Hi Dan- I was wondering what your opinions are on the Taye Studio Maples now that you've had them for a few months. I'm curious why you chose Taye for the Listening Sessions, or is it that they approached you through an endorsement?

Have you had a chance to record with them yet?

I've read a few negatives online, but I'd really like to hear your opinions. Some of the gripes were regarding a "weak" sounding bass drum, a snare that doesn't really pop, and less than solid hardware (especially the tom mounts). Have you experienced anything similar?

Can you give us the real low down w/o alienating your endorsement?

Thanks, Rez

I approached Taye. I'd used a kit someone else had, and was impressed.

I think they're great if you're going to use them in the studio.
The hardware on the StudioMaple kit is too light if you're taking them out on the road. But for the studio it works well.

The snare is one of the better features. Great sound.

The one thing on the kit I haven't been thrilled about is the kick pedal.
But everything else is cool, and a great value for the money.

We've really got the Taye StudioMaple tuned up and sounding absolutely killer. We added some Evans G2 heads on the batter sides, and G1's on the resonant sides. Been doing lots of drum recording for a few ablums over the past couple of months. I'll get some clips up here when we've got something.

All the drummers who have been coming in have been blown away by the kit.

We also just did some tube mic preamp comparisons, and used the Taye kit with a pair of Gefell M295's out in front of the kit in ORTF. Tracks will be online at TLS soon.

We did have one weird thing happen: While tracking a ballad, no less, several lugs on the snare started to pop off. It turns out that the screws that hold in the lugs are just a bit too short, and aren't really screwed into the lugs enough to hold them securely. I'm currently running around trying to locate some metric screws that are just a bit longer. Then we'll put the snare back together.

Here's a shot of the Taye StudioMaple in action last week during a TLS session for tube preamps. Pardon the appearance - we're in the middle of reconstruction in this studio.

Dan- tnx 4 the update. We bought a set of Taye Studio Maples in August. So far EVERYONE agrees the kit sounds stellar and the finish is beautiful (Burgundy Red).

The ACS components (cymbal attachment system) get high marks from me as well.

There are parts of the kit (mostly standard hardware) that need to be addressed: your snare lug issue is similar to the types of problems we've encountered so far. I'm still waiting to hear back from the company regarding these issues - I'll post the details when/if I hear back from them.

On the whole, the kit is a great "bang for the buck". The shells are premium and the finishes are stunning - the company just needs to work out some of the hardware kinks and quality control issues. They are still relatively new at making complete kits and worth keeping an eye on.

Up close:

Bass drum:

I have yet to have heard or read a bad comment about the Taye's and can't wait for the opportunity to record them.

A couple of friends of mine have known Ray for years and said that if he's behind it, it's going to be good. He apparently doesn't do anything half-assed.

Dan, that studio looks like it's built for Punk and Hardcore Good place to run drums thru their paces I guess.

Sounds like the Taye's are similar to my DW Pacific kit. The drums just sound amazing and it's the cheapest kit I've ever owned (minus when I was 13 and piecing a kit together). The place they skimp is on the drum hardware. The lug casings and machining on the hardware is just not near roadworthy. But I tell ya, the all maple shells just sing! It's been my favorite kit I've owned as far as tone is concerned and I've been playing (UH OH) over 20 years (UH OH- well over). Great studio kit (If you get the maple one and make sure the bearing edges are cool (CX series). Sounds like the Tayes are in the same ballpark :-)