Nice to see that the only Yamaha kit to make appearance is the Hybrid Oak Custom. Mine is on order and should be with me the end of next week! Thanks for giving up all your time to make such great videos, really appreciate all the hard work and time that it must take to put something like this together!
Strangely, I thought the Ludwig Legacy Mahogany sounded muffled. Maybe it was the choice of drumheads but maybe it was the drums themselves. Kind of "meh", at least to my ears.
@@drumcenternh How many Trees died to make this video, it was worth it+)!.Ha! Would like to know if the Pearl Master double bass kit had coated ambassador or coated emperors on the toms as that's the sound I love! Know I just need to rob a bank!
You have to purchase a kit like a car; meaning, pay it off monthly. Otherwise, you end up settling on one of the most important things in your life and doing more damage to your technique and growth because of playing a cheap kit that you have to break your limbs to get a great sound out of. Do you wanna do that?
Just goes to show what mics can do for your kit . And a great sound guy. You never get to really appreciate your own drum kit until you hear it mic'd the right way out in front. Bravo!
As I’m aware, All of these Kits are Good, But What really Shows off a Drum kit, Is the Drummer. Great Video! Please Buy More from DCP so We can All Enjoy Videos like These!
Pearls are absolutely bullet proof. I play a masterworks on the road and even with the thin shells they're virtually unbreakable. That said a lot of guys just use the masters (Chad Smith for example) because they're even more durable. And you don't always need 2 kick drums and 5 toms.
I couldn't rank them in any particular order, however, I would imagine the BDC Legend series moving up in 2020 after this video. Overall this kit had the perfect tone and sustain. Being a Ludwig fan for years, I was a bit surprised that I didn't see a Legacy Maple kit on the list although the snare used with the mahogany kit sounded the best of all snares used imo. Thanks again for all you do guys. I'm sure this was a major undertaking to accomplish but this is why you're the best in the biz! Happy Holidays!! Now we need a 10 best snares for 2019. :)
Thanks, Douglas. It's hard work, but there's no work we'd rather be doing. We appreciate your support, and you are spot on when it comes to the BDC Legend kit. A few of us had it as #1 on our list.
I'm saving up for the Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak! The sound and projection of these drums are absolutely amazing! Stunning! I've been playing 40+ years...
Great video as always, and I want to compliment you on the funny intro, where Shane throw's out the team's hard work and delivers the real list. Love me some Sonor SQ1!
Thanks for anther great video. I love all the kits (especially the big sound of that Gretsch, but maybe a different color!). Thanks DCP yet again for raising the bar with another product comparison video that is exceptionally well planned, executed and produced/edited. You guys are literally the best there is at this.
Fantastic video once again! Hendrix is very interesting to my ears! Pearl Maple / Gum is very tasty and I think my favorite for 2019. But this Tama Bubinga yes is the greatest, it's true! Thanks Dcp!!!
Great video. I think the only thing that could have made it better is providing the cost of each kit. It would be a good way to evaluated best sound for best value. Otherwise, solid video! My vote goes to British Drum, then Sonor SQ1.
Acknowledging that all these kits are superb and that no drummer with ears could possibly be disappointed with any of them I have to say the Ludwig Legacy Mahogany outshone everything else by leaps and bounds as far as I'm concerned. The warmth and roundness of the tone and the immense depth of these drums is mind blowing.
Rankings are always subjective AND good job here. I own Sonor Prolite and Ludwig Legacy Mahogany, and in the past have had DW Ltd Ed, Yamaha RC, Gretsch, Pearl Reference, Other Ludwigs, etc. I am very very curious about Tama Star Maple. This video was full of surprises, most notably: Hendrix, British Drum Co., Pearl Gum, and oh my goodness those Broadkasters (size matters).
I play a Sonor SQ2 and a Pearl Masterworks depending on whether I'm playing a show (Pearl) or in the studio (Sonor). That said, I was pretty impressed with both DWs and the Tama, but given the choice of all of them? I'll take the Ludwig. With a full set of A Customs, (K's would be equally good) coated Powerstroke batters and Pinstripe resonants. I'll put that in my spare room, cheers! Thanks for another fantastic video!
