It was an Enforcer kit, whoever that was. It was $100, wine red and sounded like poo. So did my cymbals, which were mostly junk and cobbled together from Craigslist. Still gigged with it though!
My first drum set was also a Mapex, a now discontinued Voyager. Still with me, still in gigs, I switched the throw-off for a Trick one, and will be adding some more stuff to it. Edit: For those curious, it's been with me since 2012, and it has the very standard-ish 12", 13", and 16" of toms and floor tom.
@@conormorrissey8987 I did the exact opposite! I kept the drums, sold of the rest of the hardware (even the pedal, and now I resent not having a light, portable pedal), but I love it. I wish I had the 10" tom for it.
I'm a DW guy and was going to buy a PDP concept kit, but decided to get a Mapex Armory because I fell in love with the finish and the quality you get for the price point is much better than PDP right now, not to mention they give you a virgin bass drum and a tomahawk snare. Mapex has definitely stepped up their quality in recent years.
I got this kit as an alternative to the tama superstar classic because Sweetwater was not receiving a lot of Tama products but my God am I in love with the set that I am glad it happened
I’m also a Dw guy I’m going to disagree the shells on the concept series are much better and the hardware is also a higher quality material! The only thing that’s better is the snare, but that’s my opinion.
Sorry man, try gigging with one for a year… they are complete junk and that’s their Saturn SE. the lacquer cracks, threads strip, shells have gaps in the ply’s and they use wood filler!! WOOD FILLER in the shells, chunks actually work loose and fall out… screw plates fall from the stands, cross threaded tension rods… Chinese crap… NEVER buy Mapex…
Mapex always made the same great quality IMHO, they've been slept on...! The older Saturns are arguably the best drums I've heard in a mix and one of the very few sets where I can immediately tell what it is even mixed as a sound engineer and drummer. They hit the right level of punch/decay. I've never seen a player using any dampening on Mapex tom and floors, which tells you a lot...! The Saturn IV and V exotic where the favorites of Will Calouhn for years with emperor clear heads. There's a tribal quality to it, Always the right articulation without ever sounding dead. Mapex are like the Ibanez of drums, they just refine their own thing, they don't think about the trends of the hype. Every few years we remember it, then people sort of forget how ridiculous their kits are... so good, so professional, nothing in particular stand out about them. It's just overall incredible.
My first kit was a Pearl Soundcheck, over 12 years ago. I still have it actually, and only the shells and lugs are original now. The availability of starter kits vs shell packs in today's age is amazing. Also, that blue color you got is 🔥
Mapex is the best bang for the buck. I've owned many of their drums. Solid drums and sound. In 2008, they had over 100 high end snare drums in their catalog. I own 2 maple and one seamless steel 6.5 x 14" snare drums and they have all received numerous compliments over the years.
Not even in the market for this kit but I still found this review really interesting and watched it from start to finish. Great video! It's also amazing to see the level of build quality and features in entry kits these days!
My dads first kit (and my current kit) was an old Mapex Venus from the mid 90s, same throne, pedals and some of the stands (none broke, just replaced). It's still going strong and has held up amazingly well
I have a strong affinity to Mapex Venus kits. Our church had one for years (22x18 12x9 16x16 14x5.5 steel) and then they got a Pearl kit, so I took it home and used it myself. Best kit I ever played on, although I did use my own Sonor Force 13x7 snare.... It also had old Meinl Classics on it, so I bought some modern ones to add to it a bit. Best kit I ever had. And I miss it.
I'm glad to see you making videos for the beginner drummer, trying to direct them to the best tools possible for longevity and sound. As someone who was inspired to start drumming years ago by your channel,, one of the hardest parts of getting started was finding beginner gear. You literally just don't know what you're looking for or what questions to ask. I love your channel Dave, and I will keep watching loyally because of how accessible you have made the drums to underprivileged people like myself. P.S. My first kit was the Sound Percussion Labs Unity 5 piece. The current listings are a lot more expensive but when I bought in 2016 it was about 130 dollars.
Man, that thing sounds great. Doesn't sound like it cuts, but it's got a nice airy quality in the highs. Absolutely gonna work for a beginner, and you could even gig with it. That crash ride is also not terrible. Won't be recording any platinum albums with it, but I'm super impressed.
started on a very similar mapex starter kit quite a few years ago and honestly it served me really well. still using some of the hardware, and the floor tom had a sound i really loved. awesome video and great starter kits from mapex
My first kit was a CB700 way back in the 70's. It's crazy how far things have come with price and technology with drums. I bought a Mapex Pro M some years back and that's my baby. It sounds killer it's a good looking set and it's super durable. I'm a huge Mapex fan! Great video!
The first drum kit i've ever used was a Mapex Q in 2008 - 9. They sound nice, Mapex hasn't let me down since. These kits are popular here in Latin America. Cheers.
I have a 6 piece Mapex birch kit. I've had it since 2007. It has never let me down. It tunes up easy and stays in tune. The Mapex hardware is sturdy as hell too. I've played in many bands in many venues and drummers are always asking me which series Mapex kit it is. It sounds way better than so many high end kits. Just bought a Gretsch kit last week so now my Mapex will be my backup/ practice room kit. Mapex quality is outstanding.
Excellent channel! My first drum was a snare, because I joined the school band. It was a six lug 1963 Slingerland in marine pearl. Still have it, still gorgeous! Then I got a Slingerland bass and one tom, in blue agate (1966) and that was my kit.
Mapex is fighting for the crown. I’ve been watching them for a few years now and beside the quality improvement, they’re coming up with some really good features. I use a drum bank of DWs, but for a second set, I’ve been seriously considering a very nice set at a great price point at Sweetwater; they do some exclusive deals.
