Pure maple vs. gum shells

[martinbr]

Hello everyone, I am trying to get some feedback on which shells to
buy on the next set of drums that I am going to purchase next month.

I had a 70's set of Grestsch with very thin shells. I believe they
were jasper five ply shells with a gum filler of some other wood.

Obviously I cannot afford another set of Gretsch drums nor do I want
to pay the outragous amount of money that they want for the top of the
line custom drums. I just don't have that kind of money.

But a friend of mine who owns a music store says he could give a
pretty good deal on a set of new Yamaha's which are the absolute
series in maple for around $1,500.00 for a shell pack. That is without
the snare. Is that about right for price? I don't know. I haven't done
much research for online prices, nor do I think I want to deal that
way since I would just like to deal locally.

I just don't know about pure maple shells. Is there that much of a
difference between pure maple and gum shells? I am 57 and I want this
to be the last drumset that I want to invest in since I had the last
set for around 35 years. It's a shame that I had to sell my Gretsch,
but I had no choice due to finances.
thanks in advance,
martinbr

[Bill Coffin]

I got a used set of Cuastom Absolute birch, in 12-14-20 sizes, for
around $800 on ebay two years ago. Great drums. They were "used" but
were immaculate. The original heads, on the drums, had no stick marks
at all.

$1500 seems high, I'd shop around first.

-Bill

In article <6232fc63-5750-4f91-8dcb-8dfddd93f204
@v23g2000pro.googlegroups.com>, marti...@yahoo.com says...

--
Bill Coffin --- bi...@eclipsoid.com --- visit us at www.eclipsoid.com

[Mike]

Used is a good way to go.The most recent Fibes drums used the same
Jasper shells Gretsch used and can be had for considerably less but
are somewhat hard to find.I just picked up a like new all maple Ludwig
kit 12,14,20 with matiching snare for $800.00 shipped. Its a buyers
markets these days so there is no need to drop over 1k on a
professinal quaility drum kit. Check Craigslist for deals as well.
Maybe you can get something which include the cymbals as well.

On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:37:39 -0700, Bill Coffin <bi...@eclipsoid.com>
wrote:

http://www.myspace.com/michaelhfell

http://www.myspace.com/mfell

Regards

Mike

[Steve Turner]

I don't know anything about the Yamaha shells, but if they are similar
in configuration to the "holy" Gretsch shells (5-ply, equivalent
thickness, no reinforcing rings) then I doubt that having pure maple vs.
maple/gum is going to make that much of a difference in sound. I have a
full set of mid eighties Gretsch drums with the Jasper shells, and of
course they sound phenomenal but I think the lugs and rims and geometry
of the shells probably have as much to do with the sound as what kind of
wood is used. I just can't imagine that replacing those two inner plies
of gum with maple would change things all that much.

--
See Nad. See Nad go. Go Nad!
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

[Frisco]

Those Yammy Maple Absolutes are probably my favorite drums of all time
- and that's an extremely good price for new 4-pc shellpack - your
friend is doing good by you. That would've been a great price 5 years
ago before they had all the price increases even...

I recorded my last two CD's using Maple Absolutes - fit and finish is
perfect, the sound is incredible, they tune up easy and they record
wonderfully.

A bunch of folks chimed in that a used kit will save you money - and I
totally agree (I buy used myself for almost all my kits) - but you
might find that even used you'd be in that same price range for a nice
set of MCA's. Keep your eyes open tho, maybe you'll get "the
deal". :-P

Paul

[Mike]

I think the die cast hoops have a lot to do with that great Gretsch
sound.