This video was a real treat! So many great kits. After hearing the British Drum Company kit I can understand why Nicko switched. But for me I still can't get over the Pearl Stadium Shell and the Grestch Broadcaster. Loved them then and I still love em now. Lol.
All are huge! Specially liked Ludwig Mahogany Legacy, DW and Gretsch ... but CANOPUS YAIBA is my best surprise! just bought one and really sounds amazing!! thanks DCP!!
I agree. I have a question. Do these guys already know what head sounds the best on each kit? I was thinking put the same heads on all the kits. Then if they want to change heads on the drumsets. Change all the heads to the same type. That way we could get a side by side comparison. I'm not sure if that makes sense or a big waste of time. Just the way I was thinking it could be done. Not saying by any means it's the right way.
As a TAMA guy myself, I was glad to see them take the top prize (as they rightly should), but I was both blown away with & thoroughly impressed by how awesome that Gretsch Kit sounded !!! Thank you for turning me on to those ...
You guys did an incredible job. You were fun, talking about serious and important criteria and information. Nobody needs to be boring just because they're talking about technical stuff. Just excellent material! 😍
I guess all the top brands have their top kits. Sonar does make incredible kits, but that Pearl was something else! DW seems to be the #1 $ making co these days (I guess that's why we saw 2?)
That's not even Sonor's best effort.... but I will say there are several guys on Drumforum that have been in this store and played all these kits, including the BDC and any DW you want to throw at it...... and they say the SQ1 take the others easily if you play them yourself and take some time with the kit to feel it out... YOu can't tell everything going on from a video..
my top 3 is 1- British , toms are sweet music and the kick does match the toms 2-Tama Star Bubinga, perfect everywhere 3-Hendrix, the sounds seems like a canon, and it's a hell of a looking drum. Im having a blast looking Shane smash those crash !!! thank's again for those videos
I already knew the Tama star was the winner before even watching. The way Shane looked when he played it was the first and only time I’ve seen his face just in awe while sitting behind it on camera playing the toms. It literally is the perfect kit and wish I could have it. Too expensive for me but I love watching high quality videos like this to really hear the star drums. I mean it’s literally impossible to have a kit sing like that with that much tone yet still have crazy good low end attack and bite. No matter what tuning the star drums just shine. But I do think the Tama starclassic w/b should’ve been on the list. It’s a great great kid for the price and really has made a splash in the drumming world since it’s come out and to replace a classic like the Bb’s is very hard to do but Tama pulled it off.
WFL kit and The Pearl Maple Drum kit Nice, Birch Canopus Nice.....Not a fan of the Ludwig Yamaha and DW stuff..... Tama i liked as well..... The other stuff just sounded dead (which has its place when mics are on board, But a lively drum can easily be deadened Good job gentlemen in demoing something for everyone.....There are easily 5 or 6 kits each different that I would love to play!
Great job, I love watching these videos. I'm a DW drummer myself and I feel like they held their own. I love Tama drums as well but that presentation was not their best imo. Great drums all around, thank you for sharing this!
What a sweet video. All amazing kits! While watching the video I was wondering if my kit was gonna be on the list...and it was!! I love my Yamaha LCHO kit.
I thought Tama Star Walnut would make the list. For me, the biggest surprise was the Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid. I picked this kit to make DCP's list, and I say "surprise" because the Live Custom Oak and Oak Custom were nice kits but nothing exceptional, really. Somehow the Hybrid Live Custom--that resin ply--has given a really rich, noticeable sustain and tone that I haven't heard from a Yamaha kit in quite a while. The Hendrix also accomplishes this feat: it sounds really alive in its sustain and tone. I'll have to go back and re-listen to British Drum kit; it didn't strike me that much. Nice job on the process of evaluation, DCP--I like the combination of data assessment and subjective/qualitative analysis!
The WFL snare is a standout. Pearl Maple/Gum sounded amazing. Not sure why the Tama Walnut/Birch sounded so small and constricted in this demo as we already heard it sound absolutely amazing in the first demo of the year. And yeah that Tama Star Kit is just WOW!
