Search for 3rd kit continues.. Tama?

[MDK]

So I just bought a used Yamaha stage custom, older model with scratches for $150 (see yamaha thread for pics) with snare and stand. I need a 3rd kit to just leave at bass players house.

So I decided to throw it up on cl and got offered $350 without the snare or stand so I took it.

Now I have $350 and shopping again. I am considering a brand new Tama imperial star 4 pc bop kit 100% poplar,
Bass Drum: 18" x 14"
Tom 12" x 8"
Floor Tom: 14" x 14"
Snare: 14" x 5"

I have been burned before by Tama but at $229 with free shipping I dont see how I could go wrong. Anyone have any experience with this kit or poplar in general?

I am also looking hard at a Premier projector (birch with beech re-rings) for $400 cash but I would have to drive 3 hrs total to pick it up and bring it home.

link to premier [link removed per forum rules - Tom]

I despise Basswood and would never get that but I think poplar can actually be pretty nice?

[N2Bluz]

Poplar is not a bad wood. I've played a couple kits, and they actually sounded really nice. It's "similar" to maple in terms of sound characteristics. It was also used as an internal filler ply wood on some high end kits. I think even Ludwig used it in the 3ply shells of the 70's.

Nothing wrong with the Tama, but might also consider something like Ludwig Breakbeats, Sonor Safari, PDP New Yorker.....even the Sound Percussion Street kit. It has a Birch inner ply and gets pretty high reviews. I guess the big question is; will $350 get you a new kit that's better than the Stage Customs you sold? The Premiers would definitely be better. Another option is look around for a used PDP CX kit.

[MDK]

I looked at all those, do not like breakbeats due to 16" bd size..the new yorker is twice the price, safari is select hardwoods which usually means basswood (yuck)

The price is really got me thinking about it, plus it comes with a BD riser

[topdog63]

I love my breakbeats kit. Those are also "select hardwood". The 16" kick with a little tweeting of the heads sounds pretty good. I left the stock heads on a put a full size kick port dead center in reso. It also comes with a riser. Give it a shot if there's a GC or something near you where you can try it out

[kay-gee]

So I just bought a used Yamaha stage custom, older model with scratches for $150 (see yamaha thread for pics) with snare and stand. I need a 3rd kit to just leave at bass players house.

So I decided to throw it up on cl and got offered $350 without the snare or stand so I took it.

Now I have $350 and shopping again. I am considering a brand new Tama imperial star 4 pc bop kit 100% poplar,
Bass Drum: 18" x 14"
Tom 12" x 8"
Floor Tom: 14" x 14"
Snare: 14" x 5"

I have been burned before by Tama but at $229 with free shipping I dont see how I could go wrong. Anyone have any experience with this kit or poplar in general?

I am also looking hard at a Premier projector (birch with beech re-rings) for $400 cash but I would have to drive 3 hrs total to pick it up and bring it home.

link to premier [link removed per forum rules - Tom]

I despise Basswood and would never get that but I think poplar can actually be pretty nice?

My exact configuration but Gretsch USA. Nice playable set up. You may really like it. I'm so used to my 18" it would be weird to play a bigger bass now. I'm seeing a difference now in the terminology. A 16" bass constitutes a jungle set while the 18 is bop style. I am very poor at discerning wood types.

all the best...

[kaosotis]

I would think the Imperialstar would be fine but you could look for a used Silverstar bop kit. Or you the person who had the issue with the heads seating correctly, etc?

$200+ dollars is a pretty low budget so there probably isn't a whole lot of difference between anything you would get in that range.

[MDK]

I would think the Imperialstar would be fine but you could look for a used Silverstar bop kit. Or you the person who had the issue with the heads seating correctly, etc?

$200+ dollars is a pretty low budget so there probably isn't a whole lot of difference between anything you would get in that range.

Budget is actually about $400 tops, yes I got a SS with crappy gromets and poor bearing edges but according to most I just got a dud. If I get the imp. star I can always return it.

[kaosotis]

Budget is actually about $400 tops, yes I got a SS with crappy gromets and poor bearing edges but according to most I just got a dud. If I get the imp. star I can always return it.

If 400 is the budget I would look used personally. Do you specifically want a bop set?

[MDK]

I think I am now leaning towards a new Yamaha Stage custom or a Mapex Mars. Waiting to see what new colors/options are available after namm this friday. Life is too short for subpar drums : ) and witha 24 month no interest offer a $600 kit is easily doable

[Russ]

Mapex Mars definitely, assuming we're talking about the first run of them and not their recent re-release. You'll know them by having more depth, longer lugs, and a hybrid mahogany/maple shell - truly a lovely design from 1998. Only ones you'd find of those are on the used market, so you're bound to get a good deal on them and probably score a bunch of other thrown in stuff like hardware, cymbals, and heads, etc so they're worth the hunt I think. The newer ones look too strange for me to get into - the shallow toms, the new mounts, the transformers badges they use now.. I dunno it just hasn't caught on with me, but I do love the older stuff and would consider it their golden era. As a company, Mapex was always about the idea of more quality for less money, so i'd put em against a number of kits in the same price range with confidence anyday.