Well this is certainly interesting reading. I would agree with Calfskin's comments regarding European instrument quality vs. MIJ intent and quality. My first kit was a Premier Olympic kit in Aquamarine Sparkle with Lokfast cymbal stands. Even though the Olympic was an entry level kit, it was a remarkable piece of design and craftsmanship. In fact, I would hazard to say that Premier Lokfast stands and their various lug designs were truly works of contemporary art and, in my opinion, were beyond any other manufacturer's aesthetic. So much so that I found a duplicate kit and bought it a year or so ago. Certainly as a kid, I absolutely looked down my nose at Apollo, Royce, Majestic, etc. and any other drum manufactured with a "vertical grain" pattern. I would not be caught dead with them.

When I first started reading posts on this forum I was shocked at the love MIJ kits were receiving. Since then I have learned that they have their place, especially since they can be purchased cheap, and can serve as a great way to get into vintage drum restoration. Apparently, they actually sound good with some know how, TLC and decent heads and tuning techniques. I still wouldn't be caught dead with most, if not all of their mounting hardware. (RIMS mounts are cheap folks)

Having said that, I tend to agree that there is probably not enough volume to warrant separate threads. I don't think it denigrates the European manufacturers to be included in "non USA drums". Certainly there are great Asian drums as well now. Let's not be so sensitive. We are all here because we love drums. I would not mind having an MIJ kit as a matter of fact. I would prefer another Premier or Sonor kit however.

Another juvenile response, and that is exactly what it's worth.... two cents

I can't see any reason not to have Europe and Asia separated. We have a USA section, so why not? Different continents, after all...

I personally play English and American drums, but don't jump to conclusions. My drum teacher had a Yamaha kit in the early '80s and it was fantastic. In my definition of vintage (30 years +) this would qualify, but you are all probably referring to Japanese kits from earlier than that, so I can't comment at all on them.

Oooh! I think I have the answer! How about we keep it to two categories, but just change them to :

'Drum and percussion lovers and enthusiasts'

and

'Snooty, elitist collectors with big wallets and attitudes...'

This thread has just turned my stomach. Come on guys - it's just an instrument and a good player can make a cardboard box sound good, while a state of the art, top of the line, finely crafted kit probably ain't gonna make any one of yo momma's sound any better than another. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and like that. Might I be so bold as to suggest that perhaps we all just stop and think for a moment, on some of the great music we may all have missed out on over the years had the Japanese not stepped in and made drums more accessible to the general public? Don't be haten', here's room for everybody here isn't there? Geez, and I thought you guys were cool... try to send me to the back of the bus...

I prefer.

drum enthusiasts and big collectors and snooty wallets

and

elitist lovers and percussion with attitudes...

So, Where would I put these ??

Are they Hawaiian or African ??.. Camen, Dominican, or Philippienes ??

The ones on the left are actually a pair of Brobdignagian sewing thimbles from Gondwanaland(not sure which category---probably both) and the ones on the right are a pair of pre-Columbian ceremonial wine goblet drums, traditionally used at weddings.The skins on the bottom are hit once for the first drink, twice for the second drink and so on. The rawhide lashing, symbolizes the "hitching" of the couple and they have to drink together. As with bongos, the smaller one is the macho(male) and the larger one the hembra(female) but in this case, also symbolic of the hitching process, one can drink from both of them, once the bride has reached her quota(about 2 drinks). At this point the groom is free to use the hembra goblet , as well as his own,both goblets in fact, so in this case these would definitely fall into the second described category.

Calfskin,

Very well done. I always wanted a bumper sticker that read "Reunite Gondwalaland". Funny stuff indeed.

It`s the same drum, top and bottom, but you`re probably right about being foriegn !!

Maybe since I don`t drink I could use the bottom for a bowl and smoke `em !!

I see the sense of having more than just USA/nonUSA if the traffic justifies it. Me, I have no trouble reviewing all, and I like the range of info.

On the other hand we have been getting a small swell of info re Drouyn. Where would one put any Aussie drum correspondence (Brady, Sleishman, Drouyn, etc.)

Patrick