New Drums?

[con struct]

Although I'm semi-retired, which basically means that I only play when I want to, I'm thinking about buying some new drums. I want the thrill of having brand-spanking-new drums, clean and shiny.

What I want is a 20" bass drum, a 10 or 12" tom and a 14" tom. I don't need a snare drum. I'm already using DW pedals and hardware so I'd probably just get a new DW cymbal stand or two.

My DW Craviato snare has a natural maple finish so I guess that's the finish I'd get for the new drums, and I have some other very good metal snare drums as well.

I don't need any cymbals either.

I'm talking top-of-the-line here, drums that would last me for the rest of my life, the last drums I'll probably ever buy.

So those three drums, bass and high and low toms, in the sizes I specified, drums that could be used for a variety of genres, really good all-around drums, the best money can buy.

Given those parameters, then, what would you get, and what kind of money would you think I'd be looking at?

I haven't bought a new drum kit in almost twelve years so I'm really interested to see what you all might have to say about this

[bobdadruma]

I think that I would go custom all the way. I would find a builder that I like and let my imagination run wild! There are so many custom builders out there that it all comes down to your personal preference. Almost all of the custom drum builders can make what you are after if you specify the design to them.
You should elaborate further on your wishes so that the members of the board can help you more. What are your current "Dream Kits"?
OK, so far we know your size, color and wood preferences, Lets move forward from there.
You have a history with DW and Craviato. Would you like to stay with them?
As far as price goes, There has to be some kind of a budget. Without a budget, It will really be endless. How about $5000 to start with? To High? To low? Let us know?
For all around appeal, I would probably have some birch stuffed in between the plies of the finest north American maple. I'm not sold on Babinga wood. Its kind of to mellow for my tastes. Maple has the best mass appeal to me as far as sound goes.

[con struct]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

I think that I would go custom all the way. I would find a builder that I like and let my imagination run wild! There are so many custom builders out there that it all comes down to your personal preference. Almost all of the custom drum builders can make what you are after if you specify the design to them.
You should elaborate further on your wishes so that the members of the board can help you more. What are your current "Dream Kits"?
OK, so far we know your size, color and wood preferences, Lets move forward from there.
You have a history with DW and Craviato. Would you like to stay with them?

Thanks Bob. See, I doubt I could afford to go the totally custom route. And to be perfectly honest, as much as I admire DW for their quality drums I never liked the way their toms sound. But I'll always loyally support their pedals and hardware, and I have done for a long, long time.

I like Yamaha drums, I've liked almost every Yamaha kit I've ever played, but I can't tell which is which from their website.

See, I read all the threads here about the different drum companies so I thought it would be a good idea to ask the people here who've been looking around for drums and who obviously know a lot more about these companies' products than I do, considering that a lot changes over a decade.

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by con struct

What I want is a 20" bass drum, a 10 or 12" tom and a 14" tom.

So those three drums, bass and high and low toms, in the sizes I specified

Prices from Spirit drums..."A five piece shell pack consisting of 20" bass drum, 14" floor tom, 12" rack tom , 10" tom and your choice of snare will set you back around US $5500 including air freight"...so take out the snare, take out the 10" rack. For under $5K. http://www.spiritdrums.com/snare/custom.html

[MikeM]

Certainly can't go wrong with the Yamaha Absolute Maple. The other is a Gretsch USA. They're pretty spendy, I'd guess $2.5k. But what the hell, right?

I wouldn't do custom. I have a set of custom drums that are great and I'll have them forever, but most custom are made from off-the-shelf Keller shells. Most are maple, but they make other options, too. You have to find a builder if you don't want to do it yourself (which some people enjoy) and some charge obscene prices for slapping a paint job and some hardware on a Keller shell - Truth.

But even your local drum builder guy can get a Keller shell and all the parts, it's gong to cost you as much, if not a little more with the labor, than something like a Ludwig Classic Maple (which I've been pricing up lately).

[bobdadruma]

Allright, Lets go for off the rack drums. That is a good place to start.
Do you like the idea of North American Maple with Birch in the middle?
Maple will warm up the solid punch of the birch.
How about solid maple?

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by con struct

the best money can buy.

OK....so that's out the window.....so what is your price limit.

[con struct]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

Allright, Lets go for off the rack drums. That is a good place to start.
Do you like the idea of North American Maple with Birch in the middle?
Maple will warm up the solid punch of the birch.
How about solid maple?

Now here is where I get a little flustered, with the wood varieties. I know that maple is more resonant, is that correct? It sustains more, and I like that. It's a characteristic that I never used to give any thought to, but now I'm pretty much convinced that maple is the sound I'm after. My current old beat-up kit is maple.