Great list! but you forgot the Mapex Black Panther design lab Versatus. Such an amazing sounding kit. Besides that those British drum company cold pressed birch sound awesome and the Pearl stadiums are great as well. But the real win is that Yamaha live oak Hybrid’s bass drum. That thing sounds insane!
Great list, many great sounding kits. I think the Masterworks Stadium is arguably the best maple kit money (tons of it) can buy. I also started to appreciate the Ludwig Mahogany more. I was blown away with the sound of the broadkaster, but does it sound better than an USA Custom (specially after hearing the beauty sound of the Pearl Maple/Gum, which has the same formula)? My list (not that insightful nonetheless), not in particular order: 10. Pearl Reference (i love its shell concept) 9. Ludwig Legacy Mahogany (beating the Classic Maple at the last minute) 8. Gretsch USA Custom (great sound, gum enhancing maple) 7. DW Collector Series Pure Oak (i just love the wildness of oak) 6. Tama Star Bubinga (or Walnut, but damn those are expensive) 5. Mapex Black Phanter Maple/Walnut (forget the Versatus, this is the best Mapex kit) 4. Yamaha Recording Custom (in my opinion, the best birch kit) 3. Sonor Prolite (aged maple, absolutely stunning sound) 2. Pearl Masterworks Stadium Maple (a powerhouse) 1. Yamaha PHX (probably the best allrounded kit) This is a great channel, thanks DCP!
I have to agree with your *1 choice...I recently saw Billy Cobham with his Bubingas at a small club in Buffalo and it was, hands down, the most beautiful drum sound Ive heard in my life...and Im getting up there!...lol
#1 and #2 are the best sets there....sound great, both beautiful....i am ordering a tama.....because of the die cast hoops, tom holders, finish, and cost a touch less......but both awesome drum companies !!!
I posted this to one of the drum brothers below, but I am posting again because these are all up in the higher end of the pocketbook. Think about your next purchase of a kit like you may buy a car; meaning, pay it off monthly. Otherwise, you end up settling on one of the most important things in your life and doing more damage to your technique and growth because of playing a cheap kit that you have to break your limbs to get a great sound out of. Do you wanna do that? You deserve the best...here they are, make a choice.
Since you've said I deserve the best and to make a choice here goes: I'll take any one of those kits and you can pay for it since you apparently have a lot of disposable income. Otherwise, your comment is highly elitist. Most real musicians barely have 2 quarters to rub together so we get what we can and make the best of it. I have made a pearl forum kit sound like a masters with tuning and proper heads, I made a $200 CB percussion kit sound like something 3 times the price.
British Drum Co, Pearl Masterworks and the DW Cherry/Mahogany (surprisingly for me) were my top picks. Yamaha was pretty amazing too, always are! They all sounded the most consistent overall between full mix, overheads and room mic
The Ludwig toms sound like we did in the 80´s! With Pinstripes, toilet paper and ducktape.... Damn, i like this company :-( my first kit back in 1981 was a Ludwig... I love the Hendrix! The sound, the look, everything! Just yumyum... ;-.)
I'm lusting after several of the snare drums. The Sonor, British Drum Company, and the second DW all had amazing snares. I also really liked the mixed brand cymbal combo you had for one of them. I think it was the Ludwig.
The Tama is clearly the best one here. But the snare drum on that Hendrix kit almost reminds me of a Bell Brass with how powerful it is. Holy shit that thing sounds beautiful.
OK, I stand corrected. Just re-listened to the British Drum portion, and that kit sounds incredibly *clean* in its tone and sustain. Very controlled, but in a good way. Wow. I wonder how the toms would sound if those on-shell mounts were replaced with INDe drum tunable tom mounts, to give the toms more "bounce." Hmmm...
Forget about the drums - I found myself captivated by some of the cymbals! Loving the big thin Sabian AAX crashes and AAX hats Shane was playing with a few of these kits. But like many others have said here - my fav is the Pearl Maple Gum. If I ever get a birch kit for something different, I liked the Sonor SQ1.
U love the winner. That Tama kit was fantastic. Also loved the Pearl kit. Sonor was good. Do sounds ok but I personally think they are slightly over rated. Beautiful no doubt. That's just one opinion. So many incredible sounding kits these days. And we have a lot of drummers out there that hear things they maybe like better. But that's what's fun about it all. It's a blast hearing all the different experiences and styles that make each drummer unique. To each and all drumheads out there on there journey. Keep on pounding.
