Hey guys. I really want to upgrade/downsize my drum kit. Right now I have a Yamaha Stage Custom Nouveau in Matte Sienna. Absolutely beautiful kit. I have in sizes 10", 12", 14" rack toms with 16" and 18" floor toms with a 22x17" bass drum. It's a powerful, great sounding kit and I have kept it next to mint for about two years. But lately I have been wanting something a little more... professional sounding.
I am SUPER impressed by the Tama Starclassic Bubinga. I saw this finish the other day that had Birch on the outer plies with lacquer finish and it was gorgeous. Not mention that it sounded flat amazing. I'm thinking to go with a 10" rack tom to start (so that I can go either 8" or 12" in the future, depending on where my head is at). For the floors I want to go 14" and 16" since the bass drums are only 20" and Bubinga already sounds so rich and deep. I want a lacquer finish for sure. The only thing I'm iffy on is the mounting hardware. What do you guys think of the rods/compression fit that Tama uses? I'm not a SUPER heavy hitter, but sometimes I get on my drums a bit. I love my YESS mounts because they are so solid, so I don't know what to think.
Either way. I want to sell most of my cymbals (3 crashes, two sets of hi-hats) with stands included. I want a full drum make-over.
I know this has a lot of holes in it, but I will fill them in later with pics, etc. For now I mostly want to know what you all think of the longevity and lasting quality of the Starclassic series. My alternative choice would be the Yamaha Oak Custom (again, for that deep, rich sound and solid hardware).
PS. I do a LOT of studio work and gig out about once or twice a month.
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Drummer Comments (4)
[+] Add CommentJesterMasque Says Re: Upgrading my drum kit = Upgrading my life
Submitted On: Monday, Oct 19, 2009 - 4:02 PM
And for tom sizes, I suppose I need to go and REALLY test them out. I was thinking stay smaller because of the smaller bass drums, but I would LOVE a 12x10 and a 14x12 up top. I have a square 14 right now and it's just so hard to place correctly because of it's depth. Then I would go 16x16" and 18x16" for sure. But I'm just thinking, for price, I might stick with smaller sizes first, then upgrade to the bigger toms. It all depends on what my guy can do with the price.
JesterMasque Says Re: Upgrading my drum kit = Upgrading my life
Submitted On: Monday, Oct 19, 2009 - 4:02 PM
And for tom sizes, I suppose I need to go and REALLY test them out. I was thinking stay smaller because of the smaller bass drums, but I would LOVE a 12x10 and a 14x12 up top. I have a square 14 right now and it's just so hard to place correctly because of it's depth. Then I would go 16x16" and 18x16" for sure. But I'm just thinking, for price, I might stick with smaller sizes first, then upgrade to the bigger toms. It all depends on what my guy can do with the price.
JesterMasque Says Re: Upgrading my drum kit = Upgrading my life
Submitted On: Monday, Oct 19, 2009 - 3:45 PM
Well, I usually re-tune every couple weeks. Just good practice in my opinion. But I mean the mounting hardware... I don't want to have to start torquing down my toms so that they don't slide down the rods.
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Gretsch . The only kit I was really impressed with was the Renown Maple. Other than that they're just not for me. And Pearl is great. I love them as a company for their hardware, customer support, their Masterworks =) But the Bubinga kit is something unlike I have ever heard come out of Pearls factory.
Next time I'm up at the store I'll take a pic of it for you. It will rape your eyes with it's beauty!
Here is a link to my most recent transformation:
http://s909.photobucket.com/albums/ac292/SwiftRoadStudios/My%20All%20In%20All/
I'm always changing setups, but this always seems to be my default one with this kit.
remy_starwing Says Re: Upgrading my drum kit = Upgrading my life
Submitted On: Monday, Oct 19, 2009 - 2:11 PM
Well, Tama is always great in my opinion, you for sure get what you pay for! And that is a load of equipment that is built to last.
The Starclassic series is pretty sick, although dependent on the cash that you want to spend you might find something sick in the Pearl or Gretch sections of drums/percussion!
Tama's hardware is durable, they really can take some beatings I can say that much, but eventually, (like every two to three shows you do, you will have to re-dampen and re-tune.) but that is like nearly every drumkit (at least with a drummer who knows what he/she is doing behind it).
Dependent on the music that you do, the 10" rack tom would be a great addition to any drumkit, although if you are looking for a more experimental sound (which I am assuming you are) try looking into some timbales, maybe a 6", 8", and 10" alongside two standard size toms (12" and 14") with two 18" floor toms, would make one hell of a set-up and give you a new dimension to your drumming that you would have never thought of.
Hit me up man, I'd like to see a picture of that starclassic set that you are talking about! It sounds hella beautiful! Maybe even a pic of your current? It sounds very pretty too!
Hope it helps bro!
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