Mahogany drum kits

What are some good quality mahogany drum kits? I'm familiar with the Pearl MHX series... but is there anything else available for less cost that is still considered good quality?

Custom set from Precision Drums?

What kind of price range should I expect for a 7 piece?

THanks for any info....

Im not to familiar with mahogony kits, sorry.

Tama Rockstar or the Tama Superstar "Super Mahogany" series from the 80s.

I've been playing a Tama Rockstar for about 3 years or so with no problems. It's a lower end kit but it does what I need it to. This might sound ridiculous, but a friend of mine that's been playing for around 20 years, and he's sold on Peavey kits. They're dirt cheap, apparently, and for mahogony kits he says they're a great deal. Until he told me that, I didn't even know Peavey made kits. But it might be worth checking out.

The reason that the Peavey is so inexpensive is because it is machine made. Aside from their stencil kits (stagestar and swingstar), Tamas are handmade.

Thanks for the info on the Peavey drums... I'll check that out

The new entry level Tama's aren't mahogany like the Rockstars are they?

I'm trying to find my friend the right kit for his style of music

He just needs a PUSH in the right direction.

He's definately an old school metal guy and a sixties surf/ garage style drummer... kinda black sabbath style too..so I think he'd be well served by a kit that is deep and resonant... The brighter or more balanced (birch/maple) kits with sharp attack don't seem to mix well with his particular style

He has high quality Zildjan cymbals, kick pedals, throne and other hardware... but his kit is a POS and all warped from storage in a garage.

I think he'd kick ass with a new 7 piece Pearl MHX set

The Swingstars and the Stagestars are still mahogany. Superstars are Birch/Basswood.

I thought peavey kits were {censored}e?

excellent.. I'll have him check those out

Thingfish... you really seem to know what's up...

what would you suggest for a friend that is actually a talented drummer... but sort of doesn't understand tone yet? He's got a great vibe... but he's sort of the "beat his sticks on anything" kinda person.. He can sound good beating on upside buckets

I've been playing guitar for 16 years and played with a lot of good pro drummers... but some of them were sterile... my buddy has atrocious tone but he has a great vibe... I'd like to encourage him to spring the cash for a decent new kit and I think it'll really improve his confidence

Could he get a nice solid heavy tone from the Tama Swingstar or Stagestars? Something professional "enough" that also records well? What kind of heads would sound good on those kits to give it a deep resonant thump?

Thanks again!

Maybe something like this swingstar?

http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/inventory/Details.cfm?ProductTypeID=24&BrandID=43

Are drums like guitar? For example.... I've got custom shop BC RIchs... but with a good set of strings and nice pickups a 500-600 dollar korean import can sound 85% as good as my custom shops as long as they are the same tonewood and setup right

ARe drums like that? As long as you've got good heads on them... the proper tonewood for your style of music..combined with excellent cymbals and solid pedals/hardware... can it sound pro-level if it's tuned well and played proficiently?

If this guy is as good as you say he is, then he shouldnt waste his time looking at swingstars or any other beginners kits.

I agree..

Is there something available that's between a Pearl MHX and a rockstar in terms of quality???

Yes...for the most part I'd say that's true. As long as the bearing edges are decent as well. Especially if you're close-miking the toms you can get by with cheap drums, but not with cheap cymbals...

If you're relying more on the room sound, though, or going for a more "natural" sound you'll have a harder time.

-Duardo

Ah, well, you could go for maybe some sonor 3005s or mapex pro m's. Id say those are probably in between the 2.

I have no idea about the Sonor kit, but Mapex Pro M drums are very nice.

What exactly will your friend be using the kit for - i.e. recording, home practice, bar gigs, etc? I own a Mapex Pro M but I'm actually buying a cheap Pacific or Pearl kit to gig with and leaving the Mapex at home. The new band I'm in will be playing mostly clubs and bars locally and I'm not doing that with a $1000 kit. A less expensive kit can still sound great with good heads and proper tuning.

I would recommend the Tama Stagestar Custom EFX.

It is the only 'professional' level set that Tama makes in mahogany. In fact, most stagestars are made for beginners, but the Stagestar Custom EFX is aimed at professionals. Handmade, bearing edges, mahogany, white marine pearl wrap, built with gigging in mind, and you can find it (minus cymbals, throne and pedals) for about 500 bucks new.

Think of the Stagestar Custom EFX as the BC Rich custom shop guitars and the rest of the Stagestars as BC Rich Bronze guitars.

I'm sure if you get that set with the drum tuning bible, you can spend a day with the drums and get what you want.

I would say that set-up is more important in drums than it is in guitars. With the proper tonewood, good bearing edges, non-invasive mounts, educated head selection, and proper stick technique most any drum is going to sound like you want it assuming you are going for that specific tonewood/head/stick sound combination.

Thanks everybody... I'll pass along the info to my friend

Just remember there are several different kinda of mahogany ranging from Very good and expencive to Very cheap and low quality. Anything on low quality and Mid range kits is gona Be Phillipine Mahogany...wich is Luan .. A very cheap and softer wood. Pretty much everone uses this basswood or Poplar on there lower end kits. All Professional quality Mahogany kits are Honduras, American or African mahogany...Wich is a very sought after wood. Also very expencive True mahogany..Not luan.. is concidered a "tone wood" wich are woods used for making instruments. Some people Choose true mahongany over hard rock maple cause it tends to have a Warmer sound..More low end.

thanks... yeah I'm learning a lot about drums around here

they're very similar to guitars... I've always liked honduran mahogany guitars best... the asian mahogany and agathis are the low end and don't quite have the ooomph...same as drums

There are quite a few TAMA Superstar kits of the 80's on ebay...probably a good start.

There are also some New Rockstar kits on there for great prices... I hadn't looked at the Sonars. But I've played tama's for over 20years....and if I ever switched...It would be too sonor.

You can also look for some vintage Slingerlands. Their rock kits from the 70's are mahogany and were ear piercing load as well.

-bruce