I am based in good Old Europe and am never going to have the chance to waltz into your shop and carry out a fab drum kit ... but I so enjoy your videos. Informative, full of passion, good sprinkling of light humour... Just sourced myself some Meinl Pure alloy cymbals based on your extensive cymbal set reviews. Not disappointed, I am glad I spent all those hours going through your various shootout videos!
@@wyrlismike Yes you can, but we're all terrified of sales tax and import tax, as we have no idea how much that will be. In the UK all prices are inclusive of VAT (you call it sales tax) and the distributer has already sorted any import duties etc. So, the price advertised is what we actually pay. There are too many stories out there of people buying something from one of your excellent retailers (if I lived in New England, DCP would probably have taken out a restraining order against me by now!!) at what appeared to be an excellent price, only to end up paying hundreds more in hidden costs. As a result, we stick to our own. I will be visiting the East coast a few times in the coming years as my son is moving to NY for work, so I WILL be visiting DCP, even if I only end up buying a pair of sticks and a T-shirt!
I know setting up & breaking down kits all day can’t be a lot of fun, so I just wanted to leave a comment of appreciation to everyone at the Drum Store of Portsmouth who’s involved in making these great videos for us🫡
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Especially upstairs...I bet it gets hot as a smelting furnace up there, in the summertime. True fact: You'll never see an overweight person working in a steel mill. The heat in those places just melts any extra flab right off...well, you'll sweat so much that it's basically the same thing. As part of my training in Mechanical Drafting, my trade school class visited a steel mill in Seattle and it was an eye opener. And a lung burner. And a nasal passage burner. And an eye burner. 😅.
Omg, I love these set ups! Bring back the old school kits I grew up on. I'll take one of each please. Appreciate that you matched these up with the classic 602's! Nice work as always. That Gretsch snare was incredible.
@@DG-sf9ei Interesting, I have a set of gretsch marquees that have 2.3mm triple flanged hoops. They have a nice bright bite to them with clear 1 ply heads or a really warm punch sound with 2 ply heads. What sort of effect would die cast hoops have on them?
Glad you're showcasing George Ways here. I have a George Way kit and a few snares. The kit is the Tuxedo Acacia so different wood for the plies but the hardware is the same. I've never had any issues with tuning stability on the long tension rods. Ever. They are so very fun to play and the tuning range, even on the Tuxedo lugs, is outstanding. The bearing edges are top notch and you can go as low as you want to for head tension and still get good tones. Highly recommend these very high quality and affordable drums. They record like a dream like Tony said!
I wanted to hate that Roger’s kit at that price, but couldn’t deny just how good those sounded. It’s great to see them make a come back. I hope they don’t price themselves out of the market. And, ALL 3 of those snares sounded great. Then again, every snare in EVERY video sounds great. I still would love to see you guys do a really good, up-to-date, thorough tune-bot video on snare tuning. Great videos guys (as always)!
ALL great kits! ***CLOSED-EYE LISTENING TEST*** BEST SMALL TOM: Gretsch BEST FLOOR TOM: It's a draw BEST KICK: Gretsch BEST SNARE: Ludwig I'd take any one of them on a gig, but if I had to pick one kit, it's Gretsch. Their snare was my second pick, so it's the winner for me, in terms of looks too. 🥰 Great video again guys!
Gretsch really stood out to me along with the Ludwig snare. The Gretsch has a nice fundamental clarity and it sounds musical. They all sounded great. Gonna have to get a Broadkaster set.
Excellent presentation guys, as always. It’s interesting to see how the trends come full circle. I still own my Slingerland kit I ordered in ‘73. 3ply (Maple, Poplar, mahogany) with maple re-rings. 13, 16, 24. I ordered them 13, 14, 16, 18, 24 with a 5x14 Krupa COB and now they’re back in vogue. Lol
Interesting that you have a 24" kick drum as Slingerland generally featured 20" kits in their catalogues (my first kit was a 1968 Slinger/Leedy 20, 12, 14 with a COB Shelly Manne snare (same shell as the Krupa "Sound King"). I also assume that your shell lay-up is from interior to exterior plies as my Slinger/Leedys were mahogany (outer), poplar (middle) and maple (inner), which Slingerland adopted in the early-mid 1960s (according to Vintage Drum Guide). The same source indicates that Slingerland continued to use mahogany in their outer ply for wrapped kits as the glue bonded better to the more porous mahogany. I might note that I'm currently using a modern/vintage Ludwig kit and have returned to a 20" Ludwig Legacy Mahogany kick drum teamed with 12' and 16" Classic Maple toms and on many occasions a 5.5 x 14 Krupa Sound King. I love my Ludwig snares, but I just can't get away from the sound of those old Shelly Manne and Sound King snares!
@@CactusJack-j1k very cool. For me, the catalog original config offering was 12, 13, 16, 22 & 5x14. My order went larger. Truthfully, I should’ve stayed with a 22. I’m 5’8” and with the 9x13 & 10x14 sitting on top of the 24” kick it was a bit of a stretch to get up to them. I’ve compensated by only using the 13 or the 14 on a single mount instead of the double mount. The single mount allows the tom to hang lower. So, in the end it worked out for me. Btw, my ‘73s are wrapped in their copper finish and they still look great after 35+ years of gigging. They are now relegated to the studio and only come out for special occasions.
