The amount of work needed to create these videos is not lost on me. Great content, sincere communication and honesty go a long way to cultivate customers. Keep it up!
Special credit to the individual/s that tuned these kits. They were remarkably close to each other and very well tuned. All 5 of those kits sound awesome and are a phenomenal value!
I got the Catalina Maple, and you can get the 6 piece Shell pack with a free 8 inch cymbal mounted Tom all for under $1000. it was an extraordinary value and I love the sound! After tuning, the drums sounded professional quality right out of the box, even with the stock coated heads. Absolutely love it!
@@Obi1BenNobi its a great kit. I have many kits, but prefer Mapex. I have been playing since age 4 in 1969, i am a family member of the orogonal pianist from Lynyrd Skynyrd.... Billy Powell. He was my uncle.
If DW is the most overrated, then Mapex is the most underrated, probably because it's Taiwanese company, even though all major brands moved their production to China, Taiwan and Indonesia. Saturn is probably the best bang for a buck
Their Mars kits are hands down the best entry level drums on the market. and Armory is probably the best intermediate priced drums on the market... They're just killing it right now
The MAPEX Armory Kit is the most complete, and pro looking/sounding of the lot, especially when matched with the Paiste 900 series cymbals! Big shout out to PAISTE! These pies sound Great!. It could be because it is a hybrid, and that birch adds a great musicality, that the other kits just seemed to lack (I’m sure that will change when the heads are upgraded). The Gretchen kit was a very close 2nd. It was the most classic “Maple-y” sounding kit of all of them. It seems that the coated heads really bring out the personality of these, and the other drums, that have been fitted with them. This example can be found on the Tama set. The snare was Great, and the tome sound exactly how you’d expect a TAMA kit to sound. It surely had a voice of its own. The other 2 kits are very nice, and perhaps its because of the clear heads but the attack and warmth, in comparison to the Mapex or Gretsch kits, just wasn’t there. I’m happy that they all are putting out these Amazing kits, at this price point. In 1988 (GET OFF MY LAWN!!) You’s have to pony up over 2 grand for a kit as complete, and stunning looking as these sets are. They surely aren’t the Corolla of drums any more, but, they also aren’t a Lexus! For a drummer who is gigging, and looking to step up her or his game, This is the Perfect way to go! I’d be happy to gig out on any of these kits. Thanks so much for the review! Cheers!
Proud owner of a PDP concept maple, I am happy my drumset compares to those nice other kits. I agree with you when you say the snare lacks snare beds. I use high end snares instead, so it´s not a problem.
I would love to this same type of comparison done where the staff change out the heads. Maybe do a fun test where each staff member is given 1500 - 2000 and has to build a complete set including hardware, cymbals, new heads, etc.
These kits are all great for the money. Even 'cheap' kits offer so much in the way of sound and quality of hardware/finishes these days. This video is the first time I've ever heard the Decade maple and Superstar being played. Was blown away by how amazing those two kits sounded. Kids today are really lucky to have this stuff available. 😁
parsnips I own 2 Starclassic Tama B/B kits and a Starclassic Bubinga Elite Kit. I wasn’t expecting much but I first played the Maple Superstars I was actually in shock. They were sitting next to a Starclassic B/B which was tuned horrendously and yeah the Superstars still sounded better with the cheaper heads. 6 drums AND a snare 7 in total for $1K or less if on sale. The only budget kits that impressed me previously was the Gretsch Catalina Maple and the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch??? from 2012.
I guess it's because Drum manufacturing is now much more advanced. Even the $500 kits like Mapex Mars are made very precisely with perfectly 360 degrees roundness and precise bearing edges. Boy 25 years ago a $500 kit would've been a nightmare, But now they're totally gigable and recordable.
@@persianskeptic4814 That's right fellow King Crimson fan, and it should be noted that all big companies have moved production to China, Taiwan and Indonesia. I think that only flagship series are still made in USA/Japan/Germany, with the exception of Mapex, which is a Taiwanese company.
@@persianskeptic4814 I bought a brand new Sonor APX Jungle kit for $400 and the build quality is everything you described. Amazing and so much better than what we had in the 80's and 90's.
I bought an armory based on this video and the drummers review video of it and, wow! Going from a 30 yr old export to this is night and day. What was most unexpected was how much easier the armory is to play because the feel is so dramatically better. With good heads and tuning there is absolutely no reason you can’t use it in a professional setting it sounds that good. And as Shane said, the tomahawk snare is outstanding.
To be fair, you can play just about any kit that's well tuned in a professional setting - yes, including Pearl Export, and yes, I could point out one or a master reggae drummer from Africa who work with a Pearl Export... But... that Mapex really sound ridiculous.
I own the 6 piece Armory in night sky burst. Just awesome for the price! Little things Mapex does, that the others don't....plastic lug bushings on all the drums to keep them in tune longer. I also bought a Tama superstar classic in garnet lacebark pine finish. It was nice, but the armory kit blows it away.
When you finished with the kits I thought the Tama sounded best, but then when you did the head to head I thought the PDP and the Armory sounded best. I need to watch this video about 10 more times.
My practice kit is the 7 piece Tama superstar classic custom in dark indigo burst! It's hardware is unmatched amongst all drum companies in that price range but my kit has all remos and with proper tuning/dampening it sounds as good if not equal to my new star classic kit, no joke. Tama in my opinion is just a better quality built kit compared to the competition with excellent sound quality. That's just my opinion though because I've owned multiple brands and nothing compares to Tama on every aspect. Saving now for my third Tama kit and it's going to be a Star series which is my dream kit.✌ brother
I agree !!! I have the armory kit. I put evans g2 heads on the Toms and the emad on the kick and it really sounds like a professional kit. You really don't need to spend a fortune now a days. The technology in drum making has come so far it's insane !!!
I have a DW Design Series maple set, which is essentially a really nice PDP kit with DW hardware and branding. For an "affordable" set under $1K, it's been pretty great.
Thank you for this great ‘comparison’ video. So honest and professional. I watched all the way through. Once pubs and clubs are back open here in UK I am going to buy my first maple drum kit. It’s been a long wait ... but at 72 I still want to rock!! Thanks again. John @ Brizen Reviews
The Mapex definitely had some kind of natural ‘EQ’ thanks to the shell blend. Premier did one years ago called the Gen-X. If I remember correctly, that was a maple/birch combination and sounded like it had natural compression and EQ. It was quite incredible. Had all the highs and lows but the note didn’t last too long.
Andy P premier made some really great drums. I don’t know about the gen x, but the xpk’s were birch w/ eucalyptus in the center plies. They sound great.
@@vertigoat7596 Gen-X was part of the Elite line, it had 7 plies (2-ply birch on the outside and 5-ply maple on the inside), while XPK were made of birch (maybe some XPK Exclusive had eucalyptus?), and Cabria XPK was made of maple, but I agree with you - they were amazing drums, too bad such a good company failed. After the beginner APK and XPK sets and Olympic, which is better not to mention (other than the vintage one), Cabria XPK was a set that was supposed to be some kind of mid-level class close to the top lines like Signia, Genista and Artist. There were and are two Cabria's - the regular and the Cabria XPK. The regular wasn't 100% maple and didn't have die-cast hoops, and had a smaller choice of finishes. The Cabria XPK would be something like Sonor 3007, but with the added value of die-cast hoops that few sets in that range have. So regardless of the positive personal experiences with the Sonor 3007, I prefer the Cabria XPK. There are too many Sonor's on the market anyway, especially those numerical ones - 1000, 2000, 1007, 2007, 3007 - one gets lost in the sheer numbers. Cabria XPK was one and unique. And it's very affordable on the used market. Premier sets, all of which came to my hands, were excellent, some were even years ahead of the competition in terms of technical solutions, workmanship and finishes. But what is it worth when you have people in the management who didn't know how to use it.
Dumbest idea drum companies ever dreamed up was mounting a cymbal and a drum to the same stand.... horrible resonant back feed acoustics from 2 completely different objects, also takes more time to setup and inconsistent drum positioning from one gig to the next. Not to mention the loose drum mounts and hardware to haul around.Then if the weight of the cymbal and stand doesn't counteract the weight of the tom along with cymbal stand feet positioning, that drum was not sturdy and liable to crashing over -cymbal/stand/drum- all at same time on a heavy song. And this is personal opinion .... a kit with toms on stands looks like a garage sale throw together job, not a factory set. Alright, I'll shut up and go back to what's enjoyable - gigging and efficiency.
listened to the video very carefully...First of all, they all sound great.....A lot of Bang For The Buck!....My picks were #1- Gretsch Catalina Maple, #2-Pearl Decade, #3- Mapex Armory, #4-Tama Superstar, #5 PDP Concept Maple....By The Way- Great job on the Video!
Honestly to me the differences were really small in sound, I couldn't really choose a favourite. The way you mix all of your videos make every drum kit sound fantastic.
I played a PDP CX Maple kit for almost 15 years and it sounded incredible, even in 700+ live rooms. I "upgraded" to a Crush E3 Sublime and it doesn't even compare to the PDP. Considering going back to PDP or just going to a different wood configuration altogether.
I used to own a tama superstar years ago then i tried a pearl session studio and i was sold . pearl has that boomy sound on their toms that i like . the decade sounded the best in my opinion.
