x
anonymous 23 July 2003

This is the first time I've posted a new topic to this forum, so take it easy on me, please. :D

So, what is you dream kit? Right now, I have a basic Tama RockStar five piece that I'm not very happy with.

Here's what I plan to do...

http://

From this site, you can buy kits of pre-drilled and bearing-edged raw Keller maple shells and lugs that Adonis make themselves (the navigation menu is at the bottom - check out the lugs, they look like a great design). Then you can finish the drums yourself with whatever finish you want. Here's my idea:

Toms, all mounted, 6-ply (Depth x Diameter):
- 8" x 10"
- 10" x 12"
- 12" x 14"

Bass drum, 8-ply (Depth x Diameter): 18" x 20"

Snare, 10-ply (Depth x Diameter): 5.5" x 14"

I was going to do the outside with a cherry-red rub finish and satin overcoat, and oil the inside with something like tung oil, which a lot of drum makers recommend. In fact, some use tung oil as the finish on the outside, too.

Anyway, call me crazy (because I certainly am) but I like the idea of being able to finish my own drum kit exactly the way I want it. This whole crazy scheme would cost me just over $1000 to do, plus shipping and finish materials.

If you could get anything, what would it be?

Tags

Comments

golli Wed, 07/23/2003 - 20:24

I've had Pearl....something in the 80's. Then Premier which gave me headache from day 1, especially the hardware, hoops, it never held the tuning properly. Few years back I saw a guy at a consert and was blown away with his snare sound, I knew he had a Signia 14x7" so I bought it from him when I could. Well that snare sounded like f****** crap, thin and unimpressive so I asked him about that consert and he had a Tama 14x6.1/2" maple, well I bought that one and love it. Never had good experience with Premier.
And since 1996 I've had a Yamaha maple custom set. Consisting of 10x8, 12x8, 14x12, 16x14 toms, and 22x18BD+ 14x5.1/2" Manu Katce snare besides the Tama snare.
This set is a dream to play and work with it has Die-cast hoops and rock solid Yamaha hardware but I use DW pedals wich are the best for my feet.
Of course i drool sometimes over other sets like the Gretch's or Slingerland's but I thing I would'nt be improoving to much with them, given the extra expence.
So I just love my Yamaha set and many of their products.

anonymous Wed, 07/23/2003 - 21:03

I got to beat a little bit on a Yamaha Oak Custom kit. I didn't really hear too much of a difference between that and the good maple ones. I guess it's impressive to tell people you have a kit with oak shells.

I would still love to custom-finish my own kit, though. I think that would impress people more than oak shells. :D

Rod Gervais Sun, 07/27/2003 - 18:18

The last time i was ready to make a purchase - i wound up caught between DW and the Mapex Mars Pro.

This is the kit they put out 6 years ago - full through lugs........

Well i ended up with the Mapex....... 7 piece - threw away all of their hardware - went with Pearl Double Braced - hated the snare - so it's either my Pearl 13 x 5 1/2 or my Piccolo ( I set up both when i play - but the 13 is my main) - this with 7 rotos (i know i know - but i just love their sound on certain songs) that are 8" to 20" - am now ordering 4 timbales to finish out the drums in the kit.

I do love the sound of the Mapex Toms and Bass...... so for me it was worth it.

99% of my brass is Zildgian..... Custom "A" - 14"H.H. and 12" recording high hats (depending on where we play), 10" splash, 12" splash, 16" crash, 18 ride crash, 20" ride - along with a 22" sizzle ride (love it for soft jazz) made in 1972 and one paiste 14" light crash.

Double bass pedal is DW - i love the feel...... and i just went to the Pearl remote high hat - which i will tuck in over the center of my bass - right above my knee .......(tis how i am opening up enough room for the timbales).

That's about it - i can't possible reach any more (unless this idea i have of overhead cymbals can be made to work) sort of the kit i always dreamed about - just a bear i had to get this old before i could put it together.

Happy Hunting

Rod

shaneperc Sun, 07/27/2003 - 20:30

I'd love to get ahold of a Sonor maple Hi-Lite kit. Those things sounded incredible anytime you heard someone play them. They have them on eBay every once in awhile, but they always go for top dollar.

As voiced above, I, too, like the Yamaha Maple Customs. I think they're one of the best sounding drums that are currently in production. But, it's amazing how "different" (and by "different," I mean BAD), the Maple Custom Absolutes sound!