I've been so waiting for this. Now it seems like Christmas has begun!
Merry Christmas! For a compilation video, this took way longer than expected to make. Thanks for watching, Paul.
Nice to see that the only Yamaha kit to make appearance is the Hybrid Oak Custom. Mine is on order and should be with me the end of next week! Thanks for giving up all your time to make such great videos, really appreciate all the hard work and time that it must take to put something like this together!
Strangely, I thought the Ludwig Legacy Mahogany sounded muffled. Maybe it was the choice of drumheads but maybe it was the drums themselves. Kind of "meh", at least to my ears.
@@drumcenternh How many Trees died to make this video, it was worth it+)!.Ha! Would like to know if the Pearl Master double bass kit had coated ambassador or coated emperors on the toms as that's the sound I love! Know I just need to rob a bank!
@@johncollins5552 Ambassadors!
This video should be titled “Drum Sets I’ll never Be Able to Afford!!!” 😂😂😂
... unless I won a lottery 😁
Well, I heard the black market will buy any unused bodily organs... ;-)
Maybe I could paint something for the guys at DCP and we could do a trade?! I am an abstract acrylic painter!
I’m with you there !!!!
You have to purchase a kit like a car; meaning, pay it off monthly. Otherwise, you end up settling on one of the most important things in your life and doing more damage to your technique and growth because of playing a cheap kit that you have to break your limbs to get a great sound out of. Do you wanna do that?
Proud owner of the SQ1. Beautiful kit and a joy to play. Best kit I've ever played hands down.
That Masterworks kit is incredible. That sick Pearl tubbiness is cranked all the way up on this one
So excited to have seen the Tama Star on the top of the list. Absolutely exceptional drums, not even a surprise! This was a fantastic video! 😊👍🏻
That ludwig bass drum was an a whole nother level compared to the rest
the set was sweet sounding all around that ludwig.
I think it not being ported has a lot to do with it. Ludwig bass drums sound so full un-ported
Amen. A buddy of mine had a Ludwig Power Tom set which cut through loud amps like it was nothing.
The gretsch 26 was better imo
My favorite is SONOR SQ1 WOOOW
That SQ1 sound massive
Just goes to show what mics can do for your kit . And a great sound guy. You never get to really appreciate your own drum kit until you hear it mic'd the right way out in front. Bravo!
The Hendrix and Legend kits sounded great!
As I’m aware, All of these Kits are Good, But What really Shows off a Drum kit, Is the Drummer. Great Video! Please Buy More from DCP so We can All Enjoy Videos like These!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Mati. We appreciate your support! Happy New Year.
It's Shane's list for sure when you see Sonor SQ1 as the first drum set, haha!
John EvRage And Tama as #1 :p
Pearl Masters Maple Gum was my fave.
This video is AWESOME!!
Really well done.
All sound very good and are well made but TAMA has unique balance in sound and tone. Drum Center of Portsmouth happy holidays.
Same to you, Salvy. Thanks for watching!
Cool
That pearl masterworks stadium was a game changer ! Big kit !
The Pearl stadium would be on my list too! Sounds amazing!
Pearls are absolutely bullet proof. I play a masterworks on the road and even with the thin shells they're virtually unbreakable. That said a lot of guys just use the masters (Chad Smith for example) because they're even more durable. And you don't always need 2 kick drums and 5 toms.
I couldn't rank them in any particular order, however, I would imagine the BDC Legend series moving up in 2020 after this video. Overall this kit had the perfect tone and sustain. Being a Ludwig fan for years, I was a bit surprised that I didn't see a Legacy Maple kit on the list although the snare used with the mahogany kit sounded the best of all snares used imo. Thanks again for all you do guys. I'm sure this was a major undertaking to accomplish but this is why you're the best in the biz! Happy Holidays!! Now we need a 10 best snares for 2019. :)
Thanks, Douglas. It's hard work, but there's no work we'd rather be doing. We appreciate your support, and you are spot on when it comes to the BDC Legend kit. A few of us had it as #1 on our list.
