Right here! 🙋🏻‍♂️

Yeah I do! I have two pdp concepts maple kits and they sound killer for the price!

I do.

Please do a video on this

PDP for the win. Ive owned both PDP and Design and the PDP to me, has more body; more tone.

Fantastic drums. Love them, but too expensive.

When I went to the NMM show in 20 1313, they were debuting the design series. I remember hitting the drums and being completely blown away by how great she sounded. So much so that at that time I thought they sounded better than any collectors kit I ever heard. I just recently got a design series for a really really good price and am blown away by those drums as well. I guess the lesson learned is if you want something specific, exotic, outer veneer, etc. go with the collectors, but I truly blown away by both performance as well as design.

Totally agree! Loved it!

Agreed

You're not crazy even the design is a pretty high end kit.

@@drumcenternh sonor AQ series

The difference in price is the hardware on the snare. So if you want the best build and construction and don’t care about the flashiness of the higher modes then the design series is it. The design is about the sound more than what it looks like. Top end sound without the crazy expensive hardware and colors.

As a fairly new drummer I bought the Design Series Piano Black 4 pc and I love the sound, even with the supposed subpar heads. Liked it so much I bought a second one. Maybe as I get more experienced, I will learn how to discriminate the different sounds between the supposedly better heads

Thanks for watching, and your feedback!

Agreed. I have a frequent flyer and have owned an older Keller DW with rerings. I have a ton of respect for the guys at Portsmouth but I'm just not on board with the confidence thing. Granted, I have not played the amount of high end kits these gentlemen have but I do have a very nice Grand Master Series kit with brass lugs with thick shells and it it doesn't inspire anymore confidence then an Asian GMS SL birch I also own. In fact, in many ways I prefer that birch kit to the maple. They do play different but thicker shells will do that. I also have a Saturn and while that being a nice sounding kit, feels more like a junk Catalina I once owned. Now the Catalina hardware was garbage so that has to be factored in along with wood density and 1.6 hoops but when these guys talk about drums giving back, i think it may have a little to do with in DW'S case, giant turret lugs and a company like Tama, cast hoops.

I have a design kit. They need to add a 24" kick and more availability on the 18" floor toms and I'd be set!

Comments like these are a breath of fresh air. Thanks, man.

I am very surprised by the small difference in sound between the kits. I agree that lookswise the collectors takes the prices. I would also like to hear all three kits playing with the exact same heads tuned the same. Thankyou for this video. I am very proud of my design series now. The sound comparison was really close for way less money spend.

+aq1 + aq2

UP

I agree. I had a Collector’s Series Kit that was made around the time that they started making their own shells. I could not get the floor or kick drum to sound the way I wanted. I ended up selling them and playing a few different brands of kits. A few years back I picked up a Performance Kit and I much prefer the sound of the Performance kit to my Collectors. I like the straight shells with no reinforcement and the smaller lugs look much better in my opinion.

@@kevinb8527 I did notice that the exotic kit in this demo did not have re-rings. They sounded damn nice! My exotic maple Collectors kit does have re-rings and they focus the attack/sound, still resonate well, but not as open as my Performance series. Finally, I'm a big fan as both Collectors and Performance series are Made in the USA. For me, I support USA made stuff if at all possible. Yeah you can make it cheaper outside of the country, but I do like the Oxnard connection and those kits support American workers...

James Rohl I agree 100%. I much prefer the sound of straight shells rather than shells with re-rings. My collectors kit was built in 2002 which was right at the time that DW started making its own shells. I think it’s known that they had some issues around that time with shells staying in round and I think my floor Tom and kick drum had some issues. No matter what I did as far as tuning on the floor Tom I could not get the “basketball” wobble” boing out. Tons of different head combos, tunings, etc and I couldn’t get rid of it. Some of that I put on the re-rings though. My performance kit is everything that I wanted out of my collectors kit. Solid even tones with the straight shells and the smaller lugs look and function fantastic. Plus the price point is much better. My kit is in Pewter Sparkle in really good sizes (8x10, 8x12, 12x14, 14x16, 18x22, and 6.5x14). My collectors kit was 9x10, 9x12, 10x13, 14x16, and 18x22 in Blue Diamond Pearl. My Collectors Kit was over twice the price (with no snare). I’ve owned a ton of high end drums (Pearl Masters, Pork Pie Custom, SJC, Gretsch Renown, Custom Keller, DW) and my collectors was one of my least favorite of the bunch. I have friends that have collectors kits that sound phenomenal, I just think there was something wrong with mine. My Performance kit can hold a candle to any of the top end kits I have owned for sure.

