as i look on page 5 of the 1980 cat i see your set if it is in close to this shape and the price is right cool,the black stuff is most likely mold very tough to get rid of, in the 1980's this was a high quality set for the era priced right its a good buy any decent paiste or zildjian's are bonus as are the cases ...for the money a vintage set would sound warmer, it would be hard to find a complete 3ply octaplus so this being 6 ply and no rerings is not a bad kit good luck real pics would help to evaluate restoration ,to restore it to look like in the cat it could be a very big expense ....

Top of the line drums in 1980. Single headed drums have been out of style for about 25 years now. They're better suited to either that gated Phil Collins sound, or the dead 70's shoebox sound. I used to have a Tama octopus. Cool looking and right for the time. But no longer practical. I let them go a few years ago for about $450. Fun for the time but I don't miss them. For studio work, you're better off with a smaller kit with double heads. Drummers today don't want to play 12 drums with their legs doing full splits and reaching behind their left shoulder to play the hi-hat. Drumming has become far more ergonomic since the octoplus was debuted in 1974 or so.

On the mark DaSwans...

I'd consider a six piece a large kit by today's standards. Any competent drummer would be able to do all of what you mentioned with it. Since you run the musical gamut, you might consider two kits. A smaller one for jazz, country ballads, etc... and larger for rock and metal.

Since you're serious about this, you should also consider a number of different sizes and types of cymbals as well. A good cymbal arsenal will go a long way to fill gaps in production.

Same thing with heads, different heads will give differing tones on the drums.

IMHO: while the big kit you've looked at might be impressive on stage, who cares in the studio. Concert toms don't have the range of 'sound' available from double sided drums. Unless you want to drill and ruin the originality of the kit, you're stuck with what it can do 'soundwise'. I would get drums with reso heads... if the thumpy sound is required for a piece, remove the bottom heads and rims for the song.

That's my :2Cents: anyway.

Spoken like a non athletic, do less type welfare drummer !!

Combineing the sharp sound, and quick responsiveness of a tom with the bowy wow overtones of a tom tom without computerized compressors fine tunning for ya is for the hard working drummer !!

Yup,..they don`t make us like they used to !!

It`s not the difference between automatic transmission and standard,...it`s the difference between well groomed and breaking a sweat !!

Implying that concert toms have a single sound range to adhere to is linning up to get your own doors blown off !!

Let's not forget lazy and too cool to tune the kit themselves. Concert toms are making a comeback. Buy a key, clean the wax out of your ears and tune the drum. My 2 cents

First off I would like to thank everyone for being so straightforward and helpful. This whole situation and process has been kind of stressful for more than a few reasons. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience with me.

After reading your replies and researching some more, it has become obvious to me that concert drums just won't do. I knew there was a reason I could never remember placing mics on any concert drums and now I know why! I did a lot of searching and reading yesterday and today I have learned more about drums in the last few days than I have in the past decade.

My first criteria is what I do for my music. One of my greatest passions is hard rock and heavy music and I really need 2 Bass drums and at least 5 or 6 toms to create what I like. I have NOTHING right now so I need everything. Well I have a couple of pair of sticks but nothing else. :)

In the past I have stripped down larger sets when I did something like blues or old school country or had someone else come and do something they were interested in, and the way I look at it is I can always remove drums from a larger setup and I can't add to a smaller setup if I don't have them on hand.

I do understand that most drummers won't be comfortable behind a large kit, and just want to have enough on hand when I need it. I really prefer two different pitches/tones for double kicks in my heavy music.

I am starting to wonder if I won't be getting a smaller kit and trying to add to it because I am just not seeing many large kits out there, and most of it is Pearl Export and Tama Rockstar and I really want something of higher quality than that.

I am also starting to wonder if I have created another aspect of Gear Acquisition Syndrome. I have about 25 guitars, 15 Amp, 10 Cabinets, a couple of hundred effects pedals, racks full of processors and that isn't even talking about mics and keyboard modules and the rest!

I don't think I have any business trying to add the hardware ot the Octaplus toms, that is just out of my experience and expertise.

I had already decided last week that by the end of the year or so I was going to end up with 3 or 4 additional snares, 3 or 4 sets of hats and some more cymbals to whatever I buy. For now, I would like to get at least 2 bass drums, a snare, at least 5 toms and would like to get 2 sets of hats too.

Thanks so much for the replies. If you have any more feedback or opinions I am certainly willing to listen.

Oh yeah, what's the difference between 3 ply and 6 ply?

Now you're starting to think like a drummer... heh heh heh

Yeah, it is catching.

Three ply drums give you a vintage sound... listen to well recorded drums from the 60's and very early 70's. Six ply is a heavier, more 'rocky' sound. Better suited to your rock and metal preferences.

Multiple snares also gives you a wider range, depending on the mood of the tune.

Different sized bass drums is good as well. Combine them for a bigger kit, strip drums off for a lessor. The same with cymbals.

I use various kits for whatever I happen to be playing, and where. All the way from a jazz sized kit (18, 12, 14, 14) to a larger do it all kit (20, 12, 16, 16) or (22, 13, 16, 16) and finally my largest (24, 14, 16, 18). These are all tom and bass sizes of course. I have a number of snares, metal and wood, that I choose depending on the type of music and venue.

In the studio I mix and match like an old quilt.

You've got the idea, go for it!

mrmega,...

This is Kieth recording "Who Are You" He has tom toms inside and for a loud fast roll, wich he does a few times in this song,...he has C-toms outside.

Can ya get more hard rock than this guy ??

Now with heavy metal/thrash, wich is what I played alot of,...I found that tom toms would ring together with each hit so much it sounds like one big rumbleing. The fix was smaller 6/8/10 tom toms that crack more than resonate.

This is without mics. or compressors,..cuz you can do anything with today`s machines.

I never had problems with my kit play`n speed metal, I got four C-toms up and reso FT & BD down until I can afford to add !!

Like you I feel it better to take away from your kit than to hunt and add to a smaller kit !! Cuz you`re right,...ya can`t play what you don`t have !!