DCP product comparison videos are absolutely best-in-class. Well done, gentlemen. Very closely-matched comparison. Completely agree with the takeaway about George Way/Ludwig. If the Way had different lugs, it would be my favorite bar none.
@drumcenternh I love your humor!😂 and everything you post is appreciated. Top notch tuning, mixing, demonstrating etc. Buuut… just one thing.. When doing the head to head please- DON’T FORGET TO TURN THE SNARE WIRES OFF! When demoing the tom’s. Thanks
Great job guys. Two things we can't hear/feel via video are the volume of each kit and feel under the hands and foot. So the best decision can be made when the drum is played and heard live.
Listening on the studio speakers.... very subtle differences. George Way > Ludwig/Rogers (tie) > Gretsch. Makes me interested to learn more about George Way Aristocrat. Great video & thanks!
You guys did an excellent job, once again. My take: Gretsch Broadcaster sounds the most unique; the other drums are maple/poplar, and your crew did such a good job tuning the drums to the same note that what we are basically hearing is the differences in bearing edges on those drums. I've owned Ludwig Legacy Classics, and I've also owned Gretsch USA Custom. The Ludwig comes closest to a vintage sound of all the kits because of the undersized shells. The Rogers sound surprisingly good. George Way, though, is the way to go (pun intended) if you don't have Ludwig or Gretsch kind of money. The Mod Orange is gorgeous, but Gretsch USA Custom Nitrocellulose lacquer finishes are in a world of their own.
I’m a Gretschman, but I have to admit that the George Way is maybe the best sounding with the all the mics on and without any other instrument. The attack and « whack » of Gretsch shells often make the difference when the entire band is playing. A giant thank you to the DCP team for your videos, the very best. Advice, humor, filming, producing, and the sound of course… everything is on the top level!!!
DCP videos are top notch, so informative and yet always fun to watch with the humor. Thanks guys and keep up the great work! They all sounded great but I’m a Ludwig guy so I’d have to go with Ludwig but like I said, they all sounded great!
Thanks guys for really playing the drums and not just some continuous standard groove...you played each drum so we could really compare them. Nice sounds from each set....loved the big sound from the Ludwig and Rogers....was really amazed with the George Way set....very nice for the price....please let us know what Paiste cymbals you were playing...nice sound....Thanks for a great comparison video!
@@drumcenternh well darn I just checked it again and yep you came back to tell us about the cymbals....I signed off too quick... went back to the beginning to listen again.... Classic lol... thanks for letting me know....
I am a Ludwig lover. I'm totally with Tony in the end. I think there's something about split lug designs that allows for easier tuning. But man, that Rogers kit was surprising. I didn't realize they sounded that good!
@@DG-sf9ei It's interesting. Fortunately, I've owned a lot of Rogers. I've had prototype kits from the Cleveland era (one of 11 for dealers to showcase the "new" beavertail lugs) and "newer" Fullerton-era kits too. My favorite design is definitely the Cleveland era three-ply shell. It was so far ahead of its time. Later, I know Keller supplied most of those five-ply shells. The rumor is that they cost Rogers as little as 10 dollars a piece in the 60s, if you can believe that. Great shells, and I can definitely hear a similar character in the import drums they're making now. But that's where my hesitation lies - the import element. I know this drives the price down significantly, but because this is coming out of one of the two big hardware factories in the world, they're still slapping what are essentially generic hardware on these drums. Specifically, I'm disappointed in the bass drum spur design. If they were going to try and bring back the brand, then wouldn't they want to go the extra mile and try and improve and recreate some of those iconic Swivo mounts, spurs, and other parts? For me, so much of this comes back to the fine details. Rogers got the shells down. You can hear it. But I really wish they would've gotten the hardware down too so that we could see it and feel it and have that same functionality that drummers loved 60 years ago.
You really can't beat the sound of those Ludwig drums. They really do make a great drum. That being said, I honestly thought all of the sets here sounded great. Nice job on the video.
Ludwig all the way!!! Just like my first 1966 King Beat set in white marine pearl!! Pat Travers sound man, said it was the best sounding kit he ever miked up!! 3ply mahogany with reinforced rings!! Damn!! Why did I sell those in 1985!!!! lol… miss those baby’s!
The George Way sounds kinda like a classic maple Ludwig 🤔 kinda? They all sound great for sure! I wish I could get my Remo Ambassadors to sound that good ✌️ Great job as always!
I think the George Way kit sounded most consistent between the full mix and the room mics, and I liked those best during the head to head. I can imagine those long tension rods can make mounting a new head challenging since it seems it they (and the whole hoop) might shift off center. Keeping those perfectly straight can't be that easy, especially on the floor tom. Thanks for another great video!
Thank you for all the timenand effort you put into these reviews. I really like the more agressive attack on the Gretsch - especially the rack tom and bass drum. Second for me would be the Ludwig Legacy - it sounds a bit more open and warm. The George Wayvset was a pleasant surprise, but the floor tom lacked some bottom end in the comparison I think. It’s a good value set - but I would never take it to a gig with those center lugs and long lug screws.
I really love me some Gretsch but you were definitely feeling it when you played the George Way. Super fun. I obviously have my 2 faves but all four of these are fantastic. I also like the Ludwig Snare.
