Are Vintage Drums REALLY Better? (The Ultimate Test)

"They just don't make 'em like they used to!"
Some people say vintage drums have a sound that just can't be replicated. Others argue that modern drums have the best sound. In this ultimate showdown video, the Drumeo team tests vintage kits against their modern versions and compares how they sound recorded.
To get a fair comparison, we used the same heads and the same mics and tried to match the tuning as closely as possible.
Can you hear the difference between a vintage and a modern kit? Drop a comment and let us know!
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[@carlupthegrove262]

One point that didn't get mentioned is that modern kits are likely more consistent while the vintage kits vary more from kit to kit...

[@pumpdumpster]

You are so right. Just look at budget kits today, the quality is really good - consistently. If you buy an old kit, it might be great - or not. Lottery.

[@Meme-zc4cw]

I would say this could be accurate for most brands except Rogers. Rogers quality control is superior to most. That being said, I enjiy the variations in sound. They were manufavtured by humans and it brings more artistry to the instrument. I dont enjoy new drums at all, and even sold my DW Collectors because it just didnt sound like a real drum to me.

[@MrFolloni]

In the case of the Ludwig you compared completely different kits. Vintage is 3-ply mahogany-poplar with maple reinforcement rings, 12-14-20; Modern is 7-ply maple with no reinforcement rings, 12-16-22. Not surprising they sound completely different. I prefer the Vintage Ludwig here (I have a modern Classic Maple though). However, in the blind test I thought it was the Modern, when it was actually the Vintage.

[@coffeejolts]

Came here to say this. Drumeo should have gotten a Legacy Mahogany downbeat and compared that to the 60's kit. Also, classic maple rack toms don't sound dead like that unless you use crap heads or can't tune. I have mine in a snare basket and it rings for days

[@deathklipelite8029]

Honestly, I thought overall the Ludwig vintage sounded the best compared to all the other vintage kits and I have never owned one. Maybe I should.

[@ToomanyFrancis]

It doesn't that the head selection and tuning for the modern maple was not going to produce a modern sound.

[@bigkickleo]

ALSO - That 60s Gretsch is a 6ply Maple/ Gum shell, and the Broadkaster reissue is a 3PLY Maple Gum (thicker plys) shell. The BEST comparison video I ever saw was the Gretsch Matt Chamberlain video where he played his 50s 3 ply Gretsch Broadkaster and the modern reissue. GREAT production and the kits sounded awesome. Then... he jumped ship and switched to another company or 2... 🙄

[@crymeslv.1893]

They also used the wrong heads, should’ve done clear ambassadors

[@clotzo]

The difference with Ludwig kits is astonishing. To me the vintage one just sounds perfect!

[@MrFolloni]

Vintage is 3-ply mahogany-poplar with maple reinforcement rings, 12-14-20; Modern is 7-ply maple with no reinforcement rings, 12-16-22. Not surprising they sound completely different. I prefer the Vintage Ludwig here (I have a modern Classic Maple though).

[@IBitePrettyHardSH]

That's because the Classic Maple's toms sounded terrible with those heads, and the rack tom was choked on the snare stand. If they had clear Ambassadors they would've sounded better than the vintage IMO.

[@ramencurry6672]

I buy Gretsch. That’s my brand

[@johnrobinson8323]

It's comparing apples to oranges. Of course they're different. 🥁❤

[@ryanbeydlermusic2542]

Classic maple is 6 ply straight maple. Totally different sounding drum. They should have chosen the legacy mahogany for a true comparison.

[@allenforkner7671]

The acrylics got me. Otherwise I was clean. I'm torn. I like the modern kick better for it's tightness, but vintage toms just sound better to me.

[@olejakob9216]

Agree, the really old antique kicks in SD3 often becomes too loose and heavy for me, like u barely touch them and booom 😅😅 so I often go for a smaller modern kick and vintage toms

[@toddharrop9094]

Same. I guessed all the others but wondered if the acrylic was a trick, e.g. modern BD, vintage toms.

[@weehudyy]

I could tell immediately . I had a red Ludwig Vistalite kit in the 70s and the toms rang like oil cans no matter what heads I fitted , the bass drum was horrible and I used a Supraphonic snare . worst. Ludwigs. ever . Any improvement HAD to be modern drums .