I'm saving up for the Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid Oak! The sound and projection of these drums are absolutely amazing! Stunning! I've been playing 40+ years...
That British was immense! I have to look up their page! Im impressed how many great drumsets came out this year!
Have a nice holiday
A few of us actually had the British as number 1. Thanks for watching, cheers!
BDC is my number 1
Yeah I agree!..They sound so full and great tone for a smaller kit!..I also really like the sound of the DW kit !!!!
The British kit is awesome!
Great video as always, and I want to compliment you on the funny intro, where Shane throw's out the team's hard work and delivers the real list. Love me some Sonor SQ1!
Thanks for watching, Eric!
Thanks for anther great video. I love all the kits (especially the big sound of that Gretsch, but maybe a different color!). Thanks DCP yet again for raising the bar with another product comparison video that is exceptionally well planned, executed and produced/edited. You guys are literally the best there is at this.
Thanks for watching! It's awesome to hear that people appreciate the hard work we put into this. Happy holidays.
Great list...Your #4 is by far my #1, though! That Pearl Masterworks Stadium kit is a beast!!!
Yamaha Oak, British Drum Legend and Pearl Masters Maple. I used to sell for Sam Ash in Vegas (2003-4) and always liked the Pearl 4-ply Maple.
Pearl Masters Maple/Gum look and sound the best.
Its begging for some rippin fast long drum rolls.
Fantastic video once again! Hendrix is very interesting to my ears! Pearl Maple / Gum is very tasty and I think my favorite for 2019. But this Tama Bubinga yes is the greatest, it's true! Thanks Dcp!!!
Great video. I think the only thing that could have made it better is providing the cost of each kit. It would be a good way to evaluated best sound for best value. Otherwise, solid video! My vote goes to British Drum, then Sonor SQ1.
I was actually thinking about this as I was editing the video. A very good suggestion, Marco! Thanks for watching.
Acknowledging that all these kits are superb and that no drummer with ears could possibly be disappointed with any of them I have to say the Ludwig Legacy Mahogany outshone everything else by leaps and bounds as far as I'm concerned. The warmth and roundness of the tone and the immense depth of these drums is mind blowing.
Rankings are always subjective AND good job here. I own Sonor Prolite and Ludwig Legacy Mahogany, and in the past have had DW Ltd Ed, Yamaha RC, Gretsch, Pearl Reference, Other Ludwigs, etc. I am very very curious about Tama Star Maple. This video was full of surprises, most notably: Hendrix, British Drum Co., Pearl Gum, and oh my goodness those Broadkasters (size matters).
I play a Sonor SQ2 and a Pearl Masterworks depending on whether I'm playing a show (Pearl) or in the studio (Sonor). That said, I was pretty impressed with both DWs and the Tama, but given the choice of all of them? I'll take the Ludwig. With a full set of A Customs, (K's would be equally good) coated Powerstroke batters and Pinstripe resonants. I'll put that in my spare room, cheers! Thanks for another fantastic video!
Your #1, and the DW Cherry Mahogany were my favorites.
Pearl/Gretsch/Sonor/Yamaha/Tama/Ludwig/Mapex/A&F/DW
This video was a real treat! So many great kits. After hearing the British Drum Company kit I can understand why Nicko switched. But for me I still can't get over the Pearl Stadium Shell and the Grestch Broadcaster. Loved them then and I still love em now. Lol.
Wow you sure put some time and effort into this one. Congratulations I watched the whole thing!
On the room mics the Tama and the DW’s sang to me. The Pearls are no slouch either. That Big Gretch kit is so cool.
glad that amazing broadkaster made it! thanks for what you guys do and happy holidays
We couldn't do it without people like you. Thank you for watching!
That pearl masterworks double bass was the best sounding one of them all.
Agreed, my 1st choice... Incredible sound, just so big.. hmmmm, that sound.
Wow, how strange, that one stood out to me as the least one out of the whole bunch... Very flat sounding to me.
Funny how tastes can differ so much!
I agree the masterworks sounded incredible, but the DW private reserve was a very close second for me.
