Should I, or shouldn't I?

[mikei]

I have a delemna that I need advice on.

I currently have a 8 piece 3003/3005 hybrid kit. I also have a ddrum maple Bonham configuration.

At GC over the weekend, they put a dw tangerine sparkle kit on clearance. They have had it about a year and it hasn't sold. 5 pieces (no snare) for 2281. My wife and I were there to pick up a head for my bass drum and she noticed it and said "there is a kit that would match the house".

I took a look at the kit and really like it. Problem is, 2 floor toms of 14 and 16. I want a 16 and 18 like I have now.

If I sold my 2 current kits (sonor and ddrum) my wife said I could get the dw kit. I would need to purchase a couple more toms from dw so that I could have an 8 piece kit again. She said I would need to wait 4 to 6 months before she would let me purchase any additional toms.

Kit is in fantastic condition. What would you do? I am going crazy trying to decide.

Thanks

[drozzy]

I would keep the two kits you have now. When it comes to recording, i doubt many will hear the difference between the high end sonors and the ddrums, compared to the dw's. Prestige and visual appeal seem to jack up their prices quite a bit ;)

selling off two kits for one seems a bit frivolous to me.

[harryconway]

If the DW's are what you want, get the DW's. If you gotta wait to add the 18" floor, so be it. Rome was not built in a week. I'd say 1 Pro-level kit is worth 2 intermediate kits. I've never seen a Sonor Force 3003/5 or a Ddrum on a stage, compared to what, well over 100+ shows (at least) that I've been to with a DW kit up there on the riser.

[Ozzy Biz]

Go the DW. I presume that it's a 22, 10, 12, 14, 16 kit. $2281 seems a pretty good price for that, and 6 months for a bigger floor isn't that bad. I wouldn't think twice about that one. Plus it was your missus who suggested it.... wouldn't want to stop her from suggesting future drum purchases.

Fat Elvis did a similar thing, buying a three piece (no snare) DW kit and adding more toms later. It's not that bad.

Biz

[Fat Elvis]

defenately go the DW. Great kits, and being a former owner of a 3003, the sound is miles better. Cant speak for the ddrum however. I did add on toms later and the match was really good and the sound was perfect. I paid total $1650 for a 5 piece (no snare) in 10, 12, 14 (floor), 16 (floor) and 20 (kick).

The drums sound incredible and i dont miss the 3003 one bit. :) im sure you would not either. I guess i would rather have one world-class kit than 2 intermediate kits. Its all in what you want.

[350zjc]

go for it and then expand with the 18" thats what i did.no regrets,its dw.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I would first consider how much Imhad in the two drum sets, and how much do you think you can get out of them. Certainly seems you would get enought to get the DW,s. And how much are you talking for additional toms. Does the DW set come with any hardware or are you keeping some from the other two sets?

[mikei]

Well,

I decided to take the plunge. Had DW dreams and went to GC to pick it up.

IT WAS SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#!$*(&%#_(

I am so pissed!

I knew I should have bought it or at least put it on layaway for a couple of days.

I am now searching So Cal for DW kits in that price range and I am not being very successful. In fact, not successful at all!!

I will just have to keep looking.

Next time, I will just go on a hunch.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by mikei

Well,

I decided to take the plunge. Had DW dreams and went to GC to pick it up.

IT WAS SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#!$*(&%#_(

I am so pissed!

I knew I should have bought it or at least put it on layaway for a couple of days.

I am now searching So Cal for DW kits in that price range and I am not being very successful. In fact, not successful at all!!

I will just have to keep looking.

Next time, I will just go on a hunch.

oh man, that sucks!!!

Best of luck -- there are pleanty of deals to be had. Of course, whether they will match your house is another story. Believe me, the DW dreams just get more frequent until you buy! :)

[Sirwill]

Listen to yourself first! Others will then follow!

[mikei]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

oh man, that sucks!!!

Best of luck -- there are pleanty of deals to be had. Of course, whether they will match your house is another story. Believe me, the DW dreams just get more frequent until you buy! :)

Elvis, I know that you have a starclassic as well as a DW. I went to GC tonight to find some possible alternatives now that I have made up my mind that I want a pro kit.

I played the starclassic maple and birch. Liked them both. The birch is LOUD.

That being said, how would you compare them to your DW? Also, is the starclassic a big leap from my 3003 set? Since I didn't have my kit there to play side by side, it was hard to tell.

Also, what is your opinion on 1130 for a 4 piece starclassic new?

Thanks as always.

[stillgroovin]

ANYTIME your wife says buy somthing and it's a big ticket item---BUY IT!!!!!!!!. In my house that would be like waiting to see Hales comet.

