Drum Workshop Worth The Cash?

finnhiggins said:
I hate to interrupt a good bitch-fight, but you seem to have missed my prior post on this topic.

Mapex use shells made by Taye. The other large brands all have their own facilities in China and do not share production, right down to the Stagestar/Forum/Rydeen or whatever. If you want to confirm this I can give you the telephone number of an independent person who has seen the Yamaha and Tama facilities in China with their own eyes.


So Mapex doesn't make their own shells - is this what you are saying?

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw
 
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Skitch said:
So Mapex doesn't make their own shells - is this what you are saying?

I'm not sure if that is up-to-the-minute correct, but I'm about 99% certain it has been historically - similar to DW's use of Keller. Taye have a long-running business as shell suppliers to a number of Asian brands, they could be described as a far-eastern version of Keller in this respect. It's only in the past five or six years that they've actually had a drum brand to call their own.
 
I'm under the impression also that it's only the entry level drums that are made in China and the high end Tama, Pearl and Yamaha drums are still manufactured in Japan.
 
harryconway said:
I'm under the impression also that it's only the entry level drums that are made in China and the high end Tama, Pearl and Yamaha drums are still manufactured in Japan.

I believe that's also correct, and it's very unlikely that given their intense competitive relationships any of those brands share high-end facilities in Japan. Essentially Skitch I think you're going to have to back away from your "Tama = Pearl = all trash anyway" line of reasoning, that does appear to be some kind of myth.

There's certainly less historical similarity between the big Japanese brands in terms of their use of materials than there has been between DW and, say, OCDP, Spaun, GMS and so forth with their use of Keller maple shells.
 
finnhiggins said:
I believe that's also correct, and it's very unlikely that given their intense competitive relationships any of those brands share high-end facilities in Japan. Essentially Skitch I think you're going to have to back away from your "Tama = Pearl = all trash anyway" line of reasoning, that does appear to be some kind of myth.

There's certainly less historical similarity between the big Japanese brands in terms of their use of materials than there has been between DW and, say, OCDP, Spaun, GMS and so forth with their use of Keller maple shells.

Sorry - It was a stressful day off; with the Executioner telling how much my band sucks and how much I suck and all. I have this in my e-mail if you need to see it.


Mike

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw
 
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Skitch said:
Sorry - It was a stressful day off; with the Executioner telling how much my band sucks and how much I suck and all. I have this in my e-mail if you need to see it.

I got it too. Obviously between that rude comment and the reference to his daddy, he is young. His only saving grace was that he was mature enough to delete the message before everyone got a chance to see it.
 
That certainly was an eyeful and downright appalling.
 
about the tama pearl and i forget which other companies being made in the same places it may have been true but now im sure tamas are made in the same places as Ibanez guitars, or atleast they have the same headquarters where i live
 
IronCobraPTW said:
about the tama pearl and i forget which other companies being made in the same places it may have been true but now im sure tamas are made in the same places as Ibanez guitars, or atleast they have the same headquarters where i live
Do you live in Japan or Taiwan?
 
no they have a U.S. headquarters near me in Bensalem Pennsylvania cause they have more than one around the world and im not talking about like the Top tama headquarters if you get what i mean just branches
 
IronCobraPTW said:
no they have a U.S. headquarters near me in Bensalem Pennsylvania cause they have more than one around the world and im not talking about like the Top tama headquarters if you get what i mean just branches

Having multiple brands out of the same distributing company is very common internationally. Yamaha Kemble distribute Zildjian in the UK, MusicWorks carries Yamaha/Tama/Paiste in New Zealand and so forth.
 
Indeed, and offices and manufacturing sites are two completely different things. I don't think you will find Ibanez guitars and Tama drums manufactured in the same building. Same country (Japan) though, for their hi end stuff.
 
your right i was just saying that they were somehow in the same building manufacturing or not and that it wasnt another drum company.
 
I own Brady drums, Pork Pie Drums and a DW set as well.
I play the Brady and Pork Pie kits out about 10 times a month.

The DW kit still has the tags on them. After 2 months I have yet to set them up. Just can't get excited about them. The Bradys have their own wonderful tone, not to mention the finish. The Pork Pie drums look and sound beautiful. I have banged on the DW snare and tried to dial in the kick, but they don't even begin to approach the other kits tone, warmth and attack. I have three 9000 double tom stands that are great, I guess. They do weigh a ton.

Lots of DW hype. Lots of marketing. "Buy this kit so you can sound like 1000 other drummers." It is a great product, but it is high end for the masses. If I'm gonna have that $$$$ in a kit, I don't want to find out that the kid around the corner in the punk band has the same drums I do. I also find it hard to believe that there are guys in a back room hitting shells with a rubber mallet, and writing down what note they are. But thats me. And the reason why so many "Pros" play them is the deals they are given. Do you think the same kits we buy are made by the same guys making Pearts kit, and other high visibility players.???
 
gmrakich said:
I own Brady drums, Pork Pie Drums and a DW set as well.
I play the Brady and Pork Pie kits out about 10 times a month.

The DW kit still has the tags on them. After 2 months I have yet to set them up.

im sorry, but you lost me after the part i quoted...... I think thats awesome that you have three killer kits and you have not bothered to set one of them up (a kit that 95% of the people on this board would love to own but won't). That's akin to this statement:

"You know, I own a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and a Porsche Carrera turbo.... And the porsche does not have the performance of the others. I have yet to take the window sticker off of it. I drive the others 10 times a month though"

this falling on the ears of a bunch of suburu drivers :) I hope for the sake of our collective self esteem that you are ugly.
 
