Acoustic Drums

I was first "Introduced" to the 7 Piece CM from PDP about 7 years ago. I bought a Cherry Fade to Black Sparkle. First of all, the Finish is down right Amazing - The ONLY thing, okay, there's many, that tops the look is how Amazing they sound. DW has taken the time and effort to build a ton of quality in these - Lot's of High End touches. I thought it was just going to be a halfway decent Gigging Kit, but I was mistaken - I would stack these against ANY Kit selling at or under $4000.00 easy. I play hard, but with a good deal of Finesse and the tones of heavy hitting, or those subtle touches all deliver - A FINE BUY, and at under $1000.00 - It was a No Brainer - Recently I was in my Mom & Pop - I saw the White Kit I am now using for touring in our Band MRBLITX - It was on Sale for $750.00 - It flew off the upper shelf and into my Studio.

I bought this snare used because I wanted the typical aluminium sound. It's not just a myth: it provides a dry, powerful and very warm sound. I equipped it with an evans G2 head and a pure-sound blaster timber as the "made in taiwan" original one wasn't so efficient. I compared it with a supraphonic, but for the few differences (chrome imperial lug, timber) I was better off with the acrolite and I love the black galaxy look!!! I also own a 6.5"x14" black nickel DW overbrass which has nothing in common with the acrolite but which complements well my sound panel. The missing star is for the stainers P85, which stands out as the weakest link if you're a heavy hitter!!!!

The PDP Pacific by DW CX Drums Include: - All-maple shells - True-Pitch tuning - STM Pro tom mounts - F.A.S.T tom sizes - Wrap finishes - Matching bass drum hoops - Remo heads First off, I will say that I got a SMOKING deal on this set, however, I would be willing to pay 2 to 3 times as much for it, after hearing it. My set is the fusion configuration in Royal Onyx with 10x8" & 12x9" rack toms (I've also added an 8x7" tom), 14x12" floor tom, 22x18" kick and a 14x5" snare. I've been wanting one of these sets for years, and I finally got the chance to pick one up for an amazing price, and I'm glad I did! The craftsmanship on these drums are great, it's no wonder DW discontinued them! I've got Evans G1s on the bottom and G2s on the top and these toms sound HUGE! They are full of life and nicely balanced and pack a big punch. Tuned low or high, the toms sound great! In a blind test, with a more expensive DW set, I'm willing to bet that many people won't be able to tell the difference. The kick drum is an absolutely monster! I've got an Aquarian Super Kick II on the batter head with a Remo Falam Slam Pad on it, and the original head on the resonant side, cut with a port in it, and WOW does this kick deliver! Most metal drummers trigger their drum kick sound, which I'd thought of doing before... but the sound of this drum is PERFECT how it is, and I don't want to cut it out of my sound signal. The kick has the perfect harmony of a deep, rich tone, and a nice click that cuts through nicely live. The snare is gorgeous - woody and organic sounding with a huge tuning range. I've currently got it loaded with an Evans Hazy 300 on the snare side and a Genera Dry HD on the top batter. This is the first wood snare drum I've ever played that does require muffling to get rid of the annoying ring on it. The Genera Dry HD head chokes the ring out of it nicely, while still retaining its tone. I tune this baby fairly high (with a DrumDial - 70 on the resonant head, 85 on the batter), and it sounds great! My only complaint is, I wish it had a bit more "pop" to it. The snare, even when set ultra tight, still resonates a bit too much for my liking, but in a mix, you won't notice it and it sounds full and sits in the mix perfectly, not too overbearing or too subtle. Great dynamics as well! Before this kit, I actually owned a Tama Starclassic Performer 5-piece kit (birch) in the rock sizes (14" snare, 12 & 13" rack toms, 16" floor tom, 22x16" bass), and these PDPs sound BETTER! The Tamas sounded great, don't get me wrong, but they suffered from a lot of boominess, and were pretty sterile. These PDPs sound great for everything! I would definitely recommend these to anyone, beginner to professional, jazz to metal; these drums sound excellent, especially for the price.

