yamaha birch custom, this is the best kit for rock recording hands down, if anybody says otherwise I'll blow bibbles in their milk. Also dw vintage brass collectors snare is awsome. It sounds like a .45 going off when youv'e got a good player.

How bout cymbals???

how bout paiste 2002 series?

i agree with paiste 2002 for rough, dirty rock sounds.
but there's many other cymbals that will get you similar sounds.

as for the drums it depends on which ones you like.
you should check some sets and decide for yourself. when you find a drum set you like, you will also get the sound on the recording that you like. as long as it's properly recorded.

you will also get very good sounding drums and cymbals in the budget series of the big companies. YOU gotta like it!

go to your next music store and check different drums and cymbals. don't watch the brand or the price. only what sounds good to you, will get you the sound you like!

First off, listen to Rocketshell drums if you want to hear some killer drum sounds. Those drums, tuned correctly, can deliver any type of sound you want and they are indestructable (almost).

If you want the big rock sound, go big with your drums.
The kit I'm teching right now is a 24x20 kick, 18x16 floor, 16x14 floor, 14x12 floor, and a 12x10 rack. Snare is 14x8 and cymbals are the same. BIG. 15" Zildjian A series Mastersound hats, 18" A medium crash, 20" A medium crash, 22" A Custom medium ride, and a 24" A medium ride.

Hear it at http://www.thebangkokfive.com or come to one of our shows, we are opening for The Cult starting Thursday in Vancouver Canada.

Cheers,
-Ryan-

djrr3k wrote: First off, listen to Rocketshell drums if you want to hear some killer drum sounds. Those drums, tuned correctly, can deliver any type of sound you want and they are indestructable (almost).

If you want the big rock sound, go big with your drums.
The kit I'm teching right now is a 24x20 kick, 18x16 floor, 16x14 floor, 14x12 floor, and a 12x10 rack. Snare is 14x8 and cymbals are the same. BIG. 15" Zildjian A series Mastersound hats, 18" A medium crash, 20" A medium crash, 22" A Custom medium ride, and a 24" A medium ride.

Hear it at http://www.thebangkokfive.com or come to one of our shows, we are opening for The Cult starting Thursday in Vancouver Canada.

Cheers,
-Ryan-

bonham would be proud of that kit :D

Personally, I would say you gotta go with Zildjians for cymbals... But beware the Z Customs. They sound good, but are way too loud for almost anything except maybe like thrash metal or something like that. I think djrr3k has the right idea... the A Customs sound beautiful

Nirvalica wrote: [quote=djrr3k]First off, listen to Rocketshell drums if you want to hear some killer drum sounds. Those drums, tuned correctly, can deliver any type of sound you want and they are indestructable (almost).

If you want the big rock sound, go big with your drums.
The kit I'm teching right now is a 24x20 kick, 18x16 floor, 16x14 floor, 14x12 floor, and a 12x10 rack. Snare is 14x8 and cymbals are the same. BIG. 15" Zildjian A series Mastersound hats, 18" A medium crash, 20" A medium crash, 22" A Custom medium ride, and a 24" A medium ride.

Hear it at http://www.thebangkokfive.com or come to one of our shows, we are opening for The Cult starting Thursday in Vancouver Canada.

Cheers,
-Ryan-

bonham would be proud of that kit :D

Don't think there aren't Vistalites, timpani drums, squeaky pedals, and 26" kicks involved as well, but the other kit is what travels.

Cheers,
-Ryan-

I like what Mud5150 had to say 8-)

Whatever you do - make sure you check out the local drum shops for clearance items. I was "This Close" to special ordering a Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute Noveau 5Pc Shell kit from Guitar Center on Thursday(10, 12, 14T, 16T, 22"). Yamaha's List Price (not GC's list) was something like $5300. GC would have done it for $3099 (Matching online pricing @ 40% Discount), and it would have taken 6 months for Blue Sparkle to come in.

Well, I must have missed it, but there was an IDENTICAL kit - but Piano Black that was a floor display model (stacked up on a riser out of harm's way :) ). The sales dude pointed it out to me. I was able to "steal" that kit for $1880 with the Tom Mounts + Tom Stand!!! I saved approx $1200 (over the 40% off) over ordering the Blue Sparkle for the SAME KIT!!! I am still on cloud nine. Something like 60% off retail price!!!

Ahh - new drums! Better than new mics! :)

Shop around, and save some major cash. That saved cash can go right back into GOOD cymbals...

:cool:

FistRock wrote: Personally, I would say you gotta go with Zildjians for cymbals... But beware the Z Customs. They sound good, but are way too loud for almost anything except maybe like thrash metal or something like that. I think djrr3k has the right idea... the A Customs sound beautiful

I have to agree on the custom A's - they also have a recording hit hat set that is killer for recording (I own custom A 14" and 12" high hats).

But a lot depends on what you're looking for.

My A's are beautiful - but brighter and less decay than the K series.

The K series are dark and the decay is almost immediate -

So if you want the crashes to ride on - go for the A series - and if you want them to stop dead - opt for the K series.

As far as great drums for recording goes - everything depends on the tuning of the drums.

My lead guitarist has a kit that I would throw into the garbage if they were mine - and yet he tunes them up - records them (he's a good recording engineer) and they sound like a million bucks.

So it's much more important to have the right heads........ properly tune the kit for the sound you're looking for - and go from there.

Thus I agree with ouzo77 - start with a kit that has a sound you like.

