Mapex Marching Drums

[The Dreaming Tree]

Hey there, guys. I'm currently in talks with one of my old band directors and he wants to buy new drums for the school, and keeps pushing the Mapex's. Anyone had any experience with them?

Thanks.

[AJH123]

Teal Sound, Jersery Surf, and The Academy use Mapex, according to their website.
http://www.jupitermusic.com/quantum/index.aspx

If they are in your price range, I would say check them out.

[Jazzycat1]

I think a couple of our regulars here have experience with them but I can't remember which ones. I know they are less expensive than the big three brands.

[ChiaPet]

Mapex is basically the Big 3.

They all use features from Pearl, Yamaha and Dynasty.

IMO the drums are "alright" but I never really liked them due to the fact that they took a huge bite out of the Big 3's designs.

They are however cheaper than Dynasty.

But the tenors are crap. Watch some Academy's videos from this year. YOU CAN barely hear the tenors.

[Mr. Intensity]

Mapex is basically the Big 3.

They all use features from Pearl, Yamaha and Dynasty.

IMO the drums are "alright" but I never really liked them due to the fact that they took a huge bite out of the Big 3's designs.

They are however cheaper than Dynasty.

But the tenors are crap. Watch some Academy's videos from this year. YOU CAN barely hear the tenors.

The tenors aren't crap, they just weren't tuned to sound good.

Chia's right, the Mapex drums are essentially Pearl, Yamaha, and Dynasty all combined into one package.

They, like Pearl and Dynasty, use a Maple shell instead of a birch shell like Yamaha does on their regular drums (DCI drums are another story). They also use both Dynasty's mounting system and XL's mounting system for all of the drums. The strainer is from Dynasty, the hoops and FF collar are from Pearl, and the struts along the drum are based on Yamaha's design.

All comparisons aside, they are very good drums and they are very reasonably priced. Would I ever buy one myself? Probably not, but that's solely on the fact that I have never used Mapex in any way. There's no real reason for why, I just have never used them.

Mapex is trying to break into the marching market and they have successfully done so. Several World and Open Class drum corps are currently using their drums as well as many H.S's and colleges. Heck, the college I go to even uses them.

Granted, the Mapex line of drums is new, so they haven't had the time like the Big 3 has had to adequately field test their stuff, but given some time I think they will have their fair share of the market.

[ChiaPet]

Why you always gotta post something so sophisticated after I post?

You make me seem so....bland.:(

[Mr. Intensity]

Why you always gotta post something so sophisticated after I post?

You make me seem so....bland.:(

Because I'm a One Upper....hahaha.

[PureRockFury]

Not to be picky or anything but they use a maple and walnut mixed wood shell. Actually its the exact same shell as the Saturns use. Super thin walnut/maple shell. That Saturn shell is one of the most versatile shells on the market. It has a wider tuning range than most kits out there, if not all of them.

I'm a HUGE Yamaha fan as well as marched in a Yamaha sponsored drum corps, but there is something special about that Saturn shell.

[Mr. Intensity]

Not to be picky or anything but they use a maple and walnut mixed wood shell. Actually its the exact same shell as the Saturns use. Super thin walnut/maple shell. That Saturn shell is one of the most versatile shells on the market. It has a wider tuning range than most kits out there, if not all of them.

I'm a HUGE Yamaha fan as well as marched in a Yamaha sponsored drum corps, but there is something special about that Saturn shell.

PRF, it's okay to be picky here, I actually didn't know that bit of info.

Yes, I'm a huge fan of Yamaha as well, and you're right, those Saturn shells are quite nice.

[Jazzycat1]

It's always interested me that Tama never seriously entered the marching percussion realm. They truly make some of the best drums in the world.

[Mr. Intensity]

It's always interested me that Tama never seriously entered the marching percussion realm. They truly make some of the best drums in the world.

I think there was actually talk of Tama entering the world of marching percussion a few years ago but they were never able to get the support that they needed to push the project off the ground. I think Mapex got lucky because they partnered with Jupiter Horns and Majestic MP and were able to form a "superbrand" so to speak.

[Dynastydrummer95]

I tested a Majestic Marching Snare(european Version of the Mapex Snare) with a Evans Batter Head and it sounds not bad, but also not very good.

[Mr. Intensity]

I tested a Majestic Marching Snare(european Version of the Mapex Snare) with a Evans Batter Head and it sounds not bad, but also not very good.

That's because it's Majestic...Majestic is....subpar equipment. The actual Mapex drums are quite good.

[The Dreaming Tree]

Thanks a lot guys. I convinced him to go Pearl (I've had a lot more experience with Pearl, and it's a completely untouched brand in Vegas), but the district turned it down. "Budget cuts, lack of funding, blah blah blah..." was the answer. Regardless of the fact that the line raised almost $5,000 for the new drums. So, we are stuck with our fugly white Yamahas.

Thanks anyways, though. Maybe next year.

[Mr. Intensity]

Thanks a lot guys. I convinced him to go Pearl (I've had a lot more experience with Pearl, and it's a completely untouched brand in Vegas), but the district turned it down. "Budget cuts, lack of funding, blah blah blah..." was the answer. Regardless of the fact that the line raised almost $5,000 for the new drums. So, we are stuck with our fugly white Yamahas.

Thanks anyways, though. Maybe next year.

Ouch, tough luck man. Maybe you could set that money aside to try again next year, maybe budget some of it to fix up the drums you have. You could always get some contact paper and just cover the wrap on the drum. Contact paper is removable and it won't damage the wrap on the drums now, so you could use it as a temporary change tll you can get your new drums.

If you can't do that, save up as much money as you can and once you get a break you could get a brand new set of drums and harnesses. They're always a small upside to things, you just gotta find the silver lining in the end.

[The Dreaming Tree]

Ha. Contact paper. That makes me laugh. We're not that sophisticated... we wallpapered our drums in '05. :D

[vicfirthrules10]

lol. yeah the cost of a new drumline is quite high. our drumline we got was 4 snares, 3 tenors (2 spocks), 5 basses, cases for all, stands, and carriers were about $15,000. the drums are the finish of the drum to the left of my post. that has been the drum i've played on for 2 years. we were the first drumline to get that finish from yamaha. it was custom ordered. then they added it to their selection for anyone. lol.