[con struct]

Originally Posted by harryconway

OK....so that's out the window.....so what is your price limit.

Well, wouldn't I be able to buy three really good drums, kick and two toms, for $2000?

[bobdadruma]

Here is some reading material.
http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/id14.html

[con struct]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

Here is some reading material.
http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/id14.html

Thanks for that, Bob. Yep, I'm sold on maple. Thin maple shells, that's what I'm after.

[KBadd]

Please check out Mapex.

K

[bobdadruma]

So, say 6 plies on the toms and 8plies on the bass? Solid maple?

[con struct]

Originally Posted by bobdadruma

So, say 6 plies on the toms and 8plies on the bass? Solid maple?

Sounds fine to me, sounds about right, yep.

(You've just described the drums I have now! it's just that they're, you know...old and dinged up and, well, old.)

[Aeolian]

Someone told me that Gene D'Amico moved back east and is still making drums.

Typically thin maple shells with such insane edges that I've never heard any other drums sound as huge and warm for the same sizes. He is one of the masters

[bobdadruma]

Originally Posted by con struct

Sounds fine to me, sounds about right, yep.

(You've just described the drums I have now! it's just that they're, you know...old and dinged up and, well, old.)

Are you sure that you don't want a change after all these years? How about Sonor SQ series Scandinavian Birch?

[bobdadruma]

Or if you are fixed on maple. http://www.indoorstorm.com/Sonor_Dru...io-p-4477.html

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by con struct

Well, wouldn't I be able to buy three really good drums, kick and two toms, for $2000?

Sure, easy, just $2K (or under) is a far cry from your 1st post "the best money can buy". Best of course, is always subjective, but I took that statement to read "damn the torpedoes...cost is no problem".

Kona just asked about Riolo drums. http://www.amdrumparts.com/colorchart.htm The Keller shell. Infamous. Spaun, OCDP, Truth, GMS, Rogers, DW, more drum companies have or are using Keller shells than have not. Nice drums. Custom built. $750.

[con struct]

Originally Posted by harryconway

Sure, easy, just $2K (or under) is a far cry from your 1st post "the best money can buy".

Man, am I out of the loop! So, if I were to go with, say, Yamaha, $2000 wouldn't get me into the top-of-the-line? For only a kick and two toms?

Wow! Drums are expensive these days. I feel that I've just made myself look foolish. Not that it's the first time I've done that.

[bobdadruma]

Perhaps its time to refinish your current kit!
I thought of that concept before when we came around to what you were after in regards to shells etc.
You want what you already have. Why not just have your old favs freshened up a bit!
You could have them refinished and get new lugs, etc.
Show some pics of your current kit.

[BGH]

Originally Posted by MikeM

Certainly can't go wrong with the Yamaha Absolute Maple. The other is a Gretsch USA. They're pretty spendy, I'd guess $2.5k. But what the hell, right?

I wouldn't do custom. I have a set of custom drums that are great and I'll have them forever, but most custom are made from off-the-shelf Keller shells. Most are maple, but they make other options, too. You have to find a builder if you don't want to do it yourself (which some people enjoy) and some charge obscene prices for slapping a paint job and some hardware on a Keller shell - Truth.

But even your local drum builder guy can get a Keller shell and all the parts, it's gong to cost you as much, if not a little more with the labor, than something like a Ludwig Classic Maple (which I've been pricing up lately).

I think this is good advice. If you're not looking to go custom, Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute or Gretsch New Classic would be kits to look at. Yamaha has some extremely nice finishes. I think you can inject some fun into it by ordering something that you specify, rather than buying something in stock or used. I would definitely test drive these kits to help you decide. Find a dealer that will work with you a bit on the price. Pick the sizes and color and have it ordered for you. Most of the kits I have owned I have bought used. I did buy one Yamaha kit new that I had ordered for me, and it ended-up being a kit that I gigged with for 16 years. It was a great feeling ordering the kit, anticipating its arrival, picking it up and finally playing the set that was ordered just for me. Of course, that was before the days of the internet. Now, everyone buys online and waits for Brown to bring it. The older process had more of a personal touch..

You might want to consider getting both a 10 and 12 tom. Even though you want to stay 4 piece, this will give you something besides the snare that you could change-up when you have the urge. If this is your 'last kit,' why go with the minimum pieces? Also, I would go with a floor tom for the 14", rather than a stand mounted (don't know which you were thinking about). The floor tom will give you more tuning flexibility, and low end if you want it. I think one of the sweetest drums made is a 14x14 floor tom.

