If I am not mistaken Sonor went to 45 degree edges by the 70's so I believe that would in itself give you more attack vs. a rounded edge of a 60's kit.

Haven`t played the drop kick yet but to me, nothing better than a early Phonic BD. They are super easy to dampen, even the slightest. No pillows or other junk inside.

I haven't played a phonic yet, but I enjoy my teardrop 20". The internal muffler felt rusted out, so I put 2 felt strips horizontally, one high, one low- works for me. But that's not at all to disparage phonics- maybe they sound better. In fact I think my next set of Sonors I'm going to buy will be phonics. I love the high tech finish too.

My tear drop kit(2 badge western germany), which I took to be older has 45 degree edges.

My 24" drop kick(single badge west germany), which I took to be younger, has a rounded 60's edge.

Edges can be recut.

So my question is the same, edges not with standing. I'm just wondering how much difference 3 plies on the kicks would make. If they still would sound like a matched kit, then all is good.

My 20" kick is 6 ply(same as the kit) but I'd never use that with a 24" kick.

I don't think teardrops and Phonics would make a good match. Having said that, I only talk from personal experience, comparing my 3 ply app. 1958 teardrop kit (20, 13, 16) with either of my 3 Phonic kits (one bop kit, one 20, 13, 16, and one 22, 13, 14, 16). Heads on compared drums would be Ambassador coated, no port on front head. Where the superthin teardrop bass drum produces a very low, delightfully fluffy, rounded sound, the extremely thick and heavy Phonic bass drums have a correspondingly higher more focused clearer tone.

I have no experience at all of the 6 ply teardrops, so don't really know how thin or thick these shells are. But Phonics are very heavy, and thus the opposite of the 3 ply teardrops.

/Magnus

They are totally different animals.

I am under the same impression as the last two posts, I figure it`s like hit`n a bucket empty and the same bucket filled with water.

How about a Super Champion shell? As I understand it, they had same 6 ply shell and edges that the Teardrops had.

Nah, that would be the Champion series, they were six ply rounded edges.

The Super Champion was nine ply 45 edges and after trim changes, it became Phonic series.

So a Champion kick could sound close to a late model drop kit.