Starclassic B/B or Mapex Saturn ?

[john gerrard]

I'm in the market for a new set and I have it narrowed down to these two. I haven't had the chance to hear the StarclassicB/B's and it doesn't look like I will be able to find a set around here local to listen to. I have heard the Saturns live.

So what I was hoping for is that some of you who may have had the chance to listen to or have played on both sets could give me your opinions on them. When you get to sets of that caliber finish and hardware are not really much of a issue to me they are both top grade. What I'm really interested in is how do they compare sound wise?

Thank you I really appreciate the feedback. John

[uniin]

they both sound amazing... you'll get lower tones out of the starclassic because of bubinga, you'll get brighter tones uot of saturn from the maple.....

honostly it really comes down to preference of finish (i think). if you like the saturn finishes better get a saturn.... after all drums aren't all sound, they're looks too!

[AJ3000]

Personally, I'd lean towards the tamas. I have actually found mapex hardware of late to be pretty poor quality. My meridian is literally falling apart (I have had 3 lug boxes actually split in less than a year!), and the stands are junk. Even the most expensive stool mapex sell is inherently flawed in it's design and wobbles like crazy. Tama stuff is bulletproof, and I never had a days issue with anything on that kit. If it is just down to sound for you though, only you can choose that!!!

Originally Posted by AJ3000

Personally, I'd lean towards the tamas. I have actually found mapex hardware of late to be pretty poor quality. My meridian is literally falling apart (I have had 3 lug boxes actually split in less than a year!), and the stands are junk. Even the most expensive stool mapex sell is inherently flawed in it's design and wobbles like crazy. Tama stuff is bulletproof, and I never had a days issue with anything on that kit. If it is just down to sound for you though, only you can choose that!!!

Well I wouldn't compare the Meridian with the Saturns or B/B's. Two completely different levels. Like all brands of hardware they make some good stands and some bad stands. I swear by the tom mounts made by Mapex, and the cymbal arms by DW. I use a rack so legs and feet don't matter. I do use Mapex triple headed mounts on both sides of my kit and they are great. Solid as a rock.

I actually found the Saturn's to have a much deeper sound than the B/B's. I went to buy B/B's but left with Saturn's. Plus the Saturns are cheaper. Best bang for the buck. You need to listen to both and decide what you like. Tama seems to make finishes that they like, not necessarily what everyone else likes.

[john gerrard]

Everyone has been helpful but keep in mind I don't have the opportunity to hear the Starclassics in person. That is why I asked for opinions from those who have heard/played them for opinions. I realize in a perfect setting I could set down and play both sets but this is the real world and I just won't have that opportunity. Hence this thread. Thanks and keep the comments comming. John

OK, I will make it easy for you. Buy the Saturns. Best sounding kit for the money out there.

[AJ3000]

And I'm going to ruin it. Buy the Tama. Better kit IMO... Sorry!!

I own a set of saturns, they are great but honestly I doubt the difference between them and the Tama's are gonna be huge. So I would go with the Saturns 1) because you have heard them and know you like em,2) they are cheaper and I believe have more color options, 3) They are time tested.

Just make sure the Saturn's you heard are the ones you buy. They all used to be Maple/Walnut but now they offer Birch/ Walnut as well which I have not heard in person yet.

[ineedaclutch]

Didn't this happen already?

[john gerrard]

Ineedaclutch , did what happen already ?

Nhzoso, You know I really think you are right on the money. I don't feel that there will really be that much difference. I guess that it will boil down to what I find first that looks good and one that is in my price range. Thank you for your input. John

[ineedaclutch]

The Saturn vs B/B thread. You have most of your answer in your last post though. They are both fantastic kits and you can't go wrong with either of them.

[Homeularis]

Originally Posted by ineedaclutch

Didn't this happen already?

Yeah, there are something like 4 threads about these two. I guess its the price point and similarities between the two.

I like them both very much. If someone handed me one of each and said I could only keep one, i'd go with the Tama's, I guess because because of them being in my brain for so many more years.

Originally Posted by AJ3000

And I'm going to ruin it. Buy the Tama. Better kit IMO... Sorry!!

Have you owned either one. Why do you feel this way.

Originally Posted by john gerrard

Ineedaclutch , did what happen already ?

Nhzoso, You know I really think you are right on the money. I don't feel that there will really be that much difference. I guess that it will boil down to what I find first that looks good and one that is in my price range. Thank you for your input. John

Actually I found a big difference in sound. Bearing edge, shell thickness, two totally different kinds of woods. How could they not sound different.