Excellent video, thank you. The George Way kit has a lot of similarities to the vintage Ludwig Clubdates. Sometimes less hardware is just what you need in certain situations. Cheers.
When a kid, some 65-70 years ago, I played Slingerland in middle and high school.. always looked forward to getting Ludwig. The top of the heap (best U.S.) I always wanted was Gretsch. Then along came the Japanese stuff - most excellent, but left U.S. kits in the dust because all the kids now wanted the "new" Japanese gear.
I’m with you guys; I loved the sound of the George Way kit, but I am a heavy hitter and would be tuning it constantly, I’m afraid. Ludwig has a heavy duty quality that stands out from the crowd, and the sound is right there also. So for me, either the George Way Aristocrat series or the Ludwig. Great video as always.
Those George Way drums most definitely caught my interest. I’m wondering if the lack of hardware helped them ring and resonate just a bit more than the other kits. Additionally, I can only say that I too must have a bass drum that speaks back to me. It’s the first thing I do when I’m playing a room, put up the kick drum put the pedal on it and give it a thump. It tells me everything about the room and the way my drums are going to sound that gig. My Gretsch Brooklyn’s from DCP are still my all-time favorite kit out of the four that I own. But dang those George Way drums have got me thinking! Love your videos! :)
All the kits looked and sounded great! I wonder how well the Geo. H. Way hold their tuning. In these sound comparisons, like you, I generally pick the Ludwig’s. Is that because it is the sound we grew up with or do they really sound better? To my ears Ludwig’s just sit better in the mix compared to other brands.
I'm loving the new product offerings from Rogers, including the drums and hardware. I still own an early 70's Rogers Powertone kit, and it sounds so great. Much more fun to play than my newer drums--even when compared to my high-end Tama Starclassic and Ludwig Classic Maple kits.
My C&C kit has the same lug and rod design as the G. Way and they are rugged enough for any application and the tuning is perfect. In fact, it's easier to set up and do finger-tight tunings on the floor toms and the bass with longer lugs than it is with shorter ones. All these kits sounded great, with the Ludwig COB snare taking it.
@@topsyturvy5485 Agreed, as I bought them because I got tired of tuning issues with vintage Luds and Gretsch drums, even though I loved the sounds. C&C nails the vintage sounds but with flawless, modern shells that are so easy to tune without fuss.
Thank you for the great work you put into this video. Great job guys.I would buy the Geo way kit.,they sound great, laquer finish is stunning,and may I add,the hardware lugs are triple A chrome plated.Great kit, especially for the money.,pretty hard to beat.!!!!
They’re all great sounding kits. It has to be said, the playing was outstanding throughout this video. Gretsch would get the nod from me with Rogers being a close second. That Ludwig snare was great too.
As the owner of a Gretsch Broadkaster, I've always been crazy satisfied just tuning them up to a medium tuning with coated Remo Ambassadors on the toms, can't go wrong! That being said, this video might have convinced me to pick up a Ludwig Legacy in the future too LOL
All of those kits are great to my ears. Small differences in sound, but they are definitely noticeable. Best snares were the ludwig and the george way. Those cymbals were sweet!
All great kits, but I would go with the Gretsch. The softer, more rounded sound is just picked up better by the microphones as well (they are less "jumpscared" when a tom is hit, in a way). I guess that's why most sound technicians still prefer Gretsch drums for studio recordings? They just record better, a fuller sound because they are not as loud. When it comes to the snares I preferred the "pop" of the Ludwig COB though. I have a Gretsch USA Chrome over Brass myself and those are always great snares with a nice, sharp attack.
Thr more I watch this channel the more I realize that there is very little differences in kicks and toms. Makes me realize I have been correct focusing on my snare(black beauty), my kick pedal, and cymbals….and of course what they look like
Love Ludwig, Rogers and Gretsch drums. The George Way surprised in sound - the GW snare just 'cracked'... Not a bad pick in any of these. Of these, I'm going Rogers Cleveland in Purple Diamond Pearl - freaking beautiful. Speaking of 'surprised', really surprised the Sonor Vintage set didn't make this comparison vid. Love it in the Rosewood Semi-gloss.
They all sound great , but the Gretsch Broadkaster is the most vintage and overall best sound especially for recording., and the Bass drum …. Thanks for doing this video . The Gretsch also has internal mufflers available
Your welcome, you guys make great videos . I plan to make a visit to your shop hopefully before the winter sets in. Living in upstate NY the winters are long too.
Another great comparison by DCP! The Gretsch was definitely outclassed by the other three: the toms sounded thin and papery and the bass drum had no 'oomph' whatsoever. (Listening on Klipsch Cornwall 15" 3-ways.) When I owned a Gretsch USA kit from '84 to '95 I found the same exact thing, which is why I switched to Ludwig in 1990. In your comparison the Ludwig bass drum was the definite winner, although the Rogers and Geo. Way were also very good. I agree about hearing the Rogers' sound 'jumping out' at you more than the other three. I'm a Dyna-Sonic owner and that SuperTen snare sounded surprisingly good to me. A good set of hard cases would make the Geo Way kit roadworthy; without cases those long tension rods will wind up bent in short order (ask me how I know).
