Looking for new Jazz/Latin kit...

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drummersteve

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Hi,

I currently own a Tama Rockstar Custom. Really nice kit, had it for 6 or so years and still in great condition. But I'm playing much more Jazz/Bebop/Bigband/Latin style stuff, and it doesn't really suit the sound (22" BD is too large and big sounding). Plus, I would like shallower toms, as the current size means I can't position them quite how I like!

Can anyone suggest some kits to start looking at? Particularly good for Jazz/Latin style? I don't want it to be too specific for jazz mind, incase I ever get called into a fusion gig or something...

Price range is probs upto around £800, £900?

Thanks!

Oh, I'm looking for just the shells (Already got the cymbals/snare that I want to keep!) Thanks.
 
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I have a kit I really like that is smaller and shallower shelled.
It sounds good on a variety of styles.
It is the Mapex Pro M Micro.
It is a Maple Kit with a 20" kick 10 /12/14 shallow toms (like 6 to 8 inches deep) plus a 13 inch snare.
I use it for all styles and being a shorter man, it is easy to place the toms where it is very comfortable.

I also have a Mapex Venus series with a 18" kick 8/10/12 toms and a 12" snare, but that may be too small for you.

If you are interested in hearing the Pro M I might have some bare drum tracks laying around for you to hear.
 
Thanks for your reply...

Yeah hearing some samples would be great! How can I get them from you?

Cheers.
 
tmix said:
I also have a Mapex Venus series with a 18" kick 8/10/12 toms and a 12" snare, but that may be too small for you.
Click to expand...

I've got the voyager in those sizes, I don't know how much the decent Gretsch kits are but they sound LUSH in small sizes, stick coated skins on - lovely!
 
Yeah, I've heard Gretsch kits are really nice for Jazz.. What are the mid-range kits like? Some companies I find have great pro kits, but the mid-range kits don't quite cut it compared with others.. you know if this is true of Gretsch?

Thanks again!
 
Let me see if I can post them here.
I have a drums only track of the Shallow shells.
I also have a jazz drummer I recorded playing my voyager set. They tune fat and low!

Personally I like them more than the Gretsch, but I am sure the Gretsches are fine as well.

let me try to offload the files to MP3 and see if I can upload them here or in the MP3 clinic.
 
That'd be great thanks very much for this. Post me a PM or again on here when you have successfully/unsuccessfully uploaded them. Keep this thread busy so I hopefully get some more responses :D.

Thanks again.
 
I have a custom with Tama hardware

If you don't want to go the route of customizing your own kit, then the "out of the box" "off-the-line" kit that I would recommend is the Gretsch kits.
I used the Tama Starclassic as the base for my kit, but replaced a lot of the shells with 8 and 10 ply maple shells. I use a Yamaha custom birch with wooden rims for my snare most of the time (but I have many snares). All of my shells were cut shallow (my 16" floor tom is only 11" deep). I have two kicks, one 18" and one 20", but I use the 20" most of the time. I play mostly jazz and blues in small clubs and restaurants so I don't need the deep booming thud of the rock style kits. I normally play a 6 piece kit 10", 12" mounted toms and 14" and 16" floor toms (on a dual mount off of one of my bigger cymbal stands). I use small sticks (Vic Firth 7A or AJN and also brushes a lot). When you are playing with smaller sticks, you don't want to have to pound your toms to get the sound. Shallower toms get active much easier. If you're playing with piano and dbl bass in a trio, you don't want a loud kit. For times you want a louder kit, that's what mics and amps were made for.
The rock drummers are all laughing at me now. :)
 
Thanks for that,

Rimshot...
Why would you suggest the Gretsch kit over anything you have? You recommended it but didn't say why :D any particular reasons? or is it purely because they sound great "out of the box".

I think I wasn't something which I can buy and instantly sound great. I could spend way too much if I go into customizing my own kit. Ive heard the Reknown kits are nice? I think they are on the boundaries between middle and upper level kits, would that be right?

tmix...
Listened to those samples, it does sound lush! How much processing was done on those tracks? Are they pretty much bare? Did you treat the kit in any way (lots of pillows in BD, moon gel etc)?

Thanks very much!
 
DS
No the kit is pretty much as is.
I had Coated Evans Heads at the time, and a small pillow in the kick.
It was miked up with a pair of Oktava MC012s as overheads , a Beta 52 on kick and a AKG C1000 on snare. Just the lightest reverb on it is all. The smaller sizes just seem to record well, they sound like you hit hard without being extraordinary loud.

