Pearl Vision VLX vs. Sonor Force 3005 (I know, another vs thread)

[VisionVLX]

So I have no local drum shops with a birch kit... and my experienced friend informes me that "birch is a *****"... soo.. I'm looking (AGAIN!) at maple kits. Of course, all the good ones start at the Sessions, but.. thought the Force 3005's looked interesting (the Export ECX's finishes look like ****.)

For emusment.. this is how my $1,000 drum fund thought process has gone thus far..Tama SC performer (credit), Tama Superstar, Vision VLX, Pacfic LE, Vision VLX, Force 3005, Vision VlX, Force 3005, Session (credit), Force 3005.... yeah, I'm awesome. :rolleyes:

[VisionVLX]

**** got edited? What the ****?!

[Son of Shub-Niggurath]

Well, I wouldn't throw out the possibility of birch drums simply because someone else told you that they don't like birch drums. You might one day sit down behind a birch kit and fall in love with how it sounds.

[VisionVLX]

Yeah, I know there is a lot of oppinion about instruments/music, but I've heard quite a few people saw that birch is horrible. Like I said, I'd go down and play some birch kits tomorrow if I could, but that just isn't an option for me. So I have to make my judgement on others oppinions and sound clips. Judging from the toms from the Vision vid, I'd say maple is better.

I'm mostly just curious to hear from some Force 3005 owners about how they like em.

[Son of Shub-Niggurath]

Well, all I know is that there are many professionals who swear by birch. I think at one point, the Yamaha Recording Custom was the most popular drum set in the world. My teacher has a BRX and it sounds amazing.

I've also played a Tama Superstar (birch/basswood) and it sounded fantastic.

But, you also can't go wrong with maple. I've played on maple drums as well, and they also sound fantastic, but I don't have enough experience to be fussy about woods.

I've heard many good things about the Force 3005. Maple shells, high-gloss finish, solid mounting system, good hardware, and they stay in tune quite well. Unfortunately, I've never gotten a chance to play one.

[AL PERCIVAL]

Yeah, I know there is a lot of oppinion about instruments/music, but I've heard quite a few people saw that birch is horrible. Like I said, I'd go down and play some birch kits tomorrow if I could, but that just isn't an option for me. So I have to make my judgement on others oppinions and sound clips. Judging from the toms from the Vision vid, I'd say maple is better.

I'm mostly just curious to hear from some Force 3005 owners about how they like em.


I wouldn't call birch horrible. It is without a doubt the most recorded drum (birch) material in modern day history. Yamaha Recording customs as an example were exclusively used in the 80's and 90's by just about every named artist and record producers.

Let your ears decide not ignorance.

[-Glenn-]

Sonor 3005 creams Visions, Sessions and anything else in that price range. The 3005 Sonor is a professional kit.

Visions are junk. They have bass wood for god sake anything with bass wood stay away from.

Vision kits are Junk. Its just Pearl making bulk kits to force sales.

There is absolutley no competition between the Vision and 3005.

Vision = Begginers kit 3005 = Pro Kit

Sonor are the best quallity drums around. No bass wood used just pure birch and maple and there quality.

[AL PERCIVAL]

Sonor 3005 creams Visions, Sessions and anything else in that price range. The 3005 Sonor is a professional kit.

Visions are junk. They have bass wood for god sake anything with bass wood stay away from.

Vision kits are Junk. Its just Pearl making bulk kits to force sales.

There is absolutley no competition between the Vision and 3005.

Vision = Begginers kit 3005 = Pro Kit

Sonor are the best quallity drums around. No bass wood used just pure birch and maple and there quality.


Interestingly enough, all other drum manufactures in a quality and price comparision grid, lump the Sonor 3005 with the following kits:

1. Gretsch Catalina Maple
2. Pacific CX and MX
3. Pearl ECX Custom
4. Yamaha Tour Custom
5. Ludwig CS Maple
6. Mapex Pro-M
7. Sonor 3005/3007

[russb66]

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Vision = Begginers kit 3005 = Pro Kit

Uh...No. Delites? Designers? Those are pro kits.

[Powershifter_Whole]

Your "experienced" friend must be a n00b just to throw out Birch like that, its personal opinion, maybe he should let people have their own. I love Birch.

[nif j nac x]

Birch is my favorite wood.. it has higher tonal characteristics and is amazing for recording.. go play a well tuned BRX or BSX kit or any ACTUAL pro level birch kit, and then come back and tell me that birch sucks...

i think if you want to buy a kit.. then maybe you should try out them.. if you cant, then buy something you can try.. its not worth dropping several hundred dollars on something you dont know you will like...

[figure_02]

I have a birch Premier Artist kit, I dont like the punchier sound, so I'll go for maple next time.

Visions arent junk, but Sonor Force 3005 is a much better kit.

[TommySalami]

Yeah, I know there is a lot of oppinion about instruments/music, but I've heard quite a few people saw that birch is horrible. Like I said, I'd go down and play some birch kits tomorrow if I could, but that just isn't an option for me. So I have to make my judgement on others oppinions and sound clips. Judging from the toms from the Vision vid, I'd say maple is better.

