My new Starclassic Maples

[MitchLyons]

I’m sure some of y’all know that I’ve been searching for my perfect kit for over a month now, and these fell right into my lap. Got a steal of a deal, about 40% off retail. Gonna eventually expand and get another kick and some more toms and build a shell bank so I can rent them out for studio sessions. Funny enough, this is the first brand new kit I’ve bought since I started playing 10 years ago, I bought a Vision series kit when I was 14. Time sure does fly by.

In the meantime, I picked up the 10/12/16/22 shell pack and ordered the 13 separately, turns out I ended up ordering the 13” tom with smoked black nickel hardware, not the standard black nickel, so I’m gonna switch the hardware on that drum out at some point. Tama has been pretty much radio silent since the Covid mess started and I got quoted 6-8 months on a 13 tom with the correct hardware. I’d rather just stick with what I have, especially since nobody is gonna be gigging any time soon. If anyone knows a dealer that won’t overcharge me for the black nickel 13” hardware, I’d be all ears. There’s some other things I’ll be changing soon too, I’m gonna grab a couple more cymbals and of course rehead with Remos.

This is my first time ever setting up with 2 rack toms and I love it already. Gotta do some adjusting and refining but honestly surprised at how comfortable the initial setup was. I also have to say, these drums sound absolutely amazing. I have a Starclassic B/B in Texas that lives with one of my bands, so I wanted something different and I’m not disappointed at all in how these are sounding. The heads are the Tama G2’s over G1’s and the 12 was giving me some trouble, the rest tuned up really nicely. They sound super fat and project really well too. When playing the toms, they seem to have a laser effect that projects out as soon as you hit them, it makes for a really interesting approach to the kit, but I am already in love with these and don’t see myself parting with them any time soon.

The finish is called Emerald Pacific Walnut Burst and the workmanship on these drums is outstanding. My best friend came with me tonight to help get them unboxed and set up and he said that he’s never handled a kit that was so sturdy and functional, the same goes for me. I had an older generation Starclassic B/B in rock sizes and they were awesome, Tama definitely stepped it up with this latest generation though. Plus the badges are the painted ones, which I love.

Enough talk, here are the specs and a couple quick pics from the studio. I’ll be taking more tomorrow but I had to snap a few quickies this evening.

10x7 (not pictured)
12x8
13x9
16x16
22x16

Snare is my 14x6.5 Udrum Bell Brass, 5mm with diecast hoops, all brass hardware.

14” HHX Groove Hats
20” A Custom Crash
22” Paiste Signature Bell Ride, the Powerslave
21” A Brilliant Sweet Ride
19” AAXtreme China

All DW 9000 hardware other than the 5000 hihat stand and the Speedcobra double pedals

[Pearlnpaisteguy]

Congratulations on Finding that Tama Kit. I really Like the finish on those. Cheers!

[Eric]

Beautiful kit. Congratulations.

[RushDrums24]

Lovely kit indeed, sounds like you got it for a steal too!

[keaton_86]

Damn that's nice. Congrats.

[TMdrums]

Beautiful looking Tama's! Congrats and enjoy!

[Jutt8]

SO GORGEOUS! You gotta love Starclassic Maple!

[Drumming-4-Life]

What a nice surprise, and a beautiful finish. I think you'd be better off trying to switch the hardware, on the 13, yourself. Since that drum looks so nice, and matches the rest of the drums so well, I wouldn't risk getting a different drum that might not have as nice of a grain, or might not match as well.

Congratulations, and enjoy them forever!

[Snakes&Arrows]

Nice score Mitch! I love the color!

[JY Kelly]

Congrats Mitch! Gorgeous drums. And in my favorite set-up as well!...

[MitchLyons]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! Really excited about this kit. Gonna go back to the studio today and try to get some audio clips with mics on them. Been communicating with Matt about how to go about fixing this hardware predicament, he had some really good ideas. I’m just happy to have finally found a kit that checks all my boxes, I was being pretty picky, but with spending as much as I did, I felt like I needed to be and I’m glad I was. More pics coming later!

[JY Kelly]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! Really excited about this kit. Gonna go back to the studio today and try to get some audio clips with mics on them. Been communicating with Matt about how to go about fixing this hardware predicament, he had some really good ideas. I’m just happy to have finally found a kit that checks all my boxes, I was being pretty picky, but with spending as much as I did, I felt like I needed to be and I’m glad I was. More pics coming later!

Well you have it set up perfectly for that second kick.