DW Design Series 5-Piece Drum Kit Review - Sweetwater Sound

[@mjeffbr]

You know a kit is good when Nick smiles while playing.

[@77easy77]

B.S Nick always smiles because he wanna sell. its exactly the opposite when Nick only talks about how good the kits looks its because it sounds like crap

[@glanemann]

I bought this same kit. White satin. The kit is phenomenal. For 1500 bucks, you get a DW kit that has killer sound. Of course who doesn't want a collector kit, but a 1/3rd of the cost you can get a great DW set.

[@Assimilator702]

***** The Collectors have VERY thin shells. They sound boxy. Or Boingy. I spent 4 years with a Collectors set and I would NEVER use one again for live use. Studio....maybe. The Designer series is a better overall drumset. I also own a set with Keller Maple shells and it is better than the DW Collectors. I will NEVER own another DW Collectors series again. Starclassic Maple is also another better alternative if you want Maple shells.

[@Assimilator702]

***** I suggest buying a shell pack that doesn't some with a snare. I never buy a kit if it comes with a snare. Plenty of companys offer nice kits in white. The Designer are about the same price as the Tama B/B which come in a pretty nice white finish. 5 piece shell pack ROUGHLY around $1500 to $1600. Go to a drum shop that has several different brands and play as many kits as you can to get a feel for what you really like.

[@Sms8668]

Joe Rico Seems like you got taken like the rest of them just for a name. My Ludwig Keystone Classic Birch Kit Burris’s any of these Kits

[@77easy77]

I dont't want a collector, or just give me one i'll sell it and buy a tama startclassic maple in stead and few cymbals too :D

[@papaduds4824]

I'm a guitarist... And I watch those drum reviews just because I love Nick's playing!! It's awesome!! So fluid...🔥

[@costamesa22]

Exactly

[@ryanroentz7005]

I just bought one in like new condition for $700! 🔥🔥🔥

[@nospoon17]

Ryan Roentz what?!!!

[@davidmcaninch4714]

My dad got me a DW Design Series Midnight Blue Satin Kit for Christmas, and it sounds like heaven. I love it so much!!!!!!!!

[@beachboy2463]

I'm glad to hear that, about to grab one within 2 weeks!

[@jaydoode15]

boy how do you like the kit?

[@beachboy2463]

@@jaydoode15 Having a ball! For me it has just the right amount of resonance, tuned lower which I prefer.

[@davidmcaninch4714]

@@jaydoode15 sorry I didn’t respond to you right away, but it’s awesome!!!!! I love it!!!!!!! It sounds great!!!!!! I feel, that it’s the best kit I’ve ever played!!! I played a Pearl Forum kit, which I still have at my dad’s, my DW kit is at my mom’s, and I love it so much!!!!!

[@johnniesmith3041]

This kit is really all you need. Everything else is gravy at that point. Great price too.

[@carolschneider5492]

Sariq Tucker just want to let you know man you are the most composed drummer I have ever seen. You can be shedding at one point in the next point you could be just doing a simple Groove which with such control. You appear to be calm. that's the absolute truth I see the Expressions on your face when you're drumming. And I know that God is blessing you with the information that you got about maybe going to college or maybe having your own School for teaching. I got a few tips from you and just continue to be humble as you are and continue to be true to the Expressions that you have. I think you know what I mean. Keep up the good work. Because many people are watching. You are a good example for people to see. thank you so much for all the time that you have put in practicing and practicing like you have. Have a great day. I'm just one of your fans.

[@brendanj.rayner9155]

I have had mine three and a half years...... I had one of the first kits in the UK in the satin White that is no longer available. These are brilliant kits...... I have a seven piece. Now it has taken me a while to find the right Head combinations to get the best out of them and I can particularly recommend Evans EC2's on top with a G1 underneath on the toms. The bass drum I have had an Emad batter with a EQ3 on the front...... killer! I would recommend changing the heads from the stock heads..... no disrespect to John Good or dw but they don't do the kit any favours. One other thing is that I have learned to play smaller drums tuned lower and boy do they respond. Simply the best kit I have ever had (until I can afford the Collectors Birch kit I really desire).

[@muzomonty6616]

Have you tried EC resos on the bottom for a more punchy sound?

[@glanemann]

I have the same heads. The kit does sing with those. I lately added EC resos with EC2 on top. Sound fantastic.

