Drum quality levels

[mykllynyrd]

Hi,

I've been searching around for hours now and I can't seem to find the answer anywhere. I'm looking for something that will tell me the different quality levels from drum makers, like beginner, mid level pro, etc. I want to get my wife a drum set and found a Tama Granstar but I don't know where that fits in their line. I don't want to ask her because it's a surprise. I know Yamaha Maple custom is better than Pearl Export, but is there anywhere that shows past and present drum lines? Thanks...

The Granstar was one of Tama's top offering the early 90's. They may not be packed with some of the standard features of top end kits now (eg. Isolation mounts, low-mass lugs, etc) but they are certainly excellent quality drums and sound rather good.

[ZrowBD]

Originally Posted by mykllynyrd

Hi,

I've been searching around for hours now and I can't seem to find the answer anywhere. I'm looking for something that will tell me the different quality levels from drum makers, like beginner, mid level pro, etc. I want to get my wife a drum set and found a Tama Granstar but I don't know where that fits in their line. I don't want to ask her because it's a surprise. I know Yamaha Maple custom is better than Pearl Export, but is there anywhere that shows past and present drum lines? Thanks...

what i'd do is go to a site like www.musiciansfriend.com and just look at the prices of kits. it pretty much tells you what series is better than what within the same company. enter the pearl website and see what kits they offer, and then seek out how much they cost so you could tell which is better. same for any other manifacturer...

In general, Maple and Birch drums are consideres "pro level" or "high end". Poplar is a cheaper wood and drum companies often replace a few plies of maple in a shell with poplar to reduce costs. then they put a different badge on the drum with a different series name and there you have it - a mid level kit. cheap kits are often 100% poplar or some other cheaper wood species.

I don't know what your budget is, but Pearl Session Series is probably the equivalent of the Yamaha Custom Maple. if you want to go a little higher, there's the Yamaha Absolute Maple (spelling?!) which is the equivalent to Pearl Masters. pearl has 2 more unique lines higher than that which is the Reference Series (which utilizes shells of mixed species - birch maple and african mahogony), and the Masterworks series - which is a fully custom made drum according to the customer's specifications. Masterworks would be the quivalent to DW drums as far as budget is concerned - or in my world that budget translates to "In my dreams!".
There are lower lines than the Session and Maple Custom which are not 100% maple shelled drums, yet still have more than decent sound and hold up very well. those are the Pearl Export series and all of its equivalents.
Many companies have a description of the various drums they offer in their websites. check them out, read a little, look up the costs on the internet and find the set that fits best.

Pearl Drums: http://www.pearldrum.com/default.asp
Yamaha Drums: http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/...0.html?id=home
Tama Drums: http://www.tama.com/splash/
Mapex Drums: http://www.mapexdrums.com/

Seriousely look into Mapex if budget is an issue. good drums, more affordable than most companies.

There are plenty more drum companies out there like Sonor and Premier, Ludwig, Gretsch... but these are the most popular i could think of... a little research and you'll find what you need.

good luck!

[ZrowBD]

Originally Posted by Mediocrefunkybeat

The Granstar was one of Tama's top offering the early 90's. They may not be packed with some of the standard features of top end kits now (eg. Isolation mounts, low-mass lugs, etc) but they are certainly excellent quality drums and sound rather good.

hey MFB, good to cya around :)

I don't think the Session Series is anything like equivalent to the Yamaha Maple Custom. The Custom is a high end kit (and sounds like it) and has all the features you'd expect as such, the Pearl, although only slightly cheaper, is in fact Pearl's mid-level, intermediate offering and in fact the Masters range are the top-end range along with the Reference.

Good to see you around ZRow. It's been a while ;-)

[ZrowBD]

Originally Posted by Mediocrefunkybeat

I don't think the Session Series is anything like equivalent to the Yamaha Maple Custom. The Custom is a high end kit (and sounds like it) and has all the features you'd expect as such, the Pearl, although only slightly cheaper, is in fact Pearl's mid-level, intermediate offering and in fact the Masters range are the top-end range along with the Reference.

hmm... I always thought the Reference stood up high right next to the Masterworks series drums in the Pearl "pyramid". the yamaha maple custom is a 100% maple kit, so is the pearl session. the yamaha absolute maple is also a 100% maple kit but is higher end than the maple custom, so is the masters in relation to session... nevemind... bottom line is that it all depends in what you need and what the drum sounds like. we don't really care for the name on the drum... at least some of us don't... hehehehe

Originally Posted by Mediocrefunkybeat

Good to see you around ZRow. It's been a while ;-)

it certainly has :P

[mykllynyrd]

Thanks so much everyone! The info is great.

I would have gone to the webstores to compare to figure the level but I think the series I was looking for is outta production so it wouldn't help. I even tried harmony central to see if there was any reviews.

I've been snooping around drummerworld for a few months now and all the info is great.

Thanks again from a dumb 'ol bass player

Labels are often irrelevant these days, as the gap between mid level and high level becomes narrower and narrower. I'm sure you'll appreciate the difference though if I mention that the difference between the say, Masters Series and Session Series is similar to the difference between something like the Sonor Force 3005 and the Sonor Delite Series. In many ways, yesterday's 'Top End' sets are now more comparable to todays 'Intermediate' sets.

A very long time indeed...

[Drummerboy3940]

Originally Posted by ZrowBD

hmm... I always thought the Reference stood up high right next to the Masterworks series drums in the Pearl "pyramid". the yamaha maple custom is a 100% maple kit, so is the pearl session. the yamaha absolute maple is also a 100% maple kit but is higher end than the maple custom, so is the masters in relation to session... nevemind... bottom line is that it all depends in what you need and what the drum sounds like. we don't really care for the name on the drum... at least some of us don't... hehehehe

the maple custom is the top line that yamaha offers...the absolute is below the maple customs....the yamaha tour customs would match up best with the pearl sessions

[ZrowBD]

Originally Posted by Drummerboy3940

the maple custom is the top line that yamaha offers...the absolute is below the maple customs....the yamaha tour customs would match up best with the pearl sessions

you are wrong my friend. Go to the Yamaha website and see for yourself.

Both Maple Custom and the Absolute series are fully proffesional kits. the Absolute series uses thinner shells, that's the whole difference between them.
the Absolute Maple Nouveau is considered yamaha's top of the line drums featuring their quick release lugs.

[harryconway]

The Tama Grandstar is a great kit. Though they don't make it any more, it's a high end pro level kit, and certainly anyone you buy it for should be happy.