I love the head 2 head portion of these videos. You could really hear the sound differences in each kit. Like Tony and Adam, I'd probably buy the Ludwig kit, but that Rogers kit was pretty on looks and sound. Really liked their snare drum. Another great video from DCP.
Great stuff as always gents! I’ve got a bunch of George way snares and they’re amazing. Lil detail question: did you tune the 12” gretsch down or tuned the other 13” toms up? Thanks again for all the killer content! 🙏🏼🤟🏼
I love the wide open sound. Especially the bass drum. The Rogers kick drum sounds HUGEEE. They all sound great but I'd probably go with the Rogers kit.....just not that finish. 🙂
Absolutely love the sound of vintage drums. Here the Ludwig had more low end in my opinion so it wins for me. I wouldn’t have painted it white though but that’s just me. Love Gretsch also but not a fan of the silver and wish they had an option for clear. Thanks for the Demo always excellent.
The Gretsch kit was good. Toms were ok, but the kick really stood out. The Ludwig sounded great across the board. Not sure how I like the Ludwig kick versus the Gretsch. May be a toss up. I was impressed with the details mentioned about the Rogers drums. Really dig the Rogers snare (not in comparison to the others, just in general). Rogers kick drum was on par with the first two. With the Geo. Way kit, I wish I could have heard it before all the talk. My expectations were really lowered and I think I may have had a prejudice. In the head to head, the floors seemed pretty consistent. The Gretsch kick drum sounded higher pitched than the rest, certainly missing some low end rumble. I really didn't consider the snares as they weren't all matching the shell sets. Over all, if budget wasn't of concern, the Ludwig would be my choice. In a pinch, the Geo. Way was ample. Great video.
Spot on with the Ludwig tuning feel. I've been playing mine for 24 years. When using another kit whether it be a backline or someone else's, that's the first thing I notice about the drums is how the tuning lugs feel. The same thing on guitar tuners. Makes a huge difference. Also as a side note, I feel quality control has gone downhill. My local drum shop had a $3000 DW kit with flawed chrome hoops. For that kind of dough everything on a kit should be flawless. If I worked there those hoops would have been sent back to the manufacturer.
I am based in good Old Europe and am never going to have the chance to waltz into your shop and carry out a fab drum kit ... but I so enjoy your videos. Informative, full of passion, good sprinkling of light humour... Just sourced myself some Meinl Pure alloy cymbals based on your extensive cymbal set reviews. Not disappointed, I am glad I spent all those hours going through your various shootout videos!
You can buy from them online you know
@@wyrlismike Yes you can, but we're all terrified of sales tax and import tax, as we have no idea how much that will be. In the UK all prices are inclusive of VAT (you call it sales tax) and the distributer has already sorted any import duties etc. So, the price advertised is what we actually pay. There are too many stories out there of people buying something from one of your excellent retailers (if I lived in New England, DCP would probably have taken out a restraining order against me by now!!) at what appeared to be an excellent price, only to end up paying hundreds more in hidden costs. As a result, we stick to our own. I will be visiting the East coast a few times in the coming years as my son is moving to NY for work, so I WILL be visiting DCP, even if I only end up buying a pair of sticks and a T-shirt!
"Down in my plumbs" will live on forever as the only way to judge a bass drum. I love the inserts you guys put together. Great sense of humour!!
Maybe a limited run of shirts is in order...
@@drumcenternh At least. I was thinking a special run wrap. "Down in my plumbs" burgandy sparkle...only available with a 26" kick
I know setting up & breaking down kits all day can’t be a lot of fun, so I just wanted to leave a comment of appreciation to everyone at the Drum Store of Portsmouth who’s involved in making these great videos for us🫡
It's a labor of love, thanks for noticing!
@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 Especially upstairs...I bet it gets hot as a smelting furnace up there, in the summertime. True fact: You'll never see an overweight person working in a steel mill. The heat in those places just melts any extra flab right off...well, you'll sweat so much that it's basically the same thing. As part of my training in Mechanical Drafting, my trade school class visited a steel mill in Seattle and it was an eye opener. And a lung burner. And a nasal passage burner. And an eye burner. 😅.
Don't suppose you'd rather set up drum kits in a heated/cooled facility than climb the telephone poles and work 14'000 volt lines that feed it huh?
@@TempoDrift1480lol the ridiculousness in going, “but my job is harder.” Is a fuckin joke. Grow up. No one makes you do that gig.
@@drumcenternh Yeah - you guys do good stuff!
Omg, I love these set ups! Bring back the old school kits I grew up on. I'll take one of each please. Appreciate that you matched these up with the classic 602's! Nice work as always. That Gretsch snare was incredible.
Broadkasters are an absolute joy to listen to!!
@@DG-sf9eium, those 302 hoops, not die cast🤦♂️🙄
@@DG-sf9ei Interesting, I have a set of gretsch marquees that have 2.3mm triple flanged hoops. They have a nice bright bite to them with clear 1 ply heads or a really warm punch sound with 2 ply heads. What sort of effect would die cast hoops have on them?
@@DG-sf9ei do you feel like the 30 degrees bearing edge would also contribute to recreating the gretsch sound?
@@boomerguy9935 not sure why you respond to me cause actually it’s a double flange
@@artcorvolet OOPS! Sorry.
WOW! They all sound great but I love the way the broadcaster kit sounds overall especially the snare!