[@jeankarloch1545]

Vintage, I hear more dry and low end, you can feel the wood // Modern, I feel more the drumhead and harmonics

[@tylerbailey9329]

I think a common trait in vintage drums is they can have more overtones, but the overtones are also more pleasant.

[@LylaTheLich]

This, a modern kits overtones are often a weird high pitched ring that no one ones to hear, the old kits have a nice warm hum that just makes the kit sound more full

[@guitariste47]

I thought the vintage Gretch kit had a more rounded sound than thé modern one, with l'ESS treble

[@weschilton]

None of that is true.

[@michaelquinn29]

Vintage ludwigs blow away the modern kits every time. Glad they were able to prove this

[@pbaker7160]

Apples and oranges. They weren't even the same type of wood. The comparison is just silly.

[@ghostdrums]

@@pbaker7160 Exactly

[@russelw.6288]

Modern bassdrum blows away vintage anytime. Unless you want that ringy midrangy typ of sound for music until maybe 1975?! Yea anyhow can‘t compare them

[@TM_Stone]

We know Dave always screen looked as a child during gaming LAN parties back in the day...

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Didn't we all...? 😆

[@landonpeckham7752]

So it's treason then

[@joecooper8527]

Screen peeking was kind of unavoidable.

[@nataliew3050]

does drumeo respond to comments? i love your channel guys

[@DrumeoOfficial]

👋

[@grrggrrg4805]

It's nut how easily I was able to tell the modern and vintage apart after that tip about listening to the kick and how it resonates. 100% on the blind test!

[@yeetfeet1878]

I personally like the way old drums sound. My kit sounds like a John Bonham, Bull ward, and Neil peart mix.

[@InauboaYaiphare]

Hahaha i just die

[@osianjones3694]

Bull ward??? 🤔😂🤣

[@yeetfeet1878]

@@osianjones3694 I call him bull ward. Because he used to ham on the drums!

[@NickJennison]

@@yeetfeet1878but… ham doesn’t come from bu… you know what, never mind.

[@johngonzalez8950]

It's strange because I feel the vintage as a cool live drum sound. As if the vintage would sound better on a small theater or venue. Don't know if that would be true, but that was pretty cool!

[@KrisDuerinckx]

The Gretsch: what you hear (toms) is the huge difference in sound between die cast en triple flanged hoops, interchange the rims between the drums and you'll see what I mean, (and "that great Gretsch sound", it's especially the super heavy diecasts ...) What I do miss in modern drums: that thinner bass drum sound with less lows (but more music ...) in it in a 20", now drum company's seem to make only 20" bass drums that come as close as possible to the sound of a 22", what's the point? With the Yamaha, me being a jazz player: I wish they would make that exact old kit again, especially for the basdrum sound ... (and also the old Yam toms sound more musical to me ...)

[@albert7932]

Just keep hearing the Sgt pepper riff in my head on the vintage Ludwig

[@keyframer.]

Well done comparison! Vintage wins for me! Obvious difference - much warmer

[@jesrhylmarcelino3470]

I enjoyed this video a lot. Most modern drums have this punchy bass drum sound while the vintage has flat sound. 4/5 score lol

[@AndreVanZark]

How about compare E-drums vs acoustic and see who can tell which is which ?

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Great idea!

[@AndreVanZark]

@@DrumeoOfficial TY

[@prod_adrian]

this would be too easy Lol! Maybe with SD3 or EZd but not standard Roland or Alesis modules...

[@KB-kc7ou]

And compare them in the context of a full mix!

[@andrewbarrett6403]

Would probably have a hard time with a pearl mimic.. I honestly enjoy playing my hybrid ekit more than my acoustic in many settings.

[@jesseowenastin]

would have been interesting to hear these within the context of an actual song

[@sethballou8331]

Also another good observation. 👍🎶

[@nathankleber9150]

Man.... I feel like comparing vintage to modern kits would only be accurate if the wood types were the same. Comparing a mahogany/poplar/mahogany w/ maple rerings to a full maple kit, they are going to sound different even if they were from the same era.

[@ElectricAirStudios]

Agreed! It would also be more apples to apples if they tuned the drums similarly.

[@OnofreBop]

100% accurate answers here! There is a clear difference on how the heads and shells interact and resonate. (the acrylic was the toughest for me).