[@butchcassidy3373]

I have this kit in piano black and love them. I added the black chrome over brass snare. The bass drum is a cannon. Everyone comments on how great it sounds.

[@DrumRoody]

The cheaper DW kits get the better they sound

[@mikestein1024]

Tama and dW are the best in biz, dW makes a nice large and open but on the tubbier side sounding drum and tama makes a tight punchey and a little choked sounding drum, the only thing that sounds better to me are Keller shells which sonar and dW still sometimes use for custom sizes but kellers while having unrivaled presence usually all sound the same and some drummers don't like that but I like them a lot

[@James.ceta14]

I'm getting a double Bass grey dw design kit 10,12,14,16, and Two 22x18 Bass drums

[@thatdudekyle5690]

I have these same drums. They sound amazing. I’m recording with them tomorrow I can’t wait!

[@ralphiebarba]

how did it go? i’m thinking of picking them up soon.

[@thatdudekyle5690]

Amazing!! If you want to hear the final product, look up “You won’t bring me down” by Del Mar

[@thatdudekyle5690]

Ralphie Barba its here on KZbin. Tell me what you think!

[@ralphiebarba]

@@thatdudekyle5690 will do thanks!

[@thatdudekyle5690]

Ralphie Delmar.fl

[@thewutitizband]

I have a an old set of Ludwig cortex classic power ok sounding....and a set of Premier Gen-x series maple/birch hybrid tough to tune but a very decent kit.Thinking of a third kit cause its been 15 years since new equipment[premier's 2001 new] This kit seems like a real candidate.I actually liked Nick's presentation and sound of the Tama Superstars and that price on Tamas is killer. But this kit has the classic signature DW Growl and for 15 clams I am thinking this is my next catalyst . Love the white finish too,never owned a white kit.Thanks Nick and Sweetwater for your great presentation.

[@rdnk24able]

Wish I knew what the 12in tom tunned to

[@ScotianBlooded]

Is it any better than a PDP kit of the same prize?

[@anthonyn1312]

Excuse me, I got a question. How much more white can it get? Is none or 100?

[@grueurgrue2108]

I'm looking into the matte black 3 piece. I love collectors series. I feel like performance series are the same just with less options. How do the design measure up?

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Grue! The Design Series kits are fantastic for the money and are made with the same focus on consistency as Performance series, albeit overseas instead of in the USA. That said, I own a Performance Series kit myself and find the low end presence and sustain to be greater than the comparable Design Series kit. This is likely due to the different shell designs - HVLT on the Design Series vs. HVX on the Performance Series. Thanks for the interest! Cody Kraus, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1766, [e-mail]

[@nscharafanow]

Man, that sounds amazing! Do you guys tune the batter and reso to the same pitch on toms?

[@sweetwater]

There are so many ways and thoughts on how to tune drums. I tend to go the route of tuning both top and bottom close to the same pitch and then tweak from there, with the final result of the resonant head being a bit tighter and higher pitched then the batter head. I've also found that all DW drums, no matter the line, are very easy to tune. I hope that is of some help. All the best!

[@Severen45]

SweetwaterSound I'm thinking about upgrading from my Pearl Vision birch kit to a more studio and big gig touring set. What do you think is the better route to go for that deep maple rock sound like Dave Grohl has and had on songs for the deaf this kit or the Performance series?

[@bradencutright-head6629]

+bryan harris (sevren45) performance. It's an upgrade

[@chisoxfan708]

Is am 18 inch floor tom available in this series?

[@tomeleefan]

Would love to see or hear. Truthful comparison for design series kit vs a standard collectors series kit.

[@petegarciajr2601]

It's about time for me to update. I have an original Pearl Session Custom which I still really enjoy, but these have been catching my eye. Any ex Pearl players here?

[@TheFlightsimNerd]

yep, my first kit ever was a 5pc Pearl Forum

[@andrewwalker6566]

I’ll never play Pearl again. dw all the way

[@albertoflorio5007]

How do you record audio? I dont see microphones

[@Smashlyn1]

What remo heads are you using on the toms? I have the same kit in cherry stain and use remo coated emperor heads for my toms and Evans GMAD head for kick drum batterhead

[@sweetwater]

hey there, sorry for the VERY late reply. On the toms I am using your basic Remo Ambassadors. When reviewing all the drum kits around here I think it is a good to see what they sound like with just a basic single ply head, and if they do then I know I they would do well with other combinations. I hope that helps :)

[@baturaycoksaygl472]

SweetwaterSound

[@ericdimeglio1795]

I dont see microphones in the toms...... why???? ..... in other videos with top of the line and more expansive drums all tons have mic..... why???