Yeah, they are great for sure!
Glad you're showcasing George Ways here. I have a George Way kit and a few snares. The kit is the Tuxedo Acacia so different wood for the plies but the hardware is the same. I've never had any issues with tuning stability on the long tension rods. Ever. They are so very fun to play and the tuning range, even on the Tuxedo lugs, is outstanding. The bearing edges are top notch and you can go as low as you want to for head tension and still get good tones. Highly recommend these very high quality and affordable drums. They record like a dream like Tony said!
Finally, a classic DCP video in my timeline again! Can't wait to visit your store in October!
Good to be back and glad you liked! See you then!
I wanted to hate that Roger’s kit at that price, but couldn’t deny just how good those sounded. It’s great to see them make a come back. I hope they don’t price themselves out of the market. And, ALL 3 of those snares sounded great. Then again, every snare in EVERY video sounds great. I still would love to see you guys do a really good, up-to-date, thorough tune-bot video on snare tuning. Great videos guys (as always)!
ALL great kits! ***CLOSED-EYE LISTENING TEST*** BEST SMALL TOM: Gretsch BEST FLOOR TOM: It's a draw BEST KICK: Gretsch BEST SNARE: Ludwig
I'd take any one of them on a gig, but if I had to pick one kit, it's Gretsch. Their snare was my second pick, so it's the winner for me, in terms of looks too. 🥰 Great video again guys!
Good to see the tune bot settings again. I miss the days when they were posted on every review. Love this channel!
Gretsch really stood out to me along with the Ludwig snare. The Gretsch has a nice fundamental clarity and it sounds musical. They all sounded great. Gonna have to get a Broadkaster set.
Excellent presentation guys, as always. It’s interesting to see how the trends come full circle. I still own my Slingerland kit I ordered in ‘73. 3ply (Maple, Poplar, mahogany) with maple re-rings. 13, 16, 24. I ordered them 13, 14, 16, 18, 24 with a 5x14 Krupa COB and now they’re back in vogue. Lol
Interesting that you have a 24" kick drum as Slingerland generally featured 20" kits in their catalogues (my first kit was a 1968 Slinger/Leedy 20, 12, 14 with a COB Shelly Manne snare (same shell as the Krupa "Sound King"). I also assume that your shell lay-up is from interior to exterior plies as my Slinger/Leedys were mahogany (outer), poplar (middle) and maple (inner), which Slingerland adopted in the early-mid 1960s (according to Vintage Drum Guide). The same source indicates that Slingerland continued to use mahogany in their outer ply for wrapped kits as the glue bonded better to the more porous mahogany. I might note that I'm currently using a modern/vintage Ludwig kit and have returned to a 20" Ludwig Legacy Mahogany kick drum teamed with 12' and 16" Classic Maple toms and on many occasions a 5.5 x 14 Krupa Sound King. I love my Ludwig snares, but I just can't get away from the sound of those old Shelly Manne and Sound King snares!
@@CactusJack-j1k very cool. For me, the catalog original config offering was 12, 13, 16, 22 & 5x14. My order went larger. Truthfully, I should’ve stayed with a 22. I’m 5’8” and with the 9x13 & 10x14 sitting on top of the 24” kick it was a bit of a stretch to get up to them. I’ve compensated by only using the 13 or the 14 on a single mount instead of the double mount. The single mount allows the tom to hang lower. So, in the end it worked out for me. Btw, my ‘73s are wrapped in their copper finish and they still look great after 35+ years of gigging. They are now relegated to the studio and only come out for special occasions.
DCP product comparison videos are absolutely best-in-class. Well done, gentlemen. Very closely-matched comparison. Completely agree with the takeaway about George Way/Ludwig. If the Way had different lugs, it would be my favorite bar none.
Thanks so much!
🤘❤️🤘
@drumcenternh
I love your humor!😂 and everything you post is appreciated. Top notch tuning, mixing, demonstrating etc. Buuut… just one thing..
When doing the head to head please- DON’T FORGET TO TURN THE SNARE WIRES OFF! When demoing the tom’s. Thanks
Great job guys. Two things we can't hear/feel via video are the volume of each kit and feel under the hands and foot. So the best decision can be made when the drum is played and heard live.
Thanks! I did my best to describe how they felt while playing, but that is hard to explain just using words.
Listening on the studio speakers.... very subtle differences. George Way > Ludwig/Rogers (tie) > Gretsch. Makes me interested to learn more about George Way Aristocrat. Great video & thanks!
You guys did an excellent job, once again. My take: Gretsch Broadcaster sounds the most unique; the other drums are maple/poplar, and your crew did such a good job tuning the drums to the same note that what we are basically hearing is the differences in bearing edges on those drums. I've owned Ludwig Legacy Classics, and I've also owned Gretsch USA Custom. The Ludwig comes closest to a vintage sound of all the kits because of the undersized shells. The Rogers sound surprisingly good. George Way, though, is the way to go (pun intended) if you don't have Ludwig or Gretsch kind of money. The Mod Orange is gorgeous, but Gretsch USA Custom Nitrocellulose lacquer finishes are in a world of their own.
Thank you!!
