Ok all...... input please. Birch or Maple or ???? - Page 1

I thought this would be kind of neat to see what all of you other drummers have to say about this subject, which seems to be a huge controversy lately. I have used maple sets for years and I love the projection and attack it provides. I just purchased a new Tama with birch shells and immediately noticed that the low end is kinda weak and the top end is very narrow. It's almost as though the birch is pre-EQ'ed. Is it true that most drummers use maple sets to record with and birch to play live with? What do you prefer? Maple? Birch? Oak? Ash? Beech? Let's have some fun here and don't be shy. Put in your 2 cents!!! It's all for fun!! I'm really curious as to what the rest of you think is the better wood!!!! I'm still asking myself this question. Thanks for taking the time to read this and hopefully we'll get alot of different takes on this subject. Cool

Mmmm Birch or maple?? Chocolate or strawberry, everyone has different tastes. I bought a Pearl Birch kit in 1989, at the time i couldnt afford the more expensive maple. As far as i have read, maple gives a more open, ringing, longer tone, birch gives a more direct and immeadiate tone. With the different drum heads these days, i dont think there is that great a difference between the two, ie put heavier heads on maple and it will cut the tone, put light heads on birch and you will get a longer tone. With studio/live miking techniques, an average audience member wouldnt know what your kit was made of. I think tuning and so on has as much bearing as the material the shells are made of. Still, i wish i had a maple kit, as they are traditionaly regarded as a better shell, although your ears and not your wallet should be the judge.