All are huge! Specially liked Ludwig Mahogany Legacy, DW and Gretsch ... but CANOPUS YAIBA is my best surprise! just bought one and really sounds amazing!! thanks DCP!!
BDC Legend Series and Sonor SQ1 by far. Birch rules.
I agree. I have a question. Do these guys already know what head sounds the best on each kit? I was thinking put the same heads on all the kits. Then if they want to change heads on the drumsets. Change all the heads to the same type. That way we could get a side by side comparison. I'm not sure if that makes sense or a big waste of time. Just the way I was thinking it could be done. Not saying by any means it's the right way.
The Gretsch was outrageous...
not only that but the drummer played really tasteful. They need to hire him.
As a TAMA guy myself, I was glad to see them take the top prize (as they rightly should), but I was both blown away with & thoroughly impressed by how awesome that Gretsch Kit sounded !!! Thank you for turning me on to those ...
I love em all. But if I had to choose one. It would be the Pearl Maple Gum.
#gretschcopy
I thought they lost alot of clarity on the lower end of the spectrum down on the floor toms. Maybe just tuning.
You guys did an incredible job. You were fun, talking about serious and important criteria and information. Nobody needs to be boring just because they're talking about technical stuff. Just excellent material! 😍
Thanks, man. We appreciate the kind words!
Thank you for your amazing reviews!😃
Thank you for watching, Arin!
i'd have to say I liked the British kit the best, and i'm a Sonor guy
Allan Crossfield I definitely second that!
I guess all the top brands have their top kits. Sonar does make incredible kits, but that Pearl was something else! DW seems to be the #1 $ making co these days (I guess that's why we saw 2?)
Funny, Nicko McBrain another well known Sonor drummer for years recently had the same take, now endorses British Drum Co.
It had a great sound for sure!
That's not even Sonor's best effort.... but I will say there are several guys on Drumforum that have been in this store and played all these kits, including the BDC and any DW you want to throw at it...... and they say the SQ1 take the others easily if you play them yourself and take some time with the kit to feel it out... YOu can't tell everything going on from a video..
1- British
2- Hendrix
3- Sonor sq1
Awesome drum kits
The Pearl MasterWorks Stadium kit has my vote - though all are drool-worthy 🤤🤤
Those Tom Tom chops starting at 18:07 on that DW kit was IMO your best ever. Pure thunder in motion ⚡⚡
my top 3 is
1- British , toms are sweet music and the kick does match the toms
2-Tama Star Bubinga, perfect everywhere
3-Hendrix, the sounds seems like a canon, and it's a hell of a looking drum.
Im having a blast looking Shane smash those crash !!! thank's again for those videos
Ian Touzel I agree.
I already knew the Tama star was the winner before even watching. The way Shane looked when he played it was the first and only time I’ve seen his face just in awe while sitting behind it on camera playing the toms. It literally is the perfect kit and wish I could have it. Too expensive for me but I love watching high quality videos like this to really hear the star drums. I mean it’s literally impossible to have a kit sing like that with that much tone yet still have crazy good low end attack and bite. No matter what tuning the star drums just shine. But I do think the Tama starclassic w/b should’ve been on the list. It’s a great great kid for the price and really has made a splash in the drumming world since it’s come out and to replace a classic like the Bb’s is very hard to do but Tama pulled it off.
I've just ordered all of these drums and can't wait to fill my garage and play them
You must have a garage band.
The folks at tama know how to make a fine drum kit! How bout that yamaha oak? Loved that kit
You literally brought ten different shirts to work that day, Shane? 😁
Great overview, quality production again too
More wardrobe changes than Cher.
Man!!! Every one of you are superb drummers!!! I enjoy the different styles. It’s fascinating.
That's very nice of you to say, Blake. Thank you!
Y'all are crazy.
My top three:
1. Pearl Maple/Gum
2. DW Cherry Mahogany
3. Ludwig Legend Mahogany
That Gretsch Broadcaster on the Room Mix is everything!!! I'm in love
Not being funny, but when you can play drums like any of those guys, you could probably make a couple of old buckets sound sexy!
I have no business playing a kit like this one, but that Gretsch 15-16-18-26 kit was unfreaking believable.
