Shell kit at the intermediate level quality

Mancho1991 said:
Hi, I am thinking of buying a new kit for my wife as a "graduation" gift since she is progressing very fast.

She is playing right now on a very old Rockstar that looks like it made the II world war.

I don't need the snare since she has a very good one already.

The kit will be pretty basic in terms of pieces. Something like a 22 bass drum, 10-12 toms and a 16 floor toms.

Budget between 1200$ and 1700$ in Canadian dollars.

Not interested in used kit. That's the beauty of getting old and having more money to spend :)

I begun to look on the Internet and the Yamaha Tour Custom caught my eyes.

Thanks in advance for all the advices.
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I swear by Tama. I own Three Kits, including This one. All Maple and a Snare for less than 1k A bargain.

www.sweetwater.com

Tama Superstar Classic CL52KS 5-piece Shell Pack with Snare Drum - Mahogany Burst Lacquer

5-piece Maple Shell Pack with 10 and 12" Toms, 16" Floor Tom, 22" Bass Drum, and 14" Snare Drum - Mahogany Burst Lacquer
www.sweetwater.com www.sweetwater.com
 
Like others, I would suggest either a Gretsch Renown or a DW Design Series, but the prices of those kits are bonkers compared to just a couple of years ago. The set of Renowns I bought is up an additional $1000 and the Designs are up $1300. Crazy.

Given the above information, I would go with a Yamaha Tour Custom in a heartbeat. I have played them plenty and they're great drums. You can get a 5-piece set for about $1700 Canadian which isn't much more than they cost a couple of years ago, at least relative to some other kits out there.

If not the Yamahas, the Tama Superstar Classics look like a good deal. Very interesting, actually...
 
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JimmyM said:
Almost all of them make great intermediate kits. Ones I’ve played that I enjoyed are TCs, Ludwig Neusonics, and DW Design. If she really likes Tama, Superstars are pretty darn good.
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Agree , but Im a Tama Honk. Great Value/quality ratio. Probably the only other brand i would ever buy is Sonor . if i could afford an SQ2 that would be the museum Kit that never gets moved, lol
 
rungeflash said:
Where are you in Canada? Too far to drive to Portsmouth, NH? Lol. They have a killer looking renown kit used for a decent deal 1199 us

www.drumcenternh.com

Used Gretsch Renown 4pc Drum Set Gloss Natural

Very good condition. There is some pedal rash consistent with a gently used set of drums. 10x7, 12x8, 14x14, 20x16 Gretsch Renown double tom holder is included.
www.drumcenternh.com www.drumcenternh.com
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I am located near Montreal. Not a long drive to that store. I already contact them in the past for something else and if you add custom, it will cost me an arm and a leg...In Canadian dollars. Also, because I am not a US citizen, I will not have any guarantee.

But this drum kit is utterly sublime.
 
rungeflash said:
I found this in Montreal. Just slightly over the 1700 limit. No idea how reputable this place is….but might be worth a drive to see it in person

www.drumbazar.net

Search results for: 'gretsch drum usa custom 10 12 13 16 22 erable brun maple walnut used usage 25092'

Magasin de batteries - Cymbales et accessoires neuf et occasion / Drum Shop - New and used drums, cymbals and accessories.
www.drumbazar.net www.drumbazar.net
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I never bought anything there but they have a good reputation according to the comments on google. One of many ways to validate customer service is to see if the owners responds to the lower grades that people gives. This owner takes the time to do it.

Thanks for the discovery. Not a lot of information on the model and the year, but it looks like it's in very good shape.
 
Mancho1991 said:
I never bought anything there but they have a good reputation according to the comments on google. One of many ways to validate customer service is to see if the owners responds to the lower grades that people gives. This owner takes the time to do it.

Thanks for the discovery. Not a lot of information on the model and the year, but it looks like it's in very good shape.
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It says they’re USA customs….that’s top of the line, above renown. That price seems almost too good to be true. Not positive on the year, but at least ten years old I’d think by that badge. However, if the shells, bearing edges, etc….all check out, and it’s not just totally beat to hell….I’d say that’s a heluva deal!
 
Mancho1991 said:
But the question remains. How does the PDP Concept Maple compared to the YTC in terms of maple quality, construction, hardware, hoops, lugs and, of course, sound?
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The Concept Maples are made with all Asian maple, and while I think they sound very good, they don't quite have the warmth and smooth tone that the Yamaha Tour Customs have (due to the North American Maple)

Both the Concept Maples and Tour Customs have excellent hardware, but the finish is nicer on the Tour Customs. Also, this is just preference, but the lugs on the Concept Maples make them arguably the ugliest drums on the market. I've never liked how they look.

Between the two I'd definitely get the Tour Customs, unless you can somehow get a Renown kit under your budget.
 
rungeflash said:
I found this in Montreal. Just slightly over the 1700 limit. No idea how reputable this place is….but might be worth a drive to see it in person

www.drumbazar.net

Search results for: 'gretsch drum usa custom 10 12 13 16 22 erable brun maple walnut used usage 25092'

Magasin de batteries - Cymbales et accessoires neuf et occasion / Drum Shop - New and used drums, cymbals and accessories.
www.drumbazar.net www.drumbazar.net
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Wow….not sure if Mancho is the one that got these….but they’re gone. Poof. I knew that deal was smoking hot for a USA custom kit
 
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