I always drummed for cover bands, open mics, and church gigs. As such, I got away with not buying my own kit for well over a decade as I was “really a guitar player”. About 3 years ago, at the tender age of 33, I started piecing together a Bonham-inspired Pearl kit after finding a reissue 24x16 wood-fiberglass kick drum for under $200. Eventually I came up with a Visions 14x10 rack tom, a mid-70’s cream-wrapped 16x16, a vintage wood-fiberglass 18x16, and a vintage Sensitone 14x6.5 chrome/aluminum snare. That’s my first kit. I’m a drummer that plays guitar now. I love it
In 1996, my mom bought me a set of Burgundy Mapex Venus Series drums, still have those, still use them for gigs all these years later. Love Mapex drums and their quality, you should do a video on their Armory series drums, the Drum of Center of Portsmouth, said they were the best kit under $1000, they did a video comparing them to the other big manufacturers. Thanks for the videos, enjoy them, thank you for sharing your passion with us!
I would freaking LOVE to see how much would take to transform this great entry level kit into a profesional(ish) kit for studio recording. Great video as allways!
The mics he's using do most of the work, I bet if you heard these drums in person they'd sound like garbage....remember he's producing this video with seriously high-end drum mics.
The 1st professional kit I ever purchased new was a Mapex Orion in 2000 and I had it for 20 years before I sold it. It was a great high end kit all Maple thin shells and a beautiful diamond teal color. It had heavy hardware. And the base drum legs the Tom holder and the floor Tom legs were all isolated including the isolation mounts on the Toms. Don't hesitate to buy mapex they're a good drum company.
I have the old Mapex V Series kit with the 8" & 10" rack, 12" Floor, 12" snare, and 18" bass drum! I added a 13" rack tom from a larger kit from the same series to use as a 2nd floor tom
I did the same thing! Found a matching orphan 13” And got two more mounts to make it a floor tom. Mounts and badge technically upside down for a floor but no body will see or know.
My first kit was Ludwig 22,13,16 champagne sparkle that I got new in 1965 that I still have . But I play a Mapex Pro M in Bonham sizes. They've been loaded and unloaded on trucks across the USA &Canada. Set up and torn down countless times and sound men love them .Although the hardware was good , they're rack mounted on a DW rack. Mapex "Daisycutter" snare is the loudest ever and they take a pounding ! Mapex are just great drums and a great company.
Great video! My first kit was a Pearl Rhythm Traveler, and it served me well for 16 years for what I needed out of it. I now own a Mapex Saturn V that I absolutely love.
I have a Mapex Storm and I've been loving it! Of course not the greatest kit I've ever played on, it is an entry-intermidiate level kit, but it works perfectly fine. The hardware is great and very solid for the price, and the overall sound is pretty much what I would call "decent". So as far as that goes, I would expect the Venus to perform the same :)
I bought that little "baby-sized" Mapex you mentioned when it was new,(mid-2000's maybe?), & it actually just happened to be the Venus series as well in a very cool Red Pearl. Still wish I had kept that little thing plus I ordered a 16" floor tom to go with it. Just looked though & noticed those are out there & going for reasonable price so still possible! Good vid, Great content!
Right now, I own an early 4 piece Mapex Series V Bop Kit. It has a goldish tiny flake finish that changes color slightly depending on the light hitting it. It sounds very similar to the Mapex kit you tried out many years ago at a Christmas gig. My kit has an 18" kick, 10" rack tom, 12" floor tom, and a 12" snare. I have tried for a long time to get a bit of history about this kit, but not even Mapex could help me. It is a fun kit to play, and it sounds quite good. Thanks for sharing the info on the new Venus series.
I really like the sound of Mapex drums, and with the starter kits like this its nice to know your drums were made in Taiwan, not China. About 20 years ago Mapex changed the world of drumming options for drummers by offering good sounding entry to mid level drums that still sounded not just good, but really good. And you could afford them. Mapex finally gave the home drummer who plays as a hobby something that sounded and looked good that they could afford. There used to not be "good" entry level drum kits back in the day. It was a pro kit, or crap. Thanks Mapex! You Rock!
Tasty fill at 10:11. Great sounding kit! I used to own a Venus Voyager kit when I played in a jazz trio. That's probably the kit you used in the church. Amazing how entry level kits of today would have been considered intermediate kits back in the day...
Awesome! I recently got a mapex tornado as a secondary kit to use when I’m at university. I ended up using another drummers kit at a gig but used the snare and cymbals from the mapex gig and they definitely got me through it. They snare was pretty impressive, the cymbals had sparks flying off them but the crowd didn’t seem to care 😂 nothing special but it works as a cheap kit
My first kit was a Mapex Venus series, with a classic configuration of 22" BD, 14" SD, 12", 13" and 16" Toms, really nice hardware and i loved it. I used to called it "la Mapita". I wonder where she is now.
This is an awesome entry level kit. I don't think I've seen a Mapex kit at this price before, but it still looks like a solid kit like their more expensive options.
I had a premier access. I think that's how it's spelled. But man it sounded great despite been pretty cheap. Definitely tricky to dial in but lots of fat tones and punch
I have Armory and Saturn kits and for $700 my gosh the Venus is a well built kit judging from this video. Mid priced kits today are as good as premium kits were just 15 years ago and it looks like budget kits are as good as mid priced were back then . Keep it up Mapex.
I have that same tiny mapex kit you were talking about. It has an 18” kick. I LOVE that kit for gigging around town. I think it’s a Venus series. I put die cast hoops on all the drums and they sound phenomenal
You played a Voyager kit. I have various Mapex kits made over the last 20 years including Pro M and Saturn Pro. They are great sounding drums & the hardware is very durable. Love my Mapex drums!
