[resonut]

This is definitely a subject over a beer. Ive owned two birch kits...one being a Premier Genista and the other a Yamaha recording custom kit. The Genista had a KILLER 18x22'' bass drum and 10''tom, the yamahas were built differently. Due to the bearing edges on the Yamaha that set was dead sounding, brittle, no length to the tone, little low end. The 12 and 16 on the Genista were hopeless. Ive not had good luck with birch. (Generally) speaking birch is more contained, focused. Maple is somewhat boomier, wet sounding, loud drums.

I dont know why but ive always been disappointed in DW drums. Ya know something?....whatever it is dont even ask, let your ears decide. Ive got this Yamaha CD with all of their different drums and the birch toms just KILL!! but the bass drum is hopeless. The Maple bass drum sounded great! on this CD. You sound like youve got a very keen ear, you DEFINITELY need to hear a kit befor buying.