Played a Vision today

[Genius Switch]

Got my first swing on a Vision today at GC. This was the VSX in Strata Blue. Gotta say overall it sounds great but there were some concerns. This kit had the 11x14 hanging floor tom which I despise. The 10 and 12 rack toms had a clean tone, but the 2 ply heads kept them a little too muted for my tastes. The birch inner ply does seem to give them improved attack and power. The kick sounded wonderful with stock heads, no pillow.

About the snare... the geniuses at GC decided to swap the stock head with a Remo coated pinstripe, maybe this was a Powerstroke head, I'm not totally sure. Regardless the snare response was diminissed and I couldn't get the sensitivty I like to hear at lower volumes. I attribute this to the poor head selection and tuning. They strainer was super smooth to operate, and I like that it can be mounted differently depending on your tastes.

I didn't get to fiddle with any of the hardware but everything looked and felt very sturdy. Great quality all around. The 1.6 mm hoops didn't seem cheap or flimsy like many are worried about. I love the new lugs, and the brass tuning inserts set them off nicely.

I don't think you could go wrong with the Vision series, but with the 2 ply heads it seems to favor the heavy hitter. I'd have to switch them out for some single ply heads. I'd also like to hear what the 16x16 floor tom does, given the extra thickness and Air Suspension feet.

Looking forward to playing the VLX and the ECX.

[AfterAfx]

Nice, I am going to GC on Saturday, Hopefully they have one on the floor.

[skywalker2]

Got my first swing on a Vision today at GC. This was the VSX in Strata Blue. Gotta say overall it sounds great but there were some concerns. This kit had the 11x14 hanging floor tom which I despise. The 10 and 12 rack toms had a clean tone, but the 2 ply heads kept them a little too muted for my tastes. The birch inner ply does seem to give them improved attack and power. The kick sounded wonderful with stock heads, no pillow.

About the snare... the geniuses at GC decided to swap the stock head with a Remo coated pinstripe, maybe this was a Powerstroke head, I'm not totally sure. Regardless the snare response was diminissed and I couldn't get the sensitivty I like to hear at lower volumes. I attribute this to the poor head selection and tuning. They strainer was super smooth to operate, and I like that it can be mounted differently depending on your tastes.

I didn't get to fiddle with any of the hardware but everything looked and felt very sturdy. Great quality all around. The 1.6 mm hoops didn't seem cheap or flimsy like many are worried about. I love the new lugs, and the brass tuning inserts set them off nicely.

I don't think you could go wrong with the Vision series, but with the 2 ply heads it seems to favor the heavy hitter. I'd have to switch them out for some single ply heads. I'd also like to hear what the 16x16 floor tom does, given the extra thickness and Air Suspension feet.

Looking forward to playing the VLX and the ECX.

thanks iron cobra! I was hoping you'd post a review soon, let us know how they compare to ecx when you get a chance to play it, and def let us know once you get a chance on a standard set up!

Did the 900 series hardware feel noticably sturdier than the old 800 series? What about the build of the drums themselves?

[Genius Switch]

The only 900 series hardware was the snare stand, hi hat stand, and kick pedal. everything else was mounted on an ICON using 1000 series stuff. I think the 800 series stands were sturdy enough, I don't see how you could notice any difference given they are both double braced.

The build of the drums themselves is excellent.

[Demfer]

I played the VLX yesterday and the sound of the 16" floor tom was my fav. Even with protone heads it sounded great. The two rack toms were tuned too tight so i couldnt really get a good feel for them they sounded meh.

[Genius Switch]

I just got back from another place that has TWO Visions - one VSX in Strata White and one VLX in Black Fade. My thoughts...

I was really looking forward to seeing the black fade in person. It's certainly a unique finish but when you get close up on the drums, you can see a noticeable horizontal ripple effect. I'm not sure if its because of the outer ply, or the type of lacquer being used, but its definetly not a smooth mirror-type high gloss and it takes away from the overall luster. I've seen this before on ELX drums, even on my old ELX, and you can't tell from more than 2 or 3 feet away, but it's something I noticed almost immediatlely.

The 900 series stands are sweet. The uni-lock tilters function just like the old version, the double braced tripods are weighty and totally sturdy. No gripes here.

The kicks on both of these kits were tremendous, I think the VSX was a 20". The snares sounded better on these than the first Vision I played at GC. The toms reminded me of my old ELX that had pinstripes.