I have a Mapex Vision Jazz set 8', 10, 12' toms, 12 x 5 snare, 18 x 16 kick that sounds amazing. I use it for small club dates and it never disappoints.
First drum set? 1991 Premier APK, been a drummer for 10+ years now but never got the chance to buy a kit. Last year I had the opportunity to buy it and this Premier comes to the grave with me, absolutely love it, its beautiful
I love mapex! They are so underrated for some reason .They build some of the best sounding drums with great hardware for a good price. i worked in a music store for a while and i loved their products. Especially the saturn is a great drumset for the money. People often were like "wait..this is a mapex? why does it sound better than xyz ?" :D
If I remember correctly Mapex had some real shitters back when they first started (as I'm sure most new companies do) and I guess the bad reputation carried through to the modern day even though it's not true anymore. Kinda like how people who aren't as knowledgeable think Pearl is only a beginner brand, or that DW charging extra for printing notes on shells is actually worth the money 😂😂
My first drum set was a Tama Stagestar in a solid blue wrap. 18” kick, 14” floor tom, 12” and 10” rack toms, and a 13x5 snare. Sold it after owning it for seven years because I was moving away. After many years with different drum sets, I finally have a similar kit but in red. No snare drum, because I have two or three. Something about the small size that is really appealing to me. Great sound as always with Tama.
I still play my stagestar snare as my primary. That was also my first kit. I still have it but it’s in storage. When I was a kid I used to have the snare CRANKED thanks to Joey Jordisons influence on me. I think I actually bent the shell a little out of shape but i still love the sound.
My first new kit after my first pawn shop vintage beater kit was a Mapex V Series 12×10, 13x11, 16x16, 22x16, 5.5x14 basswood shells in burgundy wrap. I orded from the AMS Catalog for $479 back in 2001.i geel like the hardware that came with that kit was slightly better than what they offer now. I loved those drums. I toured across the country using them in my 20's. I continued to gig with them even after I bought my Yamaha Beech Customs. I play Tama Starclassics now, but I think Mapex makes the best value drums out there. They are "Hyundai" of drums. I think the Armory kits are the best value drums on the market especially with their snare exchange program. ( kit comes with the steel "Tomahawk" model, but you can exchange it within 2 weeks for one of other models in the same line)
Beats the snot out of my first kit. No name hand me down practice kit with worn out hardware for the shells. Two cracked hi hats on a non functional stand. Another cracked hi hat used for the crash/ride rigged on an old round base mic stand. A bass pedal that wouldn't clamp. And a metal banquet chair for the throne. It's been 35 years since I put that thing together but I still remember it like it was yesterday. As a 6 year old I couldn't have been any happier.
My first kit was a Pulse wine red set that my older sister's friend gave me when he left for college and I was in 9th grade. I saved up to get heads and cymbals and it made a bit of difference but after saving up to buy my own kit I got a Mapex Mars kit that I absolutely loved and had to leave when I left home. I still miss it even though I have a nice Gretsch Catalina Club kit for gigging and a 7 piece Ludwig Element that stays at home to practice.
I’m learning to drum and am fortunate enough to have a Mapex Saturn V - I use a Tama hydraulic throne & Tama hardware. Great kit, this Venus thing - but my comment is here because of your review mate… luvvit ❤️ greetings from Oz 🇦🇺
The drums sound great! I’d say the weak link is really those hats but you can’t really expect the cymbals that come included with a kit to be superb. I will say that crash or crash/ride sounds decent!
Hey Dave, the little kit that you giged on it's a mapex m series kit. I also have the m series but in bigger sizes, it's my first drum set and I love it!!! A great starter kit, and I think the venus is even better now.
Hi David!!!! ( BY THE WAY.... I LOVE THE "STEVE MAXWELL" SHIRT YOU HAVE ON!!!! ) Good morning dear sir, I have been drummer for over 5 decades, I have damn near played every major drum manufacturer's line of drums that is out there in those 50 plus years!!!! I started on my Dad's "Rogers®️ Holiday™️" kit ( a gigantic monster of a kit to boot, especially considering when he purchased them) and I am currently playing on Mapex®️ set(s) of drums, their "Pro M's,"™️ "Saturn's"™️ and "Orion's."™️ I am truly pleased with the kits, they are built well, they "speak" in phenomenal tones and timbres, and I go for "finished" wood ..... 🤔 ..... finishes as I don't like "wrap" finishes, but honestly, that blue sparkle wrap you got... I'm kinda diggin' it!!!! And despite the fact that you need glasses now.... ( just messin' with ya... ) it l👀ks as if you could see well enough to put that Venus™️ kit together, tune it, mic it, play it and surprisingly ( the drum sound ) well at that!! I have honestly not heard that line of Mapex's sound as good!! Ohhhhh-k, I know you have probably put one hell of a mix on them through your DAW, But still they sound pretty good!!! EVEN THE CRAPPY BRASS THAT CAME WITH THE KIT SURPRISED ME 😮!!!! I have never heard Mapex®️ cymbals before, seen them, just not heard them!!!! AGAIN.... SURPRISED!!!!! ANYWAY, KEEP ON KEEPING ON BROTHER DRUMMER!!!!!!!!!! PEACE!!!!!!!!!! 🤘🏼
They brought back the Venus series?! I have their first-generation Venus series and it still kicks ass, even though it's kinda ancient now. It was my first ever kit, and it's actually so amazing to see they've brought it back. As far as I know, it's from the late 80s and was given to me by a friend who had it sitting in his garage. I fixed it up and it served me well ever since. Edit: They've improved so much on the original! The one I have has stood the test of time, but even so, the quality has gone up. If this kit's predecessor from the late 80s is still holding up and isn't the same quality as what they make now. I can't even begin to tell you how good this kit really is. Mapex knocked it out of the park, once again with this one.
