Alex W
Pork and Beans connoisseur
I ended up selling my Yamaha Stage Customs because despite my best efforts I could not get the toms tuned to my liking. We are talking hours and hours of tuning and retuning with different heads to boot.
Anyways the only set I have right now is my Yamaha electric set and I have been looking at 4 different sets.
High on my list are Ludwig Signets. They are made in the USA Ludwig factory and they sound pretty good. The downside is that you have to put them together, the lugs are something new and not really time tested, and the set doesn't come with a snare. $949
Another set I'm looking at is the Mapex Armory 6 pc. Shell kit. The Walnut looks great and they sound "ok" but not as good to me as the Ludwigs. It also comes with two floor toms which I prefer and two mounted toms. I prefer 1 mounted and two floor toms but meh whatevs. I don't know much about Mapex and I can't even remember where these are made. Probably China. $899
Gretsch Rock Catalina. I don't think they are making the "rock" Catalina anymore because I can't find much info about them online and it seems like the people still selling them have 1 color. 24 inch bass which I like, 1 mounted tom, 1 floor, which I can live with. Snare included, not much downside with these at $899
Crush Sublime. I played this set about a year ago and was blown away. Now I can't really find much info and the Crush site looks like it hasn't been updated since last year. Same configuration as the Gretsh but I think the bass drum is smaller. These are a little over a grand.
Thoughts? Opinions? Sets that aren't on my radar? I prefer cymbal mounted toms and two floor toms, but I'm not against trying anything.
Anyways the only set I have right now is my Yamaha electric set and I have been looking at 4 different sets.
High on my list are Ludwig Signets. They are made in the USA Ludwig factory and they sound pretty good. The downside is that you have to put them together, the lugs are something new and not really time tested, and the set doesn't come with a snare. $949
Another set I'm looking at is the Mapex Armory 6 pc. Shell kit. The Walnut looks great and they sound "ok" but not as good to me as the Ludwigs. It also comes with two floor toms which I prefer and two mounted toms. I prefer 1 mounted and two floor toms but meh whatevs. I don't know much about Mapex and I can't even remember where these are made. Probably China. $899
Gretsch Rock Catalina. I don't think they are making the "rock" Catalina anymore because I can't find much info about them online and it seems like the people still selling them have 1 color. 24 inch bass which I like, 1 mounted tom, 1 floor, which I can live with. Snare included, not much downside with these at $899
Crush Sublime. I played this set about a year ago and was blown away. Now I can't really find much info and the Crush site looks like it hasn't been updated since last year. Same configuration as the Gretsh but I think the bass drum is smaller. These are a little over a grand.
Thoughts? Opinions? Sets that aren't on my radar? I prefer cymbal mounted toms and two floor toms, but I'm not against trying anything.