Hi there,

I'm upgrading my studio. So far, I have UA 2610 and Sytek preamp with several mics, distressor. Now,I'm considering of buying a real good solid recording drumset. I have budget around $ 3000.

I start to do research on the net about recording drum to get an idea of which particular model or brand that would be great for recording. But then, I found that not many pay attention to the drumset itself but rather more on drummer playing style (which is also important), mic placement, tuning .. etc.

Is it worth to make high investment on a drumset ? (like Sonor delite and Ludwig set which are quite costly) or should I buy lower model (what it could be?) and save the money for more preamp ? : )

I need your suggestion !

Thankyou

I'd forget the Ludwig and steer you more toward the Sonor or something like the Yamaha 9000 Series/Recording Series kits, mainly because these are likely to be the most reliable in terms of having good bearing edges and being properly round (the latter being more of a concern with older drums). The very most important thing with drums, particularly in a recording studio, is being able to get the drums well tuned. I've played on just about every kind of kit imaginable over the years, and while I enjoy the different sound of various boutique level kits, etc., in most cases I generally would much rather play even an entry level kit that tunes up well than a boutique kit that has bad bearing edges (happens more often that you'd think!) and there is maybe one or two drums that I just cannot get properly in tune.

Something like a good Sonor or Yamaha kit is more likely to have good, even bearing edges right out of the box, and, particularly with the upper ranges of kit will generally sound good in a fairly wide tuning range (which is also important, because different drummers have different preferences with regard to the pitch of their drums, depending on the style of music, etc.) In my experience, the American made drums such as Ludwig (especially), Gretsch, DW and others seem to be a little likely than Sonor, Yamaha, or even Pearl drums to come out of the factory with improperly cut bearing edges. Don't get me wrong, those American made drums sound great if the bearing edges are properly cut, but I've just run across more problems with them. I have a lovely Gretsch jazz kit in my arsenal, but, while it sounded very good stock, the sound never properly opened up until I had the bearing edges professionally recut, and I would have trouble in certain rooms getting them tuned to my satisfaction before that. Certain rooms would expose the nasty overtones in one drum or another. Now I can get a good sound out of those drums in pretty much ANY room . . . and I can at least get them sounding musical in the absolute WORST of rooms.

This is probably why, as you have observed, most drummers aren't overly fussed about which brand of drums they use, as long as they can get a good sound out of them.

There are a number of good threads in the forum archives discussing drums, including the one HERE .

Hope that helps.

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Scott
--Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?

I'd second Scottdru's advice there, and also say that while a lot of higher-end kits are maple (which is great for live use, because it's a very loud, powerful sound), I find I get a better recorded sound playing drums made out of beech, birch or oak, because they're a little less boomy. Personally speaking, I'd go for a Yamaha Beech Custom kit, although the Oak Custom line is also very highly regarded and a little cheaper.

I had this very debate in my studio. Having been (just) pipped at the post on a very nice Yamaha Studio 9000 kit, I went for a new Sonor Force 3005 kit, augmented with a vintage Gretsch snare and some seriously nice hand-beaten Turkish cymbals.

It's been played by quite a few clients, including some who have left their own kit in thecar after they've tried it. I would say at UK proces I spent a shade over $3,000, but you may get better bargains your side of the pond.

Despite Scott's advice, I'd love a DW kit - but for a good one I'd be doubling the budget probably!

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Dynamite with a laser beam...

Thanks a lot! Thank you Scott,that really helped me out.

Quote Steve Hill:

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Despite Scott's advice, I'd love a DW kit - but for a good one I'd be doubling the budget probably!

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Don't get me wrong . . . I would LOVE to own a DW kit. They sound beautiful. But almost every one I've played had at least one drum with bad bearing edges that I just could not get in tune, without having some nasty overtones. So, if I were to contemplate investing in a DW kit, I would probably plan some room in the budget to have the edges professionally recut . . . and there is only one person here in NYC that would trust to do it: Nodar Rode. Interestingly enough, Nodar gets more DW drums into his shop to have the edges recut than any other brand of drums . . . at least with regard to new drums. He gets loads of vintage drums in for edge work. Vintage American drums are prime candidates for needing edge work. The Japanese drum companies (particularly Yamaha) and Sonor were the first to get this right.

I'm still completely gobsmacked that DW will go to the lengths of pitch matching their shells, but apparently can't be arsed to make sure all of their bearing edges are properly cut.



I tend to prefer getting the purest, open tone I can get just by tuning the drums carefully. And only then will I damp them if it is necessary. I don't want to have to use damping to get rid of nasty overtones. If I can get rid of them by getting them properly tuned, I can use less damping, and get a bigger, fuller sound out of the drums.

The drums gotta go boom. I don't want any drums that go toink.

Spacehog's point about maple drums, etc., is a good one. Birch drums don't tend to project as much as the maple (which is not as good for live, unmiked performance in larger rooms), but they sound GREAT in small, controlled rooms. In the last bunch of years, I've been playing more small rooms or, if I'm in a bigger room, the drums will be miked. I tend to use my birch Yamaha Recording Series kit for pretty much everything these days -- even for jazz gigs, I often choose them over my lovely Gretsch jazz kit, because I'm often playing in quite small rooms, and often have to play fairly quietly. It can be easier to control the birch drums in those situations . . . I can just relax and play, instead of worrying about overpowering the room. They just get a nice, pure open tone.

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Scott
--Where are we going and why am I in this handbasket?