Rod- At least you didn't buy the DWs! I bought a Collectors kit in 1997, and hated every minute of it. It was so cool to own a set of DWs, but after a billion different head combinations, I realized I was never going to get a good sound out of those things. Listening to other drummers playing DW, I can tell they weren't doing much better than me! From what I can tell, the only good sound from DW drums are what Mick Fleetwood and Joey Kramer are doing (...which is using black-dot heads on everything.) I sold that kit to a friend, and he ended up selling them 2 months later!

Rod Gervais Mon, 07/28/2003 - 05:18

I believe i spent at least 2 weeks playing both kits (I also checked out Tama and Pearl on the onset) ......... experimenting with some different heads - and at the end there were 2 factors that turned the corner for me - the 1st was the sound - The Mapex just had a sweeter sound (i use Pinstrips for my heads - and love em) the second was the overall design....... the DW's have 2 lugs - the Mapex are through lugs - and i have always prefered the latter - the put all of the head tension on the heads - and do not put a twisting tension on the body.

Besides which - the Mapex were a grand less money (although ultimately the sound and design were my only real factors - i would have paid the extra grand to have what i really wanted - but hell- to get what i want and save a grand?)

Happy Hunting

Rod

anonymous Mon, 07/28/2003 - 06:48

I can't think of one single kit that would be my "dream kit." My dream kit would actually be several kits that serve a variety of applications. That being said, I always wanted one of the Sonor kits in African Bubinga that was popular some years ago. It was extremely expensive due to the wood being so rare but to me it was the greatest looking stuff I've ever seen! Still makes me lust and drool whenever I see them! ;)

drbam

Rod Gervais Tue, 07/29/2003 - 04:36

Originally posted by Consul:
Does this really make a difference in the longevity of the drums?

One of the things i do in my "real life" is engineering - so i look at everything with that mindset.

The answer to the question is that i truly do not know - the only thing that i do know for sure is that single lugs put a stress into the side of a drum - and thru lugs do not........ and for some weird reason - my mind refuses to accept that this does not make a difference in the sound that comes out the other end...... seeing as the body of the drum adds tone to it.

This may (or may not) have anything to do with reality (after all - we're musicians and deal more with creativity than reality) but it affects my thoughts to the point that it (at the very least) changes my PERCEPTIONS of what a kit brings to me - and that (in the end) is enough.....

Happy Hunting

Rod

anonymous Thu, 07/31/2003 - 13:16

Hey Gang, check out donohodrums.com I truly believe that his kits are the best value ever.

Truly custom drums, keller shells (that DW uses)
and super cheap. I do not have a set just yet, but they sound awesome. Recording and live.

I love the fact that you can call up the guy who made your drums anytime. Try that with DW, Tama Pearl, etc.
If you are in the Nashville area, I'm sure you heard of them. If not, call him up! He's a good old boy and loves to talk drums his building techniques.

Sorry to sound like a commercial... but these arethe real deal. Cheers!

Tekker Wed, 08/13/2003 - 08:38

I was thinking about building my next kit, but those Donoho drums are pretty tempting as it doesn't look like it costs much more than it would be to build it myself... I guess I'll have to see how much time I have available when I actually get the money for a new set.

Thanks for the link! :)

-tkr

Rod Gervais Wed, 08/13/2003 - 12:06

Tek,

I actually have designed the forms required so i can build a truly custom kit - they're (the plans that is) sitting on the hard drive waiting for me to fire up autocad one of these days and begin the construction - now if only there was an extra - say - 15 or 20 hours a day - i would probably get it going.......

Rod

anonymous Wed, 08/13/2003 - 15:52

Ooh, now that would be quite the DIY project.

I'd thought about building my own kit from the ground up, but then I saw these pre-drilled shell kits and thought that that would be a much easier route to take. I don't know if I can commit to a from-scratch drum kit build, what with wanting to build all of my own compressors and mic pres and what-not.

anonymous Tue, 08/19/2003 - 07:48

Tek, I did the same thing and priced the DIY kits, but they all came out to be the same as buying a kit from Donoho, and hassle free.
If your still interested in the Donoho's, and I hope your are, he does a WICKED painted sparkle finish. Looks way better than any wrap. Of course it will be a one of a kind, signed by the maker himself.

Btw, He wont put wraps on any drums due to the damening of the shell's resonance. This sparkle finish is killer, you can get any custom color, and a proof sent before manufacture. I beleieve he used to be an autobody guy.

Anyway sorry to sound like andvertisement AGAIN, but those drums are the real deal. I just picked up a Donoho 6.5x 14 maple snare and am VERY pleased with it. Best Ive ever had.

Good luck on the search.