[@geoffcowan2384]

It really all comes down to the kick, doesn't it? I had no idea on the acrylic. Got all the other blind tests right.

[@Casquillo8520]

liked most of the vintage toms over the modern ones lol

[@rensjanssen1172]

I really like the looks from a vintage drumset, but I don’t like the sound of it. To solve my problem, I bought a messed up Gretsch Catalina Club Mod, and restored it like an old drumset. I used mahogany veneer on the shells, and printed the vintage Gretsch logo on a Remo Fiberskin for the front of the bassdrum.

[@jameswood4344]

I don't much like the tuning on any of their floor toms -- who wants a floor tom that sounds as high as a rack tom? Tune it down! Weird that they tuned the kits for jazz but then played them as if for rock. The snares, though, sound fabulous across the board. Of course, once you add a band, most people -- including anyone in an audience -- would be unable to tell the difference.

[@rodneybrand8521]

I have a 80's set of Ludwig's double bass and they sound like a million bucks..i have had several drummers try to buy them off of me but nooooo...

[@sEndro81]

vintage has a more "natural" sound. modern is more shapaed on modern recording sounds of drum, that are poorer, but for this reason simpler to equalize and raise the loudness. I think vintage in better in absolute way, modern is better for modern music.

[@schumanhuman]

Nailed it, I preferred the vintage in every case esp the Ludwig's and Gretsch. The moderns sound too tamed and pre 'produced' for me, but I prefer vintage and raw sounding music in general.

[@olejakob9216]

Agree, I got SD3 and it’s expansion pack decades and it’s good for 30s to 40s swing and 70s disco but not modern rock, yesterday I bought the new gospel pack from ez drummer and it’s now my modern kit, it has a punch that the old ones doesn’t have or need, the swing kits has punch too but it’s a different older kind of punch, good for swing, my philosophy is vintage drums for vintage music and modern drums for modern music!

[@weehudyy]

What you said !

[@kimweemhoff8066]

If you want a vintage sound on a modern kit, put on some well used but not destroyed Remo Ambassadors That cheap vintage Yamaha sounded fantastic!

[@andthensome512]

It seems that the modern kits don't have the midrange warmth of the vintage kits. Modern Gretsch sounded better to me, but I like the vintage Ludwig much better. The all maple Ludwig toms sound too tin canish.

[@chasthompson7390]

The guys back in the day ludwig,gretch,Roger's ect had the secret sauce for making drums, drums were made to be played in small jazz clubs back then so they had great resonance and project but now drums sound flat as shit to "dead" at least to me, then again I'm that freak who tunes my kit like an elvin jones rip off in a rock setting😬😬

[@CD-gk9ix]

There was no secret. Ludwig even used Granitone interiors.. which is junk..

[@starchild692]

Modern is flat! Not sure about that. I would say maybe less dynamic or raw but more focused, punchy and compressed. For each its own application. Same to me with dark washy Cymbals VS bright defined cymbals and it goes on for guitar and most of the instruments. I appreciate each depending on the context.

[@pbaker7160]

It's mostly which heads you use and how you tune the drum. This comparison was garbage. Comparing different types of wood, and some had different heads.

[@Riley88990]

I like how Jared is just a hobbyist lol

[@bendreist1040]

I love the vintage bass drum but the modern Tom's have a clearer sound.

[@caspianseal]

Rule of thumb... if you can hear Come Together straight away, it's vintage lol

[@TheCheeberz]

The only blind test I got wrong was the acrylic. Not sure if its because that tech hasn't really changed since it was invented or if it was because that was the only one they didn't show in the first part of their video. I would like to hear those side by side.

[@hellwingz]

The same, got right 4 out of 5. When hearing acrylic drums, I thought they sounded like vintage because kick sound was longer like other vintage sets, but my gut thought that acryl could sound different and be modern.

[@ryanpgallant7769]

Ohhh snap I got them all right :) Great video! I play a modern acrylic kit... so that section was easy :)

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Well done!

[@allancueto22]

The ludwig vintage...oh my God!!!🤩🤩🤩

[@thomasbrouard62]

I got right every blind test except for the acrylic drum sets! I play a modern kit with a vintage snare drum, but I also like to play with a modern snare drum!!