I’m a Gretschman, but I have to admit that the George Way is maybe the best sounding with the all the mics on and without any other instrument. The attack and « whack » of Gretsch shells often make the difference when the entire band is playing. A giant thank you to the DCP team for your videos, the very best. Advice, humor, filming, producing, and the sound of course… everything is on the top level!!!
I'm a Gretchman!
Wait...
Rogers sounded great.
Brother Tony did the triple double take on himself when he clicked his sticks on the floor tom at 10:53 - You were like "what the" - Love you guys!!
Sure did... doing it live!
DCP videos are top notch, so informative and yet always fun to watch with the humor. Thanks guys and keep up the great work! They all sounded great but I’m a Ludwig guy so I’d have to go with Ludwig but like I said, they all sounded great!
Thanks so much!!
DCP is the best drum shop. Anywhere I'm glad you guys are around man you guys are just the the zenith of the industry
@@thomasluther9211 thanks so much! ❤️
All sounded great. My choices would be Ludwig/GWAY/Rogers/Gretsch.
The Rogers for me, all day long. Also, it's good to see a 13" tom again. 13 -16 is such a cool interval.
Thank you for sharing tune bot settings!
You got it, Brent!
Thanks gentlemen! Love them all! I’d take the Ludwig as well
Thanks guys for really playing the drums and not just some continuous standard groove...you played each drum so we could really compare them. Nice sounds from each set....loved the big sound from the Ludwig and Rogers....was really amazed with the George Way set....very nice for the price....please let us know what Paiste cymbals you were playing...nice sound....Thanks for a great comparison video!
Thanks for all the kind words! At the very end of the video we tell you what all the cymbals are.
@@drumcenternh well darn I just checked it again and yep you came back to tell us about the cymbals....I signed off too quick... went back to the beginning to listen again.... Classic lol... thanks for letting me know....
I am a Ludwig lover. I'm totally with Tony in the end. I think there's something about split lug designs that allows for easier tuning. But man, that Rogers kit was surprising. I didn't realize they sounded that good!
🤘🤘
@@DG-sf9ei It's interesting. Fortunately, I've owned a lot of Rogers. I've had prototype kits from the Cleveland era (one of 11 for dealers to showcase the "new" beavertail lugs) and "newer" Fullerton-era kits too. My favorite design is definitely the Cleveland era three-ply shell. It was so far ahead of its time.
Later, I know Keller supplied most of those five-ply shells. The rumor is that they cost Rogers as little as 10 dollars a piece in the 60s, if you can believe that. Great shells, and I can definitely hear a similar character in the import drums they're making now.
But that's where my hesitation lies - the import element. I know this drives the price down significantly, but because this is coming out of one of the two big hardware factories in the world, they're still slapping what are essentially generic hardware on these drums. Specifically, I'm disappointed in the bass drum spur design. If they were going to try and bring back the brand, then wouldn't they want to go the extra mile and try and improve and recreate some of those iconic Swivo mounts, spurs, and other parts?
For me, so much of this comes back to the fine details. Rogers got the shells down. You can hear it. But I really wish they would've gotten the hardware down too so that we could see it and feel it and have that same functionality that drummers loved 60 years ago.
@@timbofromkeno I feel the same way. This is the exact reason for my hesitancy in buying any new Rogers kits.
You really can't beat the sound of those Ludwig drums. They really do make a great drum. That being said, I honestly thought all of the sets here sounded great. Nice job on the video.
Couldn't agree more, thank you!
Ludwig all the way!!! Just like my first 1966 King Beat set in white marine pearl!! Pat Travers sound man, said it was the best sounding kit he ever miked up!! 3ply mahogany with reinforced rings!! Damn!! Why did I sell those in 1985!!!! lol… miss those baby’s!
The George Way sounds kinda like a classic maple Ludwig 🤔 kinda? They all sound great for sure! I wish I could get my Remo Ambassadors to sound that good ✌️ Great job as always!
Great work, guys!
Thank you, Kirk!
Sounds similar, But with a different feeling for each medium they would be playing. AWESOME JOB THANKS
Thanks for watching!
Another great video, thx. Excellent comparisons.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I think the George Way kit sounded most consistent between the full mix and the room mics, and I liked those best during the head to head. I can imagine those long tension rods can make mounting a new head challenging since it seems it they (and the whole hoop) might shift off center. Keeping those perfectly straight can't be that easy, especially on the floor tom.
Thanks for another great video!
Thank you for all the timenand effort you put into these reviews.
I really like the more agressive attack on the Gretsch - especially the rack tom and bass drum. Second for me would be the Ludwig Legacy - it sounds a bit more open and warm.
The George Wayvset was a pleasant surprise, but the floor tom lacked some bottom end in the comparison I think. It’s a good value set - but I would never take it to a gig with those center lugs and long lug screws.
Thank you for watching and supporting us!
I really love me some Gretsch but you were definitely feeling it when you played the George Way. Super fun. I obviously have my 2 faves but all four of these are fantastic. I also like the Ludwig Snare.
Such a great video! Thank you for putting this together!
Excellent video, thank you. The George Way kit has a lot of similarities to the vintage Ludwig Clubdates. Sometimes less hardware is just what you need in certain situations. Cheers.
Ludwig was my favorite. Also really liked the Rogers.
Lifelong Ludwig guy here ! But , they all sounded great.