I’ve been a Pearl guy since I bought my export series kit nearly 20 years ago. That being said, I really wanted them to be the best. That Mapex kit was beautiful and sounded so good!
Some of the drum sets at that price point today sound better (mic'd) than what we were on stage with in the 60's. Nice video, Shane. And you're 100% correct that those starting now with their first kits have good quality to choose from ... even at the entry level price points.
Guys I just wanted to chime in from the perspective of a studio engineer. I record mostly alt-rock, hard rock and some pop. I pulled the trigger on the Mapex Ultramarine Armory 5 piece rock shell pack in October and have been blown away by it. Currently I have clear Emperors on top and clear Ambassadors on the bottom. The kit is SO versatile, easy to tune and really shines through on a plethora of genres. It's weird, Mapex has had a not-so-great reputation on the interwebs over the years but after having an awesome sounding limited edition Meridian Obsidian kit, I've just ignored all that garbage, trusted my ears, and I've never been happier (my clients love it too!). This is a killer kit! And beautiful to look at!
just ordered the ultramarine tonight got 200$ free sweet water bucks as well on purchase! also got 14inch hi hats s series! im new to drumming but i really want a good kit not something that sounds off to really learn on! cant wait!
@@shreddyeddy7391 Awesome choice! You will love it. I have been recording drummers for years but started learning myself in January 2020 and the kit is such a joy to play. Especially how customizable the toms are in terms of ease of positioning, in a game of inches, having the flexibility to move them wherever is huge!
Hi! The amount of effort you put into this video is appreciated beyond words. Fantastic job! I own the PDP 7 piece maple kit and I live it. The DW I use on the road but my PDP was recently used for recording and if pulls it off very well. There was an intangible to it,, probably that it was brighter when warmth wasn't what was needed. For those starting out, every kit has its strengths! I do use a Ludwig Black Beauty as the PDP snare is not a very good one in my opinion. If your new, get a kit you can afford! 50 years ago when I started there were limited chouces if you wanted a good kit. Now?? All of these are good.
It’s unreal how amazing these lower budget kits sound these days. They honestly rival the high end kits in sound, and even in looks. I’d probably have to go with the Gretsch Catalina Maple though. PDP is a close second
I have a first generation Pearl Masters Maple kit that I bought new around 94. It is just plain worn out, though the shells are still good. I decided to buy one of these lower priced maple kits after hearing the sound samples. I chose the PDP concept maple 7 pc. 8-10-12-14-16-22. That's the same configuration as my Masters kit. Though they sound different, they are more alike than different. The masters has reinforcement rings with very thin shells, and they speak a little differently than the pdp. The pdp actually tunes up better, has a wider range, and has a more aggressive and direct sound. The Pearl is more "toney" for lack of better words. These days, if I were out gigging again, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of these kits to tour with. For one thing, if they get damaged or stolen, you're not out a zillion dollars. They really do sound excellent. Back in the 80's and 90's we would have loved to have drums this good that we could afford without a credit card or loan. It's interesting to hear the different tones from each company. Pearls always sound like Pearls... sort of round in a good way (to me). Tamas always seem to have a harder and colder sound- as has been my experience with them over the years. The most different kit here is the Mapex. I'm curious whether it's because of the wood blend or the bearing edge, because I hear a shorter decay and less overtones in general. I know some people like that type of tone, but it sounds a little flat and lifeless to me. It's easy enough to change heads to take the tone out of a drum that is more live, but you can't liven up a dead drum. Maple is just a great tone wood for a drum. For a hard rock sound I do like birch with double ply heads, but I think maple is the most versatile. Thanks for another great video DCP. If I ever get work again post-covid, I'll buy my next kit from you guys.
Great comparison as always. There are really no bad choices here, I would be happy with any of them, but I was particularly impressed with the PDP and Mapex kits.
Thank you! We are really lucky! When I started playing drums this high end videos weren't out there! 13 years later I'm buying a first hand drumset for the first time (a dream comming true) and you are helping me a bunch!!!!
If I had my way based on what I just heard: Pearl Bass drum; PDP tom-toms, Mapex floor-tom and Mapex snare. Mix and match, lol. Overall, the Mapex set has the best tone overall, imho. 27:11 absolutely agree.
I have the mapex armory kit, 6 pc. And I am in love with the sound!! Even with stock heads tuned nicely, that 16" floor has a lot of throat and deep. I think my mapex sounds better than the one in this video, woth stock heads. In person is just a whole different thing. Couldn't decide between pdp, gretsch and mapex. Glad I got the mapex!
The Armory was my favorite. To have try those working in a drumshop also, I have to admit that Mapex really nailed it with this one. My second favorite was the Tama. That being said, all those kits will work and give a good sound for the price you pay. I think those kind of kit is among the best to gig with if you don't want your 6k $ drum kit being carried and thrown by people who doesn't care much that you do...
I have the armory studio ease shells, and I feel like the toms are not as loud as the rest of those kits… am I the only one with that opinion? And if you found the good heads to help having a decent volume… (best I have tried yet his emperor) thx!!
I have the pdp and they’re great. They’ve always had great low end, and they hold up real well with heavy hitting. I would go for a different finish though.
How has the tom stand/L-arms held up on your PDP? I've played the Tama Superstar Classic and (sadly) wasn't impressed with their tom mount stand/L-arms that come standard on the Tama kit. I know PDP uses the 10.5mm L-arms as opposed to the 12.7mm L-arms found on the Gretsch for instance. You mentioned how well the PDP's hold up. Any additional info you might have time to provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I play an old pdp fs currently and am looking to upgrade soon. For me it’s between the pdp and the mapex probably. But damn, I really wish the pdp offered better finishes. The satins are clean but none of them blow me away. The mapex on the other hand has the most gorgeous finishes. Just unbelievable.
I like the Mapex too, but agreeing with you , I would prefer to have tom rack on the Kick Drum. At 68 years old, and after a 50 year Hiatus, just rejoining an enjoyment in life, to play drums again, I will be shopping for an upgrade to my cheap Grammond starter set my wife got as a XMAS gift in 2018. I will never get out of the basement, but looking to be able to play along to music and tunes I think I can handle . If I can play half as good as you, I would have achieved a nice goal. At my age, arthritis DOES configure into your abilities, and creates limitation. But I still love it !!! I know: Practice, Practice, Practice. THX for your quality Videos.
When I first saw this video in the list, I had flash backs to last year when I was searching for an intermediate kit. These were the exact kits I was considering except I was looking at the 7 piece (6 for Mapex). I would’ve loved to had this video. However, for me, this video reaffirmed my choice. I got the Mapex 6 piece Studioease kit. As it currently sits, I have the Tomahawk with Evans HD dry, Emad on the kick and Pinstripes on the tom batters and Ambassadors on the resos.. I also added the 8-inch tom. For the money, they just sound great. The bearing edge makes tuning pretty easy. My next dream is the Mapex Sledgehammer. Come on murder hornet stimulus!! Great video!
One of the things that drew me to my Mapex Armory 6pc was the ultramarine gloss - an unbelievably gorgeous color!! One thing that Shane didn’t mention about the Armory is that you can trade in the tomahawk snare for other snare options for free directly from Mapex - I went with the Sabre snare which is a hybrid shell of Maple/walnut and sounds absolutely phenomenal!! One other selling point of the ultramarine gloss is there is a readily available 8” rack tom that can be added on. Also Shane was talking about no tom mount on the bass drum; honestly this design is to reduce vibration and let the bass drum stand alone to give you the best punch without ringing from the rack toms; also the soniclear mounts are top notch and do a fantastic job of letting the toms sing to their fullest. Just as I had originally planned I got a Pearl Icon rack and the Armory kit works just fine with the rack clamps and adapters. Up until I decided on my Armory kit I was deciding on either PDP concept maple or Gretsch Catalina maple and after having tried those two I’m glad I went with the Armory!! Also I’d like to know what mics were being used - I just picked up the Audix DP Quad set after reading great reviews.
Thanks for posting this. I have a Gretsch Renown Maple kit and a Mapex Saturn V Exotic Deep Water Burl kit, and both are fantastic. My favorite on this video is between the Gretsch and Mapex, with the Pearl coming in a close 2nd.
Great comparison! First set I got in ‘75 (college) was a Ludwig VistaLite “QuadraPlus” in clear amber. (Wish I would have kept them). After 40+ years of being off the drums, I’m going back to my favorite hobby… drums. This helped A LOT as I get the chops up, and settle in to choosing my new set. THANKS!
I’ve gotta say that I’m hearing very few real differences between these kits. I think that personal preferences in what YOU like to hear will tip the decision in whichever way you wish to go. I’ve always loved PDP kits and have owned 3 over the years: CX, MX and LX. All were made in Mexico. Great sounding, durable, light, and cheap enough you’d take them anywhere and not worry. I played many gigs on that LX. I just ordered the 20th Anniversary kit and it looks like I’ll have to wait until July sometime to take delivery. I understand it’s the very first kit that’s going to Canada. Love this channel and drop by frequently.
I picked up my PDP maple MX kit in green to black fade in 2008. $499 brand new Still playing them today and I'll put them up against any $4000 kit anytime.