I had a Pearl Drum X (e-drum kit) in the 80s an eventually went back to acoustics by part exing it for a Percussion Plus drums only set, with no hardware or cymbals as I had my own, including a Pearl Rock snare. The sizes were 12" 13" power toms, a 16" F/T and 22" Kick. I quickly improved the sound by changing the heads, an eventually fitted Premier Black heads an later on, Pearl Black Beats. As u can see in the pic. The kit looked stunning in Wine Red. But I digress. Once I tuned an changed the heads, I then started to dampen them down, providing a dryer sound Now with the correct tuning, it no longer sounded like a budget kit (its original intention by the maker). But started to develop into a power rock kit. I looked after the kit by keeping the power toms 12" an 13" in a travel trunk foam lined an sectioned. And Black Mamba plastic drum cases for the Kick, F/T and Snare, along with a long stands case for the hardware. As I already had a drum rack, cymbal holders, hi hat an of course cymbals. The kit was self contained. Later on I added two small 8" an 10" power toms, also kept in a plastic case an foam lined for protection. Eventual by getting remote hat, I was then able use a second snare. The kit was now complete. It was fabulous kit and I still miss it to this day. But I have moved on to E drum kits an e drum pads. So it's a farewell to the best sounding and fully functional kit an set up, I have ever had and played.

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I had dreamt to play on Ludwig drums since my teenage years when I was listening to John Bonham, Ringo Starr, Clive Deamer and later listening to Jordan Rose, Questlove, etc. I first purchased a Ludwig breakbeats. And finally a Ludwig classic maple natural finish (bass drum 20"). These drums sound really good, although it took me a little while to figure out what head to use for the kick. I ended up buying an Evans Emad Heavyweight and it sounds very good. I like how the toms sing on these drums.

Okay, I would be very surprised to find a better entry-level kit especially after seeing that you can buy these for $200!! I originally bought mine for drummers to come over and jam with me on guitar.….I replaced the original snare with a 1960's Slingerland snare and I use a DrumDial to tune the Remo Coated Ambassadors….they are booming!! I also have some 1976 WMP Ludwigs and with the same heads, all tuned up they are neck and neck…..and like previously mentioned by other reviewers, this kick drum really slams…When it was time to record, I would go to C.A. House Music in St. Clairsville, Ohio to buy new heads and have Tim Siedler tune it up….Tim is a legendary drummer in that area and every time he was done tuning them he would give them 2 or 3 really hard whacks and mention how good they sounded….

It is not a cymbal for beginners, rather one for those artist drummers with a real sophisticated palate. This is certainly one of the most versatile crash cymbals available. I have not encountered a Zildjian K model cymbal that I did not love, and the 15 inch Zildjian K Custom Dark Crash is no exception. There are no unwanted overtones, the decay is short and to the point. The tone is a complex mixture of a sharp and clean attack, with full, dark, and mellow overtones. It has a slightly shorter sustain than the 16 inch, and is a little more crisp than the 14 inch. It has a strong punch that is great for most styles, but also opens up a collection of beautiful tones when played with brushes. This cymbal works great in the studio as well as for a live setting. Recording engineers love this cymbal because it does not require much EQ. It doesn't have a lot of low end but it does have a deep tone. It's perfect for jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock and pop. The sound is definitely powerful enough for hard rock and metal but I wouldn't recommend using it for metal only because the cymbal is thin, and it can crack if it is bashed too hard. That and the price are probably the only downsides to the cymbal that I can think of. The price is a little high but you do get what you pay for. It is a quality cymbal and it is made to perfection. I own about 5 K series cymbals including this one and would never consider trading it in for anything else. I have had mine for almost 10 years, and it still sounds beautiful and has no cracks. The 15 inch custom dark crash will really add to your musical arsenal and your overall sound.

