Yamaha Absolute Birch or Mapex Saturn?

[RobertM]

If you were deciding between Yamaha Absolute Birch or Mapex Saturn, which would you go with, and why? Sizes of the kit would probably be 10 and 12 toms, 14 floor, and either 18 or 20 bass drum. I have heard both kits, researched them, heard the usual pros and cons, but was wondering about more varied feedback.

Thanks!

[aydee]

Though I play yamaha maples, I have tried the 20" birch kick and the 14" tom. Those might be the best sounds I've heard on any drums in those sizes.

Dont know much about the Saturn or the smaller yamaha birch toms.

[Signals]

Just my humble opinion....

I recently owned/played a Saturn & Yamaha Birch Absolute Noveau kit side by side. I kept the Yamaha kit because I liked the hardware, aluminum rims & noveau lugs, but I preferred the sound of the Saturn a bit more because of its wider tuning range.

The Yamaha's were: 10x8, 12x9, 14x12, 16x14, 22x18
The Saturn's were: 10x8, 12x9, 14x14, 22x18

[tkillian]

Just my humble opinion....

I recently owned/played a Saturn & Yamaha Birch Absolute Noveau kit side by side. I kept the Yamaha kit because I liked the hardware, aluminum rims & noveau lugs, but I preferred the sound of the Saturn a bit more because of its wider tuning range.

The Yamaha's were: 10x8, 12x9, 14x12, 16x14, 22x18
The Saturn's were: 10x8, 12x9, 14x14, 22x18

Thanks...THAT is good input...

[Norske]

The biggest question does not actually boil down to which brand you want, since an accurate comparison would be the Yamaha birch kit versus the Mapex birch kit. You are comparing a birch kit to a maple kit. There is a big difference in sound between birch and maple no matter what brand you're looking at.

I personally prefer the sound of birch drums, but others prefer the maple. What kind of sound do you prefer?

[Signals]

Thanks...THAT is good input...

No problem -- good luck. :)

[Ozzy Biz]

The biggest question does not actually boil down to which brand you want, since an accurate comparison would be the Yamaha birch kit versus the Mapex birch kit. You are comparing a birch kit to a maple kit. There is a big difference in sound between birch and maple no matter what brand you're looking at.

I personally prefer the sound of birch drums, but others prefer the maple. What kind of sound do you prefer?

Saturn's are 6 ply shells, the inner plies being walnut and the outer being maple. I think it's a 4:2 split, with 4 maple and 2 walnut, if I remember correctly.

[Just Drums]

Saturn's are 6 ply shells, the inner plies being walnut and the outer being maple. I think it's a 4:2 split, with 4 maple and 2 walnut, if I remember correctly.

Yep. That's correct. 5.1 mm on the toms. The Saturns sell themselves - they're that good.