I bought a tiny Mapex kit years ago to accommodate really small venues. 18-8-10-12-12. Other than using a Yamaha 12 snare instead and rims mounts on all three toms, I probably put at least 1000 gigs on it. After 9 years of drumming hiatus ( sound guy gigs), I recently started drumming again. New heads installed, this baby set still kills...
My first kit was a Frankenstein kit made up of assorted used drums from a local music store. One of my Toms was even made by gluing two snare shells together and covering it with contact paper. This was mid 70s and I was probably around 14 years old.
I personally love how dw sound but I used to play a mapex starter kit back in 2015. I really like the hardware holding the 8’ and 10’ Toms. Once I had it tuned it sounded great and felt great
First kit I bought from a friend in ‘97. It was a 12”, 13”, 16”, 22” Cosmic Percussion kit with an added 10” Percussion Plus tom. Stands were single braced, and the cymbal stand which held the 10” tom couldn’t hold the extra weight. Over time, it sagged. Kick pedal was flimsy and held together with a small metal bar extending from the heel to the clamp, and if it came loose at the clamp, the heel would move and the footboard would give out. The hi hat stand was flimsy with a latch style clamp. No matter how hard I tightened the latch, the post holding the bottom hat would slip under pressure when I brought the top hat down. Also the screw on the underside of the clutch kept coming loose, so I’d have to tighten it between songs. I eventually wrapped a twist tie below the screw to stop it from moving. Then I bought a wine red Tama Rockstar with all Tama double braced hardware in ‘99. That kit was light years ahead of the first one. And to think, I almost started out with bass guitar. I would have missed out on all that entry level fun.
Wow this is very interesting that Mapex is reintroducing the Venus. I have a Venus Bop kit that I think is pretty awesome. That kit sounds pretty awesome for an entry level. I hope they reintroduce the Bop kit. Nice ...!
I bought the Mapex Armory set as my first set. I couldn't be happier. I went with Mapex because they have the most reasonable price for what I got. Plus the Ocean Sunset finish is what ultimately sold me.
My first kit was a 2004 Mapex V-Series. I still own that as my practice kit and my gig kit is a 2018 Mapex Mars, which isnt high end by any means but these kits are a banger for the price when you put new heads on. The hardware is solid and the lugs hold tuning no matter what.
For a starter kit that you can play out of the box, that sounds amazing! I had a Tama Rhythm Mate and had to buy cymbals and a throne, so definitely had to spend more than I expected.
What was your first drum set?
Drum Only Version: th-cam.com/video/82Hf1cTX8mM/w-d-xo.html
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My first kit was a no name black 22, 12,13,16 kit with a 14 snare
It was an Enforcer kit, whoever that was. It was $100, wine red and sounded like poo. So did my cymbals, which were mostly junk and cobbled together from Craigslist. Still gigged with it though!
A blue pulse kit that was $200 and I’ve turned into into a $3000 kit with all the upgrades I’ve done
A Thunder kit, then I moved up to Mapex ironically
Ludwig back beat
For an entry level kit, that sounded surprisingly really good. well done Mapex.
There not entry level popular wood is found on entry level drums
popular wood lol
My first drum set was also a Mapex, a now discontinued Voyager. Still with me, still in gigs, I switched the throw-off for a Trick one, and will be adding some more stuff to it.
Edit: For those curious, it's been with me since 2012, and it has the very standard-ish 12", 13", and 16" of toms and floor tom.
My first was also a voyager! Sold the drums about a year ago, but still have all the hardware and stands they're still going strong!
@@conormorrissey8987 I did the exact opposite! I kept the drums, sold of the rest of the hardware (even the pedal, and now I resent not having a light, portable pedal), but I love it. I wish I had the 10" tom for it.
Mine is a Mapex now-discontinued Pro-M; still my main kit, but I recently got a basic Ludwig 5-piece to set up a mirror kit to practice lefty
What you guys have now?
@@Andresmorph I haven't changed kits. Still with me old Mapex.
I'm a DW guy and was going to buy a PDP concept kit, but decided to get a Mapex Armory because I fell in love with the finish and the quality you get for the price point is much better than PDP right now, not to mention they give you a virgin bass drum and a tomahawk snare. Mapex has definitely stepped up their quality in recent years.
I got this kit as an alternative to the tama superstar classic because Sweetwater was not receiving a lot of Tama products but my God am I in love with the set that I am glad it happened
Yep, I’ve owned a Mapex Armory. It can sound just as good as any high end kit in my opinion. The virgin bassdrum sold me also.
I’m also a Dw guy I’m going to disagree the shells on the concept series are much better and the hardware is also a higher quality material! The only thing that’s better is the snare, but that’s my opinion.
Sorry man, try gigging with one for a year… they are complete junk and that’s their Saturn SE. the lacquer cracks, threads strip, shells have gaps in the ply’s and they use wood filler!! WOOD FILLER in the shells, chunks actually work loose and fall out… screw plates fall from the stands, cross threaded tension rods… Chinese crap… NEVER buy Mapex…
Mapex always made the same great quality IMHO, they've been slept on...! The older Saturns are arguably the best drums I've heard in a mix and one of the very few sets where I can immediately tell what it is even mixed as a sound engineer and drummer. They hit the right level of punch/decay. I've never seen a player using any dampening on Mapex tom and floors, which tells you a lot...! The Saturn IV and V exotic where the favorites of Will Calouhn for years with emperor clear heads. There's a tribal quality to it, Always the right articulation without ever sounding dead. Mapex are like the Ibanez of drums, they just refine their own thing, they don't think about the trends of the hype. Every few years we remember it, then people sort of forget how ridiculous their kits are... so good, so professional, nothing in particular stand out about them. It's just overall incredible.
