just a thought...

[tilinmyowngrave]

Well, I'm getting desperate. All the places near me either don't let you try the drum sets (F***ING ASSHOLES), or have like 3 in the entire store...but that aside...

Sonor Force 2003 and 3003... one is maple and basswood, the other is birch and basswood. From what i heard, maple is warmer than birch, but birch is slightly louder. But doesn't basswood imitate mahogony or maple (note i said "imitate", not "sounds like")? Would the birch/basswood would be warmer than most pure birch sets, and louder than the maple/basswood set? Because if that is the case, I'm gonna buy the 2003 (birch/basswood) insted of the 3003 (or 3005... i don't have the money for the force 3005 ).
Give me your opinions, cause i seriously need them.

[mikeh]

Basswood projects, but tends to be too harsh in the highs and too dull in the lows. It's a common wood in low priced kits because it's a hard wood (can take a beating) and it can be loud.

Maple actually projects better than Birch and tends to have more lows than birch, but the lows are more defined and "rounder" than basswood.

Birch tends to have a more focused mid range, which can be good for recording (where you want the drums to claim a space without taking the low range from the bass guitar), however as a live kit, Birch does not come across as "fat" as maple.

Mahogany tends to have a solid low (and a fairly defined attack) but the mid range can be somewhat "muddy"

Naturally, these types of generalizations can be debated, but having owned, gigged with and recorded with all types (and combinations thereof) these reflect my observations/opinions.

Given the scope of your question, I suspect you may be more satisfied with a maple/basswood vs. a birch/basswood - however, only you know what you need/want.

While I understand your problem with not being able to get hands on - I can almost assure you that if you walk into a store with a wad of cash (say a hand full of $100 bills) and tell the sales rep that you are prepared to buy, but you must hear the drums, you will get a serious level of attention and cooperation.

(I sold drums for many years and I often would not let people bang on the drums (just to jam) but if I knew someone was serious I would let them play whatever they wanted (and wipe the sweat from thier brow - well, maybe I wouldn't go that far)

[msmales555]

I agree, you need to try the drums out before you buy them. Anytime I buy cymbals/drums/guitars at stores I tell them that I won't buy them unless I can hear them first. A drumset is a sizeable investment and you can't just buy a set without hearing them first. Don't get me wrong, you can't expect for them to set up the entire set with cymbals, etc., but you can definitely expect to hit the bass drum with a pedal and hit the toms and snare with a stick at a moderate volume. You might even want to let the salesperson play them a little while you stand back and listen.

[tilinmyowngrave]

the only place where they let me try out the stuff they only hvae:

Pearl Export
Tama Rockstar
Groove Percussion

not much of a variety, if you ask me...

[RezN8]

Til- it's a bummer you can't check out anything more than those three kits.

It's a real shame most drummers have no choice but to buy drum gear from a place called "Guitar" Center.

I guess you can't get to a major city where there's a music store with more of a selection. We know you have your sites set on Sonor, which is an excellent choice IMHO. You're trying to decide which woods, w/o actually hearing them, or the differences between them.

Mikeh really did a great job of explaining the differences, kudos to him for that.

Judging from what I've read in your posts, and based on what I know about drums, I say go for the 3003 series (Maple w/basswood). You've done a ton of research on the Net, which is awesome, but you'll never really know what the kit will sound like until it's in YOUR room with YOUR choice of heads on them, tuned the way YOU like them. That said, I'm pretty sure you will be VERY pleased with a Sonor 3003 kit.

Best of luck, Rez

[tilinmyowngrave]

yea, Ive decided to go with a Sonor 3005... Gonna take an entire summer's worth of work to get it... but o well. I've heard great things about it. As for heads, and tunings, I already have that set. G2's on the top of toms, G1's on the bottom, Power Center on the snare with any light snare bottom, and for the bass drum... I forgot what its called... o well :-P. As for tuning... the bassist will take care of that, he knows the exact pitch i want, and does a great job. So now, Im all set...