Most Underrated Drum Company?

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Originally Posted by korch

I think the Blotz used to play TAMA. At least he did when the EP and their first album came out. I have video of him playing a red Tama with ebony resos. Maybe I'm wrong.... it's been 22 years or so, so cut me some slack if I am. :)

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he may have, but i know of him to play Ludwig.

i'm gonna go with Ludwig. their entry level drumsets sound amazing. my middle school had one and it was the first drumset i ever played, so i guess i started out not really knowing how good it sounded till i went back a couple years ago and played on it. i was really impressed.

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Originally Posted by MIND_DRUMMER

:rolleyes:

Udrum does their own shell, same as Luka percussion, joshua tree percussion, monolith drums, Odery, lignum drums, FVF and many more. Even some use Eames or highwood shell...

Not ALL custom drum companies use keller. Get your facts right before posting. You should have used the term "most" custom drums companies use keller...

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yay, rep! don't forget Tempus, they make their own shells in-house, and phattie is making some of their own shells in their video. not all "keller" builders are created equal.

Check out Modern Drummer w/ John Riley of Rascal Flatts playing Ludwig....still great drums, but Im biased...http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../ludwig021.jpg

Taye, Mapex and RMV get my vote for various reasons..even though Mapex has been climbing the popularity ladder pretty fast recently.

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Originally Posted by drummaman1975

yay, rep! don't forget Tempus, they make their own shells in-house, and phattie is making some of their own shells in their video. not all "keller" builders are created equal.

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Thank's ! I forgot Tempus just as Fibes :)

RMV, Premier, GMS, Pork Pie... all have ridiculous sounding pro lines.

I'm gonna toss another old name into the ring: Slingerland!

After years of non-existence, years of sub-par production, they finally seem to have gotten their act back together, and are producing some good looking and sounding kits.

My second vote would be to Gretsch.....

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Originally Posted by thismercifulfate

Richy Castillero Drums from Cuba! They make very high-quality drums which cost less than the big names (i.e. Pearl, Yamaha) and sound just as good, if not better. For instance my RC Mahagony Series III kit cost about $600 with hardware and no cymbals, and I chose it over a Yamaha Stage Custom and a Pearl Export, which both cost around $1000 (remember I live in Guatemala). And what did I get for my $190? 7-plies of Maple with die-cast hoops, 10 tube lugs and a beautiful bordeaux red stain laquer finish. See for yourselves:

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Very Cool!! Somehow that set looks like it's from Cuba. I like it! Much class right there.

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Originally Posted by steviethunders

I remember when I started I thought Mapex was horrible because of their logo. But I was 13!

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That is funny because my first impression of Mapex with their logo was not good either. I thought Gregg Bissonette was getting paid a lot of money to play this no-name brand.

Now I understand their shells are some of the best out there. I would have considered buying Mapex but they had 3 strikes:
1) I still don't like the logo
2) I wanted high end Birch and I couldn't find that Mapex made one
3) I didn't like any of the finishes they offer (boring solid blue fits me)

First impressions don't mean anything with any given company. Judging a lower class kit to sound better than a high class kit is a little rediculous. It's not entirely impossible, but tuning, head selection...All make a factor in the sound.

I'd say gretsch doesn't get enough attention. I've tried several of their kits, all sounded similiar, and great. And mid-lower end tama's aren't horrible.

And Mapex is vastly underated too.