When a kid, some 65-70 years ago, I played Slingerland in middle and high school.. always looked forward to getting Ludwig. The top of the heap (best U.S.) I always wanted was Gretsch. Then along came the Japanese stuff - most excellent, but left U.S. kits in the dust because all the kids now wanted the "new" Japanese gear.
I’m with you guys; I loved the sound of the George Way kit, but I am a heavy hitter and would be tuning it constantly, I’m afraid. Ludwig has a heavy duty quality that stands out from the crowd, and the sound is right there also. So for me, either the George Way Aristocrat series or the Ludwig. Great video as always.
killer vid, thanks guys!
Thank you, Julian!
I have a GW tuxedo kit in same color and it looks, feels, and sounds amazing!
Those George Way drums most definitely caught my interest. I’m wondering if the lack of hardware helped them ring and resonate just a bit more than the other kits. Additionally, I can only say that I too must have a bass drum that speaks back to me. It’s the first thing I do when I’m playing a room, put up the kick drum put the pedal on it and give it a thump. It tells me everything about the room and the way my drums are going to sound that gig. My Gretsch Brooklyn’s from DCP are still my all-time favorite kit out of the four that I own. But dang those George Way drums have got me thinking! Love your videos! :)
I know... they have a few of us thinking right now too!
@@drumcenternh those Aristocrats are stunning, I gotta stop opening your Friday fills emails!! 🤣
All the kits looked and sounded great! I wonder how well the Geo. H. Way hold their tuning. In these sound comparisons, like you, I generally pick the Ludwig’s. Is that because it is the sound we grew up with or do they really sound better? To my ears Ludwig’s just sit better in the mix compared to other brands.
I'm loving the new product offerings from Rogers, including the drums and hardware. I still own an early 70's Rogers Powertone kit, and it sounds so great. Much more fun to play than my newer drums--even when compared to my high-end Tama Starclassic and Ludwig Classic Maple kits.
My C&C kit has the same lug and rod design as the G. Way and they are rugged enough for any application and the tuning is perfect. In fact, it's easier to set up and do finger-tight tunings on the floor toms and the bass with longer lugs than it is with shorter ones. All these kits sounded great, with the Ludwig COB snare taking it.
@@FAKusch Really surprised they didn’t include a C&C in this comparison.
@@topsyturvy5485 Agreed, as I bought them because I got tired of tuning issues with vintage Luds and Gretsch drums, even though I loved the sounds. C&C nails the vintage sounds but with flawless, modern shells that are so easy to tune without fuss.
Ludwig all the way! Those toms and bass drum sound amazing, also the best sounding snare drum. Imo of course.
Thank you for the great work you put into this video. Great job guys.I would buy the Geo way kit.,they sound great, laquer finish is stunning,and may I add,the hardware lugs are triple A chrome plated.Great kit, especially for the money.,pretty hard to beat.!!!!
Thanks for watching!
They’re all great sounding kits. It has to be said, the playing was outstanding throughout this video. Gretsch would get the nod from me with Rogers being a close second. That Ludwig snare was great too.
Thank you! 🙏
Well done! Nice to see the Classic American drums representing so well!
As the owner of a Gretsch Broadkaster, I've always been crazy satisfied just tuning them up to a medium tuning with coated Remo Ambassadors on the toms, can't go wrong! That being said, this video might have convinced me to pick up a Ludwig Legacy in the future too LOL
Haha oops! Can't go wrong with either.
All of those kits are great to my ears. Small differences in sound, but they are definitely noticeable. Best snares were the ludwig and the george way. Those cymbals were sweet!
Thanks and I know... those Paistes were PERFECT!
They all sound amazing! At the of the day best deal will win!
Oh man those Rogers are a beauty!
Four awesome kits.
Definition of TOP SHELF!! DCP 💯
🙌❤️🤘
All great kits, but I would go with the Gretsch. The softer, more rounded sound is just picked up better by the microphones as well (they are less "jumpscared" when a tom is hit, in a way). I guess that's why most sound technicians still prefer Gretsch drums for studio recordings? They just record better, a fuller sound because they are not as loud. When it comes to the snares I preferred the "pop" of the Ludwig COB though. I have a Gretsch USA Chrome over Brass myself and those are always great snares with a nice, sharp attack.
I greatly appreciate the Nasty Nate cameo @12:44.
Thr more I watch this channel the more I realize that there is very little differences in kicks and toms. Makes me realize I have been correct focusing on my snare(black beauty), my kick pedal, and cymbals….and of course what they look like
Huge love for those Paiste cymbals with the Gretsch Broadkaster kit.
Right? A great combo!
Watching the Mod Orange Ludwig section, I would dearly love to see Tony dressed up as a young Bun E. Carlos.
I second that comment.
A missed opportunity on my part. Accept my apologies!
It's OK. We just wanted you to get hundreds of teenage Japanese girls screaming, "Tony!! Tony!!!" 🙃
All the motivation I need for the future!
Love Ludwig, Rogers and Gretsch drums. The George Way surprised in sound - the GW snare just 'cracked'... Not a bad pick in any of these.
Of these, I'm going Rogers Cleveland in Purple Diamond Pearl - freaking beautiful.
Speaking of 'surprised', really surprised the Sonor Vintage set didn't make this comparison vid. Love it in the Rosewood Semi-gloss.