[BGH]

Originally Posted by con struct

Man, am I out of the loop! So, if I were to go with, say, Yamaha, $2000 wouldn't get me into the top-of-the-line? For only a kick and two toms?

Wow! Drums are expensive these days. I feel that I've just made myself look foolish. Not that it's the first time I've done that.

There is no doubt you can get a very, very nice kit for $2000. Top of the line? Most drum makers have an elite line or 2 that is beyond the reach of most folks. Yamaha's PHX line costs thousands for a kit. I won't be getting one anytime soon.

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by con struct

Yamaha, $2000 wouldn't get me into the top-of-the-line? For only a kick and two toms?

Wow! Drums are expensive these days. I feel that I've just made myself look foolish. Not that it's the first time I've done that.

A 5 piece Yamaha Maple Custom runs around $3600.....so.......yeah, you should/might be able to land a 20/12/14 for $2K. The Gretsch Renown Maple 20/10/12/14 runs around $1599. Yes, drums are expensive.

[BGH]

This would have been a good one, if you'd want to consider lightly used. 4 piece MCAN with your sizes sold for $1490. Looked like a sweet kit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[DrumEatDrum]

Originally Posted by Aeolian

Someone told me that Gene D'Amico moved back east and is still making drums.

Typically thin maple shells with such insane edges that I've never heard any other drums sound as huge and warm for the same sizes. He is one of the masters

Now there is a name I've not heard in a while.

I remember when he still worked at Gelb music!

[MikeM]

I was just thinking about the custom drum making angle a little more, and there's one big advantage to going that route: you get to not only specify your color/wrap, lugs, bass drum claws, spurs, hoops, and all that, but more important, you can specify shell material, ply count and bearing edge.

I'm in throes of some serious OCD over simple bass drum order - I'm either going to go with a Ludwig Classic Maple or a Keller maple drum in either 6, 8, or 10 ply (can't decide) with any kind of bearing edge I want: straight 45, double 45, 45 w/a round-over, even a guy who can cut me a 35! Like who has that?? That's pretty cool if you ask me.

For $50 less than the Ludwig? Shoot, Ludwig is only $850 as it is (DW = $1200, Gretsch USA = $1500).

I'll probably just order the Ludwig so I can finally get some sleep!

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by harryconway

Kona just asked about Riolo drums. http://www.amdrumparts.com/colorchart.htm The Keller shell. Infamous. Spaun, OCDP, Truth, GMS, Rogers, DW, more drum companies have or are using Keller shells than have not. Nice drums. Custom built. $750.[/indent]

Wow, that's a smokin' deal! $750?? Do you know if that's just for those kits, or do they take orders for $750 kits? Seriously, I've had two Keller kits and they're as good as about anything out there...

[con struct]

I've been checking prices and have decided to wait until I have some more dough together, and then I'm going to go with Yamaha Absolute Maple. I've been reading a lot of reviews of these drums and they're all very good. Very pricey drums, too. But I'll be able to swing it in less than a year's time, maybe even by the end of summer, and I'll probably go with the Yamaha hardware and pedals, too. Fun!

Thanks to everyone who's been so kind to respond.

[bobdadruma]

If you like to get your hands a bit dirty you could order your own shells and finish them yourself. You would also choose your hardware and hoops. There are many sites that sell all different shells and hardware. You already have a kit so you could take your time.

[larryace]

My next set of drums will be Vaughncraft. Thin, (5mm) 1 ply shells w/ re rings, very little glue, they do the bearing edges, lug holes and snare beds. I get it finished (I'll probably just use tung oil) and install the heads and hardware. Half the price of exotic DW, totally custom, whatever wood you want, (I'm going birdseye maple) whatever angle edges you wish, whatever hardware you like, whatever finish you choose. Keller is great, but everybody uses them.
Heck you could get a BD made from Bubinga, toms made of birch, whatever....the only limits are your imagination, and the price is doable. I think he quoted me 1850 for a 22x20, 10x9, 12x10, 14x14 and 16x16, with edges done. I finish it and get hardware, I figured 3000 final cost for a truly one of a kind set. That's my recommendation.

[harryconway]

Originally Posted by MikeM

Wow, that's a smokin' deal! $750?? Do you know if that's just for those kits, or do they take orders for $750 kits?

I'm sure they'd work with you, on different sizes. If you only wanted 1 drum, the price would be less. If you wanted 10 drums, the price would be more. Yeah, considering what $750 will usually buy you at GC, it's a great deal.

[aydee]

Originally Posted by con struct

I've been checking prices and have decided to wait until I have some more dough together, and then I'm going to go with Yamaha Absolute Maple.

Thanks to everyone who's been so kind to respond.

Great call, because there is nothing better. A few might be as good..


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