The Pearl Joey Jordison JJ-1355 Features: - 13" x 6-1/2" 1mm steel shell - Black Super Hoops - Masters double-ended lugs - Black shell decorated with Slipknot logos repeated around the exterior - SR-017 strainer features a vertical pull action for ideal snare-to-head for minimal tension and results in superior snare response at all playing levels I was offered this snare in a trade for a vintage Zildjian Avedis 19" Ride, and I'm glad I took the offer! I was very much hesitant about it being a Slipknot snare, since I don't really want to be associated with Slipknot, or being a "maggot" as they call their fans. Don't get me wrong, I like a few of their songs, but people seem to look down on their die-hard fans, and most of the people that seem to buy this snare, are die-hard fans. Well, I took the plunge, and this really is a great sounding snare (I just wish it didn't have the giant Slipknot S's on it)! This snare really excels at a higher tuning and sounds like a timbale without the snare wires engaged. With the snares on, this snare really packs a punch! I've tried steel snares before, and they just haven't done it for me. While they sound okay, there's just a certain quality to them that makes them sound cheap to me, this snare doesn't sound cheap at all! With a drum dial, I tune this snare to 80 on the bottom, 90 on the top with the original head on the bottom and a Remo Ambassador on the top. The tone is punchy with a huge, quick attack. This snare is a bit ringy, but not in the sense that I've used on other snare drums, where it's annoying, the ring on this snare is highly desirable, especially when hitting close to the rim of the head, and on rimshots. This snare is LOUD and will slice through a mix with ease. Clearly, it was made for heavier music with an artist like Joey Jordison of Slipknot endorsing it, but it is much more versatile than I've heard it given credit. Tuned low or medium, this snare can get a nice full sound to it. My only complaint is that, while it is very cutting, I find it still lacks a certain "woody" feel that I'm used to with my maple 14x5" snare, and seems to lack a lot of bottom end (at least when tuned high), so mostly only extreme highs cut through, which makes the snare sound a bit one-dimensional. Either way, I would recommend this to a drummer who's playing heavier music and uses double bass. The 13" size of the drum allows you to more easily play double bass, as your legs aren't riding right up against the snare. The extra inch really does make a difference! I wish this snare had a bit more body to it, but it's one of the few snares that has that awesome ring to it that I've played. I recently sold this snare to try out a similar sized maple snare (Mapex Black Panther), and am waiting on it to get here. Hopefully it fixes my complaints about the Joey Jordison snare! For the price you can pick these up on the used market for, they're hard to beat! Tuned high, this is an EXCELLENT snare for anything that uses blast beats, or requires a powerful pinginess!

This review is for a Ludwig Drum kit from 1969, the same kind that Ringo Starr used and made so famous. The studio that I work at has one of these, with four pieces - a kick, a snare, a floor tom, and a rack tom. Back in the 60's it doesn't really seem like the different drum kit had different names, as finding a proper name from the kit that we have seems near impossible as it doesn't say anything on it other than 'Ludwig Drums.' I do know that it was the same kit that Ringo and so many others had played, and it's perfect for getting that vintage rock sort of drum sound. We have a few different drum kits at the studio, but usually drummers will bring in their own kit. When they don't, this is usually the first kit that gets used unless it's totally not appropriate. The owners of the studio have kept these drums in pretty good shape, as they sound great and get regular head changes and all that. They're not going to give you that thick, in your face sort of drum sound, but it's a different sound that I prefer most of the time. I wouldn't think that it would be too hard to find one of these kits on sale, but definitely be prepared to pay a decent amount of money since these are highly sought after and have so much historical significance. You'll also find a lot of them in less than stellar condition and many kits will most likely need a little bit of work since they're only getting older. Beyond the history, this is simply a great sounding drum set that is perfect for recording. This is the quintessential rock drum sound from the late 1960's and early 1970's.