My first kit was a Pearl Soundcheck, over 12 years ago. I still have it actually, and only the shells and lugs are original now. The availability of starter kits vs shell packs in today's age is amazing. Also, that blue color you got is 🔥
Mapex is the best bang for the buck. I've owned many of their drums. Solid drums and sound.
In 2008, they had over 100 high end snare drums in their catalog.
I own 2 maple and one seamless steel 6.5 x 14" snare drums and they have all received numerous compliments over the years.
Awesome. Love mapex stuff!! I really feel they deliver the highest quality at their price points vs other brands
So does Tama and pearl
By far Kyle.
Try sonor dude. They are exceptionally good at every price point.
@@08mlascelles my dream snare...t Benny Greb. Salivate over that puppy.
Yamaha
Your videos are always bangers, continue that way David!
Appreciate it!
My first drum set was a secondhand Ludwig Standard... complete with Ludwig standard stands and cymbals! Got it in 1978 and still have it!
Not even in the market for this kit but I still found this review really interesting and watched it from start to finish. Great video!
It's also amazing to see the level of build quality and features in entry kits these days!
Mapex have always had just gorgeous colours on their drums. I almost bought a purple wood finish kit back in the 90s, it was stunning.
my first drum set wad the Mapex Mars Crossover!
My dads first kit (and my current kit) was an old Mapex Venus from the mid 90s, same throne, pedals and some of the stands (none broke, just replaced). It's still going strong and has held up amazingly well
Used to be a 7 piece kit but he sold two toms once he moved out of his parents place
I have a strong affinity to Mapex Venus kits. Our church had one for years (22x18 12x9 16x16 14x5.5 steel) and then they got a Pearl kit, so I took it home and used it myself. Best kit I ever played on, although I did use my own Sonor Force 13x7 snare.... It also had old Meinl Classics on it, so I bought some modern ones to add to it a bit.
Best kit I ever had. And I miss it.
That's funny that your church uses a Venus kit seeing that Venus is Lucifer. But I guess it is fitting that he is the god of music.
I'm glad to see you making videos for the beginner drummer, trying to direct them to the best tools possible for longevity and sound. As someone who was inspired to start drumming years ago by your channel,, one of the hardest parts of getting started was finding beginner gear. You literally just don't know what you're looking for or what questions to ask. I love your channel Dave, and I will keep watching loyally because of how accessible you have made the drums to underprivileged people like myself. P.S. My first kit was the Sound Percussion Labs Unity 5 piece. The current listings are a lot more expensive but when I bought in 2016 it was about 130 dollars.
Man, that thing sounds great. Doesn't sound like it cuts, but it's got a nice airy quality in the highs. Absolutely gonna work for a beginner, and you could even gig with it. That crash ride is also not terrible. Won't be recording any platinum albums with it, but I'm super impressed.
started on a very similar mapex starter kit quite a few years ago and honestly it served me really well. still using some of the hardware, and the floor tom had a sound i really loved. awesome video and great starter kits from mapex
My first kit was a CB700 way back in the 70's. It's crazy how far things have come with price and technology with drums. I bought a Mapex Pro M some years back and that's my baby. It sounds killer it's a good looking set and it's super durable. I'm a huge Mapex fan! Great video!
The first drum kit i've ever used was a Mapex Q in 2008 - 9. They sound nice, Mapex hasn't let me down since. These kits are popular here in Latin America. Cheers.
I have a 6 piece Mapex birch kit. I've had it since 2007. It has never let me down. It tunes up easy and stays in tune. The Mapex hardware is sturdy as hell too. I've played in many bands in many venues and drummers are always asking me which series Mapex kit it is. It sounds way better than so many high end kits. Just bought a Gretsch kit last week so now my Mapex will be my backup/ practice room kit. Mapex quality is outstanding.
Excellent channel! My first drum was a snare, because I joined the school band. It was a six lug 1963 Slingerland in marine pearl. Still have it, still gorgeous! Then I got a Slingerland bass and one tom, in blue agate (1966) and that was my kit.
Mapex is fighting for the crown. I’ve been watching them for a few years now and beside the quality improvement, they’re coming up with some really good features. I use a drum bank of DWs, but for a second set, I’ve been seriously considering a very nice set at a great price point at Sweetwater; they do some exclusive deals.
My first kit was also a Mapex. I bought it used and it sounded pretty good.
This guy can make literally any kit sound godly
I always drummed for cover bands, open mics, and church gigs. As such, I got away with not buying my own kit for well over a decade as I was “really a guitar player”. About 3 years ago, at the tender age of 33, I started piecing together a Bonham-inspired Pearl kit after finding a reissue 24x16 wood-fiberglass kick drum for under $200. Eventually I came up with a Visions 14x10 rack tom, a mid-70’s cream-wrapped 16x16, a vintage wood-fiberglass 18x16, and a vintage Sensitone 14x6.5 chrome/aluminum snare. That’s my first kit. I’m a drummer that plays guitar now. I love it
In 1996, my mom bought me a set of Burgundy Mapex Venus Series drums, still have those, still use them for gigs all these years later. Love Mapex drums and their quality, you should do a video on their Armory series drums, the Drum of Center of Portsmouth, said they were the best kit under $1000, they did a video comparing them to the other big manufacturers. Thanks for the videos, enjoy them, thank you for sharing your passion with us!
