Mapex Birch

[Irish614]

Went to a local music shop here in my area and saw this sweet ass looking Orange stained kit, I was asking the guy about it like what kind of kit it was ( it was stacked) and he told me it was a mapex birch comes with hardware, and an additional tom for $800. My current drumset is a Peal Export that I've had for 7 years. I have been told that birch will produce good lows as well as strong highs with medium mids. Has anyone ever played on these birch kits? Or more importantly is the current kit I have now better than the one that looks awesome? My only beef with the extra tom is I wouldn't need it I use either a 4 piece or a 5 piece with 2 floor toms and one rack. Any input would be greatly appreciated

[serverunion]

Birch is great. Good for recording, and loud with attack for live. I have always had way more toms than I ever setup. Really nice when you hit the studio as you have multiple tom setups that you can test out.

I would think the set would be a step up from what you have. Good luck

[brandondrury]

My only beef with the extra tom is I wouldn't need it

Don't use it then. Extra toms are more to buy, more to carry, and almost never benefit the music. Most importantly, the more toms you have close mic'd, the worse the recording. I once recorded a drummer who had 6 toms. He barely used any of them, but I had 6 mics in close proximity ringing and adding bleed.

I've had best luck with drummers who use 2 toms. Those recordings almost always come out sounding the biggest.

Brandon

[serverunion]

True that. Some of my best drum sounds have been live tracks were I only used one mic for my 2 rack toms.

[Irish614]

Yea that's what I'm saying about the tom's. I'll see if instead of the extra tom or w.e if I can talk him into throwing in a different snare or w/e for a cheaper $ bc its included with the kit or whatever. I'll have him set it up so I can bang on it a bit before I turn over any greenbacks. I just don't want to buy this kit then find a sweeter one or that I could have put that $ towards a custom kit.

[.tom]

u could use gates. also, discuss with the drummer whether any of the tom work can be condensed to small combos. explain the reason. if only 2 toms are used for a song, mute the remaining channels in the post. no need to change the kit, just change the approach when studio drumming. hey, sometimes ya gotta have em all and when that's the sitch just gate and dial those oheds for tom power. i'd be happy to discuss drum gating in another thread -i think it's that complex and deserves discussion.

the mapex m-birch kit is going to out perform the export poplar wood kit by a noticable amount. especially the kik.

[brandondrury]

u could use gates.

I do from time to time. However, the kind of guy who uses 6 toms (for DIPSHIT reasons and not because his music actually called for it) is also the kind of guy that can't balance his kit. Of course, this makes using a gate on a tom track nearly impossible.

discuss with the drummer whether any of the tom work can be condensed to small combos.

This is a pretty much ingrained into my "big talk" I have with a drummer before each recording.

if only 2 toms are used for a song, mute the remaining channels in the post.

That's the super simple answer and it can be a good one. However, I find that it effects my mic selection and other resources. For example, on Mr. Six Toms For No Reason I had to use 57s to cover them all. 57s aren't terrible on toms, but not my favorite. I would much rather use my Oktava MK012s (which I only have 3 of now). On this particular session I was tracking electric guitar that called for the SM57 (I wanted more fizz in this particular guitar than I usually go for).

In the end, I ALWAYS want to give the drummer what he/she needs to make the best music possible. However, some people are too ignorant to understand that they are hijacking the whole recording. (Do I sound bitter? )

i'd be happy to discuss drum gating in another thread -i think it's that complex and deserves discussion.

Okay, let's do it. Complex Drum Gating

Brandon

[Irish614]

Originally Posted by .tom

u could use gates. also, discuss with the drummer whether any of the tom work can be condensed to small combos. explain the reason. if only 2 toms are used for a song, mute the remaining channels in the post. no need to change the kit, just change the approach when studio drumming. hey, sometimes ya gotta have em all and when that's the sitch just gate and dial those oheds for tom power. i'd be happy to discuss drum gating in another thread -i think it's that complex and deserves discussion.

the mapex m-birch kit is going to out perform the export poplar wood kit by a noticable amount. especially the kik.

sweet man, i'm def. thinking about getting this kit now. I've heard a lot of good reviews about them so I think they are worth a shot.

[.tom]

ya, i've got a mapex kit that i like.

Originally Posted by brandondrury

I do from time to time. However, the kind of guy who uses 6 toms (for DIPSHIT reasons and not because his music actually called for it) is also the kind of guy that can't balance his kit. Of course, this makes using a gate on a tom track nearly impossible.


This is a pretty much ingrained into my "big talk" I have with a drummer before each recording.


That's the super simple answer and it can be a good one. However, I find that it effects my mic selection and other resources. For example, on Mr. Six Toms For No Reason I had to use 57s to cover them all. 57s aren't terrible on toms, but not my favorite. I would much rather use my Oktava MK012s (which I only have 3 of now). On this particular session I was tracking electric guitar that called for the SM57 (I wanted more fizz in this particular guitar than I usually go for).

In the end, I ALWAYS want to give the drummer what he/she needs to make the best music possible. However, some people are too ignorant to understand that they are hijacking the whole recording. (Do I sound bitter? )


Brandon

ya, that's tuff when the equipment gets hijacked as you say. egos...

[brandondrury]

It's not the equipment that gets hijacked. It's the entire recording! ha ha

Yeah, I'm not sure if it's an ego or lack of ego. It's whatever "compensating for tiny penis" falls under.