I am playing a previous Gretsch Catalina Club jazz kit, bought in 2013. It does give me inspiration, and it is a long time before I need a more expensive drum set (hopefully a Broacaster). So I am a Gretsch guy but, definitely all these kits sound nice. Indeed, the only issue at this price point are the snare drums, but a good snaredrum will cost 2/3 to a full price of these kits. What I appreciate about these videos is a very thorough comparison, with good sound engeneering and deatailed head-to-head comparisons. Also, the nice words and philosophy coming with this is, well, inspirational. Keep the good job going.:)
I own the Mapex Armory 6 piece kit, in night sky burst. Probably the nicest finish, I've ever seen on any kit, at any price range. Looks like a 2000.00 kit. They sound amazing too ( with upgraded heads.)
I find the information I get from this company these videos and from the player himself is what everybody needs to make their drum decision on purchasing a set everybody has to hear what they sound like first we don’t hear the same nobody does but to compare different sets like they do is AWSOME I play a 1976 Pearl fiberglass shell pack had them sinse new but when I hear other drums of today I’m overwhelmed how things have changed and progressed over the years
A few years ago, at tax time I bought my first brand new kit in like 20 years. I got the 7pc pdp concept maple kit. Id been salivating over this kit since it was called the x7. I've had WAAAAAY more expensive drums, a 6pc Ludwig Superclassic maple kit, a 5pc wood hoop Roy Ayotte kit, a set of Pearl Masters, yadi yada, but that was in a time money was less of an issue for me. When I got the pdp's I bought them knowing they'd be my last kit for life. I love my pdp's even if they've been in storage for a couple years since getting a Roland kit named "lock down" lol. Here's the thing, I took my time, researched all available options. At the time the options were in a 7pc maple kit, the pdp's, Tama whatever's they're called, and the Catalina kit. I was currently playing the 6pc Catalina kit. And it served me very well for a few years. I'd sanded off the lacquer by hand, and refinished them in natural. Didn't seem to be that big a deal when I started out on the 10. By the time I got to that 16x16 I felt differently lmao, but too late then right? Anyways, they were great, but being as I was already playing that kit, I wanted to try something different. Even though it's basically the same now lol. I never have had a DW kit, which is my dream kit. Honestly, I had a guy who was going to sell me a 5pc no snare shell pack of collectors series in broken glass wrap. Well, that's the year I got audited. Yay!! He eventually sold them, in September. Can't blame the guy since he'd been holding them since March. I looked at all the options in person, which if course ruled out the Tama's. They had the best finishes by miles, truly beautiful but the hardware looked awful to me. It's like they used the same hardware in these as the cheapo imperialStar kit with the meinl cymbal shaped disks all in one. I ruled the gretachdgse out since I already had those. The PDP'S were honestly always going to be the way I went and I knew it, so I got them. Now, when I saw less than 2 months later, Pearl had decided to say "hold my beer, watch this" and came out with the Decade Maple 7pc set, I was just a tinge upset. Why? I mean, look at those! I got my Concepts in the pearl metallic white color. I love white drums, and whatcha know, here's a Pearl kit, in FLAT white! All the sudden, all that chrome I initially loved on my pdp's, seemed excessive to me. Pearl had went a different route, bad the mounts, and lug casings were all really low mass, and let that beautiful white "not" shine so well! If I'd have waited 2 more months, I'd without any doubt at all be playing a Pearl kit no... Well, whenever I can't stand it anymore and bust out my loud drums again. Man, they truly did come out swinging on that whole 7pc maple under a g, segment. Wonderful drums. I do think that before my days are over, I'll have traded out of my pdp's into that flat white 7pc Pearl kit. Stunning drums, and I've always loved Pearl. Most of my hardware and snare drums are all Pearl now, and I'm disappointed for researching and waiting for 3 or 4 years on a kit, to in the end jump the gun by a couple months. Yay! I still love my pdp's though. I'm not talk to typing this so they don't hear me lol
DCP strives to provide transparent reviews, even while they are conducting their business. If you ever worked at any, any kinds of store yall know it is very hard to be 100% honest. It is impossible. Shane is being 95% transparent. It is F@#$ing AWESONE. Thank you Shane Thank you DCP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know what I don't get? Shane says, he's not a good drummer. Besides Nick D'Virgilio, he's one of my favorite if not, my favorite drummers for testing kits. Great chops and feel. The amount of work that it takes to do one of these vids is freaking intense What!!! What a great channel, it's the best drum shop channel on RUclips!!! Sorry Nick D', I love you brother.
Thank you so much for posting this video Shane and Co. The drumming world sure has revolved from when I was coming up in the 60s.Alot of people like me couldn't afford the ludwig,Rogers, slingerland or gretsch.We bought the lower end drums.I couldn't have imagined getting to play anyone of these kits you demoed today.This unbelievable for under $1000.00.what a deal.
Hands down, the Mapex Armory Kit. I’ve owned one before and kick myself for getting rid of it every time I hear and see a video of one, and how good they sound!!! The stock heads, like Shane said are garbage. But throw any brand on there you like and they will sing, due to the SonicClear bearing edge. I don’t understand why more companies don’t do this? It makes so much sense for the heads to sit level and seat better. Makes for easier tuning and a much better sound!!! My one wish from Mapex, instead of bringing back the MyDentity kits, they should make an option, and have to pay a little extra of course, but make a MyArmory line where you can pick your sizes, finishes, etc. Make the options a little more stream lined so you’re not sitting with a warehouse full of mustard yellow hardware though!!! 🤣🤣🤣 BTW, don’t steal my idea, I got that shiznet patented!!! 😂😂😂
I understand wanting a bass drum mount, but the “virgin” bass drum on that Mapex makes such a difference in the sound. Putting a hole in any drum changes the tone and resonance.
@@bakedalaska4363 I’ve played both. I own both. It’s a matter of your ear and based on that your opinion. Without a doubt drilling a hole in a drum shell, changes both the tone and resonance of the drum. When the shell now has a hole for Tom mounts where wood used to be, its another exit for airflow. Why is it that they put rubber gaskets and seals around where they drilled the hole for the Tom mounts in that bass? To make up for the fact that it used to be completely sealed. My virgin bass sounds a lot fatter and has more of an attack than my drilled Tom mounted bass. To each his own. I prefer the sound of a virgin bass drum then that of a Tom mounted bass.
@@farshimelt The virgin Bass makes it a process to mount your Toms (either a drum rack or Tom mounts on the cymbal stands) but in my opinion the trade off on the the sound of the drum is well worth it.
Man I clicked this video so fast once I saw this!! Thank you so much for considering my idea for a video! I didn't think it will ever happen, but it did! Thank you guys for the video! I play a Tama indigo burst 7 piece superstar classic!
Don't forget: the hardware and cymbals can skyrocket the price of your drum set, even higher than what these cost. If I had to pick a first acoustic drum kit, I'd be looking at these as my first choice or at least a birch one. I think any one of these kits will make you a happy drummer!
I have a Catalina maple myself and can confirm the Toms and bass are incredible. I even prefer how the bass sounds on this than the renowns. There is something magical about the Catalina maple bass drum. And the Toms have a warm round sound but it’s also a focused and penetrating without being in your face, and also sounds very organic. The other Toms in this comparison to me sound mechanical in comparison. Beautiful drums. Only thing is the Catalina maple snare I found wasn’t really as impressive. But I feel like one should really upgrade to a higher end snare regardless of kit anyway
I purchased the Pearl Decade Maple based on this review and it was absolutely SPOT ON! The quality of this drum set is very impressive and it sounds really sweet. I own 2 Pearl snares and play with Pearl Hi Hat and bass drum pedal and have always been impressed with the quality. Can't thank you enough.
can you tell me about the durability of the Decade Maples? Specifically the hardware? I've heard complaints about the PDP Concept L-arms/tom mounts for instance not being very durable, same with the Gretsch C Maple hardware being basically old Gibraltar parts etc. So I'm wondering about the Pearl stuff. How is the tom mount? Do the toms move a lot because the mount itself or connecting parts are unstable? How are the floor tom legs? Do you consider it to be able to take a pounding? My only complaint about vids/demos of these types is that they never seem to have a heavy hitter play the drums, or comment about the perceived durability over a long period of time etc. I've played on a Tama Superstar Classic and wasn't very impressed with the kit, particularly the hardware, so I'm trying to determine if any of these kits can really hold up for the long haul? Any info you could give on the Decade Maple's would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I’d luv to see a comparison of the next level of price/quality up from these . Best shell pack for $1500 Gretsch Renown , Pearl session select , Tama , Yamaha Tour custom , Mapex Saturn , DW design , but no option from Ludwig in that budget 😞🤷♂️👎🏼
Drum Center of Portsmouth then do all of the high end kits too like dw collectors, pearl reference, mapex Saturn, tama star classic, grestch Brooklyn, Yamaha Phx
@@drumcenternh yea i would love that video its the price point im looking at. Entry level pro kits 1k -2k range. Maybe a maple yamaha, starclassic, masters custom, mapex saturn?