[@juancarlosbrenes4741]

I really love your channel and appreciate the effort behind doing these videos. In the case of Gretsch, the comparison is useless, it is not apples vs apples. The progressive jazz kit is a USA Custom, 6-ply maple/gum shell with die-cast hoops and the new Broadkaster kit is a 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple with 302 hoops, without mentioning the differences in shell thickness and bearing edges. Also, you chose a Broadkaster kit with center lugs, which may eventually have some impact on shell resonance and tone. Why you did not compare two Broadkaster or two USA Custom kits? There are tons of them out there in really good shape to do a fair comparison of the "vintage" element.

[@carlosleiva2825]

What would have been great is to grab an 80s maple kit and a modern maple kit to see if something happens with the wood, like a 90s pearl masters and a newer model exact same shell and thickness.

[@jakeloranger1419]

I play an early 80s Tama Royalstar. Surprisingly, I was fooled only by the acrylic kit. But I was going by what was said about the difference between the bass drum sounds, and listening for the slightly delayed reso head flap. However prior to seeing this video, I wouldn't have known what to listen for and I definitely wouldn't have been able to tell which kit was the vintage. Also, if I didn't have my hearing aids on, I know I wouldn't be able to hear the subtle differences. Which makes me realize how much I was missing over the years, since I have always had hearing issues. I also have been wearing ear protection for the last twenty odd years. It doesn't help for noticing the finer details, but it has kept me from losing my hearing completely.

[@johncollins5552]

Yep, I have a modern maple mapex and a vintage sonor 3 piece beech kit, love both, different vibe.

[@serpentstudios7768]

I'd be interested to see a china cymbal comparison video, from all brands that exists here. If that ever happens, which I'll have some doubt on.

[@serpentstudios7768]

I can actually agree, I own a 24" Wuhan china at home. It's loud as fuck, and can handle being smashed the living shit out of. The price doesn't say otherwise. That thing still is shocking.

[@klojke]

That Ludwig down beat 2021 floortom was nog great..

[@philipnestor5034]

Thanks for doing this but it should be pointed out that the modern Gretsch toms have air holes which the old Gretsch kits didn’t

[@lbudt29]

Vintage kits are warmer vs new kits are higher pitched better defined , but cooler sounding. I got two test sounds wrong.

[@henz8303]

The Vintage has a more pingy and more open.. Meanwhile the moderns is kinda warm and round...

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Agree. The Ludwig kick drum is the only one that bucked that trend. The kick sounds so warm and round!

[@henz8303]

@@DrumeoOfficial I like how most ludwigs have a lot of attack in their drums :D

[@nik_in_the_box]

That Gretsch Vintage sounds so great 👍👍

[@insanesva7182]

If you would tell us a drumkit brand which is the best sounding kit ever created? Hoping for a reply😃🙂

[@henz8303]

It kinda depends on what kind of tone you are seeking for..

[@DrumeoOfficial]

It really does depend, and it's totally subjective. Could make for a fun video though - thanks for the suggestion!

[@insanesva7182]

@@henz8303 hmm yes

[@insanesva7182]

@@DrumeoOfficial thanks for the reply 😀

[@marcpatzelt2430]

I actually like modern drum sounds more

[@flea182]

I would love to see more blind tests like this. It was really fun

[@joelhighsmith1049]

Makes me want to pair vintage toms with a modern bass drum.

[@augustotorres9746]

Ludwig vintage (beatles) the sound!!!

[@guilledezoq]

I got 4/4, but apart from being a drummer I’ve been producing/mixing/recording for a couple of decades almost. I have a 1964 gretsch kit, 24, 18, 14 and a 1972 ludwig blue oyster, definitely love them!

[@TweezerBleezer123]

Love that u used the most modern possible. 2021! Wowie

[@enzolrvdrummer]

I got all good answers at the end except the acrylic one.

[@M4RCM0NT31R0]

First! Sending you great greetings from Singapore 🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬!

[@srajfnly2]

@Drumeo I think me and Tyson are family. (We’re both Finley’s)

[@perpetualgrimace]

I got all the blind tests right except for the acrylic one at the end. Really interesting how different vintage kicks sound once you point it out!

[@matthewwithanm]

We're more than twice as many years from that modern Yamaha kit than it is from the vintage one 😱

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Yikes! That's crazy. Wasn't 2000 like...last year?

[@stu3775]

All the drums are slightly out of tune.

