Wood Preference for drums that are used for recording ?

[maestro7879]

I'm currently looking to purchase a drum set for my home studio just for my own enjoyment. I have been reading about the different shells that can be had and still haven't found an answer as to what wood is generally preferred for a studio set of drums. I have been looking at a Pearl export 5 piece. Is this a good choice ? Or is there something equal in price that would be better ?

[tubedude]

Word has it that birch is the preferred wood for recording, but maple is the preferred wood for sit in the room and love the tone jamming.
I recorded a pacific birch kit about 2 months ago and got the best sound I have ever gotten. Toms sounded great.
Since then, I have researched the Pacific drums, gone and looked at em, and now have bought several pieces of Pacific drums and am slowly building a kit. They are made by DW's mexican swaet shop, and you'll notice lots of similarities. They are excelet drums for the cash, and the birch set is cheap. They have the iso mounts and everything. The ahrdware can be sloppy, so get the best hardware package you can, and change the heads right off.
If interested, let me know and I'll tell you how I'm saving a ton of money on MY Pacific kit, and I didnt even switch them to Geico. I'm cheating a little, but its working.
Peace
Paul

[tubedude]

By the way, I have never liked the Exports series sound.
If I was looking for cheap, I would go with Mapex or Pacific. The Pacifics just plain sound good with good heads tuned right.
The reaon birch is preferred is because it has less resonance, is dryer, and works better in a mix. So they say. My experience has been such, though.

[mikeh]

I am a fan of Birch. It provides a very "focused" tone with solid mids. I have owned about a dozen or so kits from maple to birch to mahogany to fiberglass to electric and various mixtures of basswood, etc (never owned any of the "exotic woods" that seem to be getting more popular during the last 1/2 dozen years). I have gotten the best results with birch (and birch costs a little less than maple). However, I suspect a formal survey would still show maple as the most preferred wood).

The Exports are an OK mid/entry level kit, and while I'm sure there will be people who are happy with recordings of Exports - they would not be my first choice (not even my 2nd through 10th). I would take a Yamaha Stage Custom over an Export.

As tubedude says, Mapex is making some decent sounding mid range drums (although I am not a fan of the hardware). I have very little experiance with Pacific, but the couple of times I've played Pacific I thought they sounded very decent for a low cost kit (although I did not spend much time analyzing the hardware).

[maestro7879]

What about a set like this ? All Birch.

http://www.jimlaabs.com/DrumAndPercu...ee/attack9.htm

There snares have gotten good reviews around the net.

[Bdrum]

I think that the Exports have a A BAD WRAP
I'M CURRENTLY FIGHTING WITH MINE TO GET A GOOD TONE.
If heads don't do the trick then I'll try to get my friends session mlx kit.
It looks better anyway.
Whatever sounds good to the ear!

[maestro7879]

I ended up buying the Spitfire drumset in black.
I couldn't be happier with this set. The hardware is no name but is built incredibly strong. I did the typical things which involved new heads and having an experienced drummer tune the set. It records great and includes everything except the throne and cymbals.

When I was looking for a set I was only concerned about the hardware , toms , and bass drum. Why ? Most drummers that come to my studio bring there own snare , bass drum pedal and cymbals. I haven't had one complaint yet. A few odd looks when they walk in but that stops after they play them.