Fat Elvis said:
im sorry, but you lost me after the part i quoted...... I think thats awesome that you have three killer kits and you have not bothered to set one of them up (a kit that 95% of the people on this board would love to own but won't). That's akin to this statement:

"You know, I own a Ferrari, a Lamborghini and a Porsche Carrera turbo.... And the porsche does not have the performance of the others. I have yet to take the window sticker off of it. I drive the others 10 times a month though"

this falling on the ears of a bunch of suburu drivers :) I hope for the sake of our collective self esteem that you are ugly.

Well I am diabetic : ^ ) Just stating that my opinion IS based on something, I'm loosing my hair. BTW I have six Pork Pie kits. It's getting dark......mother?

I have no kids and own my own biz so I have a little cash to throw at my hobby. I do loan out my stuff all the time to local guys here (Indy) for recording and shows....I share! And never charge them. My way of paying back to the drum community.

Oh, not ugly....sorry. www.myspace.com/blaqlily
 
This is such an easy argument.

DW doesn't make bad drums. Their drums are great, and expensive. But... Some of us have a little more money than your average college student. If you've had nothing but good experiences with DW then you tend to keep buying it, regardless of cost. The VALUE is better, knowing you are getting a good product regardless. How many Tama or Mapex people can say they've played 5 different kits over the past year and they've ALL been great?

It's like me with Apple Macintosh (or even iPod). Sure there are faster and better value computers out there, but I have never lost one shred of data or reinstalled system software or gotten a virus in 17 years. My first Mac was in 1988 and I think I'm on my 12th one now. I'm sure there are better deals, but why would I even risk bothering to look?

I like the Porsche -- Subaru comparison. That perfectly exemplifies (at least American) consumerism....stats and tech specs are nice, but there is no accounting for engineering and design (unless your only measurement is speed and gforce, etc.) I would rather have 1 Porsche Boxster-S than 2 Subaru WRX's any day!
 
Stu_Strib said:
This is such an easy argument.

DW doesn't make bad drums. Their drums are great, and expensive. But... Some of us have a little more money than your average college student. If you've had nothing but good experiences with DW then you tend to keep buying it, regardless of cost. The VALUE is better, knowing you are getting a good product regardless. How many Tama or Mapex people can say they've played 5 different kits over the past year and they've ALL been great?

It's like me with Apple Macintosh (or even iPod). Sure there are faster and better value computers out there, but I have never lost one shred of data or reinstalled system software or gotten a virus in 17 years. My first Mac was in 1988 and I think I'm on my 12th one now. I'm sure there are better deals, but why would I even risk bothering to look?

I like the Porsche -- Subaru comparison. That perfectly exemplifies (at least American) consumerism....stats and tech specs are nice, but there is no accounting for engineering and design (unless your only measurement is speed and gforce, etc.) I would rather have 1 Porsche Boxster-S than 2 Subaru WRX's any day!

Great post Stu, I don't know why people want to try to discredit DW? You are going to pay for quality and DW produces high quality kits that can be customized to just about any finish you want, but also they sound amazing IMHO. I guess what bothers me most is people forget the most important thing: YOUR DRUM CHOICE IS A PERSONAL PREFERENCE!! Plus when you order something CUSTOMED, you are going to pay for it because it is what you want!

I would not expect every drummer to like DW, just because I love them or Neil Peart uses them, but I have also said that all the big companies make high quality kits and you are going to pay for them regardless. It's like asking is a BMW 325 worth the price? In my opinion yes but you can get an Audi A4 that will perform the same to a point and pay less, but it is not a BMW!!

I think people like to discredit companies that charge alot because they can't afford them. I mean reallistically how many people on here can go drop $3000.00 on a kit right now?? I could but my wife would kill me because we are trying to build a new house in a year, but most guys on here probably can't, so it's easy to say they are not worth the cash and buy something alot cheaper like a Pearl Export and then try to convince yourself is sounds as good as a maple kit from DW. But that is why DW also makes PDP's because they know not everyone can afford their best kits.

And with Pork Pies and Brady which are outstanding kits as well, if they had as many customers as DW's their prices would go up the same. Then someone in the next couple of years will be posting the same question are Pork Pies and Brady's worth the cash? With more demand for their products, the cost to manufacture them would raise and those extra cost get passed on to us. I willing to bet Pork Pies best kit today if it only cost $2000.00, will not be the same next year if their reputation continues to rise, it's just plain economics. DW's started in the guys garage and basement now look at the manufacturing process they have? And there is no way they could still meet the demand for their drums or produce them in mass volume if they didn't expand or increase the cost of their products.
 
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My DW kit was built in 1997/98 so I cant speak for todays production, but I know my kit was built by the same specialists that built the pro's kits at the time. They called me twice during the manufacture of my kit to discuss deails of what I wanted. One call, I believe it was Scott Garrison who called my memory sucks, just called to suggest I get a 15 instead of a 14" tom for my lowest tom. I stuck with the 14 because I thought 15" heads might be harder to get in a pinch, sometimes I wonder if this was the best choice.
I'm sure they had their best paint guy and edge guy working on Neils kit, but those same guys/gals work on production kits also.
Mike
 
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