I have a Gretsch Catalina maple in satin deep cherry red, gorgeous looking drums and it was very easy getting add-ons (I have 8, 10, 12 and 13” toms and 14 and 16” floortoms). Added Remo Emperor heads and changed the snaredrum (it’s the only thing about the kit that’s not great) for a Pearl Free Floating piccolo and it’s now the best looking and sounding drumkit I’ve ever seen and heard, truly in love with it.
This comparison really helped me make my decision on my new kit. All these kits r the ones I've been looking @. The Tamas r my pick. Love the 6.5 snare that goes with the kit, thanks for the awesome vid,
Thanks for hard work in putting this comparison together. I want you to know that there are drummers who watch this carefully and your hard work is appreciated. I am going to checkout your store now. Thanks.
I just messed around with a superstar classic and I was impressed! It was down to the Superstar classic or a Catalina maple and I think I’m going with the Gretsch. Both kits are outstanding though and really, there isn’t anything in this lineup that won’t work. (I’ve owned every brand now in this lineup haha). Furthermore, it’s really nice to be able to get a 3 up 2 down configuration for 1K. I also remember the days when a maple kit was financially prohibitive. I am 100% with you on having a bass drum tom mount; I’m sick of hanging drums off cymbal stands. Great content guys; thank you!
Eh....six of one....half dozen of another. Pretty much, all these drums sets will do. My choice? The Mapex had the most appealing tone out of the box, then again, I tend to like drums that don't ring forever and the Mapex was the clear winner in that department. The BIG downside for me as well with the Mapex is the tom mounting. Not a fan of cymbal stand mounted toms.
You guys rule, You’re precise, you’re intelligent about your findings Which makes for a great company that you have and a force to be reckon with. Keep up the great work. Thanks so much for the information specially from an older drummer. Thanks again Mark Cinque
I have the Tama in Mohogany Burst as a 7 piece kit with an 8" rack tom and a 14" floor tom added. They sound amazing with Remo pinstripes on the batter side and Black Ambassadors on the resonant side.
The video production in this demo is phenomenal. In fact, I can't think of a comparison video for any product that impressed me as much. I own the Gretsch Catalina Set in a 7 piece. It's so beautiful that I keep it in my living room - it's the focal point of the room. So with my heads of choice on, I've got Evans hydrolics on them now with an Evans coated head on the snare, it sounds the way I want my drums to sound. The entire 7 piece, purchased on sale, was $900, so I figure with the addition of new heads it totaled to around $1000. So, did I like any of the other sets more than the Gretsch? Actually, I liked them all - but it's the microphones and recording equipment that I'm envious of.
Great kits. I prefer the Tama since I’ve had two sets before. Absolutely love the 6 1/2 inch snare. The sizes in this demo are just perfect drum sizes for me. All of the sets sound well but the Mapex actually stood out. Thanks for a good review.
Man! As a drummer who started my journey 20 years ago I thought I had it pretty good with my Pearl Export with the ridiculous Tom depths 😂 I wish I was a new drummer now a days, these are awesome! I’d even consider one of these if I wanted to add a maple kit to my collection.
All of these kits would sound much better without stock heads. A Sonor AQ2 would have been a good addition to this comparison. Great demonstration and thanks for taking the time to show us how these drums actually sound and for all the hard work you put into it 👍
I got my DW design series four piece kit for 600 bucks on sale. Paired with my Tama bubinga wood drum, I'm very pleased with the sound versus what I spent.
I bought a 2nd hand X7 P.D.P for $333 Canadian and got a Concept Maple Kick drum off these great people at D.C.P to build a monster still waiting on some Gibraltar stuff should be here and done by July .lol
You guys dropped this at the perfect time. I’ve been really into vintage sounds recently but I don’t own any kits with a modern sound. I wanted to have something for when I need that sound, without breaking the bank. I’ve been looking at the entry-level maple kits and have been considering all of these. Great sounds at a great price, especially in the used market. Thanks y’all 👍🏼
@@drumcenternh I'm gonna buy one of these kits by the end of the year, been playing the same worn out 70s birch kit for 14 years and It's time for a 2nd kit/upgrade!
Tama edges it in the toms for me but the Mapex was very close behind.. even probably if you swapped the heads out. Throw in the fact that I liked the Mapex snare the best then if I was in the market for such a set, that is probably the one I would go for. Great video guys! 👍
Bout a pdp concept maple kit back in 2013, replaced the snare with a DW performance in the same exact white sparkle. I’m not an avid drummer, really. I play guitar mainly. Played the pdp for about 2-3 years then took a hiatus. Ended up bringing my kit up to my buddy’s studio/rehearsal room, and wow, the projection and tone are absolutely incredible. They cut through well and have tremendous punch. Before I brought my drums up to the studio, my buddy was playing an old Tama, which sounded ok. The PDP kit blew it away. We ended up getting a drummer and he had a Gretsch USA Custom, and while it sounded great, I found the PDP maple kit to sound better with the faster style of music we were playing.
The amount of work needed to create these videos is not lost on me. Great content, sincere communication and honesty go a long way to cultivate customers. Keep it up!
This, Car Wag. Thx for watching.
I certainly agree! This seems a good way to generate revenue and inform at the same time. But, dang those ads...
@@TheTommyboy63 Get a free ad blocker.
Totally 👍
Yeah. Agreed. These guys are old school. I wish they were my local store. Boo hoo I’m in France.
Timestamps for sound comparsion
Full Mix
3:10 - PDP Concept Maple
7:04 - Pearl Decade Maple
11:12 - Gretsch Catalina Maple
15:06 - Tama Superstar Classic
20:26 - Mapex Armory
Room Mics
4:30 - PDP Concept Maple
8:15 - Pearl Decade Maple
12:22 - Gretsch Catalina Maple
16:22 - Tama Superstar Classic
21:32 - Mapex Armory
Head 2 Head
10" Tom
23:18 - PDP Concept Maple (10x8, Clear)
23:23 - Pearl Decade Maple (10x7, Clear)
23:28 - Gretsch Catalina Maple (10x7, Coated)
23:33 - Tama Superstar Classic (10x8, Clear)
23:39 - Mapex Armory (10x8, Coated)
12" Tom
23:44 - PDP Concept Maple (12x9, Clear)
23:49 - Pearl Decade Maple (12x8, Clear)
23:54 - Gretsch Catalina Maple (12x8, Coated)
23:59 - Tama Superstar Classic (12x9, Clear)
24:05 - Mapex Armory (12x9, Coated)
16" Floor Tom
24:10 - PDP Concept Maple (16x14, Clear)
24:15 - Pearl Decade Maple (16x16, Clear)
24:20 - Gretsch Catalina Maple (16x16, Coated)
24:25 - Tama Superstar Classic (16x14, Clear)
24:30 - Mapex Armory (16x16, Coated)
Kick Drum (all 22x18)
24:36 - PDP Concept Maple
24:41 - Pearl Decade Maple
24:45 - Gretsch Catalina Maple
24:50 - Tama Superstar Classic
24:55 - Mapex Armory
Snare
24:59 - PDP Concept Maple (14x5.5 Maple)
25:04 - Pearl Decade Maple (14x5.5 Maple)
25:10 - Gretsch Catalina Maple (14x5.5 Maple)
25:15 - Tama Superstar Classic (14x6.5 Maple)
25:21 - Mapex Armory (14x5.5 Steel)
Why did you do all the work
But its cool thanks
My wife will be along shortly to pleasure you. Thank you!!
Hi
Thanks, brother!
Pearl sounds so differently mic'd vs in room sound. It's so crucial to hear that difference and you guys are awesome for presenting both so clearly.
Thanks, Matt.
Special credit to the individual/s that tuned these kits. They were remarkably close to each other and very well tuned. All 5 of those kits sound awesome and are a phenomenal value!
I got the Catalina Maple, and you can get the 6 piece Shell pack with a free 8 inch cymbal mounted Tom all for under $1000. it was an extraordinary value and I love the sound! After tuning, the drums sounded professional quality right out of the box, even with the stock coated heads. Absolutely love it!
Catalina Maple is a winner, for sure
@@Obi1BenNobi its a great kit. I have many kits, but prefer Mapex. I have been playing since age 4 in 1969, i am a family member of the orogonal pianist from Lynyrd Skynyrd.... Billy Powell. He was my uncle.
I agree about Mapex. The Hyundai analogy is very appropriate. The quality of my Black Widow snare blew me away for the price.
If DW is the most overrated, then Mapex is the most underrated, probably because it's Taiwanese company, even though all major brands moved their production to China, Taiwan and Indonesia. Saturn is probably the best bang for a buck
Their Mars kits are hands down the best entry level drums on the market. and Armory is probably the best intermediate priced drums on the market... They're just killing it right now
Kevin Remsen I love my Natural Earth Walnut Black Panther snare.
Black Widow snare matters
I have an Mapex M-pro kit now for 15 years and i still love it..