Great to hear you playing ALL the kit in the test 👍🏻
I would freaking LOVE to see how much would take to transform this great entry level kit into a profesional(ish) kit for studio recording. Great video as allways!
Probably just some new heads and cymbals
Just new heads and good cymbals for sure
The mics he's using do most of the work, I bet if you heard these drums in person they'd sound like garbage....remember he's producing this video with seriously high-end drum mics.
@@Sugarsail1 it's like seeing some hot chick in a porno, but if you saw her in person with no makeup, she would be removed from your spankbank.
@@Sugarsail1 lol what? the better the mics get the better they capture exactly what's there, that's what they're supposed to do. are you joking?
I bought a 2002 Mapex M series brand new when it was still a maple/basswood combination and still have it. It's a keeper.
Entry Level Kit ? Unbelievable! Fantastic sound, and that's with stock heads ! Mapex is truly underrated.
The 1st professional kit I ever purchased new was a Mapex Orion in 2000 and I had it for 20 years before I sold it. It was a great high end kit all Maple thin shells and a beautiful diamond teal color. It had heavy hardware. And the base drum legs the Tom holder and the floor Tom legs were all isolated including the isolation mounts on the Toms. Don't hesitate to buy mapex they're a good drum company.
just bought a used mapex maple kit! can't wait to step on stage with it. Awesome video as usual 🤟
Tasty fill at 10:12 And the kit sounds great!
Mapex, send this man a Saturn V so he can experience the greatest drum kits on the planet.
I have the old Mapex V Series kit with the 8" & 10" rack, 12" Floor, 12" snare, and 18" bass drum! I added a 13" rack tom from a larger kit from the same series to use as a 2nd floor tom
I did the same thing!
Found a matching orphan 13”
And got two more mounts to make it a floor tom.
Mounts and badge technically upside down for a floor but no body will see or know.
@@Groovedump oh i just mounted it to a cymbal stand
My first kit was Ludwig 22,13,16 champagne sparkle that I got new in 1965 that I still have . But I play a Mapex Pro M in Bonham sizes. They've been loaded and unloaded on trucks across the USA &Canada. Set up and torn down countless times and sound men love them .Although the hardware was good , they're rack mounted on a DW rack. Mapex "Daisycutter" snare is the loudest ever and they take a pounding ! Mapex are just great drums and a great company.
Great video!
My first kit was a Pearl Rhythm Traveler, and it served me well for 16 years for what I needed out of it.
I now own a Mapex Saturn V that I absolutely love.
I have a Mapex Storm and I've been loving it! Of course not the greatest kit I've ever played on, it is an entry-intermidiate level kit, but it works perfectly fine. The hardware is great and very solid for the price, and the overall sound is pretty much what I would call "decent". So as far as that goes, I would expect the Venus to perform the same :)
I bought that little "baby-sized" Mapex you mentioned when it was new,(mid-2000's maybe?), & it actually just happened to be the Venus series as well in a very cool Red Pearl.
Still wish I had kept that little thing plus I ordered a 16" floor tom to go with it. Just looked though & noticed those are out there & going for reasonable price so still possible!
Good vid, Great content!
Right now, I own an early 4 piece Mapex Series V Bop Kit. It has a goldish tiny flake finish that changes color slightly depending on the light hitting it. It sounds very similar to the Mapex kit you tried out many years ago at a Christmas gig. My kit has an 18" kick, 10" rack tom, 12" floor tom, and a 12" snare. I have tried for a long time to get a bit of history about this kit, but not even Mapex could help me. It is a fun kit to play, and it sounds quite good. Thanks for sharing the info on the new Venus series.
I really like the sound of Mapex drums, and with the starter kits like this its nice to know your drums were made in Taiwan, not China. About 20 years ago Mapex changed the world of drumming options for drummers by offering good sounding entry to mid level drums that still sounded not just good, but really good. And you could afford them. Mapex finally gave the home drummer who plays as a hobby something that sounded and looked good that they could afford. There used to not be "good" entry level drum kits back in the day. It was a pro kit, or crap. Thanks Mapex! You Rock!
Those sound like C+ cymbals. Better than expected
Tasty fill at 10:11. Great sounding kit! I used to own a Venus Voyager kit when I played in a jazz trio. That's probably the kit you used in the church. Amazing how entry level kits of today would have been considered intermediate kits back in the day...
Awesome! I recently got a mapex tornado as a secondary kit to use when I’m at university. I ended up using another drummers kit at a gig but used the snare and cymbals from the mapex gig and they definitely got me through it. They snare was pretty impressive, the cymbals had sparks flying off them but the crowd didn’t seem to care 😂 nothing special but it works as a cheap kit
My first kit was a Mapex Venus series, with a classic configuration of 22" BD, 14" SD, 12", 13" and 16" Toms, really nice hardware and i loved it.
I used to called it "la Mapita".
I wonder where she is now.
This is an awesome entry level kit. I don't think I've seen a Mapex kit at this price before, but it still looks like a solid kit like their more expensive options.
I had a premier access. I think that's how it's spelled. But man it sounded great despite been pretty cheap. Definitely tricky to dial in but lots of fat tones and punch
I have Armory and Saturn kits and for $700 my gosh the Venus is a well built kit judging from this video. Mid priced kits today are as good as premium kits were just 15 years ago and it looks like budget kits are as good as mid priced were back then . Keep it up Mapex.
My first set was a CB pawn shop special. I've came close to buying Mapex before, they are killing it with colors on some of their models IMO.
