Jazzy-rock set?

[Penaltyplaybass]

I've been playing drums for about 2 years on the crappiest set ever. I'm finally going to be drumming for a band and I decided its time to get a set.

I'm looking for something jazzy-rock-ish. I really dig the sound of Medeski, Martin & Wood's drummer (Martin). I'm looking to spend under $800 but I want a set that I can use for life.

I was thinking about this one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pearl-Export-EX-5Piece-Drum-Set-with-Free-10-Tom?sku=447874

I like the look of it and that it has the 10" tom. I havent gotten a chance to play one.

Anybody have experience with this set?
Anybody have any recomendations for another set?

Thanks guys

[Seafroggys]

Export isn't so good.

If you want a jazzy rock set, go for Gretsch.

[Penaltyplaybass]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gretsch-Drums-Catalina-Birch-Fusion-Floor-Shell-Pack-?sku=445672

is this gretch any good. It's significantly cheaper. Is the birch not as high quality as maple?

[Seafroggys]

now that is a decent set.

Birch has different sound properties then Maple.

[Drum Phil]

Exports are vile sets.

They're made from poplar which shouldnt even be considered a wood.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

What Phil said

[DrummingBen]

Exports Rule!!!!





Get the Gretsch:)

[fishbulb]

They're made from poplar which shouldnt even be considered a wood.

Not the new ones i thought.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Quiet you.

But yes Gretsch

[We_Love_Lime]

Yamaha Stage Custom perhaps.

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Highly recomended.

[Permanent Solution]

Yamaha Stage Custom perhaps.

This was my thought. I'm a big fan of mine. :)

[White Riot!]

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=104096826

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=102279022

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=103067358

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=104123095

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

that yamaha and the rogeres one are really nice

[White Riot!]

that yamaha and the rogeres one are really nice

Trust me , if I lived in the states I would of snapped them up in a heartbeat

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

same

[Penaltyplaybass]

Excellent. My old drummer has a gretch. I'll give him a call and get some details on it. I'm very glad I consulted you guys and I will not be purchasing an export now.

Being a bass player, I know maple as a very bright sound. Is this true for drums also? Is birch the mellow counterpart (like rosewood is for guitars)?
poplar is not so good for basses either.

thanks guys

[Little Android Man]

Gretsch tbh.

and maple is more of a warm sound with drums.
and birch is brighter with more punch.

[Zildjian]

Excellent. My old drummer has a gretch. I'll give him a call and get some details on it. I'm very glad I consulted you guys and I will not be purchasing an export now.

Being a bass player, I know maple as a very bright sound. Is this true for drums also? Is birch the mellow counterpart (like rosewood is for guitars)?
poplar is not so good for basses either.

thanks guys

good man

and yes maple is somewhat bright. But birch for dums is very punchy and has alot of low end.

and since you mentioned rosewood...mmm Id kill to have a rosewood kit

[Bonham#1!]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gretsch-Drums-Catalina-Club-Mod-4Piece-Shell-Pack?sku=445677

This should be good, sorry if anyone already posted it, but I didnt read them all.

[Janbacca]

Go to a music store and try every kit in your price range.

[We_Love_Lime]

Assuming he has a music store!

[Penaltyplaybass]

I have a guitar center, but you know how those are. They have 2 sets set up and the rest are on the wall. Hopefully when I go they'll have a gretsch set up :thumb:

[Penaltyplaybass]

Hey, I really like the way this set is set up. Any comments?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gretsch-Drums-Catalina-Maple-Fusion-Shell-Pack-with-Free-16-Floor-Tom?sku=445670

[Det_Nosnip]

I'd say go for one of the Catalinas....those are about in that range, right?

edit: haha...touche. There ya go. That's a GREAT deal for the Catalina...if I had $800 and needed a kit, that's exactly what I would buy.

As for the question about Birch....Birch is actually a very high quality wood that is used by many professional artists (Steve Gadd being the most famous example). It tends to have a stronger sound compared to the warmer Maple tones, though, which is why Maple is often more popular, but Birch would theoretically be alot better for heavy music.

Honestly, you'll be hard pressed to put a full kit together in that price range, though...cymbals will take you way over your budget if you want to sound halfway decent.