Sincerely,

Rod

I agree about the Yamaha birch, but disagree about cymbals selection: Paiste? don't make me laugh, I would never bring one home even if found on a tree. Zildjian? they are very good, but they are too expensive, I think they suffer the "Ibanez syndrome" (the 50% of the price is "brand"); great stuff, indeed, but too expensive.
I suggest looking for UFIP "Rough Series", they totally rock and the price is good.
Otherwise, take a look to Meinl "Byzance Series", they have a quite original sound, and if you like it (like me) you will never choose another brand.

Cresta wrote: I agree about the Yamaha birch, but disagree about cymbals selection: Paiste? don't make me laugh, I would never bring one home even if found on a tree. Zildjian? they are very good, but they are too expensive, I think they suffer the "Ibanez syndrome" (the 50% of the price is "brand"); great stuff, indeed, but too expensive.
I suggest looking for UFIP "Rough Series", they totally rock and the price is good.
Otherwise, take a look to Meinl "Byzance Series", they have a quite original sound, and if you like it (like me) you will never choose another brand.

For me it's the other way around. I love Paiste and never liked Meinl. A friend of mine is working for Meinl in development (they're just 20km away from where I live) and I could get them a bit cheaper, but then again I never liked them, though I wouldn't say they're bad, cause they're not. I just never liked them (don't know why...). But I never liked Zildjian either. Just a matter of taste, both sound and look.

But again, you gotta check them out for yourself and decide for yourself. Maybe you'll find something you like very cheap... or very expensive.

ow, sure it is a matter of tastes :)

Whoever recommended the A Customs, I'm with you there. As for drums, the Yamaha Birch kit or perhaps a Tama kit, which is what I play (it would be a Grestch Catalina, but the Tama was a gift, and it kicks major rear).

What about a Yamaha Rydeen drumset? has anyone tryed it?

For shells I reecomend Maple.I just like the warmth and power you get from them.The highend Pearl MX or SMX series or on a budget the Sonar 2001-2003 series are a bargan used.

Cymbals I like to use Z customs for the a Rock vibe but A or K customs for anything else.

I play Zildjian A Customs. For me after playing Zildjian for nearly 30 years, I cannot break from them. The A customs sound the most retro to me like the old Zildjians prior to the Brothers splitting up. I prefer a full range cymbal. One that has smooth attack and full clearity of tone all the way through the decay. I like to compare a cymbal sound to the clearity of a diamond stone. Instead of visual clearity, I listen to clearity characteristics of sound. If that makes sense. I have heard cymbals that have great attack but the tone doesn't hold together throughout the decay. The reason for this is due to the alloy mixture of metals (which is the patent process of a cymbal). In the earlier days when Zildjian held the patent formula for this clearity, other manufacturers had to work around the patent formula mixtures. The result was always an almost but not quite result. Tonal clearity throughout decay is the key for me in buying cymbals. Since alot of Zildjians patents expired, other companies began to pop onto the scene. Many of these companies have great sounding cymbals (meaning the top three) Zildjian, Sabian, Pastie.
My personal shopping pleasure for cymbals is to listen to this clearity. By the way, I do use Sabian paragons for High hats. Smooth, crisp and clear.
As far as a great sounding recording kit for the money! Taye. I play Tour Pros, I have a drum studio and could have purchased any drums I wanted. I went with the Taye kit for sound quality. They are very versitile to tune and tune easy. the snare is tough to tame, but once you find the righ tuning, it produces a great sound. The kick is very very nice. Punchy, deep and moves alot of air. Overall, I really respect this company. Throughout the 80's I use to have a Rogers A endorsement. I played Rogers for over a decade. The Tayes are a great comparison.
Additionally, Tuning is the sinlge most important element is drum playing. You will never be completely happy (Like an acoustic guitar player strumming a Martin or Taylor) unless you can get the best out of your drums. After that it is up to micing and mixing. Hey, this is gettting more complicated as I go hee hee.
For whatever its worth, keep striving.
Tommy Bozung

I have to agree... I just love my A's... not really customs... just a +40 year long collection of brass.

As far as kits go... I highly recommend the Yomaha Recording Customs... I can get just about whatever, whenever.

I also love the sound of my Sonor HiLite's... tight and agressive and a nice ring that you can control the decay with minimal hastle... like the RC's... just a bit brighter.

Then too... my original Vistalite's are fun... LOVE that 24"x20" kick... (get's me all goose pimply!)

I'm With Rod on both points.
I use Zildjian A customs and love them. I listen to the purety of the tone all the way throught the decay of the cymbal. The more the tone holds together throughout the decay, the better the cymbal. Zildjians always come through. I have played them for decades. I do use sabian paragon hi hats (love them) Silky smooth hi hats.
I use a Taye tour Pro kit for recording in my studio. I decided to make all my studio investments with a cetain theory in mind. If an instrument can sound awesome without fancy, pretty, shiny, then it is a great piece of studio gear. Although my Tayes are good looking. I knew the sound I wanted in a drumset and didn't overspend. They are versatile in their tuning and deliver pure tones. The kick is unbelievable. If I could invest again, it wouldn't change. Same is true for my Martin Acoustic. I am using a their plain jane alterantive materials acoustic for the studio. You know what, it sound like a Martin. That is all that matters.
Tommy

You can check out my sound
http://

Get yourself a birch set
I have a tama starclassic performer there great.
the yamaha is great too.
IN the studio birch is way better.
as far as cymbals
zildians(spelled rong)
A customs are great