[@weehudyy]

Loved the vid . I missed the Yamaha and Pearl kits , I have a couple of Ludwig Super Classic kits ( 22x 14 . 13 x 9 , 16 x 16 ) a 70s Rogers mini kit ( 20 x 20 kick , 10 x 8 , 14 x 10 ) and a mid 60s Japanese Gretsch clone called Dia Deluxe ( 20 x 14 , 12 x 8 , 14 x 14 ) I have played lots of modern kits and they all have their charms but I just like the round-ness and warmth of those vintage toms . I have a bunch of snare drums , old and new , but my go to is a late 70s Supraphonic 6 1/2 . Still a drum tragic after all these years .

[@mynineridesshotgun]

“Local drum hobbyist” lol

[@sethballou8331]

As a drummer Musician and professional Audio engineer thank You! I've gotten great results with Both. I had a Ludwig gold badge kit that was killer and I mourn not having. But I have used many different kits... All drums like anything that has its own resonance ( voice ) it's how one uses with passion that's the key. Respect. Seth Ballou🎶👍👍

[@tonylancer7367]

These drums sound so good, regardless of what they are. That Yamaha kit though, sounds like it had a life in stadium rock, you can feel and hear the energy in the kick.

[@ImnotgoingSideways]

How to make modern Ludwigs sound vintage: Give a 12yo dude some 60 grit sandpaper and tell him to clean up the bearing edges. =^-^=

[@lecapitole5663]

First

[@maxikanez]

Awesome video, thank you! I'd love to see videos about legendary vintage snare drums (rogers dynasonic, ludwig supraphonic\black beauty, Slingerland radio king, premier 2000, leedy broadway, etc)

[@rich7662]

Great video! I've played both modern and vintage but couldn't tell which kit was being recorded until you pointed out the bass drum sound. There's definitely a difference but the the title of the video asks which is better. BTW Tyson is definitely the man!

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Thanks Rich!

[@haydenfloro5561]

This man really said YAM uh haw.

[@olahakansson5973]

I always liked the vintage drumsound...great tone!

[@felixweber6593]

Hi, what a superb idea to compare all these kits back to back. I play a "modern-vintage" Pearl Masters Mahogany Limited Edition from the end of the 90's and it sounds huge (22 kd, 10, 12, 13 toms, 16 floor and 14x6,5 snare) after 25 years of playing. About the blind tests I missed one (the acrylic kit), did not have an answer to another and got the rest... 💪

[@billyrhythm]

Preferred the modern Gretsch, the vintage Ludwigs, Yamaha couldn’t pick a preference (but the Yellow Tiger is a KILLER finish).

[@magnusforsberg-drumseducat7972]

Thanks, very interesting! I have to say that I think the vintage drums sounded best in all examples. The bassdrums sound different where vintage is more open and light while the modern drums sound more punchy and tight, so here it is a bit of a question of what to play. The toms of the vintage drums have a fuller, richer, warmer and more homogeneous sound where you hear the glory of the drum. The modern drums generally sound a little cleaner and lighter and the sound is a little more hollow where it feels like you can not hear the full sound of the whole drum in the same way as on the vintage drums. I think the Yamaha sets were most similar in comparison and that the Ludwig drums were most different. As for the Ludwig drums, I have to say that I do not really recognize the sound of the Classic Maple here. Classic Maple are very good drums that in my opinion sound warm and punchy with an open tone. I just think it is not representative of how I know the drums and I have a feeling that you have been a little unlucky with the tuning and heads. In the test I got it wrong with the Acrylic and Pearl. My drum kits are modern - Ludwig Classic Maple and Ludwig Club Date. Club date is a modern version of Ludwig Club Date from the 60's with round bearing edges, so they may be called modern / vintage. They definitely have their own sound and they sound pretty vintage, I would like to say that they just need to age a bit then they are there 😇🥁

[@michaelshreve6455]

1989 USA Custom Square Badge Birds Eye in Natural Finish with twin 16x24 kicks, 10x12, 11x13, 14x14 18x18, 8x14 20 lug snare with lightning throw off

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Went 5 for 5 on the blind shootout at the end, I'm a drum genius!!!

[@BrandonToews]

BOOM!