(Originally written by windgong/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Sonor Force 3005 - Black Sparkle Fusion (beautiful finish) - 22-10-12-14-16 I've been playing drums since the 70's. I've played virtually every music style and I've owned many drum kits. I started to play again after a break. I needed a new drum kit and I didn't want to spend too much money. I looked for a mid-range instrument. I found a Sonor Force 3005 on sale. I've been playing this Sonor for nearly 3 years. The sound is powerful and rather warm. Sensitivity and responsiveness are very good (you can play soft and loud with the same results). The instrument produces nice overtones and it is easy to tune. You can feel the 9-ply maple shells (3x3). All musicians I've played with found its sound very powerful, nice and precise. The hardware is not so bulky as on bigger models and it is very good. The drum kit has no real flaws and it can easily compete with much more expensive drum kits. Weak point: the snare provided isn't bad but I find it a bit too "light" with an average responsiveness. You will need to, at least, replace the top heads of the toms (even with Remo Ambassador Clear) and buy another snare. Once you do that the drum kit sounds like a top-range instrument. I needed a sensitive sound with a good response allowing me to play soft or loud. I first wanted a sound with resonance and overtones (very well controlled on the kit) and without damper. I used Remo Suede Ambassador heads on the top and Remo Diplomat Clear on the bottom. The overall sound is open, slightly dull and very well balanced. The sound of the 3005 toms are not as full and round as a Delite or a S Class Pro. They are perhaps slightly less powerful but still far above the average in this price range and quite close to the Delite. With these heads tuned real tight, the toms had a hollow sound (not as full as a Delite), but 6 ft. away and further the drum kit produces a resonant and singing tone very common in high-class drums (typical Sonor). Recorded with overheads this drum kit sounds great with a nice resonance and a well-controlled response. On the kick I put a coated Powerstroke Ambassador that gives it a duller response compared to the original head. The bass drum sounds very powerful, deep and accurate. It's difficult to get a better sound! This drum kit has an exceptional value for money, much higher than the average, and it can easily compete with top-range kits of most brands.

Bought new 6 or 7 years ago, it's a limited edition drumset that can no longer be found now (except on the second-hand market). The whole kit including cymbals and hardware was sold for around €550, which is €150 less than the lower end kit in that same brand. For such a price, you'd expect low-end materials, yet not so much... Sonor really gave a lot with that kit. It includes: - a 22x17 bass drum - a pair of (12x9 & 13x10) toms - a 16x16 low tom - a 14x5.5 snare (All drums are factory-equipped with Remo heads - I don't know which models but it looks like Ambassador). A "Cast Series" cymbal pack, including: - a 16" crash - a 20" ride - a 14" hi hat It also comes with complete hardware with stands, pedals, stool and so on. A standard kit, which is very versatile - and durable! I've had this kit for almost 7 years now, took it everywhere not always in the best conditions ans except for the drum heads which had to be changed the drums and hardware are still in good shape - to my utmost surprise. The cymbals are not exceptional but they really do for a beginner. As I said you can't find this kit new any longer, but if you have an opportunity to buy it used for a good price and its age doesn't deter you, then go ahead and get it!

The Sabian HHX China 18" is a higher end china cymbal for use in your drum kit. I wouldn't say that china cymbals are exactly essential cymbals to have in your drum kit like crash, ride, and hi hats are, but it's another color to consider having. In my experience, which is somewhat limited when it comes to drum gear since I'm not primarily a drummer, this has been one of the best china cymbals I've ever used. The drummer that I grew up playing with had a nice Paiste china cymbal, but this one blows it out of the water. First off, it's made extremely well and this is highly evident when you feel it or get a good look at it. This definitely shows in the sound quality as it's a full sounding china cymbal with the perfect amount of crash to it. The 18" size seems to be the perfect size for a china cymbal in general, though admittedly I haven't tried too many china cymbals at other sizes. The setting I was recording it in was in the context of a huge drum set with a ton of other cymbals. The drummer wasn't hitting this china cymbal all the time, but it definitely crept in there enough where it was easy to get a good idea of what the cymbal sounded like on record. The Sabian HHX China 18" is going to be okay for genres of all varieties, but probably best in rock and harder varieties of the genre at that. The Sabian HHX China 18" is far from the least expensive china cymbal you can get, as it's actually going to cost a pretty good amount for a cymbal like this. It's really only worth it if you're a professional or semi-professional who already has a top of the line kit and more traditional cymbals to match...