The MAPEX Armory Kit is the most complete, and pro looking/sounding of the lot, especially when matched with the Paiste 900 series cymbals! Big shout out to PAISTE! These pies sound Great!. It could be because it is a hybrid, and that birch adds a great musicality, that the other kits just seemed to lack (I’m sure that will change when the heads are upgraded). The Gretchen kit was a very close 2nd. It was the most classic “Maple-y” sounding kit of all of them. It seems that the coated heads really bring out the personality of these, and the other drums, that have been fitted with them. This example can be found on the Tama set. The snare was Great, and the tome sound exactly how you’d expect a TAMA kit to sound. It surely had a voice of its own. The other 2 kits are very nice, and perhaps its because of the clear heads but the attack and warmth, in comparison to the Mapex or Gretsch kits, just wasn’t there. I’m happy that they all are putting out these Amazing kits, at this price point. In 1988 (GET OFF MY LAWN!!) You’s have to pony up over 2 grand for a kit as complete, and stunning looking as these sets are. They surely aren’t the Corolla of drums any more, but, they also aren’t a Lexus! For a drummer who is gigging, and looking to step up her or his game, This is the Perfect way to go! I’d be happy to gig out on any of these kits. Thanks so much for the review! Cheers!
Proud owner of a PDP concept maple, I am happy my drumset compares to those nice other kits. I agree with you when you say the snare lacks snare beds. I use high end snares instead, so it´s not a problem.
I have the x7 and love it. I do use an assortment of snares as the PDP is horrible in my humble opinion.
@Abbysum1 same here, my stock snare has no use for me either.
I would love to this same type of comparison done where the staff change out the heads.
Maybe do a fun test where each staff member is given 1500 - 2000 and has to build a complete set including hardware, cymbals, new heads, etc.
Hmmm... this is a cool one... Thanks! ;-)
Top Gear for drums
The Gretsch drums sound great
These kits are all great for the money. Even 'cheap' kits offer so much in the way of sound and quality of hardware/finishes these days. This video is the first time I've ever heard the Decade maple and Superstar being played. Was blown away by how amazing those two kits sounded. Kids today are really lucky to have this stuff available. 😁
Couldn't agree more!
parsnips I own 2 Starclassic Tama B/B kits and a Starclassic Bubinga Elite Kit. I wasn’t expecting much but I first played the Maple Superstars I was actually in shock. They were sitting next to a Starclassic B/B which was tuned horrendously and yeah the Superstars still sounded better with the cheaper heads. 6 drums AND a snare 7 in total for $1K or less if on sale. The only budget kits that impressed me previously was the Gretsch Catalina Maple and the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch??? from 2012.
I guess it's because Drum manufacturing is now much more advanced. Even the $500 kits like Mapex Mars are made very precisely with perfectly 360 degrees roundness and precise bearing edges. Boy 25 years ago a $500 kit would've been a nightmare, But now they're totally gigable and recordable.
@@persianskeptic4814 That's right fellow King Crimson fan, and it should be noted that all big companies have moved production to China, Taiwan and Indonesia. I think that only flagship series are still made in USA/Japan/Germany, with the exception of Mapex, which is a Taiwanese company.
@@persianskeptic4814 I bought a brand new Sonor APX Jungle kit for $400 and the build quality is everything you described. Amazing and so much better than what we had in the 80's and 90's.
For quick comparison:
03:10 DW PDP Concept
07:05 Pearl Decade
11:14 Gretsch Catalina
15:08 Tama Superstar Classic
20:28 Mapex Armory
I bought an armory based on this video and the drummers review video of it and, wow! Going from a 30 yr old export to this is night and day. What was most unexpected was how much easier the armory is to play because the feel is so dramatically better. With good heads and tuning there is absolutely no reason you can’t use it in a professional setting it sounds that good. And as Shane said, the tomahawk snare is outstanding.
You can play the tama superstar classic drums in a professional setting as well .
I bought the 6 piece Armory the same color as Shane is using and liked it so much and was so impressed I bought another kit in the Night Sky Burst.
To be fair, you can play just about any kit that's well tuned in a professional setting - yes, including Pearl Export, and yes, I could point out one or a master reggae drummer from Africa who work with a Pearl Export... But... that Mapex really sound ridiculous.
I own the 6 piece Armory in night sky burst. Just awesome for the price! Little things Mapex does, that the others don't....plastic lug bushings on all the drums to keep them in tune longer.
I also bought a Tama superstar classic in garnet lacebark pine finish. It was nice, but the armory kit blows it away.
@@johntheyank88 I bought the same kit in the night sky. 6 piece configuration. One of the best kids I've owned ( including a Yamaha recording custom.)
When you finished with the kits I thought the Tama sounded best, but then when you did the head to head I thought the PDP and the Armory sounded best. I need to watch this video about 10 more times.
You guys did an incredible job tuning the drums as close to each other as possible. I hear you!
Thank you Michael!
THAT MAPEX IS THE BEST KIT IN THERE!!!
My practice kit is the 7 piece Tama superstar classic custom in dark indigo burst! It's hardware is unmatched amongst all drum companies in that price range but my kit has all remos and with proper tuning/dampening it sounds as good if not equal to my new star classic kit, no joke. Tama in my opinion is just a better quality built kit compared to the competition with excellent sound quality. That's just my opinion though because I've owned multiple brands and nothing compares to Tama on every aspect. Saving now for my third Tama kit and it's going to be a Star series which is my dream kit.✌ brother
Pdp sounds like a DW
I agree, based on the sound presented in the video.
Normally I'd lean towards Tama
I agree !!! I have the armory kit. I put evans g2 heads on the Toms and the emad on the kick and it really sounds like a professional kit. You really don't need to spend a fortune now a days. The technology in drum making has come so far it's insane !!!
SOUND !
I have a DW Design Series maple set, which is essentially a really nice PDP kit with DW hardware and branding. For an "affordable" set under $1K, it's been pretty great.
All of these sound great, but the best ones to me are Gretsch and Tama. Also, the 900 cymbals sound very good for the price.
Good choices and yeah those 900 series cymbals record VERY well!
yep 100% with you on that
I have the gretchen and I'm happy with it .
"Gretchen"? Don't you mean Gretsch?
@@DrummerGrrrl Might have named the kit Gretchen!
The kick of the Tama, toms from the PDP and the snare from the Mapex. Job done!
Thank you for this great ‘comparison’ video. So honest and professional. I watched all the way through. Once pubs and clubs are back open here in UK I am going to buy my first maple drum kit. It’s been a long wait ... but at 72 I still want to rock!! Thanks again. John @ Brizen Reviews
Cheers, John! We appreciate the kind words, and I'm excited to hear you're taking the plunge. Happy drumming!
PDP and Mapex kits sounded best to my ear. The Mapex had a lower fundamental pitch that my ears loved! Thoughts? Lol
The Armory kit did seem to have a slightly lower pitch they were all tuned the same so that is definitely the shell doing that.
The Mapex definitely had some kind of natural ‘EQ’ thanks to the shell blend. Premier did one years ago called the Gen-X. If I remember correctly, that was a maple/birch combination and sounded like it had natural compression and EQ. It was quite incredible. Had all the highs and lows but the note didn’t last too long.
Andy P premier made some really great drums. I don’t know about the gen x, but the xpk’s were birch w/ eucalyptus in the center plies. They sound great.
It’s hard to say because I listened on my phone, but those were the two I thought sounded the best also.
@@vertigoat7596 Gen-X was part of the Elite line, it had 7 plies (2-ply birch on the outside and 5-ply maple on the inside), while XPK were made of birch (maybe some XPK Exclusive had eucalyptus?), and Cabria XPK was made of maple, but I agree with you - they were amazing drums, too bad such a good company failed. After the beginner APK and XPK sets and Olympic, which is better not to mention (other than the vintage one), Cabria XPK was a set that was supposed to be some kind of mid-level class close to the top lines like Signia, Genista and Artist. There were and are two Cabria's - the regular and the Cabria XPK. The regular wasn't 100% maple and didn't have die-cast hoops, and had a smaller choice of finishes. The Cabria XPK would be something like Sonor 3007, but with the added value of die-cast hoops that few sets in that range have. So regardless of the positive personal experiences with the Sonor 3007, I prefer the Cabria XPK. There are too many Sonor's on the market anyway, especially those numerical ones - 1000, 2000, 1007, 2007, 3007 - one gets lost in the sheer numbers. Cabria XPK was one and unique.
And it's very affordable on the used market.
Premier sets, all of which came to my hands, were excellent, some were even years ahead of the competition in terms of technical solutions, workmanship and finishes. But what is it worth when you have people in the management who didn't know how to use it.
All the kits sounded great, but Mapex takes the win for me.
Not having the toms mounted on the bass drum looks way better imo.
Second that, bass drum tom mounts are easier yet uglier.
Yea and virgin kicks have more sustained low end
That's where people are different. I like the look of drilled bass drums for tom mounts, vintage looking. Each to there own though and that's cool✌
Dumbest idea drum companies ever dreamed up was mounting a cymbal and a drum to the same stand.... horrible resonant back feed acoustics from 2 completely different objects, also takes more time to setup and inconsistent drum positioning from one gig to the next. Not to mention the loose drum mounts and hardware to haul around.Then if the weight of the cymbal and stand doesn't counteract the weight of the tom along with cymbal stand feet positioning, that drum was not sturdy and liable to crashing over -cymbal/stand/drum- all at same time on a heavy song. And this is personal opinion .... a kit with toms on stands looks like a garage sale throw together job, not a factory set.
Alright, I'll shut up and go back to what's enjoyable - gigging and efficiency.
