Right...Yamaha maple custom absolutes or Tama Starclassic Bubinga Elites?

[jsox2409]

The oak kits are sweet. how deep did you get your kick?

[Guitfiddle]

17" deep, if your asking me? From their site: Oak Custom shell depths are sized in between our "jazz" depth and "power" depth drums. The universal size allows for maximum projection while maintaining strong attack. Bass drums are available in 18"x15" and 20", 22", and 24" diameters with a universal 17" depth. The added depth enhances the oak's tone with greater bottom end and more power. Floor toms come in conventional sizes (14"x14", 16"x16", and 18"x16") It is thunderous. I really like it with Remo Powerstroke with 2 rings and one reinforcement ring. Not sure which skin was on it because I took it off and replaced it with a Evans EMAD2. Both batter heads sound very nice. The Remo PS2 had less snap and more body and even lows throughout, the Evans has a snap that is cutting, and a low end that is a little deeper, almost scooped sounding. I have yet to get my Evans resonant head yet, out of stock in the 24", waiting on it. I also like the Aquarian heads too. I think any head would sound great on this kick. 24" kicks are a new world to me and I like it. I have always played 22x18 and 22X16 kicks.

[jsox2409]

Ive been using a Remo Coated Ambassador on my kick. Took a felt strip and ran across the top of the batter head to get rid of the paper sound. I'm really happy with it. The ambassador seems to be more musical than the powerstrokes. The powerstrokes have a lot of attack but the ambassador has attack and it has a tone instead of just a plaquey ( if thats a word) sound

[Jax]

Originally Posted by jsox2409

Ive been using a Remo Coated Ambassador on my kick. Took a felt strip and ran across the top of the batter head to get rid of the paper sound. I'm really happy with it. The ambassador seems to be more musical than the powerstrokes. The powerstrokes have a lot of attack but the ambassador has attack and it has a tone instead of just a plaquey ( if thats a word) sound

A Coated Ambassador seems like a strange choice because I'm quite used to 2 ply BD heads and some kind of built in muffling, but I have a new 22" one waiting to go on my Maple Custom when I stop playing the Oaks. Might be awhile unless I get in an experimental drum tech frame of mind.

It makes sense, though. Toms are more open and singing with Ambassadors. The kick shouldn't be any different.

I'm sure a felt strip or a ring of some kind will be needed. When I tore the ring out of an Aquarian Super Kick II (it was getting near the end anyway), the kick sounded like a giant bonging bell. Not so nice.

[jsox2409]

i have foam in the bottom of the drum and run a felt strip across the top of batter head. it helps get rid of the paper sound. if you try it without a strip you'll see what im talking about. You do what you want, I know everyone has their own style and sound but, try not to use a ring around the head. it kind of defeats the purpose of the ambassador. might as well use a powerstroke. lol

[Jax]

Originally Posted by jsox2409

You do what you want, I know everyone has their own style and sound but, try not to use a ring around the head. it kind of defeats the purpose of the ambassador. might as well use a powerstroke. lol

Well if it gets to "BONNNG-ie" sounding I'll have to tame the edges of the Ambassador one way or another. The main concern I have is not being able to tune LOW enough with a thinner single ply head, but I'll see how it works when I try it.

It happens that the kits are both on the floor right now because one of them leaves the gig bags and the others go in (same sizes, mostly) when its time for a gig. I'll probably throw on the Amb this weekend.

[jsox2409]

Give me a report. Im curious to hear how it turns out.

[h01ycR4p]

What would recommend for a more rockier aproach ?
I have a possibility to get a used Yamaha Birch Absolute 24x18, 13,16,18 + a oak snare (red/yellow fade sparkle) for $2.000 or should oak always be the 1st choice?


I am also fond of Tama Starclassic Maple Molten Burst wich is the most beautiful kit I've seen.

What I generly want is a kit that records well an sounds good live but without going crazy with the cost.

Right now I have a Gretsch Renown Maple (red sparkle)

Greatfull for any suggs thanks

[Jack Ruston]

Hey everyone

So, in the end it was neither the Yamaha's or the Tama's. I had local drum builder make up a set of Keller shells in 24x14 12x9 16x16. The toms are 6mm shells with reinforcement rings. I think the kick is 10mm. Obviously all modern hardware which makes life easier. They're in the newer version of charcoal pearl.

My reasons for going with a custom job were that 1. It's hard to find shallow kicks these days and I don't like recording with deeper ones all that much. 2. I had quite specific feelings about how the shell thickness, wrap/no wrap etc affect the sound, and I found a guy who was able to explain that a bit. 3. I didn't want to wait months and months.

They sound AWESOME.

Pictures are on facebook here

Just scroll down a little way and there're a bunch of photos. It's a beautiful wrap.

J

[biggator6]

Originally Posted by Jack Ruston

Hey everyone

So, in the end it was neither the Yamaha's or the Tama's. I had local drum builder make up a set of Keller shells in 24x14 12x9 16x16. The toms are 6mm shells with reinforcement rings. I think the kick is 10mm. Obviously all modern hardware which makes life easier. They're in the newer version of charcoal pearl.

My reasons for going with a custom job were that 1. It's hard to find shallow kicks these days and I don't like recording with deeper ones all that much. 2. I had quite specific feelings about how the shell thickness, wrap/no wrap etc affect the sound, and I found a guy who was able to explain that a bit. 3. I didn't want to wait months and months.

They sound AWESOME.

Pictures are on facebook here

Just scroll down a little way and there're a bunch of photos. It's a beautiful wrap.

J

Those look great!