I don't have anything groundbreaking to add to this thread - but it's been a really funny read for sure.
DW drums pros:
1. Huge Success Story
2. Great American Company
3. Killer Marketing
4. Sound pretty good in general.
5. Quality hardware
6. Concise and clean catalog of offerings
7. Extensive finish options
8. I do appreciate the annual showstopper kits....the timeless timbers, etc. that John produces as benchmark kits for the industry. Those actually do have a "labor of love" feel to them
9. I spent more time than I'd like to admit on the "kit builder" when it first came out forever ago.
I have a lot of respect for them and what they've built and they've done with Gretsch - despite not ever really wanting to own one of their kits directly. I just saw a DW on here that I have to admit was one of the prettiest kits I've ever seen finish wise and I loved it despite it having those turret lugs - if I can find it again I'll credit the owner here. (EDIT: It was
@MusiQmaN and his kit posted here)
Cons:
1. Marketing can be a bit much...I think a part of me always resented DW simply because of how many ads I would see telling me that they were the best all the time in every drum magazine...like every other page was a DW ad.
2. The actual sound - again...I think it's perhaps because of how often we are told that they are the definitive drum sound...but they sound on par with most major drum drum manufacturers at this point - not exceptionally better.
3. Website - that site needs some attention in such a big way. I'd had been on it for years before making this post and it looks the same as it did in like 2002.
4. Pedals - I personally have never found these pedals to feel anything but chunky and heavy. I'm a good friend of Lucas Jacobson - who designed and patented their 9000 series bass drum pedals and 9500 hats and we sat down a few years ago and talked pedals in depth and he let me try all sorts of DW pedals. I found that they could be improved with his
quick torque cam - which completely changes how the pedal moves by reducing the tension needed on the downstroke and rocketing the upstroke back with a return spring...but that's a lot of effort to like a pedal. I know I'm the outlier in this feeling for DW pedals for sure.
I don't really have much negative to say - if there was some new lug design I'd likely be a fan ....however if I was being honest I'd probably say that pure sound wise, all marketing and looks, etc. if I had to rank major drum manufacturers it would look like:
1. Gretsch
2. Sonor / Yamaha
3. DW/ Ludwig / Pearl
4. Tama / Mapex