Which is better Basswood or poplar?

[Russ]

So according to this, the ideal would be a mixed kit. Say...Mahog bass drums, small toms birch, med toms, Maple, and large toms Mahog, birch snare.

all the best...

Worked for Pearl!

[drumsetsnide]

thats now my goal, i have my eyes on a yamaha stage custom birch for $400, pretty much the best deal ive seen yet and its raven black so itll look sweet with my Paistes :D

Now your talking. I'm not a fan of Yamaha, but the choice in wood is great and the price seems good.

[Northern Redneck]

Nice kit especially for $400.

[davewilson]

I've been eyeballing this little basswood kit from Sonor for a while... when Matt Eder ( of the Matt Eder Power Trio ) did this little demo I was hooked.. especially for $339. typical 14" snare, 10" mounted tom, 14" floor tom.. and a 16" kick. I Like the black/gray sparkle wrap even.
Matt says this vid was done with all the original stock heads.

[SpecialAnthony]

So, what about BEECH? After more research, I'm almost positive my Rockstars have a Beech inner ply. I have no idea what constitutes the rest of the shell, but regardless- how does Beech fall in sonic and tonal qualities compared to Bass and Poplar?

[davewilson]

So, what about BEECH? After more research, I'm almost positive my Rockstars have a Beech inner ply. I have no idea what constitutes the rest of the shell, but regardless- how does Beech fall in sonic and tonal qualities compared to Bass and Poplar?

I know the original Tama Rockstars were 9 ply basswood. When the Rockstars name was resurrected for use as an exclusive line for GC/MF/M123 the birch/basswood shell from the Superstar line was used...though the Rockstars shells didn't appear to exhibit the same fit/ finish ( I owned both so it was an easy comparison).
A few years passed... The Superstar went to an all birch shell and the Rockstars at GC lost both the Tom mounts and the lugs that distinguished the Rockstars.
There was a period during the original Rockstars production run where the lacquer finished Rockstars customs had an outer ply that was more of a veneer then a structural part of the shell... But in all the years I was in the Tama forums I never heard of beech being used with Rockstars.... But I never like to say never.

[SpecialAnthony]

Bam :



That black 6pc is my exact kit.

[VIbes]

Dave, I own a Sonor Safari kit and it is a killer little set. I still have the stock heads on mine. They sound fine to me. I can throw it in the car and be set up when I get to the gig in 10 minutes. I carry them in bags and a small trap case with 3 Ludwig 1400 flat base stands and a flat base hi-hat and Sonor pedal. One cymbal bag. The bass drum and toms sound phenomanal. Even the snare is nice. Great kit for a small lounge gig or Jazz gig. I have pics in my profile.

[davewilson]

Bam

That black 6pc is my exact kit.

That's why I never say never... but that is also the second of four incarnations of Rockstars ... even predating the suspension mounts.
The series of Rockstars that would later become Tama's best selling line (3rd incarnation?) had a clip-on version of the Starcast mounts, the newer style tom holder, different lugs, different shells, different bass drum hoops... pretty much nothing in common with the series in that ad... except it was made by Tama and called Rockstars.
This is what happens when names get re-used.. you end up with totally different drums with the same name. That's what keeps it interesting I spose

The version before yours had a "zola-coat" on the shell interior instead of a beech ply.... what the heck was that??? LOL! I have that catalog directory for Tama bookmarked... fun to browse through.. brings back memories of kits I thought were so cool back in the 70's and 80's.

[davewilson]

Dave, I own a Sonor Safari kit and it is a killer little set. I still have the stock heads on mine. They sound fine to me. I can throw it in the car and be set up when I get to the gig in 10 minutes. I carry them in bags and a small trap case with 3 Ludwig 1400 flat base stands and a flat base hi-hat and Sonor pedal. One cymbal bag. The bass drum and toms sound phenomanal. Even the snare is nice. Great kit for a small lounge gig or Jazz gig. I have pics in my profile.

I knew someone here had one but I couldn't remember who it was.. thanks! Going to check out the pics!

[SpecialAnthony]

And actually I think my Rockstars are a "facelift" of the initial iteration from 1991, which were all basswood.

Still curious about what the shell is constructed of. I have a feeling it's going to be ugly under the wraps- I'll know in a few weeks!

Back to my initial question though- how does beech compare? I would like to think it's close to basswood in sound- warm and deep.

[davewilson]

And actually I think my Rockstars are a "facelift" of the initial iteration from 1991, which were all basswood.

Still curious about what the shell is constructed of. I have a feeling it's going to be ugly under the wraps- I'll know in a few weeks!

Back to my initial question though- how does beech compare? I would like to think it's close to basswood in sound- warm and deep.

Yes.. yours is a second generation/iteration.. with the first style of long lugs. The Rockstars of the eighties had squarish looking small lugs. The third, and longest running version had the clip-on starcast system and the rounded, fat, long lugs. (see below)

According to Gretsch, Yamaha, and Sonor... who have all used Beech to make drums.. it falls right in between Maple and Birch.... more attack then maple and warmer then birch.
I couldn't find anything that tell me what your shells are made of other then it has a beech inner ply.

[davewilson]

This thread is soooo 'jacked...LOL

[s_tic_k]

them sonors look awesome dave, id grab them for sure looks good for gigging and i have a soft spot for white sparkle or blue :D

[SpecialAnthony]

Thanks Dave! Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

[davewilson]

Thanks Dave! Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

... not so fast... that's some nice drumming there bubba!

[Olimpass]

... not so fast... that's some nice drumming there bubba!

Wow! Amazing Anthony! Some twisting configurations there keeping the hat going and going with the right hand and to that splash with the left hand. Incredible playing.

[SpecialAnthony]

Hahah! Thanks guys. Man I love the energy of that version- still amazes me what Stewart would (and could) do! That damn cross arm hat/splash thing could be easily remedied with simply adding another splash to my left, but I tend to find the difficult way to do things!