The Point of Diminishing Returns...

[grooveweapon]

I would like to hear some opinions on where people find to be "the point of diminishing returns."

I'll give you an example to clarify...

I bought a used Tama Starclassic performer all birch kit for what I thought to be a very good price, and I think it is a great sounding, very well built kit. I find this to be the case with all of the performers, including the new B/B's. GRANTED, I think there are some better sounding kits out there....but I think for the very small jump in quality you get a WAY bigger price tag. In fact, after several times listening, I can usually justify things that sound better about the lesser expensive kit.

I was also able to play on a Mapex Saturn and Orion kit, the latter having the larger price tag and I couldn't really find anything I liked about the Orion more than the Saturn.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have a larger than normal disposable income, but I think the majority of us are after the bang for the buck drum, if for nothing else so we can spend our hard-earned money on cymbals and other such items. If you have any example of a drum that you thought sounded just as good if not better than a higher-priced drum, let us know.

[Tutin]

For me I don't see the difference in sound that is reflected in price between the likes of Sabian, Zildjian etc. and Stagg. All my effects cymbals are Stagg and they've not cost me more than £18 each. They sound great and every drummer I've played them to couldn't believe how much they'd spent on a Paiste china when they heard mine.

[stasz]

The vintage ludwig supraphonic 402. I didn't buy one but my school owns one and I believe they may have even bought it new several decades ago. The drum sounds just plain fantastic every time I play it and you find them all the time between $200-300. That being said I haven't played that many snare drums out there, so I'm only going by what I think sounds good.

[trkdrmr]

The point of diminishing returns for me has to be between the Mapex saturn and the Tama SC birch/bubinga.

The thing about both of these kits, is that they sound better to me than all-maple kits costing twice as much, for me that includes Orion and DW.

These hybrid kits bring the best of both worlds, they have spectacular finishes are are reasonably priced.

Spending more means you might get less impressive sound.

[Frankierocker]

Just my opinion of course, but I believe the point of diminishing returns comes fairly quick in the drum world. Take for example Pearl drums. The Vision maple uses the same maple shells as the Masters MCX and Masters Premium (the vision has a different ply config. for the bass and floor toms, but MCX and Masters Prem are identical). Although the drums are alike, the prices are very different. I have seen Visions for $850, MCX for $1500 and Masters Premium for $2000+. Now yes, the hardware and hoops are a bit different from series to series, but do a blindfold test and see what happens. Same goes for the affordable birch kits on the market. I'll put a Pearl Vision Birch, Stage Custom Birch, M Birch or a Sonor 2007 up against a "high end" birch kit any day. DW drums are another story altogether. Before I bought my Yamaha, I looked at a finishply 4 piece for $2100. My friend bought a birdseye kit and a waterfall kit (with many more pieces) but 4 piece to 4 piece the price difference was incredible and the shells were exactly the same besides the finish and the gold plated hardware on his waterfall kit. So I think in terms of sound I guess, where as he felt the finish was worth the money all day long. Different strokes for different folks, but I say diminishing returns.

[diosdude]

Diminishing returns occur when more happiness could have been purchased for dollars spent on a different kit. If there was a way to mathematically calculate value divide by happiness then you could determine the point. Case in point, my ddrum dios bubinga kit:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj52/linomcortes/monster%20dios/dios9.jpg

retail price $2112 for a 5 piece. I paid 1300 for mine (floor demo, 1 year old). IMO this kit blows away any DW maple, Any Ludwig classic, any Pearl reference, Sonor sq2, etc (most drums up to double it's price range). 90% of all drummers probably have never even heard of this kit. 99.9% of all have never HEARD it. Keep posted though, i'm recording an ep with it and i'll have clips up soon...

[crdirtRider856]

Diminishing returns occur when more happiness could have been purchased for dollars spent on a different kit. If there was a way to mathematically calculate value divide by happiness then you could determine the point. Case in point, my ddrum dios bubinga kit:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj52/linomcortes/monster%20dios/dios9.jpg

retail price $2112 for a 5 piece. I paid 1300 for mine (floor demo, 1 year old). IMO this kit blows away any DW maple, Any Ludwig classic, any Pearl reference, Sonor sq2, etc (most drums up to double it's price range). 90% of all drummers probably have never even heard of this kit. 99.9% of all have never HEARD it. Keep posted though, i'm recording an ep with it and i'll have clips up soon...

Sooo uh...whats your address? I d like to send a card to congratulate you on a very "nice" kit. Oh, and are you planning any vacations soon? Ya know, where everyone will be away from the house? =O

Beautiful set there man...

[grooveweapon]

Diminishing returns occur when more happiness could have been purchased for dollars spent on a different kit. If there was a way to mathematically calculate value divide by happiness then you could determine the point. Case in point, my ddrum dios bubinga kit:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj52/linomcortes/monster%20dios/dios9.jpg

retail price $2112 for a 5 piece. I paid 1300 for mine (floor demo, 1 year old). IMO this kit blows away any DW maple, Any Ludwig classic, any Pearl reference, Sonor sq2, etc (most drums up to double it's price range). 90% of all drummers probably have never even heard of this kit. 99.9% of all have never HEARD it. Keep posted though, i'm recording an ep with it and i'll have clips up soon...

PLEASE do not tell me you paid just 1300 for all of those shells. Am I reading something wrong?? You said something about 5 piece. WOW, that kit is immaculate. I'm gonna join crdirtrider on that one and come "protect" your kit while you're away. That is a kit that you will go all the way through life with....hell, I'd even be buried with it when all is said and done.

[grooveweapon]

The point of diminishing returns for me has to be between the Mapex saturn and the Tama SC birch/bubinga.

The thing about both of these kits, is that they sound better to me than all-maple kits costing twice as much, for me that includes Orion and DW.

These hybrid kits bring the best of both worlds, they have spectacular finishes are are reasonably priced.

Spending more means you might get less impressive sound.

I agree with you 100 percent. The B/B kits and the Saturn kits sound beautiful. For those of us who always think the grass is greener on the other side, now we can be on whichever side of the fence we choose at any given time.

[Drumsword]

Diminishing returns occur when more happiness could have been purchased for dollars spent on a different kit. If there was a way to mathematically calculate value divide by happiness then you could determine the point. Case in point, my ddrum dios bubinga kit:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj52/linomcortes/monster%20dios/dios9.jpg

retail price $2112 for a 5 piece. I paid 1300 for mine (floor demo, 1 year old). IMO this kit blows away any DW maple, Any Ludwig classic, any Pearl reference, Sonor sq2, etc (most drums up to double it's price range). 90% of all drummers probably have never even heard of this kit. 99.9% of all have never HEARD it. Keep posted though, i'm recording an ep with it and i'll have clips up soon...

Yep. I'll help the other 2 protect that baby when your away. Sweet kit.