DESCRIPTION:
Get this DW kit here: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DREX5CedarSh

In this video I am demonstrating the DW Collector's Exotic Series 5-piece Shell Pack with a Natural Lacquer over Cedar finish. Since this is the Collectors series from DW it is the best that they make. The drum shells all have DW's SSC shell construction which put the plies that make up the shell, and the wood grain of those plies, together in such a way that each drum in the set is tuned to its ideal pitch and tone in order to give you, the player, a drum kit that comes together as a whole instrument. All of the drums speak together with one voice that is very musical and super inspiring to play.

This drum kit comes with 8" x 10" and 9 x 12" rack toms, 12" x 14" and 14" x 16" floor toms, and a 18" x 22" kick drum. All of the drums are 8 ply, 100% North American Hard Rock Maple with a 3-ply finger-jointed reinforcement hoop.

Like I stated above, all of the drum have DW's SSC shell construction which gives each drum its ideal voice. The rack toms have the VLT (Vertical Low Timbre) build which has the outermost and innermost plies running vertically. This is especially good for drums 12" and smaller. It brings out the high end attack but also gives the drum a round tone for definite pitch. The 14" floor tom comes in the "X" build which has all of the plies running diagonally. The diagonal plies start to bring in more low end while leaving the snap and attack of the drum. The 16" floor tom and the kick drum have the VLX build and that has the wood grains of six of the eight plies running diagonally while the other two plies run vertically. DW has found that the VLX build brings out the most low end which is perfect for big toms and kick drums.

The hardware on this kit, like all Collectors series drum kits, is high end and also adds another dimension in tone. The STM tom suspension system for the rack toms lets the drums hang freely and add to their sustain. All of the toms have DW's True Hoops and True Pitch tuning rods. Rounding out this amazing drum kit are lined claw hooks so as to not damage the kick drum hoops, very sturdy and easy to use kick drum spurs and floor tom legs.

The finish of this drum kit is what we around here at Sweetwater call "ridiculous!" It has a natural lacquer over very beautiful Cedar wood. DW has made drums in Cedar before but it has been a while. The wood has to meet John Good's specifications and he found this amazing example of Cedar and brought it back for 2015. The grain of the wood is so striking coupled with the Nickel hardware that it is hard to take your eyes off of them. You may even be a bit afraid to play them because they look so good but let me assure you that these drums were made to be played! These drums can rock hard and groove all night long.

The sum of all of the parts is a high end drum kit that sounds and plays wonderfully. There is tone, pitch, attack, projection, and warmth all together in a gorgeous package. This is a drum kit that will last more then a lifetime. If it is time for you to have your dream instrument then you should take a closer look at this DW Collector's Exotic Series 5-piece Shell Pack with a Natural Lacquer over Cedar finish. Once you start jamming on this kit you will not want to stop.

-- Nick D'Virgilio