, the low tom settings Stewart Copeland of The Police used to use. I read a bunch of Modern Drummer reviews of the Saturns and Orions, and the one sore point they complained about was just this--that the tom hardware is heavy and doesn't allow for lower tom settings.

I think Taye, from the reviews I've read, does a bette job at this--their simple, unaesthetic tom mounting hardware enables you to have lower tom settings.

Still, both are attractive kits...hard to decide.

[tkillian]

I've heard that the walnut plies add a lot more low end to the attack of the drums. I've heard some Saturns in person, and they give you a bit of rumble attack--but those drums were also tuned for rock. I'm looking to play jazz, so I'm not sure about the low-end issue. A few Mapex artists are jazzers and they use Saturns (like Herlin Riley, I believe), so it is definitely a versatile drum kit.

If you want to hear a good sound file of the Saturns, go to vicfirth.com and click on the artists roster tab. Select Will Calhoun from the list (Living Colour drummer), and you can watch a good quality video of him playing some Laser Canary Saturns. With the way he tunes them, you can hear some of the low-end punch from the walnut. Basically, I've heard other Saturns players say that the walnut really isn't discernible until you get to the deeper drums--13" toms through the bass drums.

My question about the Saturns is the mounting hardware. With the way that Mapex does their version of mounting the toms without piercing the bass drum, it doesn't seem to let you lower the toms that much--the hardware getup forces you to tilt your toms versus lowering them a la jazz players or, for example, the low tom settings Stewart Copeland of The Police used to use. I read a bunch of Modern Drummer reviews of the Saturns and Orions, and the one sore point they complained about was just this--that the tom hardware is heavy and doesn't allow for lower tom settings.

I think Taye, from the reviews I've read, does a bette job at this--their simple, unaesthetic tom mounting hardware enables you to have lower tom settings.

Still, both are attractive kits...hard to decide.

I know what you are saying but I havent had a huge problem with my mapex pro-M manhattan bebop kit .....its goes low enough

[driver]

Heres a great Mapex factory tour that should give you some more confidence in the great products. It seems Mapex and all their workers have alot of pride for the drums they make.


http://www.mikedolbear.com/story.asp?StoryID=1284

[dharma bum]

I recently bought a Pro M kit, replaced the stock heads, and have been playing gigs with it. I am totally satisfied - great looks and sound, and great price (well, I got mine used, so that's different). I haven't had a problem with the tom mount, BTW. I also saw a drummer with a Saturn kit recently, and talked to him about it - he loved the sound, was playing a jazz combo and the drum sound was nice and warm. I can't say re the Taye kits, but you won't be disappointed by a Mapex.

[Just Drums]

Both Saturns and StudioMaples are awesome kits. No doubt about it. I've played both and I can't say I have a favorite. I love them both. The Saturns are great kits for the money. The Maple/Walnut mix makes the toms sound very "smooth". Very resonant and yet punchy. It's almost like the best of both maple and birch combined. The Mapex hardware is also great.

The Taye StudioMaples are fantastic DRUMS. Awesome maple shells - 4.5 mm thick ...or should I say thin. The FTs and BDs are 5.3 mm thick. Taye put their efforts in to the shells themselves. Their hardware is good but nothing spectular. Very nice and not too expensive. Very strong, functional and surprisingly light. A lot of people get the Taye shell packs and dress it up with their own hardware. I personally don't have any problems with the Taye HW and am about to try out their XP1 dbl pedal.

Both kits are GREAT choices. You can't go wrong either way.