[@muzomonty6616]

Does anyone know why this kit is no longer available in this white satin matte finish?

[@aviregal]

Because they don't sell that finish anymore

[@dsshdrumming2christ]

i have a pdp concept series and I would like to upgrade but I want to get the best for what I pay. Is this set significantly better than the pdp concept series or should I just go for a different set in that pricepoint or save up for a performance series??

[@markomarkovic5729]

Yes, this is much much better. Have you tried Mapex Saturn? Costs same as Design, but sounds even better, at least in my opinion

[@ScottSmith-vw5yq]

@@markomarkovic5729 Agreed - I actually traded in my DW Collector kit for a Mapex Saturn V. Freaking LOVE it.

[@stevenfederico2594]

I hope u got the DW

[@tonyrosario8403]

I just got the new 2020 steel gray 5 pc and I don't like what I'm hearing out of box I've tried every thing to make them sound good it's not happening I put new red Evans heads on them still don't like them I thought for the amount of money I had to spend so far even on tom hardware I would get an awesome sound not even moon jell will help I own 9 different kits this one has me feeling ripped off any suggestions

[@paulbolin7513]

It’s more money but I can recommend certain heads to you. Remo Powerstroke 4’s on the tops of the toms as well as the snare. Emperors on the bottom of the toms. Evans Gmad on the bass drum. These heads will make garbage cans sound good.

[@bakedalaska4363]

If you don't have one already, get a Tune-Bot. Your drums will never sound the same again - in the best way possible.

[@MrEltaka10]

What’s the difference between a design series & a Pdp concept series?

[@sweetwater]

Hi, Anthony. There are quite a few differences between the two kits. However, the primary ones would be where they are made and where the wood comes from. The Design series are made in DW's factory in California with Hard Rock Maple harvested from northern Michigan. The Concept series are all made overseas with wood harvested locally to the factory. Thanks for your interest! Mike Wuchter, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1789

[@RRPerez]

Difference is the hardware (i.e. lugs) and the shell material: Design=North American hard rock maple vs. Concept=Asian maple. Big difference in tone and resonance where the NAHR maple is of a higher grade hence the Designs are at least a few more hundred dollars than the Concepts (PDP). Both are manufactured overseas which bridge the two together otherwise they're two different kits in terms of wood shell integrity and tonality.

[@claystaggs8908]

Design series are made overseas

[@curtisslow]

Is the design series USA made?

[@glanemann]

Taiwan. I got this same set. It sounds superb. You won't be disappointed by them.

[@jametz66]

Design Series is not North American Hard Rock Maple ......it's Japanese Maple. This was sent to me by a DW rep via email when I asked about the differences.

[@WeAreBeggarsAll83]

+krak2121 in the shells they're stamped correctly. The performance series are American Rock Maple shells.

[@KalimbaSpirit]

I believe you but this is off the Website (These are thicker North American Maple shells that pack a punch. Incorporating HVLT™ (Vertical Low Timbre shell with a horizontal outer ply), Design Series® shells are full, resonant, and responsive.)

[@glanemann]

I think he's wrong. Everything listed online says they're Hard Rock Maple.

[@WeAreBeggarsAll83]

They're made in Taiwan

[@ladrums1000]

They are made in Taiwan but with the North American Maple wood you would get on the performance series. So instead of an American putting them together, its done by a Taiwanese person. The skill and quality control in Taiwan is much better than in China and probably on par with what they would do in America.

[@muhamadhasiri3602]

Maju terus

[@claystaggs8908]

Didn’t realize how poorly he reviewed the drums when he first started lol

[@lincolnpow4355]

69th

[@77easy77]

as we are used to hear from DW crap lifeless sound

[@andrewwalker6566]

Only in your opinion! dw drums are awesome

[@MikeyH1996]

Awful sounding.

[@user-jg6bu2jx8y]

Jerome BMG like ur own comment sad

[@jesusislord1634]

I agree, i have a DW Pacific (original when the Pacific line first came out) that sound WAY better. I wonder if they are US made?

[@glanemann]

No, they're made in Taiwan I believe.