So this happened over the holiday weekend and arrived today.
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/qi93rem9amnf3gn/sakae%20kit.jpg?raw=1)
Sakae Trilogy. The kit's sort of a hybrid of 60s Ludwig/Yamaha/Gretch aspects, with super thin (and really light) maple shells.
Sakae made Yamaha's high-end drums since the 60s and were around since 1925. They went bankrupt last year, got bought by Korg, and their production is being moved to Taiwan. It's heartbreaking, honestly. I got probably the last 22/12/14 kit for sale anywhere and picked up a 10" that's arriving tomorrow from another shop. Tried my damnedest to find the matching snare, but the only ones for sale are on evilbay from Japan for $700+, which isn't happening. I might get one of the other other colors for that but I'm not in a hurry to buy it. I figured it was now or never to get something that's basically one of my dream instruments. And while the Natal I got last year sounds plenty good when I tune it up and records pretty decently, but it's a little too modern sounding to me. This has an older sound but I don't have to deal with all the problems of actually buying an old instrument.
I've got it all tuned up and it honestly sounds awesome, but one thing I didn't expect was for it to physically *feel* different. Like with the Natal the low frequencies weren't there and there was basically no shell resonance. These are the same size for the toms, but I can physically feel the sound in my legs when I'm playing, and I don't even have to be playing that hard.
Close-up of the finish. It's painted, not a wrap, and it looks seriously stunning in person. [edit: I was wrong about this being a painted finish, this might be the only kit they've ever done that's a wrap]
(https://www.dropbox.com/s/0zwcztwfmrqslm0/sakae%20rack%20tom.jpg?raw=1)
WowJon. That looks really nice. I didn't know you were that serious into drums. And the fact that you can play them, truly impressive. I bought a set a few years ago and discovered I can't play drums.
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Quote from: jimilee on June 05, 2021, 02:30:12 AM
WowJon. That looks really nice. I didn't know you were that serious into drums. And the fact that you can play them, truly impressive. I bought a set a few years ago and discovered I can't play drums.
Part of it's that our recording and practicing situation has gotten more complicated. The engineer I work with, quite justifiably, wants to be able to buy groceries, so he's getting part time work with a "real" job. These aren't only for me to play. The reason I got a kit originally was that our drummer was kind of bouncing around in apartments (he and his wife are separated but not getting divorced) so I wanted a kit set up at my house for him to play at practices and to record with in a pinch. Then I figured I should learn how to play them, and then I decided that I ought to get good enough to make demos so I practiced a lot, and then I decided that I wanted the option to have a kit that sounds like what we want on the recordings in case we can't get studio time with the person I prefer.
This is a lot of rationalization but it's not *just* rationalizing ...
That's very kind of you to do that for the guy.
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Man, that's gorgeous! The 3D effect is awesome. It looks like it's is turning into a T-1000.
I am jealous, i miss having my Gretsch kit. These little kits are the best sounding and record so nicely.
Really cool of you and I cannot wait to hear it on some music.
I'm still all locked up on the last line "It's painted, not a wrap". I have no idea how that's possible.
Anyway, great score and I'm looking forward to hearing them.
Quote from: gordo on June 05, 2021, 01:47:05 PM
I'm still all locked up on the last line "It's painted, not a wrap". I have no idea how that's possible.
Actually I looked again more closely and I was wrong about that! It looks like it's a really thin wrap, but some people had said that all their higher end shells were painted (and I am pretty sure all the kits they made for Yamaha were painted), so I had assumed that this kit must be. I'm looking at the bass drum hoops and if I run my finger along where the edge happens there is a really thin bump, like paper thin.
This is actually a good thing, I won't keep having a heart palpitation every time I bump one.
I've got a couple songs kicking around that never got a proper recording, I think I'll fire up the ole DAW pretty soon for one of those. I've got a pair of KM84 DIY kits on the way from a group buy over on GroupDIY, too!
Quote from: midwayfair on June 05, 2021, 02:42:03 AM
Quote from: jimilee on June 05, 2021, 02:30:12 AM
WowJon. That looks really nice. I didn't know you were that serious into drums. And the fact that you can play them, truly impressive. I bought a set a few years ago and discovered I can't play drums.
Part of it's that our recording and practicing situation has gotten more complicated. The engineer I work with, quite justifiably, wants to be able to buy groceries, so he's getting part time work with a "real" job. These aren't only for me to play. The reason I got a kit originally was that our drummer was kind of bouncing around in apartments (he and his wife are separated but not getting divorced) so I wanted a kit set up at my house for him to play at practices and to record with in a pinch. Then I figured I should learn how to play them, and then I decided that I ought to get good enough to make demos so I practiced a lot, and then I decided that I wanted the option to have a kit that sounds like what we want on the recordings in case we can't get studio time with the person I prefer.
This is a lot of rationalization but it's not *just* rationalizing ...
Sounds more like you've got a solution than a problem. ;-)
Congrats. That looks like a great kit.