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jazzystochat jazzystochat
Published on 02/11/05 at 05:31
I've used this kit for two years as rehearsal drums at my place. I have it thanks to a combination of factors during an auction. I paid $390 for a standard kit, 22"/12"/13"/16"+14"*5.5" wooden snare with accessories, etc (I changed the 13" drum for a 10" one, so I have 22"/10"/12"/16"), everything new (one man's loss is another man's gain... ;op). I don't know anything beyond this MAPEX and at this price, I won't be finicky about it. Besides, that day I also got an evans/remo drumhead set (60 heads for $50...LOL!! What could be better?), which has allowed me to dress it up nicer than it was originally. I'm not disappointed, far from that. I expected a really cheap sound but I was positively surprised:
- The snare is very average, with a pretty common sound that suits many styles. To be honest, the only thing I don't like is that is doesn't have a good sustain during tuning.
-The toms need to be hit really hard to sound good, but when you do their sound is nice. You'll have to not strain too much the drumheads or you'll have quite nasty harmonics. And they have the same problem as the snare: weak sustain during tuning, but hey, nothing is perfect!
-The nicest surprise was the kick drum, with a deep, punchy sound. I use it without anything inside, which I don't usually do, but the front drumhead is closed and the beater head is a Powerstroke 3. It produces a very light resonance, which is great for rock or Afro-Cuban music.
-The accessories are well-made and relatively stable, I nevertheless use an iron cobra pedal instead of the mapex. The tom clamps weren't conceived to mount and dismount them 2-3 times per week for a year, nor the bass drum spurs, for that matter. Otherwise your kit won't live longer than 2-3 years, tops,

A good small drum set that I would easily take to play in a small café, given its qualities, which make it a nice, almost endearing instrument.
I admit that it even sparked my interest for MAPEX gear. ;op