I'm mostly just curious to hear from some Force 3005 owners about how they like em.
Do these people you speak of play drums??? Birch kicks ***!!

Oh, and listen to Nils' sound clips of his birch kit. You will no longer not like birch

[David'2sticks'Gordon]

I believe that they are both very good. Birch is well known for having many of the qualities that drummers seek and manurfactures use in drum construction. Add to that mmaple is also very good. Neither are better just different.

Birch- Brighter, punchier with more upper and lower tones. Very good for recording due to the cleaner sound and natural EQ'd sound.

Maple- More mid range tone and also bass with less highs. This actually makes it a warmer sound of the two. Also they tend to have a more resonant full bodied tone with less initial attack.

Hope this helps.

[polarbear]

hey glenn...lighten up. chronically misinformed generalities will often come back to bite you in the a s s ...

al...man you are so polite to not just rip glenns "opinions" to shreds. raspect.

the birch and basswood combo might work very nicely. i have yet to play a vision kit myself, but for the features sizes and hardware packages, they are a very good deal. basswood is just a softer, inexpensive wood that shares some of the warmer tonalities of maple. to offset/combine this with birch, Pearl is trying to offer a friendly, excellent toned drum at a decent price.

as for the sonor 3005 - SONOR recently revamped their entire line of drums, so the sonor force line is now 1007, 2007 = birch and 3007 = maple. check out the website for all the info. www.sonor.de personally i love the new line up and the new redesigned lugs. i am favoring the 3007 maple in natural finish - but might just get a few Piano Black 2007 birch toms to combine with my 1997 Pearl Prestige Session Select kit - also in piano black. i cannot part with the kick from that kit...just wonderful.

since you are in that price range, i recommend you order a back issue from Modern Drummer that closely examined 10 " mid prices " basically 700 to 1200 US dollars, the sonor 2005 and various other kits by taye, tama, gretsch, pearl, were in there.

finally. decide this way :
1 - go with what pleases YOUR ears
2 - buy what you can afford with plans for the future
3 - do your research and compare
4 - shop around
5 - ask opinons of other owners of kits you have settled on.
6 - read line 1 again.

good luck, hit us back and JAH guide.

[VisionVLX]

Hey, I bought a six piece 3005 yesterday from massmusic. 10,12,14,16,22,and 5.5x14 in Sunburst High Gloss.

I was really interested in the Visions.. as you can see by my forum name. But I wasn't able to get my hands on a birch kit and I have already played and love maple. That coupled with the fact that the Visions wont be coming out for still over a month now, led me to the 3005's.

And on a side note, the new 3007 look hidious.. in my oppinion. The midnight fade finish looks very nice though.

[AL PERCIVAL]

hey glenn...lighten up. chronically misinformed generalities will often come back to bite you in the a s s ...

Al...man you are so polite to not just rip glenns "opinions" to shreds. raspect.



Its all cool, I just think facts speak louder than ignorance and drums will succeed and/or fail on their own merit. I think we've built a good kit in Vision. I also agree that Sonor has great drums, as I used to own a 80's signature and Phonic kit.

[sabian_HH]

Uh...No. Delites? Designers? Those are pro kits.

No no, the 3005 is very much a pro kit. when Human Nature came to town ( yes, i know, yuck...) their drummer needed a kit and looked through the local shop, and decided on a 3005, above many masters, reference, delite and many other quality kits.
i'm not saying it's better, but it's definately a pro level kit.

i have a 3005, and really, they are amazing kits, the 400 series hardware is amazing, the snare is incredibly versatile, it's poppy/cracky, and yet with the right tuning can be soft and jazzy. the toms are beautiful and resonant and the rock/fusion package = the sex! the bass is big and resonant, and yet can even sound punchy with the stock remo heads. finishes are beautiful, and the mounts are perfectly stable, they have never even moved a milimeter.

here's mine:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n285/sabian_HH/100_0636.jpg

[Mastodon91]

I've actually played the 3005 at shows on certain occasions when my band plays a certain open mic, and Lordy they sound good. They're resonant, loud, and have a hella big tuning range. I've got a Tama Superstar that's punchy, deep, and slightly dark. I love both kits. Hate to beat the dead horse so to speak, but it all matters on YOUR opinion of the wood. Hell, a lot of the difference in the sound of drums seems to come from just being able to tune them right.

Just get what you want, don't listen to any idiot who says birch is crap.

[ConvertedLudwigPLayer]

I have a birch Premier Artist kit, I dont like the punchier sound, so I'll go for maple next time.

Visions arent junk, but Sonor Force 3005 is a much better kit.

What heads have you tried on your Premier kit? 2 ply heads like the Aquarian Super 2, G2's, etc. will warm up the drums for you nicely.

[Damo]

No no, the 3005 is very much a pro kit. when Human Nature came to town ( yes, i know, yuck...) their drummer needed a kit and looked through the local shop, and decided on a 3005, above many masters, reference, delite and many other quality kits.
Joe would have played whatever was available for him to use, with a first preference of Sonor, due to his endorsement commitments.

Im not saying he doesnt like the 3005, its just that its more about whats available to use rather than what he'd prefer to use, especially when you are touring and not bringing your own gear with you! Some of the expensive kits in the store were probably just not available to be lent out.