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it! The Sonor Vintage kit is great, just not a maple/poplar shell like the rest in the comparison.
George Way green finish is gorgeous.
They all sound great , but the Gretsch Broadkaster is the most vintage and overall best sound especially for recording., and the Bass drum …. Thanks for doing this video . The Gretsch also has internal mufflers available
Thanks and good feedback!
Your welcome, you guys make great videos . I plan to make a visit to your shop hopefully before the winter sets in. Living in upstate NY the winters are long too.
The "come abuse our E-drums sign." Is pretty boss level stuff!
😎
Another great comparison by DCP! The Gretsch was definitely outclassed by the other three: the toms sounded thin and papery and the bass drum had no 'oomph' whatsoever. (Listening on Klipsch Cornwall 15" 3-ways.) When I owned a Gretsch USA kit from '84 to '95 I found the same exact thing, which is why I switched to Ludwig in 1990. In your comparison the Ludwig bass drum was the definite winner, although the Rogers and Geo. Way were also very good. I agree about hearing the Rogers' sound 'jumping out' at you more than the other three. I'm a Dyna-Sonic owner and that SuperTen snare sounded surprisingly good to me. A good set of hard cases would make the Geo Way kit roadworthy; without cases those long tension rods will wind up bent in short order (ask me how I know).
Thanks for watch and glad you enjoyed it!
Rheameaux is going to be my next Canadian art rock band name. You heard it here.
George Way - interesting set!
guys, beautifully made video, thank you! :)
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
I love the head 2 head portion of these videos. You could really hear the sound differences in each kit. Like Tony and Adam, I'd probably buy the Ludwig kit, but that Rogers kit was pretty on looks and sound. Really liked their snare drum. Another great video from DCP.
Thanks so much Dan!
Great stuff as always gents! I’ve got a bunch of George way snares and they’re amazing.
Lil detail question: did you tune the 12” gretsch down or tuned the other 13” toms up?
Thanks again for all the killer content! 🙏🏼🤟🏼
Great drums! All drums were tuned the same frequency wise top and bottom using the Tune Bot. Here is where we landed: Top 208Hz Bottom 236Hz
@@drumcenternh thanks fellas!
George Way drums sounded nice and warm and had a nice ring to them.
Wow! The sound of the Broadkaster set blew me away!!!!
I don’t know why - it really doesn’t matter - but my heart broke into a thousand pieces when he sharpied on that blank head lol
A worthy sacrifice.
I love the wide open sound. Especially the bass drum. The Rogers kick drum sounds HUGEEE. They all sound great but I'd probably go with the Rogers kit.....just not that finish. 🙂
I’m a big fan of open bass drums. Such a great boom to them!
Absolutely love the sound of vintage drums. Here the Ludwig had more low end in my opinion so it wins for me.
I wouldn’t have painted it white though but that’s just me.
Love Gretsch also but not a fan of the silver and wish they had an option for clear.
Thanks for the Demo always excellent.
The Gretsch kit was good. Toms were ok, but the kick really stood out. The Ludwig sounded great across the board. Not sure how I like the Ludwig kick versus the Gretsch. May be a toss up. I was impressed with the details mentioned about the Rogers drums. Really dig the Rogers snare (not in comparison to the others, just in general). Rogers kick drum was on par with the first two. With the Geo. Way kit, I wish I could have heard it before all the talk. My expectations were really lowered and I think I may have had a prejudice. In the head to head, the floors seemed pretty consistent. The Gretsch kick drum sounded higher pitched than the rest, certainly missing some low end rumble. I really didn't consider the snares as they weren't all matching the shell sets. Over all, if budget wasn't of concern, the Ludwig would be my choice. In a pinch, the Geo. Way was ample. Great video.
A pity you didn't have a Sonor vintage. Thank you for the content and effort.
I looooove that Mod Orange!
That Ludwig was gorgeous.
George way all day and half the price. Great review
It was a no-brainer for me the George way kit
I would love for yall to review Natal's Zenith series if possible. All 3 of these sounded great!
They all sound great but as usual for me give me the Gretsch with the Ludwig snare.
Spot on with the Ludwig tuning feel. I've been playing mine for 24 years. When using another kit whether it be a backline or someone else's, that's the first thing I notice about the drums is how the tuning lugs feel. The same thing on guitar tuners. Makes a huge difference. Also as a side note, I feel quality control has gone downhill. My local drum shop had a $3000 DW kit with flawed chrome hoops. For that kind of dough everything on a kit should be flawless. If I worked there those hoops would have been sent back to the manufacturer.
The George Way really impressed me
It impressed all of us as well!
You guys should do a battle of the Acrylic kits.
Proud owner of a Rogers Covington kit 2020
Drums as God intended❤❤❤
Very nice video. Thanks.
That Broadkaster FTW. The 12" tom helps.
I hoped there would be a Slingerland set in there as well. Would have been cool to hear it.
Not currently available, maybe someday...
All great sounding kits , but I’m a Luddy guy
Ludwig Legacy Maple bass drum ❤❤
Do you guys eq and compress the drums on these videos, the sound is great
All are good, maybe the Ludwig edges out the others but I'd buy all 4 of them.
gettin ready to take em down to the farmer’s market.
Cool video! Am i a hard hitter? I’ve never cracked a cymbal or broke a drum head..🧐