WFL kit and The Pearl Maple Drum kit Nice, Birch Canopus Nice.....Not a fan of the Ludwig Yamaha and DW stuff..... Tama i liked as well..... The other stuff just sounded dead (which has its place when mics are on board, But a lively drum can easily be deadened Good job gentlemen in demoing something for everyone.....There are easily 5 or 6 kits each different that I would love to play!
Very Very Good made ! This Team did everything Professionally, nice to see you Play! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great job, I love watching these videos. I'm a DW drummer myself and I feel like they held their own. I love Tama drums as well but that presentation was not their best imo. Great drums all around, thank you for sharing this!
Thanks for watching, and for the feedback, Brandon.
I love my TAMA bubinga kit!!!!! My next pick or equal choice would be without a doubt the DW, just an amazing kit!!!!!
Thx for all your hard work in production
That means a lot to us. Thanks for watching, Michael.
Loved the sound of the Pearl Masterworks Stadium kit.... Daumn!
Seriously, my favorite one probably. Sounded awesome.
What a sweet video. All amazing kits! While watching the video I was wondering if my kit was gonna be on the list...and it was!! I love my Yamaha LCHO kit.
I thought Tama Star Walnut would make the list. For me, the biggest surprise was the Yamaha Live Custom Hybrid. I picked this kit to make DCP's list, and I say "surprise" because the Live Custom Oak and Oak Custom were nice kits but nothing exceptional, really. Somehow the Hybrid Live Custom--that resin ply--has given a really rich, noticeable sustain and tone that I haven't heard from a Yamaha kit in quite a while. The Hendrix also accomplishes this feat: it sounds really alive in its sustain and tone. I'll have to go back and re-listen to British Drum kit; it didn't strike me that much. Nice job on the process of evaluation, DCP--I like the combination of data assessment and subjective/qualitative analysis!
Science for the win.
That british drum co set caught my attention immediately, love birch.
Loved the Hendrix kit. Also the Gretsch kit sounds very good.
Love the DW mahogany/cherry, followed closely by the Yammies...
The #8 DW cherry/mahogany kit could have been #1 IMO, sounds fantastic
Indeed!
I LIKE THOSE SABIAN CRASH CYMBALS
Great list from a great store! Brilliant stuff from DCP.
That Gretsch Broadkaster kit is AWESOME!!!!!!
I like the way you play drums! Thanks for the review.
As a tama fanboy, this made me so proud... kisses! Love! Star!
That British Drum Company kit sounds amazing!
The WFL snare is a standout. Pearl Maple/Gum sounded amazing. Not sure why the Tama Walnut/Birch sounded so small and constricted in this demo as we already heard it sound absolutely amazing in the first demo of the year. And yeah that Tama Star Kit is just WOW!
The Sonor kit was awesome. BDC was a close second for me.
Great work guys. Have a great Christmas and New Year ! 🎶🎶
Great list! but you forgot the Mapex Black Panther design lab Versatus. Such an amazing sounding kit. Besides that those British drum company cold pressed birch sound awesome and the Pearl stadiums are great as well. But the real win is that Yamaha live oak Hybrid’s bass drum. That thing sounds insane!
Gretsch!....... the warmth, just that great Gretsch sound, 35 years on Gretsch here...
They all sound good in my opinion but I was particularly impressed with the BDC kit!
Great list and great work, guys.
Thanks, Peter. Happy holidays.
@@drumcenternh Thanks! You, too! I'll see you guys soon.
Outrageous Ludwig bass drum. Sounds like the 60’s 3 ply
Great list, many great sounding kits. I think the Masterworks Stadium is arguably the best maple kit money (tons of it) can buy. I also started to appreciate the Ludwig Mahogany more. I was blown away with the sound of the broadkaster, but does it sound better than an USA Custom (specially after hearing the beauty sound of the Pearl Maple/Gum, which has the same formula)?