@@kevinb8527 Kevin those are cool sizes, especially the shorter 8 x 12 rack tom! My Performance kit is gorgeous ginger glass sparkle wrap (made only for the drum shop where I got them), in 8 x 10, 9 x 12, 12 x 14 floor, 14 x 16 floor, 18 x 22 kick, and 5 1/2 x 14 matching snare. I, like you, have owned many kits (Ludwig , Rogers, Pearl, Tama, Drumcraft acrylic, Crush acrylic). None were are good as my Performance kit! My exotic Collectors series is stunning. Twisted Rainbow lacquer in cool sizes (7 x 10, 8 x 12, 14 x 16 floor, and a cannon 20 x 22" kick, matching 6 x 14 snare). If I were to venture out again, Sonor and Yamaha are the kits that interest me. Sonor has a very musical tone to them, but almost too musical? I mean when you want to rock, your not looking for a xylophone! Yamaha rules the jazz scene and their kits sound great, but if you aren't miking them, they don't resonate as well as DW's. Nothing does IMO, thus I remain a DW guy. But always interested in the art of drum making and new sounds. Most likely going to round out my collection with a set of DW Design acrylics and call it a day...

James Rohl Thanks! Yea the store I worked at when I got my performance kit ordered two kits in the same finish. The other kit had an 8x12 so they let me switch out the 9x12 that I got in my Tom pack with the 8x12 that came in the other. I prefer the sound and the set up height of the shorter toms for sure. Very cool sizes on your collectors kit! Sonor kits sound incredible but I agree almost too musical. I’d look into a Yamaha kit too, they sound great. I do remember the older YESS mounts choking the drums bad on the bigger sized toms, but they still sounded good. Currently I still have my Performance kit, a SJC Custom Kit (18x24, 8x12, 12x14, 14x16 in red satin), a Pork Pie Custom Kit (18x22, 10x13, 13x16), and a Gretsch Renown (22, 10, 12, 14) that I recently picked up for $400. Couldn’t pass that one up.

That design series has allowed so many drummers to finally accomplish their dream of owning a DW without spending their life savings and it’s such a rewarding kit to play and own. I bought mine a couple of years ago, used the stock heads for almost a year and then replaced them with remo powerstroke 4’s clear and was blown away furthermore. I absolutely love that kit.

The only difference is really the cheaper heads I wish they would’ve kept the same heads on all three kits they’re closer than one might think

What I like about DW Tom drums is that they kind of sound “generic”. This is great for blending in with songs.

I had sold my DW a while back. Had it for a good 15 years and noticed right before I sold it that it had gotten better with age. I miss it but I got a Gretsch kit with more versatile sizes so it was a good move to sell it.

i hope that what you are saying is true!!😃 i have a 1997 dw custom made that i played no more than an hour since i got it 10 years ago and i was thinking about selling it but i think i willl leave it in ny basement as a good old wine getting better with ages! thanks for sharing your experience it can help others!!

A Collectors Kit is a masterpiece and like a museum piece. It’s like owning a classic car. Yes, you can buy a stock Yamaha or Gretsch for a cheaper price and still sound awesome and amazing but the unique Collectors has a vibe and it’s a kit fit for a king.

Bought my collectors set in 1998 and its better than the day I bought it.

@@ryanzildjian do you like the way the Gretsch sounds better?

According to one of the factory employees, the wood on the Performance and Collectors are identical. The disadvantage with the Performance is that you can’t fully customize how many layers of ply you want. If you want exotic wood, you’re likely not able to get that with the Performance. If you’re picky about a certain sound, choose the Collectors. If you feel the Performance does not need modification and it’s fine to your taste, then the Performance will suit your needs.

Glad you liked it!

Totally agree!

100% agree! The Design series for me with Coated Ambassador/Clear Ambassador are incredible sounding drums at a crazy affordable price.

I put Aquariun texture coated on my design series. It sounds incredible.

I got a Design Series kit in Midnight Blue Satin for Christmas two years ago, and last year I bought a Design 14x6.5 Black Nickel Over Brass snare drum that just sounds killer!!!! The best snare I ever heard. It’s basically a less expensive Black Beauty snare (you know, Ludwig?).

I put clear Remo Pinstripes on my Design kit and they sound incredible. Can't recommend them highly enough.