I have an older venus series set. 18bass drum , 12 floor tom, 8 ,10 rack tom. This set smacks
Me too. 👍
Bro, Mapex is the top of the line, best drum maker. I'm gonna buy one of the kits for my child.
Bought a Saturn V in 2013 and absolutely love it!
Mapex is probably, with Dixon, one of the best brand in terms of quality-price. Specially when budget is a problem.
I have that same tiny mapex kit you were talking about. It has an 18” kick. I LOVE that kit for gigging around town. I think it’s a Venus series. I put die cast hoops on all the drums and they sound phenomenal
Mapex so underrated proud owner of the black version hardware and black armory pedals great quality
You played a Voyager kit. I have various Mapex kits made over the last 20 years including Pro M and Saturn Pro. They are great sounding drums & the hardware is very durable. Love my Mapex drums!
I have a Mapex Vision Jazz set 8', 10, 12' toms, 12 x 5 snare, 18 x 16 kick that sounds amazing. I use it for small club dates and it never disappoints.
I"m not even a drummer, and I want this kit! Cute and sounds surprisingly good, but of course you know what your doing
I've never heard of a drum kit that comes with cymbals and everything before. That sounds like a great deal.
First drum set? 1991 Premier APK, been a drummer for 10+ years now but never got the chance to buy a kit. Last year I had the opportunity to buy it and this Premier comes to the grave with me, absolutely love it, its beautiful
I love mapex! They are so underrated for some reason .They build some of the best sounding drums with great hardware for a good price. i worked in a music store for a while and i loved their products. Especially the saturn is a great drumset for the money. People often were like "wait..this is a mapex? why does it sound better than xyz ?" :D
If I remember correctly Mapex had some real shitters back when they first started (as I'm sure most new companies do) and I guess the bad reputation carried through to the modern day even though it's not true anymore. Kinda like how people who aren't as knowledgeable think Pearl is only a beginner brand, or that DW charging extra for printing notes on shells is actually worth the money 😂😂
My first drum set was a Tama Stagestar in a solid blue wrap. 18” kick, 14” floor tom, 12” and 10” rack toms, and a 13x5 snare. Sold it after owning it for seven years because I was moving away. After many years with different drum sets, I finally have a similar kit but in red. No snare drum, because I have two or three. Something about the small size that is really appealing to me. Great sound as always with Tama.
I still play my stagestar snare as my primary. That was also my first kit. I still have it but it’s in storage. When I was a kid I used to have the snare CRANKED thanks to Joey Jordisons influence on me. I think I actually bent the shell a little out of shape but i still love the sound.
My first new kit after my first pawn shop vintage beater kit was a Mapex V Series 12×10, 13x11, 16x16, 22x16, 5.5x14 basswood shells in burgundy wrap. I orded from the AMS Catalog for $479 back in 2001.i geel like the hardware that came with that kit was slightly better than what they offer now. I loved those drums. I toured across the country using them in my 20's. I continued to gig with them even after I bought my Yamaha Beech Customs.
I play Tama Starclassics now, but I think Mapex makes the best value drums out there. They are "Hyundai" of drums. I think the Armory kits are the best value drums on the market especially with their snare exchange program. ( kit comes with the steel "Tomahawk" model, but you can exchange it within 2 weeks for one of other models in the same line)
Mapex is killer when it comes to price/performance and it is no surprise the Venus is a pretty good beginner kit. Love the light blue also.
The glasses fit your personality! Definitely a welcome addition to go along with the beard lol
Mapex are such an underrated brand. I have a Saturn V which I absolutely adore and has served me so well for 5 years.
Beats the snot out of my first kit. No name hand me down practice kit with worn out hardware for the shells. Two cracked hi hats on a non functional stand. Another cracked hi hat used for the crash/ride rigged on an old round base mic stand. A bass pedal that wouldn't clamp. And a metal banquet chair for the throne. It's been 35 years since I put that thing together but I still remember it like it was yesterday. As a 6 year old I couldn't have been any happier.
That kit sounds pretty good, including the cymbals. I'd buy this one if I was starting out.
My first kit was a Pulse wine red set that my older sister's friend gave me when he left for college and I was in 9th grade. I saved up to get heads and cymbals and it made a bit of difference but after saving up to buy my own kit I got a Mapex Mars kit that I absolutely loved and had to leave when I left home. I still miss it even though I have a nice Gretsch Catalina Club kit for gigging and a 7 piece Ludwig Element that stays at home to practice.
I’m learning to drum and am fortunate enough to have a Mapex Saturn V - I use a Tama hydraulic throne & Tama hardware. Great kit, this Venus thing - but my comment is here because of your review mate… luvvit ❤️ greetings from Oz 🇦🇺
10:36 I've played drums for 2 years now, and there's no way that I'll ever be able to olay like that. Holy hell that was smooth!
Mapex is some of the best you can buy. Would love to see you do some more videos maybe on a full mapex armory kit
That mapex kit with the 12" floor tom is an old mapex V. I have one. absolutely love it and still use it even though I've got a sonor sq1
I bought a Mapex Venus kit way back in March 1993. My first kit
Same here, the QR series was the first one, bright red) Really loved it and the brand itself.
The drums sound great! I’d say the weak link is really those hats but you can’t really expect the cymbals that come included with a kit to be superb. I will say that crash or crash/ride sounds decent!
Hey Dave, the little kit that you giged on it's a mapex m series kit. I also have the m series but in bigger sizes, it's my first drum set and I love it!!! A great starter kit, and I think the venus is even better now.
Your new glasses do wonders for your snare sound :)
Nice kit!