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by mikei

Elvis, I know that you have a starclassic as well as a DW. I went to GC tonight to find some possible alternatives now that I have made up my mind that I want a pro kit.

I played the starclassic performer. The birch is LOUD but very, very nice.

That being said, how would you compare them to your DW? Also, is the starclassic a big leap from my 3003 set? Since I didn't have my kit there to play side by side, it was hard to tell although I thought it sounded better, I might have "wanted it to" sound better. The finishes were top notch as well.

Also, what is your opinion on $1130 for a 4 piece starclassic performer (22,10,12,16) new?

To add on the other pieces (8,13 and 18) would only cost me another 800.

I value your opinion and would appreciate any opinions you might have.

Hey Mike...

Hope you dont mind that i answer this here. Here are my honest thoughts.

Birch is loud, yes, but i have to be honest when i say i prefer it to maple for what i do (rock). Now I do like having both, but i am constantly looking for heads and tunings to maximize the projection of my DW -- that is a problem I do not have on my Starclassic. In fact, I have pinstripes on there right now, and I have pleanty of projection. It's pretty great! :)

As far as how they compare to the DW, they compare quite well. They seem to be every bit as professionally made as the DW and are just as flawless. Just like the DW, the tone is pure and completely devoid of any unwanted overtones. Just a pure, beautiful note. However unlike the DW's, the tuning range on the Starclassic is MASSIVE -- i attribute this to a birch vs. maple argument as opposed to anything to do with DW's. Now before any DW haters scream "SEE I TOLD YOU DW'S DONT HAVE A WIDE TUNING RANGE", I have a Kellar DW -- so the same would apply to Pork Pie, OCDP, etc. In my experience, albeit it limited compared to many on this board, the birch projects so well that you can get the note way down there and it will still project very well. The fact that the starclassic's come with a RIMS mounting system (like the dubs) but also have cast hoops make them very cool indeed.

The starclassic is a MONSTER leap from your 3003. I found it very hard to get the exact tone i wanted with my 3003 -- some overtones still remained until i found the studio x's, however you wont have this issue with the starclassic or the DW. Like i said, the notes are strong and pure, so tuning is a breeze. Even though the quality of the 3003 is very good, it is not as good as the starclassic or dub. They just feel solid. Hard to explain, but i felt it. The finish on my sonor was good -- not a mark on it. But the starclassic finish is just incredible. And no, it was not your imagination, it did sound better. It would have been even more obvious to you had your 3003 been next to it.

All in all, i am a fan of both starclassic and DW's -- now i will be honest when i said i side a little bit more with birch than maple -- when both are of very good quality. Also, if it were my money, and i was buying brand new, i would personally buy a starclassic over the dub. My main reason is the wood and the fact that i love both equally and the starclassic is cheaper, so what the hell. However i know i always wanted both, so i got both. :)

I think your deals are extremely good. At my local GC, 4 piece starclassics go for $1499 new. No snare and they are 10, 12, 14, 22. The fact that you can get that for what used starclassic's go for, is great. And adding on those other toms gets you a world class kit for under $2000 -- which is still less than what a 3-4 piece DW goes for new.

My guitar center had a BEAUTIFUL starclassic -- midnight sparkle blue fade, with a 13, 16 and 18 toms with a 24" kick. $2000 -- I played it. Worth every penny. Wish I had $2000. :)

I dont want you to turn off the dubs if thats what you want. They are a different experience than the starclassics and they give you a different tone -- not better, just different. Both are an incredible experience -- some of the best drumming has to offer. And both would be a huge step up from your 3003. DO IT!

[mikei]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

Hey Mike...

Hope you dont mind that i answer this here. Here are my honest thoughts.

Birch is loud, yes, but i have to be honest when i say i prefer it to maple for what i do (rock). Now I do like having both, but i am constantly looking for heads and tunings to maximize the projection of my DW -- that is a problem I do not have on my Starclassic. In fact, I have pinstripes on there right now, and I have pleanty of projection. It's pretty great! :)

As far as how they compare to the DW, they compare quite well. They seem to be every bit as professionally made as the DW and are just as flawless. Just like the DW, the tone is pure and completely devoid of any unwanted overtones. Just a pure, beautiful note. However unlike the DW's, the tuning range on the Starclassic is MASSIVE -- i attribute this to a birch vs. maple argument as opposed to anything to do with DW's. Now before any DW haters scream "SEE I TOLD YOU DW'S DONT HAVE A WIDE TUNING RANGE", I have a Kellar DW -- so the same would apply to Pork Pie, OCDP, etc. In my experience, albeit it limited compared to many on this board, the birch projects so well that you can get the note way down there and it will still project very well. The fact that the starclassic's come with a RIMS mounting system (like the dubs) but also have cast hoops make them very cool indeed.

