I have a downbeat and a club date tuned as close to the same as I can get em. They sound pretty much spot on to me but the Club Date is a little better sounding in my opinion. I am not sure if it is one line of drums versus the other or that the edges on my Club Date are in a little bit better shape. They both sound really good to me though. I do dig the look of the Club Date and the single style lugs.
Do you have the same heads on each set? Just curious!
Curtis
Physics says the less hardware the more resonance. But it also says that more lugs=better tuning. I honestly love the club date look. My 2 cents is if your playing 12/14/20 then do club dates. If your going to do a 13/16/22or24 then do the super classics. But really, buy a Ludwig 3ply set and you'll be happy!-Beau
Beau, Now thats what iam thinking to less hardware on the drums the better..I like both looks when it comes to lugs on the drums.But i like the "club date" style of lugs in the studio less lug noise to deal with.Also to me the drums tune the same way.I have put to two sets together next to each other in the studio same size same heads they sound alike...Mikey
What a great discussion! When my dad and I were shopping around for my first drum set in 1957, we looked through all the catalogs and did as much research as possible in those days. My dad (94 years young today) is a jazz lover and record collector and saw many of the top jazz drummers of the day. We decided on the double lug Slingerland Gene Krupa outfit. The reasons were:
1. None of the "biggies" offered a pearl finish with the single lug drums...polished lacquer only.
2. None of the pros were playing singles
3. None of the pros endorsed the singles
4. The catalogs had names for the singles and doubles: Ludwig was "Super Classic Professional" for the doubles and "Deluxe Club Date" for the singles. Slingerland referred to the singles as "student models". Gretsch called their singles "semi-pro" outfits.
5.The price difference was only about $10.00 per drum
It was a no brainer for us. Many years later I bought a set of Rogers singles ( not sure of the model or date) in cheap looking gold sparkle original wrap for $100.00 (20/12/14)to keep at a session studio. They were ok for jam sessions, but never considered them as "serious players". I tried different heads and tunings but they never felt or sounded right to me.
I prefer two or double row lugs, they just look better IMO. Check out this George Way bass drum. Because of the size of the lug the tension rods had to be extremely long and as a result most were bent when I got this drum!
[IMG]http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x246/dolfan54/George%20Way/IMG_1592.jpg[/IMG]
And a top view of a George Way with double rows.
[IMG]http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x246/dolfan54/George%20Way/IMG_1989.jpg[/IMG]
