Ummmm hello.... this is a Vintage drum site my friend. Asking about a 70's Premier or Hayman kit in mint condition will probably get a response. But asking about a current mid range mass produced from the same factory fodder won't so much.

Buy what you prefer the look of. The wood types will have such little bearing on the sound. The lumber used would be cheap as possible. The shells moulded in a rush in a factory not allowing the wood to breathe or adjust. The hardware made in one of only a couple of factories that do it. At least with the Tama you've done your stand shopping for £350.

SoniClear means nothing, that's just marketing. It's just a bearing edge, and although probably done by machine will hopefully be precise. If you prefer the Matt Black finish of Mapex then you have £350 to go stand shopping with.

Both are the same.

OR do some homework, and trawl this board for information on handbuilt, aged drums that will give you a beautiful sound and complexity not achieved by any but a tiny fraction(and most expensive) of today's drum industry. Premier, Hayman, Ajax kits will fit in you pocket. I'm guessing you're Brit because you used the £ sign. Maybe even find a Ludwig Standard for under a grand.

Also 80's Tama kits are nice from that time. Oh and Sonor! Some of the best European drums ever made.

Otherwise Mike Dolbear runs a forum for people who love the kind of drums you're looking at.

Have fun.

Actually I have a Sonor Hilite for sale. All Maple from late 80's in lovely condition. No Snare though. That kit will leave those kits you mentioned for dust. PM me if you like.

Hello Ashm,

I can't speak much on the Mapex kit as I haven't owned one, but I've owned 2 newer Tama kits (a Starclassic and a Silverstar), and they were great drums- both in sound and build quality.

Sounds cliche, but I'd let my ears make the choice regardless of the wood type used. Something else to think about is buying a used, higher-end Tama or Mapex kit which might cost as much or less than a new intermediate kit. Good luck.

If the OP is around and seeing this, this is great advice.

My point is that the kits you are looking at are specifically designed and made for that market utilising same sale techniques used for shifting mid range mountain bikes. Lot of jargon and fancy paint jobs. But really the same .....

Get up the scale a bit and things start to change. You can land some great deals on older (late 80's/90's-2000's)Yamaha 9000 Rec customs, tama Starclassics, Premier Signia's etc. These drums unless bashed about haven't lost they're lustre, in fact those shells are just getting loosened up. BUT you need to start to do your homework and find out about this gear,

Pearl masters, even Remo Acousticon kits. Amazing. But you need to know what your looking at.

If you scan this thread I'm glad that you have practiced and enthused your way to aspiring to moving up to a better drum kit.

We are here to help!

In the "new Drum" scene the kits you mention are existing in no mans land until you reach the higher end. Gorgeous DW kits, Gretsch Broadcasters and USA customs, SQ2's, Ludwig Legacies, C&C's, British Drum Co's etc etc.

Amazingly you can land enormous deals of yesteryears super drums at the same price point and still be buying drums for life. No such thing as second hand (therefore pointless) in drums. MySlingerlands are from 1938 and kick any kit made since!!!!!

OR you could just buy a pretty catalogue mid range MIA kit because its easy. My honest opinion staying in that level if you really have too would be to buy Gretsch Catalina's. By far the best and most characterfull mid range drums out there. In the end though it will always be a waste of money and a lost opportunity I reckon. And a quarter of the fun getting them.

Really hope this makes sense.

Please PM me if you want to talk further and expand on the subject.