True. The Design or even a cheaper brand can be amazing on recordings. I’m pretty sure a lot of hit songs were recorded with just modest level drum kits. And commonly on songs, you kind of want drums to sound bland so they don’t interfere with the song. If you’re a touring drummer, expensive is usually better because of better build quality. If it’s just for studio work, a budget kit can work fine.

I didn’t like the cheapest set… The middle set sounded great immediately! It wasn’t just that I know it’s cheap you can hear it if you are a musician. The collectors is really Beautiful to look at! The sound of the Collectors is much better and deeper and richer in tone. I would love ❤️ to buy them but I would be happy with the performance and would never 👎 buy the cheapest ones! I’m too old for cheap drums!

Yes I bought Mapa Burl 2002 birthday and have little wear noticeable 20 years later. John Good is in a class by himself and continues to amaze. DW is the best players friendly beauty brains and brawn drums out there. Cut costs on girls not drums.

Durability? You're saying the other series would fall apart?

I noticed the older I get the lighter I want me gear to be! Great commentary!

Glad you enjoyed it

Well said !

Yes they do

Eq4 is my favourite bass head

What’s your thought on the design kit right now after playing it for some time? I’m considering getting the design kit instead of performance or collectors. Also, which heads would you recommend for the toms?

@@KyleLe I still love the kit and it sounds better than ever as I've learned to tune it I have frosted Evans and clear resos on toms. The finish has held up well and no hardware problems at all. Though there are a few imperfections in my piano black finish. I've averaged around 16 to 20 hours a week playing time for the almost three years I've had them and I would recommend them to anyone. The guys I'm playing with praise them and we're just a about ready to gig.

Thanks so much Greg!!

They’re all good. When you buy DW, you can relax and know that you have quality.

@@ramencurry6672 BAHAHAHA...OVERPRICED CRAP

@@harryballsacky I'm guessing you don't own any DW drums? You wouldn't be saying that otherwise. Nobody who owns a set of DWs says that.

best comment i’ve seen

I would get the Collectors series for home studio because the nice finish set functions as furniture. It’s worth it since it should last a lifetime . For playing out live in dive bars, any good quality budget set is fine

Glad you liked it!

Thanks, Bobby. We appreciate you.

Thanks for watching!

Awesome, please let us know if we can help you!

So good.

Brother, I gotta agree with ya!!! I have a Design Series kit in Midnight Blue Satin.

David McAninch that’s the same one I have! Love that finish!

Top Down Drumming well, well, we’ll!!!!!! Awesome!!!! It’s like that Disney song goes It’s a small world after all It’s a small world after all It’s a small world after all It’s a small, small, world Everybody now!!!!!

Top Down Drumming well, well, well!!!! So it is!!! It’s like that song from Walt Disney: It’s a small world after all It’s a small world after all It’s a small world after all It’s a small, small world Everybody now!!!

Gracias!

The Design has the best, fattest snare sound hands down!

I love your youTube name! :)

Totally Dan, the feel is often overlooked because you can't demonstrate that, but it is SUPER important!

The metal , rubber and plastic added to D.W. drums due to the tom mount

Spoils the look of the drums

I know the lungs are iconic and so unmistakable dw but I personally think they’re hideous.

@@clayfoster8234 I never warmed up to the round lug look either.

Yup. Likely impossible to tell them apart in that scenario.

@@bakedalaska4363 I was thinking the same and selling more of the design kits would be the result. Lol

It sounded closer to the 90”s dw when they used Keller’s shells before they started making their own , if you like that sounding shell just check out some other custom shop kits that still use Keller’s shells like SJC , Truth , or pork pie , if your into that sounding shell you’ll love the aforementioned

You get that from this video?

The collector’s kit can get you some of the finest cream of the crop wood. The champagne of wood. It’s for kings The Design is great too and capable of giving you home runs and audience cheers.

IF YOU HAD ANY....CUPCAKE

Glad you find them helpful! Yes, the same settings are used for all 3 kits.

Thanks Joe! It's something we may do in the future, though we would want to do it in a way that is different than the hundreds and thousands of videos out there!

The performance series is collectors shells

@@AMDpc067 yes they are! The only difference is customization. Performance are only available as they come. You simply choose what is offered. Performance quality and sound is equal to Collectors.

The Collectors will have better durability with more robust metal parts. It’s fit for a king. Either way, you can make Grammy award winning records with any decent drum kit that’s capable enough to blend in with the songs.