My list (not that insightful nonetheless), not in particular order:
10. Pearl Reference (i love its shell concept)
9. Ludwig Legacy Mahogany (beating the Classic Maple at the last minute)
8. Gretsch USA Custom (great sound, gum enhancing maple)
7. DW Collector Series Pure Oak (i just love the wildness of oak)
6. Tama Star Bubinga (or Walnut, but damn those are expensive)
5. Mapex Black Phanter Maple/Walnut (forget the Versatus, this is the best Mapex kit)
4. Yamaha Recording Custom (in my opinion, the best birch kit)
3. Sonor Prolite (aged maple, absolutely stunning sound)
2. Pearl Masterworks Stadium Maple (a powerhouse)
1. Yamaha PHX (probably the best allrounded kit)
This is a great channel, thanks DCP!
I have to agree with your *1 choice...I recently saw Billy Cobham with his Bubingas at a small club in Buffalo and it was, hands down, the most beautiful drum sound Ive heard in my life...and Im getting up there!...lol
#1 and #2 are the best sets there....sound great, both beautiful....i am ordering a tama.....because of the die cast hoops, tom holders, finish, and cost a touch less......but both awesome drum companies !!!
I posted this to one of the drum brothers below, but I am posting again because these are all up in the higher end of the pocketbook. Think about your next purchase of a kit like you may buy a car; meaning, pay it off monthly. Otherwise, you end up settling on one of the most important things in your life and doing more damage to your technique and growth because of playing a cheap kit that you have to break your limbs to get a great sound out of. Do you wanna do that? You deserve the best...here they are, make a choice.
Since you've said I deserve the best and to make a choice here goes: I'll take any one of those kits and you can pay for it since you apparently have a lot of disposable income. Otherwise, your comment is highly elitist. Most real musicians barely have 2 quarters to rub together so we get what we can and make the best of it. I have made a pearl forum kit sound like a masters with tuning and proper heads, I made a $200 CB percussion kit sound like something 3 times the price.
British Drum Co, Pearl Masterworks and the DW Cherry/Mahogany (surprisingly for me) were my top picks. Yamaha was pretty amazing too, always are! They all sounded the most consistent overall between full mix, overheads and room mic
Yeah,that British Drum Co was amazing .
The Ludwig toms sound like we did in the 80´s! With Pinstripes, toilet paper and ducktape.... Damn, i like this company :-( my first kit back in 1981 was a Ludwig...
I love the Hendrix! The sound, the look, everything! Just yumyum... ;-.)
Sets just kept getting better, I think you guys nailed it!
Another great video! Thanks guys.
Thanks for watching!
I'm lusting after several of the snare drums. The Sonor, British Drum Company, and the second DW all had amazing snares. I also really liked the mixed brand cymbal combo you had for one of them. I think it was the Ludwig.
That British Drum Company is in my opinion the nicest. That bass drum is literally unreal.
Great kits for sure. I am leaning towards the Gretsch or the British. I currently play both a Tama BB and an older Rockstar kit as well.
The Tama is clearly the best one here. But the snare drum on that Hendrix kit almost reminds me of a Bell Brass with how powerful it is. Holy shit that thing sounds beautiful.
Tama. Tama. And Tama. There that was a short list! XD
OK, I stand corrected. Just re-listened to the British Drum portion, and that kit sounds incredibly *clean* in its tone and sustain. Very controlled, but in a good way. Wow. I wonder how the toms would sound if those on-shell mounts were replaced with INDe drum tunable tom mounts, to give the toms more "bounce." Hmmm...
Pretty decent list. I concur.
Forget about the drums - I found myself captivated by some of the cymbals! Loving the big thin Sabian AAX crashes and AAX hats Shane was playing with a few of these kits. But like many others have said here - my fav is the Pearl Maple Gum. If I ever get a birch kit for something different, I liked the Sonor SQ1.
I liked that Legend set. sounded great. they all did but that one stood out to me.
Was surprised no kits from Noble & Cooley. At least the video was opened and closed showing one of their Walnut sets.
U love the winner. That Tama kit was fantastic. Also loved the Pearl kit. Sonor was good. Do sounds ok but I personally think they are slightly over rated. Beautiful no doubt. That's just one opinion. So many incredible sounding kits these days. And we have a lot of drummers out there that hear things they maybe like better. But that's what's fun about it all. It's a blast hearing all the different experiences and styles that make each drummer unique. To each and all drumheads out there on there journey. Keep on pounding.
Sonor SQ1 got me the most excited! All sound excellent.