Also with a virgin bass drumm, you can set Toms up in more positions
listened to the video very carefully...First of all, they all sound great.....A lot of Bang For The Buck!....My picks were #1- Gretsch Catalina Maple, #2-Pearl Decade, #3- Mapex Armory, #4-Tama Superstar, #5 PDP Concept Maple....By The Way- Great job on the Video!
Honestly to me the differences were really small in sound, I couldn't really choose a favourite. The way you mix all of your videos make every drum kit sound fantastic.
I played a PDP CX Maple kit for almost 15 years and it sounded incredible, even in 700+ live rooms. I "upgraded" to a Crush E3 Sublime and it doesn't even compare to the PDP. Considering going back to PDP or just going to a different wood configuration altogether.
First kit I paid for was a CX maple for like $200 with hardware. Incredible quality and loved the punchy sounds
I used to own a tama superstar years ago then i tried a pearl session studio and i was sold . pearl has that boomy sound on their toms that i like . the decade sounded the best in my opinion.
I have the exact Mapex kit with the same finish. It’s phenomenal both stand alone and mic’ed. Incredible sound!
Shocked by that mapex. Wow.
They are eye candy
To me the Pearl and Gretsch sound the best. Great value drums, wow!
Agreed!
Same here!
4:45 that right-hand crash and ride bell sound great together. I hear them being a half-step apart and I think it would be great for drum and bass.
I’ve been a Pearl guy since I bought my export series kit nearly 20 years ago. That being said, I really wanted them to be the best. That Mapex kit was beautiful and sounded so good!
Some of the drum sets at that price point today sound better (mic'd) than what we were on stage with in the 60's. Nice video, Shane. And you're 100% correct that those starting now with their first kits have good quality to choose from ... even at the entry level price points.
Guys I just wanted to chime in from the perspective of a studio engineer. I record mostly alt-rock, hard rock and some pop. I pulled the trigger on the Mapex Ultramarine Armory 5 piece rock shell pack in October and have been blown away by it. Currently I have clear Emperors on top and clear Ambassadors on the bottom. The kit is SO versatile, easy to tune and really shines through on a plethora of genres. It's weird, Mapex has had a not-so-great reputation on the interwebs over the years but after having an awesome sounding limited edition Meridian Obsidian kit, I've just ignored all that garbage, trusted my ears, and I've never been happier (my clients love it too!). This is a killer kit! And beautiful to look at!
just ordered the ultramarine tonight got 200$ free sweet water bucks as well on purchase! also got 14inch hi hats s series! im new to drumming but i really want a good kit not something that sounds off to really learn on! cant wait!
@@shreddyeddy7391 Awesome choice! You will love it. I have been recording drummers for years but started learning myself in January 2020 and the kit is such a joy to play. Especially how customizable the toms are in terms of ease of positioning, in a game of inches, having the flexibility to move them wherever is huge!
Hi! The amount of effort you put into this video is appreciated beyond words. Fantastic job! I own the PDP 7 piece maple kit and I live it. The DW I use on the road but my PDP was recently used for recording and if pulls it off very well. There was an intangible to it,, probably that it was brighter when warmth wasn't what was needed.
For those starting out, every kit has its strengths! I do use a Ludwig Black Beauty as the PDP snare is not a very good one in my opinion.
If your new, get a kit you can afford! 50 years ago when I started there were limited chouces if you wanted a good kit. Now?? All of these are good.
It’s unreal how amazing these lower budget kits sound these days. They honestly rival the high end kits in sound, and even in looks. I’d probably have to go with the Gretsch Catalina Maple though. PDP is a close second
I have a first generation Pearl Masters Maple kit that I bought new around 94. It is just plain worn out, though the shells are still good. I decided to buy one of these lower priced maple kits after hearing the sound samples. I chose the PDP concept maple 7 pc. 8-10-12-14-16-22. That's the same configuration as my Masters kit.
Though they sound different, they are more alike than different. The masters has reinforcement rings with very thin shells, and they speak a little differently than the pdp. The pdp actually tunes up better, has a wider range, and has a more aggressive and direct sound. The Pearl is more "toney" for lack of better words.
These days, if I were out gigging again, I wouldn't hesitate to buy any of these kits to tour with. For one thing, if they get damaged or stolen, you're not out a zillion dollars. They really do sound excellent. Back in the 80's and 90's we would have loved to have drums this good that we could afford without a credit card or loan.
It's interesting to hear the different tones from each company. Pearls always sound like Pearls... sort of round in a good way (to me). Tamas always seem to have a harder and colder sound- as has been my experience with them over the years. The most different kit here is the Mapex. I'm curious whether it's because of the wood blend or the bearing edge, because I hear a shorter decay and less overtones in general. I know some people like that type of tone, but it sounds a little flat and lifeless to me. It's easy enough to change heads to take the tone out of a drum that is more live, but you can't liven up a dead drum.
Maple is just a great tone wood for a drum. For a hard rock sound I do like birch with double ply heads, but I think maple is the most versatile.
Thanks for another great video DCP. If I ever get work again post-covid, I'll buy my next kit from you guys.
Great comparison as always. There are really no bad choices here, I would be happy with any of them, but I was particularly impressed with the PDP and Mapex kits.
Thank you! We are really lucky! When I started playing drums this high end videos weren't out there!
13 years later I'm buying a first hand drumset for the first time (a dream comming true) and you are helping me a bunch!!!!
If I had my way based on what I just heard: Pearl Bass drum; PDP tom-toms, Mapex floor-tom and Mapex snare. Mix and match, lol. Overall, the Mapex set has the best tone overall, imho. 27:11 absolutely agree.
1) Pearl
2)Mapex
3) Tama
Great job guys
I have the mapex armory kit, 6 pc. And I am in love with the sound!! Even with stock heads tuned nicely, that 16" floor has a lot of throat and deep. I think my mapex sounds better than the one in this video, woth stock heads. In person is just a whole different thing. Couldn't decide between pdp, gretsch and mapex. Glad I got the mapex!
I have PDP drum set for 9 years and it sounds great
The Armory was my favorite. To have try those working in a drumshop also, I have to admit that Mapex really nailed it with this one. My second favorite was the Tama. That being said, all those kits will work and give a good sound for the price you pay. I think those kind of kit is among the best to gig with if you don't want your 6k $ drum kit being carried and thrown by people who doesn't care much that you do...
I have the armory studio ease shells, and I feel like the toms are not as loud as the rest of those kits… am I the only one with that opinion?
And if you found the good heads to help having a decent volume… (best I have tried yet his emperor) thx!!
@William Perri axacly!! Best kick sound I have heard so far! And no priblem with the snare!:)
Correct
I have the pdp and they’re great. They’ve always had great low end, and they hold up real well with heavy hitting. I would go for a different finish though.
How has the tom stand/L-arms held up on your PDP? I've played the Tama Superstar Classic and (sadly) wasn't impressed with their tom mount stand/L-arms that come standard on the Tama kit. I know PDP uses the 10.5mm L-arms as opposed to the 12.7mm L-arms found on the Gretsch for instance. You mentioned how well the PDP's hold up. Any additional info you might have time to provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I play an old pdp fs currently and am looking to upgrade soon. For me it’s between the pdp and the mapex probably. But damn, I really wish the pdp offered better finishes. The satins are clean but none of them blow me away. The mapex on the other hand has the most gorgeous finishes. Just unbelievable.
I like the Mapex too, but agreeing with you , I would prefer to have tom rack on the Kick Drum. At 68 years old, and after a 50 year Hiatus, just rejoining an enjoyment in life, to play drums again, I will be shopping for an upgrade to my cheap Grammond starter set my wife got as a XMAS gift in 2018. I will never get out of the basement, but looking to be able to play along to music and tunes I think I can handle . If I can play half as good as you, I would have achieved a nice goal. At my age, arthritis DOES configure into your abilities, and creates limitation. But I still love it !!! I know: Practice, Practice, Practice. THX for your quality Videos.
When I first saw this video in the list, I had flash backs to last year when I was searching for an intermediate kit. These were the exact kits I was considering except I was looking at the 7 piece (6 for Mapex). I would’ve loved to had this video. However, for me, this video reaffirmed my choice. I got the Mapex 6 piece Studioease kit. As it currently sits, I have the Tomahawk with Evans HD dry, Emad on the kick and Pinstripes on the tom batters and Ambassadors on the resos.. I also added the 8-inch tom. For the money, they just sound great. The bearing edge makes tuning pretty easy. My next dream is the Mapex Sledgehammer. Come on murder hornet stimulus!! Great video!
I'm a pearl guy and that Mapex sounds so damn good
My fave part of it all is the ROOM MIC. That's when we can hear everything on it's NATURAL tone and sound
One of the things that drew me to my Mapex Armory 6pc was the ultramarine gloss - an unbelievably gorgeous color!! One thing that Shane didn’t mention about the Armory is that you can trade in the tomahawk snare for other snare options for free directly from Mapex - I went with the Sabre snare which is a hybrid shell of Maple/walnut and sounds absolutely phenomenal!! One other selling point of the ultramarine gloss is there is a readily available 8” rack tom that can be added on. Also Shane was talking about no tom mount on the bass drum; honestly this design is to reduce vibration and let the bass drum stand alone to give you the best punch without ringing from the rack toms; also the soniclear mounts are top notch and do a fantastic job of letting the toms sing to their fullest. Just as I had originally planned I got a Pearl Icon rack and the Armory kit works just fine with the rack clamps and adapters. Up until I decided on my Armory kit I was deciding on either PDP concept maple or Gretsch Catalina maple and after having tried those two I’m glad I went with the Armory!!