As far as the drums go, alot of it will come to tuning and head selection. I'd go for coated 1 ply heads (Evans G1s or Remo Ambassadors) and tune rather high (if you're going for a Mitch Mitchell/John Bonham/Keith Moon/Elvin Jones/Tony Williams sort of sound). Go for dark, large cymbals...Zildjian Ks would work.

[Penaltyplaybass]

I have cymbals already. I just need a new pair of hats and a hat stand.

I think I will be going with that Maple Catalina. Thanks for all the help guys. I'm glad to know i can alway count on MX.

[Retarded Chipple]

Out of curiosity, why you going with maple rather than birch?

[fishbulb]

Maple is so much better, that's why!

Maple:

Maple is a general overall warm sounding product, it can reproduce frequencies of the drum fairly well across the spectrum. True slow growth old forest maple trees are most prized due to the narrow growth rings and straight grain. The wood resonates extremely well and the finishes are well accepted. Newer and reforested trees do not have as tight a growth ring habit and are not as prized as old growth timber. Solid shelled snare drums made of burled or Birdseye maple are very warm in overall tone but also impart a very bright attack. Maple is generally thought to have very even tone across the spectrum and is prized by many drummers.

Birch:

Birch is a very dense tough wood, blond in color that tools well. It will have about a 10% loss in reproduction of low end compared to Maple and about a 20% increase in the high end, with the mid range remaining about the same, so the Birch kit will definitely be a “harder” and “brighter” sounding kit. Birch is derived from fast growth trees that are commonly large in diameter and finish reasonably well. Birch is often referred to as a naturally “EQ’d” drum set. This came from its popularity when used in recording studios where the attack portion of the sound was an important ingredient in recordings dating back to the late 60’s. It made it easier to get the drums to cut through the mix with minimal effort.



Poplar:

Poplar is derived from fast growing straight medium hardwood trees and is a less expensive alternative to Birch and Maple. Its finish can be somewhat green in color and is therefore used in the inner ply layers as substitute for more expensive and less plentiful woods. To my ear it takes on more of the tone of birch or mahogany than maple.

Taken from http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/index.html .

In the end it's your call though.

[Retarded Chipple]

Maple is so much better, that's why!

Reading that makes me think that neither is better, just different :confused:

[Drum Phil]

Maple, Birch, Oak, Beech, Bubinga, Heartwood.

Its all just preference.

[Penaltyplaybass]

I'm looking for the warmer tone. Thats why maple. I'm not planning on doing anything that will need a lot of attack.

Question:
Do shell packs include the hardware? Or is it literally just the shells? Does hardware greatly effect the sound, or will standard issue be fine?

[Drum Phil]

Hardware constitutes stands, pedals, thrones ETC. Not the lugs and mounts etc. They still come with it.

[fishbulb]

Reading that makes me think that neither is better, just different :confused:

Haha, i was sarcastic, but my preference is maple.

And shellpack has all of the mounting hardware, it's other things such as throne, pedals, and stands, as Phil pointed out already.

[Det_Nosnip]

Question:
Do shell packs include the hardware? Or is it literally just the shells? Does hardware greatly effect the sound, or will standard issue be fine?

Yes and no. Hardware will mostly affect resonance...for example, floor toms will be able to resonate alot more freely when mounted than when on legs, which is why mounted floor toms have been increasingly popular lately. Debates rage over which mounting system is the best, although to be perfectly honest most of the differences there are minute.

[Little Android Man]

awesome choice man.. im jealous :p

some sort of catalina is going to be my next set. i have yet to decide either birch or maple... because i like the different qualities of both a lot, and when it is time for a new kit ill probably decide based on what i think would be useful.

[White Riot!]

Make sure you slap on Coated heads , right away!

[oliv_da_skinmasher]

Defo. Always coated heads for that 'jazzy-rock' Sound as you put it

[green242]

My suggestion is, if you've had your experience with drumming, and you think you're going to be playing for a while, if it's at all affordable, buy something that's going to last as long as you think you're going to play. That way you won't end up buying ANOTHER set down the road because you've outgrown you're moderately quality set.

But in the end it's allll what you're looking for, But I suggest buy what you want