CB Drums Maxx SP series kit???

[WERNER 1]

I just had this set given to me, and was wondering of anything I could do to spruce it up a bit.

I'm not a drummer, nor do I play one on TV, but I am very interested in recording drums so I'm going to use this set for all of my testing.

Basically it's a 5 piece kit. Bass, floor, 2 mounted, snare, hi-hat, crash, and ride.

I think these kits sell new for about 400 bucks or less.

Just gathering thoughts and suggestions on how to make the best of what I've got.

Thanks,

Rick

[Tim Brown]

Put a brand new set of heads on them (both tops and bottoms) and they could probably sound fine as long as they are tuned well.



Tim

[WERNER 1]

Could you provide a couple of suggestions on what brand/model heads are considered "decent".......and an apporximate cost to up-grade the whole kit?

Thanks!!

Rick

[Tim Brown]

Personally, I would put Pinstripes on the Batter side (the side you hit) and Ambassadors on the resonant side. The reason I suggest the Pinstripes are because these are economy drums, and I've found that thin heads do not sound as good on economy drums, but with a pinstripe on top, you can get a decent sound out of them without too much overtone....and it's the overtones where you'll hear the real difference in the quality of more expensive shells.

The sizes of the drums are probably the standard 12", 13" & 16" Toms, with
a 22" Kick, and a snare.

The Pinstripes are a 2-play (two layers of plastic) head, so they will have less ring and more "thud".

One thing I would suggest getting is a DVD called "Trust Your Ears" by Jeff Ocheltree.... I didn't even know this thing was out until I recently got it. He was John Bonham's drum Techj - in fact, he was the very first Drum tech....prior to him, the were no people who specialized in being a Roadie just for drums. You'll learn a lot of things that will save you a ton of frustration. I got mine off of E-bay for $18 new.

12"
Pinstripe $12.28
Ambassador $10.58

13"
Pinstripe $12.58
Ambassador $10.88

14"
Pinstripe $13.08
Ambassador $10.58 (14" Snare-side head)

16"
Pinstripe $14.58
Ambassador $13.08

22"
Pinstripe $29.78
Ambassador $26.98

Now depending upon if you want a hole in the Resonant head of the Kick drum - you can either cut a hole yourself, or these days you can buy a head with the hole already cut in it.

I priced these heads from Interstate Music online
Here's the URL for the main Remo drumhead page.
http://www.interstatemusic.com/webap...ategoryDisplay

I suggest Remo, other's may suggest some other brands - I can't simply because I've never used them. To make a long story short, I use drums in sizes that companies like Evans only make certain models in these sizes - so I personally can't use these "newer" drumhead lines (like the Evans Genera series heads....aka G1 and G2.)
Just because I didn't suggest them, doesn't mean that they aren't worth looking into, I just don't have any experience with them.
I have used both Aquarian and Attack heads on my snare and was happy with both.

One other HEad I could suggest if you're after a more Hard Rock metal type of sound, is the Ludwig "Black Collar" heads - these are a clear head with a Black muffling collar on them - basically a second piece of drum head that helps cut out the overtones. I love Ludwig Strider heads as well, but they no longer make any of these heads in the Kick and Floor tom sizes that I use.


Tim

[tilinmyowngrave]

Evans Genera are really good. For hard rock, I suggest G2's on top, G1's on bottom. I have tried remo and Evans, and I prefer Evans... but thats a personal preference... and btw Tim Brown, I think Evans does make 20" tom heads, and 28" bass drum heads... ill check.

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by tilinmyowngrave

Evans Genera are really good. For hard rock, I suggest G2's on top, G1's on bottom. I have tried remo and Evans, and I prefer Evans... but thats a personal preference... and btw Tim Brown, I think Evans does make 20" tom heads, and 28" bass drum heads... ill check.

Not in the Genera lines they don't, unless it's more recent. They do make them in the Oilhead series, and I think they have a regular line like the Ambassadors that they make in those sizes.
Personally, I have pestered Roy Burns (Owner of Aquarian) till I'm blue in the face, but there's just not enough of a market for 20" tom Heads to warrant them making them.


Tim

[WERNER 1]

Thanks guys!!!

there's a lot to chew on there.....and a bit of money to be spent as well....

How about a snare question...??

The snare that came with the kit is a 6 lug, 14"x6", but I've got another snare here that is basically the same dimensions (maby a bit deeper 6 1/2"??), but it's an 8 lug. Is the 8 lug a better snare by chance? (There are no markings on either one what so ever)

Also, I've been reading a lot of articals about tuning drums, and I fully understand....well for the most part anyway, the concept behind the whole process. I was wondering if this tool would be worth the investment for the ease of tuning the drums.......one thing that I like about it is that there is no beating of the drums involved in the process.....this may keep me from driving my wife nuts.....or more nuts.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/442160/

Thanks agian!!!

Rick

[WERNER 1]

One more question....me not being a drummer and all...

Is there some sort of guide as to how to actually set up the physical set it's self? Like how to set up the mounted toms, floor, hi-hat's ....that sort of stuff??

I know where things are supposed to go, but as far as actally setting them up in that position, well that's another story.

Some perticuars:

How much space is there to be between the high hats

are all of the mounted and floor drums to be postitioned "Flat" or sort of angled toward the drummer.

Thanks

Rick

[WERNER 1]

I was at a local GC this week, and I stopped in the drum section and spoke with the guy working in there for quite a while.....

He was showing me some things about the effects of different tunings and what not as he was beating on a Gretsch kit - Birch w/ coated evans heads. this kit sounded great to me........especially with a bit of a lower tuning! I was like give me some mics to mic this thing RIGHT NOW!

The guy said they were running a sale on those same heads for like 40 bucks a set....... are these pretty good (The coated ones?)

Thanks,
Rick

[Brad_C]

On that kit I would go with hydralic heads by Evans. They will elemenant all the overtones that are found in CB drums due to the wood type. On the bass have a smaller blanket. If you put to much in the bass it will sound dead. Premuffled heads may sound great on the kit and you won't need anything in the bass drum.

[funkydrummer]

the cb maxx was the first drum kit i bought in 1996. i tried just about every kind of remo head. i liked a clear pinstripe on the kick, coated emporers on toms and coated ambassador on the snare the best.

[WERNER 1]

Thanks for all of the replies and info you guys have given me so far!!!

I'm not sure which way I'll go on the new heads, probably just go to GC and get a set that's on sale there....but I'll print out this post and try and match up something(s).

I was messing around with the cymbals, and I noticed that they were Sabian ones. One is a AA ElSal...Something 18", and the other is a BB Pro 17" thin crash. the hi-hats are Camber II 14". I don't know if these are any good or not, but the 18" Sabian had the price tage still on it, and it was $204.00 - PRobably list price, but still...not cheap.

I was really hoping to get some feedback on that DrumDial thing for tuning, but nobodys said anything about it yet.??


Thanks again!!

Rick

[Brad_C]

Drumdial is good bu i wouldn't waste my money on it

[WERNER 1]

I finally got around to getting some heads for these drums.....

I ended up getting the Evans G2 coated for the 12,13,16" toms and snare, and an Evans EQ4 clear for the Bass.

I got them all for $59.00 bucks!!

Hopefully this weeked I'll be able to put them all on and get it tuned up.

Thanks for all of your help!!!!

Rick