Also I’d like to know what mics were being used - I just picked up the Audix DP Quad set after reading great reviews.
Thanks for posting this. I have a Gretsch Renown Maple kit and a Mapex Saturn V Exotic Deep Water Burl kit, and both are fantastic. My favorite on this video is between the Gretsch and Mapex, with the Pearl coming in a close 2nd.
Purchased a 6 piece Gretsch Catalina Maple 10 years ago. No regrets!
Great comparison! First set I got in ‘75 (college) was a Ludwig VistaLite “QuadraPlus” in clear amber. (Wish I would have kept them). After 40+ years of being off the drums, I’m going back to my favorite hobby… drums. This helped A LOT as I get the chops up, and settle in to choosing my new set. THANKS!
I’ve gotta say that I’m hearing very few real differences between these kits. I think that personal preferences in what YOU like to hear will tip the decision in whichever way you wish to go. I’ve always loved PDP kits and have owned 3 over the years: CX, MX and LX. All were made in Mexico. Great sounding, durable, light, and cheap enough you’d take them anywhere and not worry. I played many gigs on that LX. I just ordered the 20th Anniversary kit and it looks like I’ll have to wait until July sometime to take delivery. I understand it’s the very first kit that’s going to Canada. Love this channel and drop by frequently.
Richard Penner What's the first kit going to Canada?
Carl Rest the new anniversary kit from PDP
I have the Mapex Armory in the rain forest burst with an added 14 inch floor tom and Paiste 900 series cymbals and I absolutely love it.
I really like the fact that the Mapex come with Remo heads!!
I picked up my PDP maple MX kit in green to black fade in 2008. $499 brand new Still playing them today and I'll put them up against any $4000 kit anytime.
I am playing a previous Gretsch Catalina Club jazz kit, bought in 2013. It does give me inspiration, and it is a long time before I need a more expensive drum set (hopefully a Broacaster). So I am a Gretsch guy but, definitely all these kits sound nice. Indeed, the only issue at this price point are the snare drums, but a good snaredrum will cost 2/3 to a full price of these kits. What I appreciate about these videos is a very thorough comparison, with good sound engeneering and deatailed head-to-head comparisons. Also, the nice words and philosophy coming with this is, well, inspirational. Keep the good job going.:)
Buy a used snare.
I own the Mapex Armory 6 piece kit, in night sky burst. Probably the nicest finish, I've ever seen on any kit, at any price range. Looks like a 2000.00 kit. They sound amazing too ( with upgraded heads.)
The Mapex kit sounded and looked pro level. The snare popped far more than any of the others.
I find the information I get from this company these videos and from the player himself is what everybody needs to make their drum decision on purchasing a set everybody has to hear what they sound like first we don’t hear the same nobody does but to compare different sets like they do is AWSOME I play a 1976 Pearl fiberglass shell pack had them sinse new but when I hear other drums of today I’m overwhelmed how things have changed and progressed over the years
A few years ago, at tax time I bought my first brand new kit in like 20 years. I got the 7pc pdp concept maple kit. Id been salivating over this kit since it was called the x7. I've had WAAAAAY more expensive drums, a 6pc Ludwig Superclassic maple kit, a 5pc wood hoop Roy Ayotte kit, a set of Pearl Masters, yadi yada, but that was in a time money was less of an issue for me. When I got the pdp's I bought them knowing they'd be my last kit for life. I love my pdp's even if they've been in storage for a couple years since getting a Roland kit named "lock down" lol. Here's the thing, I took my time, researched all available options. At the time the options were in a 7pc maple kit, the pdp's, Tama whatever's they're called, and the Catalina kit. I was currently playing the 6pc Catalina kit. And it served me very well for a few years. I'd sanded off the lacquer by hand, and refinished them in natural. Didn't seem to be that big a deal when I started out on the 10. By the time I got to that 16x16 I felt differently lmao, but too late then right? Anyways, they were great, but being as I was already playing that kit, I wanted to try something different. Even though it's basically the same now lol. I never have had a DW kit, which is my dream kit. Honestly, I had a guy who was going to sell me a 5pc no snare shell pack of collectors series in broken glass wrap. Well, that's the year I got audited. Yay!! He eventually sold them, in September. Can't blame the guy since he'd been holding them since March. I looked at all the options in person, which if course ruled out the Tama's. They had the best finishes by miles, truly beautiful but the hardware looked awful to me. It's like they used the same hardware in these as the cheapo imperialStar kit with the meinl cymbal shaped disks all in one. I ruled the gretachdgse out since I already had those. The PDP'S were honestly always going to be the way I went and I knew it, so I got them. Now, when I saw less than 2 months later, Pearl had decided to say "hold my beer, watch this" and came out with the Decade Maple 7pc set, I was just a tinge upset. Why? I mean, look at those! I got my Concepts in the pearl metallic white color. I love white drums, and whatcha know, here's a Pearl kit, in FLAT white! All the sudden, all that chrome I initially loved on my pdp's, seemed excessive to me. Pearl had went a different route, bad the mounts, and lug casings were all really low mass, and let that beautiful white "not" shine so well! If I'd have waited 2 more months, I'd without any doubt at all be playing a Pearl kit no... Well, whenever I can't stand it anymore and bust out my loud drums again. Man, they truly did come out swinging on that whole 7pc maple under a g, segment. Wonderful drums. I do think that before my days are over, I'll have traded out of my pdp's into that flat white 7pc Pearl kit. Stunning drums, and I've always loved Pearl. Most of my hardware and snare drums are all Pearl now, and I'm disappointed for researching and waiting for 3 or 4 years on a kit, to in the end jump the gun by a couple months. Yay! I still love my pdp's though. I'm not talk to typing this so they don't hear me lol
DCP strives to provide transparent reviews, even while they are conducting their business. If you ever worked at any, any kinds of store yall know it is very hard to be 100% honest. It is impossible. Shane is being 95% transparent. It is F@#$ing AWESONE. Thank you Shane Thank you DCP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am more and more impressed with PDP and Mapex drums.
I agree
You know what I don't get? Shane says, he's not a good drummer. Besides Nick D'Virgilio, he's one of my favorite if not, my favorite drummers for testing kits. Great chops and feel. The amount of work that it takes to do one of these vids is freaking intense What!!! What a great channel, it's the best drum shop channel on RUclips!!! Sorry Nick D', I love you brother.
Thanks for making this comparison. I found it honest and very helpful for a lot of drummers looking to purchase a good best bang for your buck kit.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for posting this video Shane and Co. The drumming world sure has revolved from when I was coming up in the 60s.Alot of people like me couldn't afford the ludwig,Rogers, slingerland or gretsch.We bought the lower end drums.I couldn't have imagined getting to play anyone of these kits you demoed today.This unbelievable for under $1000.00.what a deal.
Right?! Drums are so good nowadays!
Hands down, the Mapex Armory Kit. I’ve owned one before and kick myself for getting rid of it every time I hear and see a video of one, and how good they sound!!! The stock heads, like Shane said are garbage. But throw any brand on there you like and they will sing, due to the SonicClear bearing edge. I don’t understand why more companies don’t do this? It makes so much sense for the heads to sit level and seat better. Makes for easier tuning and a much better sound!!! My one wish from Mapex, instead of bringing back the MyDentity kits, they should make an option, and have to pay a little extra of course, but make a MyArmory line where you can pick your sizes, finishes, etc. Make the options a little more stream lined so you’re not sitting with a warehouse full of mustard yellow hardware though!!! 🤣🤣🤣
BTW, don’t steal my idea, I got that shiznet patented!!! 😂😂😂
I understand wanting a bass drum mount, but the “virgin” bass drum on that Mapex makes such a difference in the sound. Putting a hole in any drum changes the tone and resonance.
Virgin bass drums don't sound any different. It's done for looks, not for sound.
@@bakedalaska4363 I’ve played both. I own both. It’s a matter of your ear and based on that your opinion. Without a doubt drilling a hole in a drum shell, changes both the tone and resonance of the drum. When the shell now has a hole for Tom mounts where wood used to be, its another exit for airflow. Why is it that they put rubber gaskets and seals around where they drilled the hole for the Tom mounts in that bass? To make up for the fact that it used to be completely sealed. My virgin bass sounds a lot fatter and has more of an attack than my drilled Tom mounted bass.
To each his own. I prefer the sound of a virgin bass drum then that of a Tom mounted bass.
@@95Ldunc That's why Sleishman drums sound so good.
@@farshimelt The virgin Bass makes it a process to mount your Toms (either a drum rack or Tom mounts on the cymbal stands) but in my opinion the trade off on the the sound of the drum is well worth it.
Man I clicked this video so fast once I saw this!! Thank you so much for considering my idea for a video! I didn't think it will ever happen, but it did! Thank you guys for the video! I play a Tama indigo burst 7 piece superstar classic!
