dan the soundman
Tiger Talk Trainee
Reged: Dec 04 2004
Posts: 6
Loc: OHIO
|
|
If anyone knows of a link or has info regarding where Drums are made, I would appreciate the info. I am really reffering to the lower lines from the major companies: Yes, we know that Sonor is German, but where are the cheaper series made? I know that the force customs were made in China. And Pearl is a Tawain Company, but where are the Exports and other cheaper lines made? And Yamaha is Japan, but a friend's stage customs were made in Indonesia. Ludwig is USA, but where are the accent series made? DW is USA as well, but where are the pacific drums made? Gretsch is USA, but what about the black hawk series or the Catilina series?
I have been searching the internet and haven't been able to find this info. Any help would be greatly appreciatted. Thanks in advance!
|
Foursticks
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 19 2003
Posts: 1015
Loc: California
|
|
I can't answer all of your questions, but I know of a source that probably can. Modern Drummer magazine occasionally does an in-depth article on a particular drum manufacturer, and every month they do product reviews. If you read these articles regularly, you can find out stuff like:
"Mapex drums are made by KHS, one of the world's largest manufacturers of musical instruments. The KHS factory is located in Tianjin, in the northern part of Mainland China." MD, Feb. 2004
"GMS is one of the best known of the small, 'custom' drum manufacturers. Their Long Island, New York operation has been turning out high-quality drums with innovative features for quite a few years now." MD, Dec. 2003
"The hardware that was supplied with our review kit was from Yamaha's double-braced series, which is manufactured and plated in Yamaha's Indonesian motorcycle facility." MD, Oct. 2003
"Made at the company's facility in Ensenada, Mexico, (Pacific) MX drums feature a hand-applied matte finish available in Deep Red and Sea Blue colors." MD, Dec. 2004
I could go on, but I think you get the picture. MD is an invaluable resource for drummers, for a variety of reasons, and this is just one of them. I highly recommend a subscription if you don't already have one. In the meantime, maybe someone else here can answer some of your other questions. Good luck.
|
dan the soundman
Tiger Talk Trainee
Reged: Dec 04 2004
Posts: 6
Loc: OHIO
|
|
Thank you for your reply, much appreciatted!
|
funkygeeek
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 108
Loc: Indiana
|
|
Actually, Pearl is a Japanese company. My old MLX's say "Made in Japan".
Many of the less expensive lines are being produced in China. Tama (another Japanese company)actually built a new factory in China to produce the new line of Superstars (which are replacing the Rockstars).
|
Stuart
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jun 22 2004
Posts: 838
Loc: Australia
|
|
Pearl's Japanese company, but a lot (most) of the drums are made in China (in Guandong province near Hong Kong) Yamaha is japanese but also with a major factory in China (purpose built by them with all high tech automated production)
The nationality of the name (Gretsch, Yamaha, Premier, anybody) is no indication of where they are made. It's not just low end kits made there either. They make high end gear under the supervision of, and using machinery, processes and training brought from Japan/Germany/where ever. China just has cheap labour and not much regulation over business making a cheaper place to make drums.
There are also companies in China and Taiwan that just job shop drums, ie they make for anybody, any brand, for the price there are told to make them for. (think all those house brands Typhoon etc.. the real cheap stuff)
|
TS
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jan 25 2006
Posts: 364
Loc: Vermont
|
|
Made in China used to be questionable. But now given the superb quality of Mapex drums (for one) they obviously have superb craftsmen, materials and machinery.
Now, drums are more of a personal taste, that super difference in quality-at least among intermediate and high end kits.
I can't really say right now that Sonor or DW is superior to Mapex Orion or vice-versa. Ear tests tell me that Yamaha maple really projects, probably better than pearl masters. But there are so many variables. In fact, some intermediates like mapex pro-m and sonor force 3005 sound so good you will ask- why spend more? And to my ears, the lower-cost mapex saturn sounds warmer and more musical than the more expensive orion does. (but they don't project as well IMO.)
Bottom line is that quality overall in this day an age is excellent-regardless of pedigree or origin. Even yamahas Indonesian made Stage customs are killer for the money.
|
funkygeeek
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 108
Loc: Indiana
|
|
I agree, I certainly am not saying that inferior quality drums are produced in China. Also, I agree with TS's observation regarding the quality of kits such as Mapex Pro M and Saturn.
Modern Drummer ran an article on Tama drums several months ago and there was an extra piece about Superstars being made in China as opposed to Japan. More to the point, reviews of the Superstars (so far) tend to imply that these drums are much better than the Rockstars they replace (I have no hands on experience myself)
|
TS
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jan 25 2006
Posts: 364
Loc: Vermont
|
|
I'd have to say the new superstars are louder and punchier than the old rockstars. It could be the wood used, or the design. But side by side, IMO the superstars are better.
|
roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1650
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
|
|
To the best of my knowledge the Asian Sonors are made in the same facility as the Mapex drums.
The Accents are made in Mainland China.
Pacifics are made in Mexico.
The Asian Gretsch are made by Taye to Gretsch specs.
I can of course be corrected. It's just what has been told to me at this time by distributor reps in this neck of the woods.
Edited by roger strange (Sat Oct 06 2007 02:29 PM)
|
Copyright
© 1998-2006 by TigerMix.com,
Inc.
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
