IS THIS KIT WORTH THE MONEY?????????????????

AugDrum · Tadpole Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 17

I am looking to purchase a Mapex Qr Series 7-Piece Double Bass Drum kit. How is the quality? Is it worth the price? What would be a better set to buy in that price range? If you know anything and could help me out that'd be awesome.

----AUGDRUM

stixman · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:10 am Post subject:

Get a 5-piece Pro M or M-Birch instead. Much better, and im sure you dont need all those drums. Quality not Quantity remember. Whats your status with cymbals etc?

AugDrum · Tadpole Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 17

my cymbals aren't the best, but they're fine for now. same with hardware

stixman · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:42 am Post subject:

so you only really need a shell pack. Whats your budget here?

AugDrum · Tadpole Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 17

it's gotta be $800 or less

edgewood_drummer92 · Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 657

I'd get the Gretsch catalina birch and then get some decent cymbals that you can afford after that. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gretsch-Drums-Catalina-Birch-Fusion-Floor-Shell-Pack-?sku=445672
I have the carribean blue one. This kit is frekin awesome though, the snare is actually pretty good, all the drums have a wide tuning range, the hardware is pretty good. I would definatly get this kit expecialy since it retails for $1,155.00 and they're selling it for 500$.
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"You can be smart and happy or you can be stupid and miserable."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

AugDrum · Tadpole Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 17

i saw that, and its a good deal and all but, i don't want a fusion or jazz kit. i want big deep drums.

edgewood_drummer92 · Bear Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 657

Well then your just being difficult and stubborn lol...
_________________
"You can be smart and happy or you can be stupid and miserable."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

midvalley_f · Tadpole Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 23

Fusion sized drums aren't going to negatively affect your sound, they're just smaller drums. You can still get the deep sound you're talking about on fusion sized kits.

Or is it just a matter of cosmetics?
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"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." - Henry David Thoreau

AugDrum · Tadpole Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 17

well, i will take your advice for it, becuase you probably have more experience than me, i have only been playing maybe 2 years, but on my cousin's fusion kit when you try to tune his high tom low pitched it just sounds flat. but i think i am gonna buy a fusion kit now that you told me that. thanks!

midvalley_f · Tadpole Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 23

Anytime man.
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"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." - Henry David Thoreau

MagicMedicine204 · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 7:21 pm Post subject:

the only big, deep sound you're getting out of a 10" tom is if you have it triggered. they aren't meant to go low.

**there was more, but i just saw your other post with what you're looking for**
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Pacific MX

Angry_Monkey · Tadpole Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 22

Granted, deeper shells will generally promote deeper tones. Remember 'power toms' from the 80s??
However, alot of this can be over come with the heads you select for your standard depth toms. The side effect is that yout toms will not ring out with a very low note. This is actually a good thing. One of the worst sounds in the world is the muddy rumbling of too much low end being put out on stage or in the studio.
I recommend using a heavier head and tuning higher. For example, if you put an Ambassador on a 10" at a given tension, you'll get more of a high pitched 'ping' type sound that will ring out. Now put a Hydraulic on there with the same tension, and you'll get a solid thump, with less ring; a much drier and more controlable sound.
By changing heads, you can control the ring or rumble from the drum, get the tone you want, and because thicker heads require higher tension, you'll actually get better stick response!

Another consideration would be shell material. Beech is a good wood if you want a real thump. Maple tends to be brighter. Acrylic just lets it all hang loose. I would recommend maple, it seems to be the most versatile, and can be adjusted with head choise.

If you are worried about the 10" tom, pick up a couple different 10" heads of different weight (I think Hydraulics are the heaviest available on the market). Go to the store, and test the kit, try the different heads, try adding a piece of Moon Gel, try a zero ring. Most decent stores won't mind you test driving the gear, after all they want to sell it, and they want happy customers. (just ask a sales person first). And sleep on it, don't make any snap decisions. Try some more options late if not convinced.

This also applies to the resonator head, but that is for another thread; the more opions in play, the more complex the situation gets. Just remember that the bottom head can be used to fine tune the sound.

P.S. Along with mis-tuned toms, Yoko Ono in on the list of worst sounds in the world.

MagicMedicine204 · Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:54 pm Post subject:

all very valid points.

but all i was saying was if your after a certain sound and you have a choice in sizes, you should logically go with the tom size that fits it. Wink

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Pacific MX

Angry_Monkey · Tadpole Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 22

Agreed, but Augdrum never did mention what type of music he was planning on playing. If he was planning on playing 80s style metal, then a 12" 14" 16" 18" two up, two down set with tight trousers and meat cleavers would be a good starting point. Of course, the 12" and 14" should be 'power tom' depths. Because no one in the 80s respected you with normal depth toms, no matter how tight your trousers were. Smile

He did mention trying to tune a 10" low (low being a relative term). He didn't seem to have a problem with it other than the fact that he was under tuning it. The point being that there are many other options to consider other than simply buying larger drums. I know several drummers that have regretted that. Strangely enough they usually came to that revelation while loading in or loading out for a gig.

I've done my fair share of teching, and people were always impressed with how I could take a set that was complete crap and make it sound good... I knew a drummer that preferred to use the $100 house set that I tuned instead of his own! Smile