Hi David!!!! ( BY THE WAY.... I LOVE THE "STEVE MAXWELL" SHIRT YOU HAVE ON!!!! )
Good morning dear sir, I have been drummer for over 5 decades, I have damn near played every major drum manufacturer's line of drums that is out there in those 50 plus years!!!! I started on my Dad's "Rogers®️ Holiday™️" kit ( a gigantic monster of a kit to boot, especially considering when he purchased them) and I am currently playing on Mapex®️ set(s) of drums, their "Pro M's,"™️ "Saturn's"™️ and "Orion's."™️ I am truly pleased with the kits, they are built well, they "speak" in phenomenal tones and timbres, and I go for "finished" wood ..... 🤔 ..... finishes as I don't like "wrap" finishes, but honestly, that blue sparkle wrap you got... I'm kinda diggin' it!!!! And despite the fact that you need glasses now.... ( just messin' with ya... ) it l👀ks as if you could see well enough to put that Venus™️ kit together, tune it, mic it, play it and surprisingly ( the drum sound ) well at that!! I have honestly not heard that line of Mapex's sound as good!! Ohhhhh-k, I know you have probably put one hell of a mix on them through your DAW, But still they sound pretty good!!! EVEN THE CRAPPY BRASS THAT CAME WITH THE KIT SURPRISED ME 😮!!!!
I have never heard Mapex®️ cymbals before, seen them, just not heard them!!!! AGAIN.... SURPRISED!!!!!
ANYWAY, KEEP ON KEEPING ON BROTHER DRUMMER!!!!!!!!!!
PEACE!!!!!!!!!! 🤘🏼
They brought back the Venus series?! I have their first-generation Venus series and it still kicks ass, even though it's kinda ancient now.
It was my first ever kit, and it's actually so amazing to see they've brought it back. As far as I know, it's from the late 80s and was given to me by a friend who had it sitting in his garage. I fixed it up and it served me well ever since.
Edit: They've improved so much on the original! The one I have has stood the test of time, but even so, the quality has gone up. If this kit's predecessor from the late 80s is still holding up and isn't the same quality as what they make now. I can't even begin to tell you how good this kit really is. Mapex knocked it out of the park, once again with this one.
I bought a tiny Mapex kit years ago to accommodate really small venues. 18-8-10-12-12. Other than using a Yamaha 12 snare instead and rims mounts on all three toms, I probably put at least 1000 gigs on it. After 9 years of drumming hiatus ( sound guy gigs), I recently started drumming again. New heads installed, this baby set still kills...
My first drum set was a Mapex Saturn Series. Great video I always love watching your content
My first kit was a Frankenstein kit made up of assorted used drums from a local music store. One of my Toms was even made by gluing two snare shells together and covering it with contact paper. This was mid 70s and I was probably around 14 years old.
Those stories are the coolest, how did it turn out?
I personally love how dw sound but I used to play a mapex starter kit back in 2015. I really like the hardware holding the 8’ and 10’ Toms. Once I had it tuned it sounded great and felt great
First kit I bought from a friend in ‘97. It was a 12”, 13”, 16”, 22” Cosmic Percussion kit with an added 10” Percussion Plus tom. Stands were single braced, and the cymbal stand which held the 10” tom couldn’t hold the extra weight. Over time, it sagged. Kick pedal was flimsy and held together with a small metal bar extending from the heel to the clamp, and if it came loose at the clamp, the heel would move and the footboard would give out. The hi hat stand was flimsy with a latch style clamp. No matter how hard I tightened the latch, the post holding the bottom hat would slip under pressure when I brought the top hat down. Also the screw on the underside of the clutch kept coming loose, so I’d have to tighten it between songs. I eventually wrapped a twist tie below the screw to stop it from moving.
Then I bought a wine red Tama Rockstar with all Tama double braced hardware in ‘99. That kit was light years ahead of the first one.
And to think, I almost started out with bass guitar. I would have missed out on all that entry level fun.
Very not bad, not at all. Ludwig Standard, purchased in 1974, long gone. Thanx. Great job.
Wow this is very interesting that Mapex is reintroducing the Venus. I have a Venus Bop kit that I think is pretty awesome. That kit sounds pretty awesome for an entry level. I hope they reintroduce the Bop kit. Nice ...!
The double badge should be a standard by every drum company, great idea
Mapex is awesome. Very affordable gear that sounds phenomenal imo
I have that cute dwarf mapex kit. It's a street bop. 18"-14-10-14s. And yes! It's a joy to play!
I put on Remo emporors and evans g1s on the resos. It's quite nice and cheap! Needs fl tom leg memory locks tho
I bought the Mapex Armory set as my first set. I couldn't be happier. I went with Mapex because they have the most reasonable price for what I got. Plus the Ocean Sunset finish is what ultimately sold me.
My first kit was a 2004 Mapex V-Series. I still own that as my practice kit and my gig kit is a 2018 Mapex Mars, which isnt high end by any means but these kits are a banger for the price when you put new heads on. The hardware is solid and the lugs hold tuning no matter what.
Thanks for providing great content as always, David! Good choice of glasses also :D
That black galaxy sparkle though! 😍
Budget kits are what mid priced kits were just a few years back. Well done MAPEX.
For a starter kit that you can play out of the box, that sounds amazing! I had a Tama Rhythm Mate and had to buy cymbals and a throne, so definitely had to spend more than I expected.
Don't sleep on Mapex. I bought a Mapex mars kit for like 599.99 and it's so solid/quality and sounds pretty dang good.
haha i feel you on the mixing up sizes depth perception really changes when you getting used to seeing stuff correctly for the first time
i was so proud of you when you didnt correct the tom size and then the rest of the set still needed post edits LOOL
Mapex makes some great drums!! That floor tom sounded big and beefy. Great starter kit!!