Question about brand quality

[leavings]

I'm thinking of buying a set soon, and I'm wondering if the more expensive brands are worth the extra money. I can get a new Titan set for $300, or I could spend $1000 for a virtually identical Pearl set. Is there a significant difference in sound quality and durability (not just between these two brands, but generally)?

Thanks, Peter

 

[tmix]

Just because a kit is inexpensive doesn't automatically make it cheap or sound bad. The problem in buying an inexpensive kit is usually some of the components are cheap. It might be the shells are excellent but the hardware is crap. Perhaps the wrap on the shells comes flying off in 2 years.
The shells are the most important thing in a kit sounding good over the long haul. If they are of sufficient strength and roundness and whether the bearing edges are good. The hardware to a lesser intent is important in as much as you don't want it to rattle and if you gig a lot as to whether it will hold together.
If you are inexperianced in looking at drums, it would help to bring someone with you that has some experiance. I have bought one of the lower line Mapex kits (Voyager) for about $400 and it has served me very well over the years, and records very well. It is not as bright sounding as an expensive all maple kit but sounds good all the same.
The Pacific kits (particularly the Maple) are good bets. They are made by DW . The Maple one is a bargain when they can be had for around $600-700 bucks.

Yes in many cases the expensive (over $1200) kits have a better longevity, but I gig so hard with my kits I do'nt want to subject an expensive kit to that kind of abuse!(too expensive for me!) I'd buy one for the studio, but not for local gigging.

Tom

 

[pratt]

I'm thinking of buying a set soon, and I'm wondering if the more expensive brands are worth the extra money. I can get a new Titan set for $300, or I could spend $1000 for a virtually identical Pearl set. Is there a significant diffe these two brands, but generally)?rence in sound quality and durability (not just between

Thanks, Peter

well...yes & no. expensive can be better, but it's not always better. you can get good sounds out of a cheap set and you can get bad sounds out of an expensive set. Alot depends on head choice and tuning...

Like tmix said, though - hardware is the area where alot of the cheaper kits are CHEAPER! this then brings your question of durability to light..cheap hardware is much less durable. Another area - that may or may not matter to you - is cosmetics. More often than not, the expensive set with lacquer finish or nice wrap is going to look much better than the elcheapo kit with a crappy wrap job....

 

[mikeh]

While I agree with the previous posts, I do beleive that on a whole you get what you pay for and a $1,000 kit is going to be better than a $300 kit.

Maple or Birch will normally provide richer tone than Mahogany or Basswood - and you pay for that. There all even different quality Maple or Birch - the better the wood the higher the cost.

I agree that proper heads and correct tuning can make a $300 kit sound more like a $1000. However, cheap cymbals will always sound like cheap cymbals.

Certainly, you also pay for higher quality hardware - how important is hardware? - That depends alot on the type and amount of use.

When you say the $1,000 Pearl kit is almost identical to the $300 Titan - what do you base that on?

Are they the same type of wood? The same number and thickness of plys? The same type of bearing edge? All of these things can be what seperates a $300 kit from a $1,000 kit from a $5,000 kit.

Buy the best you can afford - but base the purchase in part on what your needs are.