[AJ3000]

Originally Posted by sticks4drums

Have you owned either one. Why do you feel this way.

I went out buy a Saturn, and came home with a B/B. Just found the quality and the tone more to my liking. I'm also sure however, that they are both very good kits. You can't really go wrong with either, but I just prefered the tamas....

[uniongoon]

I know......Let's ask Mikey!

Mikey wont like it, he hates everything......

[dapperdan]

FYI all you guys saying "tama b/b is better" and "saturn is better" are not helping one bit.
Anyway......
So here is my brake down of the kits--
The saturn kit: Is a deep, warm, crisp and punchy kit, AND F***ing loud some times.

How it compares ??: it's going to be deeper warmer crisper and about as punchy as the b/b, it will have less crack and will take a lot more skill to tune good. The Saturn drums can sound as good as anything out there if your willing to put the time in to the Tuning, muffling, and heads.

Other thoughts: Well as far as build go's, the saturn's are solid (AJ3000 your saying mapex is bad cuzz your meridian was falling apart... Well I have never had anyone I have EVER talked say they had an issue, it was probably a rare problem or a manufacturing flaw, nonetheless you should call/email mapex about the problem, the lifetime warranty should cover it. Now the hardware is great but on the other hand the mounts/stands are nothing special, I would get dw,yamaha, or tama stands- if I was you

The b/b:It's a warm, punchy kit with a lot of crack (and good low end)

How it compares: Well if you have not heard the kit- it's like a good maple sound on steroids, a lot punchier and a little brighter then a maple kit.

FYI: don't get a 8in tom, It's sound is kinda off on this kit

Other thoughts: Well as far as build go's, its very good. some times (pretty rare) the bering edge can be off, making the head not seat just right (but I cant hear it, it just looks off) other then that is good.
And the hardware and stand's are great, nothing bad can be said about them!

Over all it up to you just remember you can go wrong here, everything is good at this price. (for the most part)

[john gerrard]

Dapperdan , Thank you for taking the time for this really good description. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Thank you again. John.

Keep the opinions comming. John

[audiotech]

John, I really can't tell you what you'll like better of the two. I've played both kits head to head and I definitely know which I would buy if I was in the market for one of them. My advice to you would be the same advice that I would adhere to if I was making a decision on a fairly expensive set of drums. If I wasn't able to hear them in person, that set would be eliminated from my decision. I never bought a set of drums or cymbals for that matter, unheard. People will go on and on advising you to buy what they have or wish they had and in my opinion, that doesn't help you at all. Again, if it was me, I would only shop for something that I could make a personal educated decision about.

Best of luck,
Dennis

[AJ3000]

Originally Posted by dapperdan

Other thoughts: Well as far as build go's, the saturn's are solid (AJ3000 your saying mapex is bad cuzz your meridian was falling apart... Well I have never had anyone I have EVER talked say they had an issue, it was probably a rare problem or a manufacturing flaw, nonetheless you should call/email mapex about the problem, the lifetime warranty should cover it. Now the hardware is great but on the other hand the mounts/stands are nothing special, I would get dw,yamaha, or tama stands- if I was you

Funnily enough I have contacted mapex UK on 3 separate occasions about the lug boxes, the stands and the throne, and it has fallen on deaf ears. Not even a reply from them. They might be different in the US, but I was disappointed with their customer service. Having said that, Tama CS is nothing to write home about either. I phoned them with regard to an iron cobra and they told me that they don't deal with the public and put the phone down!

I guess overall though, no-one can choose for you. I prefer the darkness that bubinga has to offer, and I also (personally, IMHO) thing the tamas are built better. But the saturns are tried and tested and are also great sounding kits. If they're good enough for Gregg Bissonette....

[KarlCrafton]

I have played a Saturn kit on a Back Line on 2 separate occasions and I though they sounded (and looked) great.
Very easy to adjust, easy to tweak the tuning. In a back line situation, you get very little time to get ready, and the Saturns were an easy kit to get what I wanted out of (they didn't use Mapex stands, so no idea on their quality).

I have only tinkerd with a BB kit at the shop. Sounds good, & I like the tom mount apparatus on the bass drum better on the Tama, but the mounting system ON the tom is nicer on the Mapex IMO. I don't care for the StarCast thing too much, but that's just my opinion. I'm sure others love it.

Personally, I don't think you'd "go wrong" with either kit.