The shallow shelled kit had a pair of Cad E100s as main mics(Glyn Johns style) with an ATM25 for kick and a EV 408 for snare.
 
drummersteve said:
Rimshot...
Why would you suggest the Gretsch kit over anything you have? You recommended it but didn't say why :D any particular reasons? or is it purely because they sound great "out of the box".
Click to expand...

The Gretsch kits just seem to have "that sound" right out of the box, that's why. What I have, I personally feel is "the best" but it is the result of a lot of personal choices and tweaking and altering of an existing kit. It is almost to the point of having very little of the original kit left except for the hardware, and it may not suit others, but it suits me well. That would be my recommendation if time, effort and price is not a major issue. Put together your own kit and then select your favorite drum wraps or finishes to unify the look.
My choice of cymbals is also crucial to the type of sound that I am looking for.
In the end, you will have a tailor-made kit that presents the exact sound that represents "your" style of playing.
 
Thanks for that,

RimShot,

As much as I would like to customise my own kit, I neither have the time or the money to be able to do it right now (student). I'm only just managing to afford a new ket let alone buying custom parts. Definitely an option when I'm in a full time job though.

I have some K custom cymbals (2 crashes + hihats), and an Istanbul traditional ride. Ludwig Bronze Snare too which I intend on keeping. In fact, to throw another question in, I am considering getting another ride (addition to the Istanbul) - I find the Istanbul can get quite washy when I'm doing complex ride work, something really dry would be nice. Like, really dry. Any suggestions?

tmix

What styles have you played with this kit in? Have you tried the whole jazz latin and funk, with it sounding good? Does it also suit other styles as well? Would be nice to have a really versatile kit! Interesting to know the lack of processing on it, it sounds fit!

Another thing, I have been told to take a look at the Gretsch Reknown. Any comments on this kit?

Cheers!
 
Gretch Renowns are great, but the Sonor 2007/3007 line reigns supreme in the intermediate kit range. The 3007 Jungle kit is amazing, and even Steve Smith has played them. They sound awesome.
 
Any kit...

... that comes with a 16"x 20" kick and an 8"x12" tom, the floor tom sizes can be shallow or deep. I really like 13"x15", most people go for 14"x14" or 16"x16" for jazz/fusion stuff.
Those sizes allow you the capability to play many different styles with the same kit.
 
Thatguy said:
Gretch Renowns are great, but the Sonor 2007/3007 line reigns supreme in the intermediate kit range. The 3007 Jungle kit is amazing, and even Steve Smith has played them. They sound awesome.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I forgot about Sonor. They have always been called "the drummer's drums" and are favored by great jazz drummers like Jeff "Tain" Watts and Jack deJonette. I haven't tried any of the newer models since Sonor/Hohner moved their plant and they started making them in China and I confess I am not familiar with the intermediate range ones, but the top of the line Sonor drums are really great (and a wee bit expensive).
 
I've also been suggested a Sonor Kit, the S Classix Series I think? How do these rate?

After having a think, I think my finances can be stretched. I figured buying a new mid-range kit, when I already have a nice mid-range kit, seems quite pointless. There is nothing wrong with my current kit other than it doesn't suit my style. So I reckon it would be more worthwhile to go all out and get something really nice... so my budget is probably now pushed to £1500, sort of mark. Any new suggestions?

Thanks!
 
Correct me if I'm wrong......

1500 GPS is equivalent to almost $3000 US. At that price over here, your world is your oyster. You can negotiate at that price on almost any of the best (and I mean best) drum kits made. Top of the line kits by almost any manufacturer can be had (especially if you are not looking to build a massive kit and are looking at a 5 or 6 piece kit). I don't know what prices are like over there, but you can do very well in America at that price. Especially at places like Guitar Center that just like to move products and will negotiate easily.
 
I'm liking the idea of going Gretsch, loving the looks. Especially liking the New Classic. The lugs on this are sweet. Any opinions on this?
 
I just ordered a Tama Starclassic Bubinga kit. It comes in nearly every size you can think of and is the greatest sounding kit I've ever heard. Whenever I'm at a Sam Ash or Guitar Center there are people waiting to try that kit out, neglecting most of the other kits in the store. Besides that, the Gretch USA Customs are great, and for the price the Mapex Saturn and Tama Starclassic B/B kits are the best.
 
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