Thanks for the idea!
They do sound great don’t they ? I own a superstar classic drums 7 piece dark red sparkle and they sound great!!!
The Tama, Gretsch and Mapex sounded the best to my ear, and I agree with you Shane, that Mapex snare was awesome!
Don't forget: the hardware and cymbals can skyrocket the price of your drum set, even higher than what these cost.
If I had to pick a first acoustic drum kit, I'd be looking at these as my first choice or at least a birch one. I think any one of these kits will make you a happy drummer!
The Gretsch toms sounds the most musical to me and that kick is killer.
having some muffling on the toms certainly has to help them here. I can attest the stock tom heads on the Tama are absolute garbage
I have a Catalina maple myself and can confirm the Toms and bass are incredible. I even prefer how the bass sounds on this than the renowns. There is something magical about the Catalina maple bass drum. And the Toms have a warm round sound but it’s also a focused and penetrating without being in your face, and also sounds very organic. The other Toms in this comparison to me sound mechanical in comparison. Beautiful drums. Only thing is the Catalina maple snare I found wasn’t really as impressive. But I feel like one should really upgrade to a higher end snare regardless of kit anyway
The fact that the head to head comparisons are almost all in time with one another tickles my brain in all the right ways.
Effort was made. Thanks for noticing!
I purchased the Pearl Decade Maple based on this review and it was absolutely SPOT ON! The quality of this drum set is very impressive and it sounds really sweet. I own 2 Pearl snares and play with Pearl Hi Hat and bass drum pedal and have always been impressed with the quality. Can't thank you enough.
can you tell me about the durability of the Decade Maples? Specifically the hardware? I've heard complaints about the PDP Concept L-arms/tom mounts for instance not being very durable, same with the Gretsch C Maple hardware being basically old Gibraltar parts etc. So I'm wondering about the Pearl stuff. How is the tom mount? Do the toms move a lot because the mount itself or connecting parts are unstable? How are the floor tom legs? Do you consider it to be able to take a pounding? My only complaint about vids/demos of these types is that they never seem to have a heavy hitter play the drums, or comment about the perceived durability over a long period of time etc. I've played on a Tama Superstar Classic and wasn't very impressed with the kit, particularly the hardware, so I'm trying to determine if any of these kits can really hold up for the long haul? Any info you could give on the Decade Maple's would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I’d luv to see a comparison of the next level of price/quality up from these . Best shell pack for $1500
Gretsch Renown , Pearl session select , Tama , Yamaha Tour custom , Mapex Saturn , DW design , but no option from Ludwig in that budget 😞🤷♂️👎🏼
Not a bad idea!
Drum Center of Portsmouth then do all of the high end kits too like dw collectors, pearl reference, mapex Saturn, tama star classic, grestch Brooklyn, Yamaha Phx
@@drumcenternh yea i would love that video its the price point im looking at. Entry level pro kits 1k -2k range. Maybe a maple yamaha, starclassic, masters custom, mapex saturn?
Ludwig's Neusonic is in that price range I'm pretty sure
Don’t forget the Sonor AQ2 Stage config 👍🏻☝️
I have a Gretsch Catalina maple in satin deep cherry red, gorgeous looking drums and it was very easy getting add-ons (I have 8, 10, 12 and 13” toms and 14 and 16” floortoms). Added Remo Emperor heads and changed the snaredrum (it’s the only thing about the kit that’s not great) for a Pearl Free Floating piccolo and it’s now the best looking and sounding drumkit I’ve ever seen and heard, truly in love with it.
This comparison really helped me make my decision on my new kit. All these kits r the ones I've been looking @. The Tamas r my pick. Love the 6.5 snare that goes with the kit, thanks for the awesome vid,
You will love them I have the tama superstar classic drums but in 7 piece I love the option of having more toms .
Thanks for hard work in putting this comparison together. I want you to know that there are drummers who watch this carefully and your hard work is appreciated. I am going to checkout your store now. Thanks.
I just messed around with a superstar classic and I was impressed! It was down to the Superstar classic or a Catalina maple and I think I’m going with the Gretsch. Both kits are outstanding though and really, there isn’t anything in this lineup that won’t work. (I’ve owned every brand now in this lineup haha). Furthermore, it’s really nice to be able to get a 3 up 2 down configuration for 1K. I also remember the days when a maple kit was financially prohibitive. I am 100% with you on having a bass drum tom mount; I’m sick of hanging drums off cymbal stands. Great content guys; thank you!
Best drum videos on RUclips. Great mixes, product explanation, occasional humor. Thank you!
So glad you like them, they are labor of love!
Eh....six of one....half dozen of another. Pretty much, all these drums sets will do. My choice? The Mapex had the most appealing tone out of the box, then again, I tend to like drums that don't ring forever and the Mapex was the clear winner in that department. The BIG downside for me as well with the Mapex is the tom mounting. Not a fan of cymbal stand mounted toms.
Same here
you can take of the mounts and put the toms on a snare stand or just get a cymbal stand that doesnt have a cymbal on it?
You guys rule, You’re precise, you’re intelligent about your findings Which makes for a great company that you have and a force to be reckon with.
Keep up the great work. Thanks so much for the information specially from an older drummer.
Thanks again
Mark Cinque
Excellent Comparison! Thank You for giving us drummers quality content while in quarantine!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have the Tama in Mohogany Burst as a 7 piece kit with an 8" rack tom and a 14" floor tom added. They sound amazing with Remo pinstripes on the batter side and Black Ambassadors on the resonant side.
The video production in this demo is phenomenal. In fact, I can't think of a comparison video for any product that impressed me as much. I own the Gretsch Catalina Set in a 7 piece. It's so beautiful that I keep it in my living room - it's the focal point of the room. So with my heads of choice on, I've got Evans hydrolics on them now with an Evans coated head on the snare, it sounds the way I want my drums to sound. The entire 7 piece, purchased on sale, was $900, so I figure with the addition of new heads it totaled to around $1000. So, did I like any of the other sets more than the Gretsch? Actually, I liked them all - but it's the microphones and recording equipment that I'm envious of.
Thanks so much for the kind words!!
agree - these guys have the best review videos on YT. I just want to hear the drums... and they do that better than anyone
That tama bass drum so very nice
Great kits. I prefer the Tama since I’ve had two sets before. Absolutely love the 6 1/2 inch snare. The sizes in this demo are just perfect drum sizes for me. All of the sets sound well but the Mapex actually stood out. Thanks for a good review.
Correctly stated 👊
Thank you for your wunderfull Work .
I dont't play Drums since 20 Years , but your Tests and Videos makes me "hungry" . Best Regards from Germany
Man! As a drummer who started my journey 20 years ago I thought I had it pretty good with my Pearl Export with the ridiculous Tom depths 😂
I wish I was a new drummer now a days, these are awesome! I’d even consider one of these if I wanted to add a maple kit to my collection.
I gig with the Gretsch Catalina Maple in the 7 piece config, and it sounds amazing. I love it!
All of these kits would sound much better without stock heads. A Sonor AQ2 would have been a good addition to this comparison. Great demonstration and thanks for taking the time to show us how these drums actually sound and for all the hard work you put into it 👍
I got my DW design series four piece kit for 600 bucks on sale.
Paired with my Tama bubinga wood drum, I'm very pleased with the sound versus what I spent.
The Gretsch hands down. Sick move at 21:40
I bought a 2nd hand X7 P.D.P for $333 Canadian and got a Concept Maple Kick drum off these great people at D.C.P to build a monster still waiting on some Gibraltar stuff should be here and done by July .lol
You guys dropped this at the perfect time. I’ve been really into vintage sounds recently but I don’t own any kits with a modern sound. I wanted to have something for when I need that sound, without breaking the bank. I’ve been looking at the entry-level maple kits and have been considering all of these. Great sounds at a great price, especially in the used market. Thanks y’all 👍🏼
Glad you enjoyed it!
These aren’t entry level
@@drumcenternh I'm gonna buy one of these kits by the end of the year, been playing the same worn out 70s birch kit for 14 years and It's time for a 2nd kit/upgrade!
Nice. I like the fact that you gave the examples using the stock heads.
Glad it was helpful!
Tama edges it in the toms for me but the Mapex was very close behind.. even probably if you swapped the heads out. Throw in the fact that I liked the Mapex snare the best then if I was in the market for such a set, that is probably the one I would go for. Great video guys! 👍
Exactly 👊
I just ordered a tama superstar classic to add to my drum collection after buying a vintage rockstar kit last month...pumped for them!
But the most important thing to remember when choosing a maple kit is to NEVER drink lacquer
Bout a pdp concept maple kit back in 2013, replaced the snare with a DW performance in the same exact white sparkle. I’m not an avid drummer, really. I play guitar mainly. Played the pdp for about 2-3 years then took a hiatus. Ended up bringing my kit up to my buddy’s studio/rehearsal room, and wow, the projection and tone are absolutely incredible. They cut through well and have tremendous punch. Before I brought my drums up to the studio, my buddy was playing an old Tama, which sounded ok. The PDP kit blew it away. We ended up getting a drummer and he had a Gretsch USA Custom, and while it sounded great, I found the PDP maple kit to sound better with the faster style of music we were playing.