[ August 19, 2003, 09:50 AM: Message edited by: Dave Stanley ]

anonymous Tue, 08/19/2003 - 20:38

Dave,

Those kits do look awesome, and I really loved some of the setups in the photo gallery. I just wish I could afford one now. I recently got laid off of my job. :(

Oh well, if it doesn't kill us, it just makes us stronger, right? I guess I just need to make do with my Tama RockStar kit for now.

Randyman... Sun, 09/07/2003 - 17:30

I sold my old drum instructor a set of those Sonor Bubinga drums about 6 years ago. MAN! It was like $3500 for 3 toms and a kick. It sounded like it was worth every penny!

On the lug issue - I don't claim to know any more than Rod, but you also have to consider the shell and what is attached to it. Mass and resonance are indeed related. A heavier lug = a heavier shell to vibrate. Not to mention, the lug going all the way down the shell actually stiffens the shell - reducing resonance. Look at the Yamaha recording - SMALL single lugs so the shell can "Sing". You can even hear it - next time you dis-assemble your drums, tap the stripped shell. A nice pure tone will resonate. Add the lugs - the resonance is greatly attenuated and not as "pure". Liken it to an acoustic guitar's internal bracing - it needs to be just strong enough to hold tension to pitch without sacraficing the top's resonace.

I have a set of Tama ArtstarII's that have the full lugs, and I don't mind them at all. They are heavier drums, and tune low very nicely. Not a jazz set-up by any means. Here is a pic...

:cool:

Rod Gervais Sun, 09/07/2003 - 17:51

Posted by Randy

On the lug issue - I don't claim to know any more than Rod, but you also have to consider the shell and what is attached to it

Randy,

1st of all - great pic, beautiful kit.

I am not an expert on the forces that exist with a drum shell - i am however an engineer - and can picture in my minds eye what is taking place.

It just seems logical to me that a thru-lug will exert no torsional forces on a shell - whereas a side mount will.

Of course, I could always be mistaken... ;)

Happy Hunting

Rod

Randyman... Sun, 09/07/2003 - 18:23

Well, thanks - Rod! You have a purdy kit yourself...

The way I see the lug issue is - the only stress on the shell is a "compression" from the bearing edge to the lug casing mount. This is where the lug is pulling down on the head, causing the compression here. Below the lug, the shell tension is essentially null (aside from the fact it is supporting its own weight). I just don't see the long lug reducing stress, I just see it as adding mass. I'm no engineer!

I believe that the trueness of the shell, along with the bearing edge will be far more important than this small lug issue. Like I said, my ArtstarII's have the "through" lugs, and I like them. It would likely make a bigger difference on a very thin shell (My artstars are HEAVY!).

Anyone used the Peavey drums? When I worked at a music shop (6 years ago) I got to go down to Peavey's plant and educational facilities in Mississippi on two different occasions for 1 week each. Their drums do have some ingenious patents. The bearing edge is NOT BENT! It is peiced and mitred from solid stock into an octagon "donut". Then, it is routed to form the bearing edge and lug mount. The crazy thin shell is attatched to this bearing edge - the shell has NO HARDWARE attatched to it! I was impressed, but not enough to sell my Tamas and buy one! Is anyone recording with the Peaveys?

Later :cool:

Rod Gervais Mon, 09/08/2003 - 09:50

Randy,

If I mount something on the side of a shell - and then introduce a force to create tension on it - even pulling straight up as with the tension rod connected to the hoop - I also put into play a force at the center of the connection point.

This point wants to act as a hinge due to the forces involved - it creates tension at the furthest point of the connector - and places the end closest to the hoop under compression.

Hoever it cannot hinge due to the method of connection - thus it attempts to rotate the entire connection - which it also cannot do - because of the strength of the shell itself - so - it simply creates a tension in the shell which would not exist if it were a lug pulling equally on both hoops.

The math and engineering is pretty simple - and i am not suggesting that anything is "wrong" with the multi individual lug system - only that i do not want those forces at work on my drums.

Thanks........... :p:

Rod

Rod Gervais Tue, 09/09/2003 - 12:34

Alécio,

i can't wait to see a picture of this kit - sounds great ........

LOTS OF BRASS.......... and this makes it all work for me - brass is beautiful - and more is better - and a drummer who knows when to use what makes it even better still........ ;)

Happy Hunting my friend,

I'm still looking forward to a cold beer with you one of these days......

Rod

anonymous Thu, 09/11/2003 - 23:12

Wow, this thread really took off. :)

One thing I've been doing lately is researching the making of acrylic drums. I know John Bonham used to play acrylics, and I'm wondering who else has. I've been thinking it would be a fun project to try to build my own acrylic kit. ;)

Either that, or I'm just plain crazy. :s:

x

User login