Posted: 8/7/2006 5:46:32 PM EDT
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I have been feeling a bit sad these past coupe of days. I sold my drums about a year ago and I'm really missing them. I am thinking about getting another one here soon. Anyway, thinking about them has prompted me to ask this questions to the ARFCOM drummers: Who is your favorite drum maker? Mine would have to be Yamaha. I've owned two of their sets (a Stage Custom and a Maple Custom) and they were both great. They sounded awesome and Yamaha's hardware is absolutely second to none. Gretsch, however, has gotten my attention lately; their Catalina Maple set looks pretty good set for the $$$. |
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Hard to say. I'm partial to DW due to the sweet finishes, but other than that I think they're overpriced. I also like Tama because of the hardware. That said, I play a 4-piece 1964 Ludwig Classic kit in white marine pearl, with a 14x22" bass, 9x13" tom, 16x16" floor tom, and a 5x14" Ludwig Hand-Hammered Black Beauty snare. My cymbals are Zildjians: 14" hi-hats, 16" medium crash, 12" K Splash, 16" thin crash, 20" medium ride, 14" A Custom Fast Crash, 18" crash/ride, and a ZilBel. The hi-hats and 18" crash-ride were originally purchased new with the kit in 1964, as was the original Ludwig cowbell. My hardware is DW and Gibraltar. |
SWEET  Ludwigs is the business. Ive got an olive badge hand-hammered bronze -Its like a cannon. DTFM |
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I'm new to drumming and I bought a Yamaha Rydeen set about 2 months ago from MusiciansFriend.com. Heard it was best set for beginners like myself. Compared to local shops they were drastically cheaper, like $350, and I think they included free shipping. I know you'll be wanting something better than what i've got but I thought I'd recommend Musicians Friend. |
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A few years ago, I played with a guy who had an old Slingerland kit and calf skin heads. Holy cow, it sounded nice. I'm not a drummer, but I was taken back by how great his kit sounded. Anybody know where you can still get calf skin heads, and why more drummers don't use them? They sound REALLY fantastic (at least to me, anyway). Way cool. |
| I think it all depends on what kind of music you're gonna be playing. You into heavy metal, get a big ass Tama kit with cymbals and some gongs. If you're into jazz, get an old school gretsch, like 60's era. Yamaha makes good overall kits, like somebody else said, they've got great hardware, but I think their sounds are limited/generic, but then again, they might be the most recorded drums around too. I play in a country band, and play a 300$ '65 slingerland kit and it rules. 20', 12', 14' , coated ambassadors and i'm set. I've taken them all over the country on tour and they're still kicking ass. I've had all sorts of kits, and just like guns or anything, it's all about what you're gonna be doing with them. Whatever you do, don't get a Talon, CB drums, whatever they sell at walmart... etc. I'd say get an old ludwig, slingerland, or gretsch, they just don't make 'em like that anymore. Ohh, maple sounds the best to me too. good luck |
| I too was in the same boat about a year ago. I had a 7 piece pearl session series set with all sabin cymbols. Had to sell it to pay for school. Pearl has went way down hill (although their reference series is SWEET). I ended up getting a PDP (Pacific drums and percussion) 5 piece set (its the MX emeral fade) they have a 8x7 add on tom and a add on floor tom if you want them that way you can make it a 7 piece set. They are made by DW and they have birch and maple. I have the maple and to be honest these sounded way better then my pearls I paid 4 times as much for. My brother in law has a DW and I swear if you have your back turned and heard them both being played you cant tell wich is which. I do suggest that you buy them from a major retial store like guitar center because some have bitched that the fit or finish was not that great. I have heard more good than bad about them (WAY more good) and I love mine and I had no problems with mine what so ever. The hard ware well you know about that one you get what you pay for. I paid $465 for the 5 piece set (no hardware) try to find a set thats looks and sounds as good as this one for that price (and did I mention that it is all maple). Seriously check out there web site. BTW all of the toms are rim mounted just like the DWs. I swear they are TOTALY SWEET. Go to a store and play them. |