Have Yamaha Oak Customs, session guy wants to leave one of his kits...?

[muziekschuur]

Just did an audition. And the drummer used a maple custom. I really missed the OAK drumkit. But Hey, I'm not the one to ask. Your clients can only answer that question. If you have drummers come in you should have a gazillion pieces or just one good piece. If you give em two choices they want a third...

I would answer this question from a sales point of view. If they don't like the kit you offer, then it's time to offer them to go to another studio and be hired as an engineer in that session. And then bring in the tracks and take it from there... (Because that's the way we do it.... can YOU (=client) handle the price)...

Just my two cents...

[C.r.a.p.]

I guess it's all about how you define "compliment". If you mean with compliment "resemble" my vote is for the maple kit. If you mean "contrast" I would go for birch.

[chrisso]

Yes, contrast = birch.
22" is also a do-it-all bass drum size.

If it were me walking in the door, I would choose birch over oak for recording anyway, but I haven't A/B'ed the kits side by side.

[James Lugo]

I guess contrast is what I'd be looking for. Though the Oaks record great, just did a session all day and they killed. Question: sonically how does Oak and Birch differ?

[muziekschuur]

Set it up and try it out. Oak is much tighter and has more dynamics. Other Yammies is not my thing (birch or other wood). Since I heard oak I'm hooked. I had a Pearl kit with 6 toms. They were open at the bottom. The kickdrum was slightly lower (open too) and longer. Now that gave a completely different sound. Traded that kit for a rack of outboard. Great deal.. Though that kit had loads of mojo.

[KickSnareHat]

I own both a Maple Custom and a Recording Custom (birch) and while both are stellar kits, the Recording Customs are better for recording, especially for rock. The maple toms tend to resonate too much for close micing (though sound fantastic for live) and the maple kick is a little weak compared to the birch kick. I do a decent amount of session work and couldn't be happier with the birch.