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

I didn't like the sound of any of the kits. I am so used to my 1981 Ludwig kit. 24" Bass, 18" floor tom with muffler, 8", 10", 13", 14" the last 2 are square in size.

[@danstephensen9032]

My Rogers 1966 Holiday Model with DynaSonic STILL sounds meaty and vibey. (BOUGHT AT AGE 16) But people always say "what are those drums"?? The kick hoops were falling a part 15 yrs ago so I stained up some Maple hoops Cherry Gloss. I was amazed at the difference from just changing out the Hoops. Bass player noticed it right off. I usually play a Ludwig AcroLITE since the Dyna is SO LOUD. AT AGE 72 I'm still gigging with MANY bands who need a SUB. I like the Aquarian Super Kick II. And these groups I sit in with always say, "Why does your little kit sound better than our drummers "Big Kit"?? Wisdom of the Years: " Know your place and just STAY THERE "....

[@trevoroutim8519]

I play vintage Ludwig (1971), Rogers (1960s) and John Grey (1920s). I got one wrong which was the vistalite kit comparison.

[@jrfrondelli2023]

Hmmmm..... this is an interesting video, but you probably realize that, when comparing the vintage and modern Ludwig kits, the Classic Maple (7-ply maple, no rings, sharp edges) and vintage Super Classics (3-ply mahogany/poplar/mahogany, with solid maple rerings), that the shells are WAY different animals! Curious as to why you didn't spec a Ludwig Legacy Mahogany kit for this shootout. 🤷‍♂

[@ZOB4]

The old Ludwig sounded way better than the new one

[@jasonswitzer1748]

100% agree.

[@doeni2]

Objectively the two Gretsch Kits are totally different, so in this case it isn't a question concerning Mondern vs. Vintage. Different shells with different construction, Diecast Hoops vs. 302 Hoops, Single Lugs vs. two Lugs....

[@michelgagnon3588]

It’s all about bearing edge. If possible, compare 30 degrees vintage with 30 degrees modern. The bearing edge makes a lot of difference.

[@Tyl-Fiedler]

Great video

[@DrumeoOfficial]

Thanks!

[@b.p.879]

My take: #1 1968 Yamaha D30's are best, every drum sounds amazing to me. #2 1960 Ludwig Downbeats, the Kick, snare and floor tom sound really great. #3 Vintage Gretsch. I didn't care for either of the Gretsch kits, however all the Gretsch kit's I've tried in person sound awesome. My background: I've been playing professionally for over 30 years, and currently I play a 2005 Tama Starclassic Birch 6 piece mainly, but I also have a Superstar Classic 8 piece for some gigs, and I use Mapex Black Panther Steel and Bronze snares, and sometimes the Birch Starclassic snare at quieter gigs.

[@lylaznboi01]

With the Ludwig kit, I love the Classic Maple kick, but I love the tom sounds on the vintage kit. It could be just that the tuning didn't work well on the Classic Maple kit.

[@ppernett1]

Vintage kits kind of suck. Drums didn’t start getting good until the 1980s and I will take my 2022 Pearls over anything old. They are amazing. Except for the Ludwig speed king, best pedal ever.

[@tumiantumi4726]

I got them all right...the "Blind test"...🤣🤣...lucky guess i guess...and i am not even a real drummer, just a novice beginner with a new Pearl Export...wich i hope was the right choice...😉😉

[@miguelangelorengovicente6740]

Cannot believe that almost NOBODY speaks about HEADS. It’s more similar a modern Yamaha to a vintage Ludwig both with same heads than two clone Ludwig’s from same era and different heads. And of course you have to use same measure, tuning, mic (model & position) and sticks. This video is nice but totally useless for the main purpose you did it

[@mariwithaccent]

Sorry, but a 67' gretsch is maple gum shell. It would be supposed to be compare with a modern USA custom (maple gum) not with a modern broadcaster (3 ply maple). Maybe a suggestion for a new comparison? Anyway thank you for this very interesting topic!

[@joesantamaria5874]

No no no no. I used to manage a drum shop, and have played literally thousands of drums of all vintages. As much as I like the vibe of my Stewart Stewart Copeland vibe 1981 vintage Tama Imperialstars, my WMP ‘64 Gene Krupa Slingerland, my various Radio King snares, blah blah blah blah, nothing compares to my recent vintage Yamaha Stage Custom Birch set. Yup. You heard it here first. A properly tuned mid level pro kit sounds better than any vintage drums I have played or owned.

