Best sounding kit ?

Looks like you already have really nice stuff. What makes you think you need anything better? Or what makes you think there is anything better?
 
Apparently the best-sounding kit will be the one you'll never have. Once you get one, you'll wish you got the other one. That's usually how it works. Good luck!
 
Many feel that their black beauties are the best snare drum in their collection and Tama starclassic drums are awesome and I've never heard a single complaint about the birch/bubinga.

Heck, the other guy in this thread, Bo, has a B/B and I know he loves it. So yeah, if change would excite you, then go buy another kit. Nothing wrong with that. But looking for something better? Not sure you'll find it.

ps. FWIW, many players prefer the 70's version of the ludwig BB over new ones. I don't know if that is justified, but I can assure you that if you went to sell your black beauty, it would sell quickly.
 
It completely up to personal preference and what sound you are looking for. Different kits will sound better in different settings and will give you different sound profiles. You can definitely upgrade to a higher price bracket, but that doesn't necessarily translate to better sound.

The BB is definitely worth holding onto. But if you are tired of the B/B sound, do some listening and figure out the sound you are after. Every major manufacturer and a lot of the smaller players make quality high end kits that can be the best sounding kit on the planet to the right buyer. It just depends on your needs.
 
Maybe this is as good as it gets.
It all depends on the application you have in mind, & your own expectations. Do you have a specific sound you're shooting for? Or are you just throwing it out there to see what's new & interesting?

A kit designed towards a defined goal is always going to fulfil expectations better than a general purpose instrument, but is likely not to be as flexible across multiple applications. "Best sounding", although highly subjective, also has a price tag attached to it. The principal of diminishing returns applies very much as you climb the quality ladder. That last 5% of improvement or specialisation can double or treble the end cost. If you realise the value in that, all well & good, but if not, you've just wasted your money, other than bragging rights.

All that aside, of course, I'm pretty biased in my opinions about drum constructions, albeit based on extensive A - B testing, but that's according to my ears. In theory, are there better drums than the ones you've got? Given a very generous budget, of course there is, but only you can ultimately come to that conclusion.

My only advice is to narrow down your criteria from the generalisation of "best", to a specific area you'd like to improve, or a certain sound you're currently not getting. Once you're settled on that, then start your search.

Good luck :)
 
I think you should take your drum budget and send it to me. I've got a very long list of drum stuff that I know I like and want, but can't afford.

Ayotte? Sure, why not?
 
Ayotte? of course ! Superb. Try the older "Ray" era drums , that will be harder to find, and cost you even more.
 
looking at Ayotte drums,any thoughts ?
Excellent drums. My opinion, there is no "best sounding kit". I own 7 acoustic kits .... they all sound different .... they all sound great. There is no "best sounding" one. Simply different sounding. I'd never get rid of 6 just to keep the "best sounding" one. I just ain't wired that way.​
 
The best sounding kit is the one that sounds the best with your music. That being said, my kit sounds the best....not....

See, that was a NOT joke....you likey?
 
PDP X7! :D

/thread

Just kidding, sort of. I actually was going in blind when looking for a new kit after 11 years or so. The last and only one I had was an Export set from the 90's. I was so young at the time that I barely knew drums were made out of wood, let alone what type, how many ply's, thickness of shells, bearing edges / the effect of the type of bearing edges I mean the list goes on and right up to the point before I bought this X7 I was still a noob to it all.

I'm just glad that the set and brand the GC employee talked me into actually met my needs (far exceeded them actually after playing them for almost a year) or what I was set out to buy for myself seeing as I didn't have much to spend and wanted something nice to last for quite some time. At first after realizing they were very thin shells and FAST toms with the stock heads on I thought I got sort of a "jazzy" kit as the tune of them were quite high.......... that was until I put brand new Remo Emps over Ambs on them and started to learn how to tune. After that it was then I realized I have a true intermediate/pro level drumset!

To make a VERY long story short, I will never, ever, everevereverevereverevereverever forget what it was like when I heard my 16" floor tom for the first time with quality heads on it, not to mention the rest of them. There is nothing in this world that is better (maybe not even sex) that can compare to putting ALL new heads onto a brand new drum set. My pupils were so dilated and I had so much adrenaline running through me after that very first strike on my 16" floor tom. With the tension at the time maybe a 1/2 turn above JAW I struck it and felt this unbelievable deep, gut punching and rumbling sound that resonated forever! I knew then that I had a beast of a drumset and couldn't thank the GC employee enough for being such an honest and helpful dude. He could of took me for a ride with my money but set me in the right direction to enjoy and to continue my learning process on such an awesome kit! How can you beat a well made, 7 piece (Chinese maple) drumset for $699+ tax?? I can play 1 up 1 down, 1 up 2 down, 2 up 1 down, 2 up 2 down, 3 up 1 down or 3 up 2 down! It's insane!

Though don't get me wrong, I know this is far from a Pearl Masters, Tama BB or a DW custom set with thick loud sound projecting shells but man it does the job for me and could possibly do the job for many others who only want a simple jazz setup to a full on 3 up and 2 down rock setup! Having an extra 2 toms to play on is so much fun. Some say not to jump into a 7 piece like that but for me it was easy.

Really unless you have the money to buy a $6000 custom drumset that will be the one to build on and play on through out retirement, there are plenty of intermediate/pro kits out there with great quality, features and finishes! Like others have said, I don't think there is just one great drumset, they all have their own character to them! I so wish I had enough money to get a set of my choice from each company and to have an unlimted amount of drum heads to try and use!! If I could I'd get an intermediate set and a top of the line custom set from each company lol!
 
All opinion. You may be chasing a ghost though.

Need to define your own personal description of sound. Until you know that specifically, almost any quality set will do.

All quality drums will sound "best" to somebody. Only you can define what sounds best to you which is why it's critical to understand what you are buying and not shop by brand or looks.
 
I've heard fantastically tuned CB drums that sounded brilliant and I've heard abysmally tuned top end pro kits sound like plastice pots.

Personally I think as much down to the tuning / skins and personal preference and no longer believe that a kit's going to sound that much better because it costs an extra couple of grand but different yes maybe !!!!
 
You know I struggle with this also. I just picked up my Prolites after swapping out my S Classix and I honestly might buy another S classix or thin birch shelled kit.

In the end on high end drums or even mid range tuning, heads and your ear make the difference. In the past I had cheaper kits sound more along what I liked vs top shelf kits.
 
Drums are tuned, parts changed etc...a lot can be done. For me the problem is ALWAYS
finding the right cymbals to match a group or style.
 
I have a friend who plays a Ludwig Accent kit with deep toms. He's been playing for 30+ years and he loves that kit. Actually, I just saw him use it at a show and I've played it myself a few times and I gotta say, it sounds and plays great. I don't even know what kind of wood it is, but with coated G2s over stock Ludwig resos, it sounds awesome. What can you do? A good sound is a good sound.

Blindfolded you wouldn't guess it was 300 bucks new.

It's the drummer waaaaaay more than it is the drumkit anyway.
 
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