[skywalker2]

awesome thanks ic! the difference regarding the hardware i was referring to was how the old 800 series tubing would sort of thin out right at the neck before another joint started, instead of being all the same width like tamas' roadpro and apparently the 900 series now as well.( if you compare a roadpro hi hat and a 800 series hi hat, you'll know what i mean.)

I dunno, probably doesn't feel different, but i'm a sucker for how sturdy it 'looks' too.


how did the strata white look? IF and when i do get my visions, its between this and red fade.

[Genius Switch]

how did the strata white look? IF and when i do get my visions, its between this and red fade.

Very dazzling, but still very classy. The chrome really sets it off.

After seeing black fade in person, red fade would be my first choice of the lacquer finishes. Tough choice.

[skywalker2]

awesome! I would love a lacquer, but the kit i have now is a ruby red lacquer and even though its not as nice as the red fade, it would be in the same vein, hence why getting the white would be a bit of a change.

But then there is amber fade! Oh well, i think its going to be the strata white. I would love a wrapped finish, it would be a lot less to worry about!

[everyknight]

Got them last week and gigged twice this past weekend, Fri & Sat. Had a couple drummer friends get up and play so I could here them in the PA. Very full, warm as opposed to my 80's MLX. Kick was huge and warm, well rounded (Pro-Tone head w/evans patches; Eliminator pedal, plastic beater side). Put on an EMAD off another kit, couldn't get the EMAD to stop buzzing, so I went with the ProTone. Toms: 14"- suspended - was very easy to tune and control, yet got a nice ring from it (1-Moon Gel all the way at the egde). 12" same thing. 10" ( no Gel). Couldn't get it to ring like the other two. Didn't use the snare. and added the 16" & 18" floors from my MLX-Mirror Chrome. On an ICON DR-503 rack.
Gonna send some pics........

[dis330]

I just got back from another place that has TWO Visions - one VSX in Strata White and one VLX in Black Fade. My thoughts...

I was really looking forward to seeing the black fade in person. It's certainly a unique finish but when you get close up on the drums, you can see a noticeable horizontal ripple effect. I'm not sure if its because of the outer ply, or the type of lacquer being used, but its definetly not a smooth mirror-type high gloss and it takes away from the overall luster. I've seen this before on ELX drums, even on my old ELX, and you can't tell from more than 2 or 3 feet away, but it's something I noticed almost immediatlely.

The 900 series stands are sweet. The uni-lock tilters function just like the old version, the double braced tripods are weighty and totally sturdy. No gripes here.

The kicks on both of these kits were tremendous, I think the VSX was a 20". The snares sounded better on these than the first Vision I played at GC. The toms reminded me of my old ELX that had pinstripes.

The "ripple" effect you noticed is just the lacquer. Unless the ripples are sanded out, and then the drum is buffed back to a high luster, a mirror or glass finish is not possible. This is really what dictates a quality finish. Pearl only offers this on the Masters series and higher. The only company that I'm aware of that offers this in a kit under $1000 is Tama with their Superstars.

[skywalker2]

The "ripple" effect you noticed is just the lacquer. Unless the ripples are sanded out, and then the drum is buffed back to a high luster, a mirror or glass finish is not possible. This is really what dictates a quality finish. Pearl only offers this on the Masters series and higher. The only company that I'm aware of that offers this in a kit under $1000 is Tama with their Superstars.

superstars finsishes are very nice, but pearl seems to favor brighter colors in general.

What is this rippling everyone is referring to? I saw an amber fade elx and i couldn't find this effect...

[The Dorian]

What is this "ripple"? Wood grain? That's a good thing...

[Genius Switch]

If you look at the reflected glare from the lights, you can see it.

Once again it's not noticeable from more than a foot or two away, I had to actually point it out to the salesman. I'd still buy Vision over Superstars.

[skywalker2]

ah....ok. No biggie. I just thought that was the lights reflection. Thanks ic.

[jeremiah]

Yeah, that's just the texture or "orange peel" of the clear. Anything that's sprayed is gonna have this to some degree. On more expensive kits the texture is sanded out, then the finish is buffed and polished. On lower line kits this final step is omitted and the kits are shipped "as sprayed". It's just another way of cutting costs.

[weldrum]

Hey look at it this way, Scratches won't show as readily as they would on a polished finish.