[@damianGray]

I have Earthtone calf skins on my Mapex Saturn V kit at home, and the sounds are very warm and solid. I feel like you can get a vintage sound from modern kits, you just need to be intentional about it.

[@littledrummerboyph]

Missed the acrylic, otherwise correct guesses (they were fairly obvious to me). I play mostly vintage kits- I own two Rogers and play another at church, but also have spent some hours on a 60s Ludwig, Star, and a MIJ stencil kit. I also own a modern Yamaha that I played constantly for over a decade. For me, modern drums are usually more in-your-face and project more, which doesn't work well for the settings and styles I'm playing- I think this was very apparent in the tests here with the toms- except for the Grestch, the vintage toms were warmer/rounder sounding. Vintage kicks may not be as tight, but they usually have great character. The switch from my Yamaha to my first Rogers was bizzare, though- I went from a 22/10/12/14 setup to a 20/13/16, where the kick shrank and the toms grew- talk about feeling weird behind a kit at first! The other super interesting thing here is that the snare sound changes with the kit changes- the reverse was true, too, in a recent Mike Johnston video where he shot out snares, and it made the sound of the kit change.

[@lvxmagick9560]

The more Hipster you are the better the Vintage sounds..

[@pbaker7160]

Haha...so true.

[@dirkayala5812]

Great Job on a super cool video idea...More like this in future please!:) You snuck a Zickos in there!...I had a Zicko's Bass Drum for several years so my heart definitely lends towards Vintage but after a massive downsize of the drums for while I play modern currently. Did do a Full reWrap on a Force 2000 in Very Vintage printings,(mostly ad's from 30's-60's), just to pay homage nuthin else. Again, Nicely done vid here guys...!

[@jamesmorgan4514]

This is a pointless comparison. They are comparing drum sets with completely different shell configurations! If you want to compare modern to vintage - compare 3ply to 3 ply or Mahogany to Mahogany. Don’t compare 6 ply vintage to 3 ply modern and vice versa. Completely pointless!

[@482jpsquared]

Guys, we're talking about plastic sheets stretched over plywood cylinders. Let's not get too wrapped up in whether the subtle differences come from old vs new. The other variables such as hoops and tuning will outweigh how old the plywood is. A lot of the "vintage sound" comes from shells that are out of round or have aged bearing edges and worn heads. (Look at Gadd's heads for example.) That can produce a cool "sweet" or "rich" sound which can be pleasing to the ear. FWIW, I'm a jazz/rock player of 48 years. I hear the differences between the kits, but how much or that is attributable to age itself?

[@paulgiacalone4471]

In the Gretsch comparison it’s not accurate because the Vintage kit is the 6 ply maple/gum with die cast hoops , the Modern kit you used was a Broadkaster kit , which is 3ply maple poplar and 302 hoops which are slightly thinner/ lighter than the die cast.Also not a 30degree bearing edge. It’s a reverse round over edge. For the modern kit , you would have need a USA custom kit which IS 6 ply maple/gum with die cast hoops and 30 degree edges.

[@ambroulard]

Senseless in that you didn’t bother to mention what the newer Gretsch kit is Made Of-- why?? BTW,,, you’re simply Wrong regarding the floor Tom of the newer Gretsch kit,,, it sounds like ASS but I suspect that’s due to a Bad Tuning JOb rather than the drum.

[@footnotedrummer]

You mention right at the beginning... "these are 6 ply gum shells". Since the modern broadcaster set is a mixture of maple and poplar... the drum tones (especially on larger drums) will be quite different. The 12" sounds nearly identical, but the floor tom is unique (larger drum) and the kick is drastically different (even larger drum). Would be a better test to get 6 ply gum shells from someone, and construct a "vintage" Gretch kit to compare.

[@matmarah155]

Guys, the YAMAHA is not a D30. It's a C200 in Golden Dragon. I would know because I own one with matching snare. That's not a D series kit in the video

[@VictorMAW]

Aaaaaaaargh, great video!🤘🍻 Edit. I mistake the Yamaha one. Did good on the others, surprisingly HAHAHAHAHA

[@Mr_Spooner]

Oof. 3 year old video. I can probably trust this one. More recent drumeo videos are kinda….. bs……