The starclassic is a MONSTER leap from your 3003. I found it very hard to get the exact tone i wanted with my 3003 -- some overtones still remained until i found the studio x's, however you wont have this issue with the starclassic or the DW. Like i said, the notes are strong and pure, so tuning is a breeze. Even though the quality of the 3003 is very good, it is not as good as the starclassic or dub. They just feel solid. Hard to explain, but i felt it. The finish on my sonor was good -- not a mark on it. But the starclassic finish is just incredible. And no, it was not your imagination, it did sound better. It would have been even more obvious to you had your 3003 been next to it.

All in all, i am a fan of both starclassic and DW's -- now i will be honest when i said i side a little bit more with birch than maple -- when both are of very good quality. Also, if it were my money, and i was buying brand new, i would personally buy a starclassic over the dub. My main reason is the wood and the fact that i love both equally and the starclassic is cheaper, so what the hell. However i know i always wanted both, so i got both. :)

I think your deals are extremely good. At my local GC, 4 piece starclassics go for $1499 new. No snare and they are 10, 12, 14, 22. The fact that you can get that for what used starclassic's go for, is great. And adding on those other toms gets you a world class kit for under $2000 -- which is still less than what a 3-4 piece DW goes for new.

My guitar center had a BEAUTIFUL starclassic -- midnight sparkle blue fade, with a 13, 16 and 18 toms with a 24" kick. $2000 -- I played it. Worth every penny. Wish I had $2000. :)

I dont want you to turn off the dubs if thats what you want. They are a different experience than the starclassics and they give you a different tone -- not better, just different. Both are an incredible experience -- some of the best drumming has to offer. And both would be a huge step up from your 3003. DO IT!

Thanks Elvis!

I fell in love with the red fade and diamond dust. I wanted them to be better than my 3003. I used to be a software developer and therefore pride myself on my logic. However, get my emotions involved and I can't make a logical decision if my life depended on it.

I am getting final quotes from my GC insider today or tomorrow.

Thanks again for taking your time to help me out.

[Fat Elvis]

the diamond dust (the orange-ish sparkle, right) is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE finish. I want to re-wrap my starclassic in that exact finish. If you buy it and all of a sudden decide you'd rather have a dark cherry fade, let me know ;)

[mikei]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

the diamond dust (the orange-ish sparkle, right) is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE finish. I want to re-wrap my starclassic in that exact finish. If you buy it and all of a sudden decide you'd rather have a dark cherry fade, let me know ;)

It is actually kind of an off white glitter/glass. I think you are referring to the gold crush glitter. That looks great too, but I haven't seen it in person.

I do like the dark cherry fade though!

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by mikei

It is actually kind of an off white glitter/glass. I think you are referring to the gold crush glitter. That looks great too, but I haven't seen it in person.

I do like the dark cherry fade though!

i think part of the reason that i am such a big tama and dw fan has partly to do with their finishes. Really cool sparkles and they dont hesitate to go against the mold when it comes to wild colors. I do like Pork Pie for that same reason.

[mikei]

Originally Posted by Fat Elvis

i think part of the reason that i am such a big tama and dw fan has partly to do with their finishes. Really cool sparkles and they dont hesitate to go against the mold when it comes to wild colors. I do like Pork Pie for that same reason.

I agree.

I just hope the wait for the extra toms doesn't take too long. I read some feedback that extra toms from Tama that are supposed to take 1 to 2 months can turn into 8! That would kill me.

Do you play a lot in Vegas clubs and bars? Do you have a regular gig out there?

[timebandit]

Originally Posted by stillgroovin

ANYTIME your wife says buy somthing and it's a big ticket item---BUY IT!!!!!!!!. In my house that would be like waiting to see Hales comet.

Yeah! .............Copy that!

[Fat Elvis]

Originally Posted by mikei

Do you play a lot in Vegas clubs and bars? Do you have a regular gig out there?

I am in an original hard rock band (Jesus or a Gun) and we play out about 3-4 times a month right now. We want to play more and are on the lookout for representation. We are actually being interviewed on a local internet radio station tongiht at 8:00pm pacific. Listen in if you can:

http://www.lvrocks.com

it will be myself (richard) and our singer (camdon). They will also play a few of our songs.

[mikei]

I will definitely try to listen.

Thanks again