[dapperdan]

Originally Posted by AJ3000

Funnily enough I have contacted mapex UK on 3 separate occasions about the lug boxes, the stands and the throne, and it has fallen on deaf ears. Not even a reply from them. They might be different in the US, but I was disappointed with their customer service. Having said that, Tama CS is nothing to write home about either. I phoned them with regard to an iron cobra and they told me that they don't deal with the public and put the phone down!

I guess overall though, no-one can choose for you. I prefer the darkness that bubinga has to offer, and I also (personally, IMHO) thing the tamas are built better. But the saturns are tried and tested and are also great sounding kits. If they're good enough for Gregg Bissonette....

Ok guy's - this "build quality" thing is for the most part BS, at this point in time all drums will hold together. Now thick drums *like yamaha* can take a little more neglect then thin ones like tama, but if you take care of your drums they will last.... well..... as long as you take care of them!

Now the hardware is not "all good" so be careful. i'd go will yamaha or dw hardware if you can, they will hold up the longest.

-Daniel


EDIT: Sadly I have heard drum-CS out side of the US,Japan, or China is for the most part pretty bad ;( . But I know here in the US, the Mapex customer service is pretty good (up there with DW most of the time).
But I got to say I feel for you, I know it SUCKS when you get bad drums and there's nothing you can do :(

[dapperdan]

Ok John it sound's like you want to have someone say "you will like the (blank) better", but sadly we cant decide for you. Now, I would say you have to try it your self but.... you cant get at a B/B at this point in time.

So here is what I would do..........
look up some vid's: Now they won't give you a perfect, or even a good idea of what the drums will sound like, but it will help.

Here are some good video's of the drums that have no EQ-ing.
saturn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMb8onKnHU
b/b:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IziNAoeTuFA
b/b's live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAb6QKn2Gc0

And also if you want I can take a guess of what kit you would like better, all I would need to know is 2 or more drum kits that you like (IE: Yamaha oak- or dw performance) and how you like to tune your bass drum.

-Daniel


-Daniel

[AJ3000]

Originally Posted by dapperdan

Ok guy's - this "build quality" thing is for the most part BS, at this point in time all drums will hold together. Now thick drums *like yamaha* can take a little more neglect then thin ones like tama, but if you take care of your drums they will last.... well..... as long as you take care of them!

Now the hardware is not "all good" so be careful. i'd go will yamaha or dw hardware if you can, they will hold up the longest.

-Daniel


EDIT: Sadly I have heard drum-CS out side of the US,Japan, or China is for the most part pretty bad ;( . But I know here in the US, the Mapex customer service is pretty good (up there with DW most of the time).
But I got to say I feel for you, I know it SUCKS when you get bad drums and there's nothing you can do :(

Just for the record - all my drums are hardcased, and I have owned many kits and never seen anything like these lugs before. However they are different to the Saturn ones, which I'm sure are fine!

[dapperdan]

Originally Posted by AJ3000

Just for the record - all my drums are hardcased, and I have owned many kits and never seen anything like these lugs before. However they are different to the Saturn ones, which I'm sure are fine!

Oh im not saying you did not take care of them, the shells cracking is a manufacturing problem of course.

[john gerrard]

As of right now it looks like the first set that comes along I'll pull the trigger on. I believe like you all have said, I can't go wrong with either set. Thank you all for the opinions. John

[AJ3000]

Best of luck chap. I'm sure whatever you decide on, you will be very happy.

Originally Posted by sticks4drums

Actually I found a big difference in sound. Bearing edge, shell thickness, two totally different kinds of woods. How could they not sound different.

Well I am sure they sound a little different but I doubt many people have the ear to hear a Huge difference to justify an extra $800+ (I know I don't), especially depending on head selection and tuning.

[john gerrard]

Well I've made my decision. I just bought a used Saturn kit. The biggest deciding factor was drum sizes. I just couldn't find a Starclassic with a 14 x 14 floor tom. All of the Starclassic kits that I found had 14 x 12 floor toms. So I found a Saturn with the 14 x 14, and that was the selling point. I have not received them yet so I really can't comment too much more. I will be sure to let you all know how I like them after I receive them. Thanks again. John

[dapperdan]

Originally Posted by john gerrard

Well I've made my decision. I just bought a used Saturn kit. The biggest deciding factor was drum sizes. I just couldn't find a Starclassic with a 14 x 14 floor tom. All of the Starclassic kits that I found had 14 x 12 floor toms. So I found a Saturn with the 14 x 14, and that was the selling point. I have not received them yet so I really can't comment too much more. I will be sure to let you all know how I like them after I receive them. Thanks again. John

Well awesome..... post pic's when you get them!