Meridian Maple vs Saturn

[hddruming]

Need some help. I am about to pull the tricker on a 7-pcs Saturn kit. However the new Meridian series has the new mounting systems for the toms. My question is; is this system any better than the Saturn's and Orion's? and does any one think that Mapex will switch to the new tom mounting system for the rest of their line? Finally, is Meridian maple made with North American Maple or Chinese Maple? and how different in sound is between Saturn and Meridian maple?

Thanks

November 17th Update:

You guys are great Thanks for the replies. Went to a local store to check out the Meridian and too bad they did not have the kit set up. Every thing was still in the box. However the guy pulled out the 10" tom to show me and I must say Mapex did a great job on the finish. Even though the lugs look like that they only have a single chrome coating (not as shiny as on Pearl's) but every else good great. The new ITS feel solid. WHICH MAKE MY DECISION EVEN HARDER NOW.

To be honest with you guys, I can barly tell the different in sound from the video clips of the Saturn and Meridian. Maybe I don't know what to listen for but the two kits are almost the same to me.

Please point out the different so that I can listen for that. One thing is how do we know that these kits were being mic up (mixed) the same.

Saturn is about $1K more than the Meridian in my area.

Thanks and look forward for more direction.

[Giuli]

Welcome aboard, HDDrumming!
I'll try to give you a couple of answers starting with your last questions.
The shells of the Saturn kits are made of 4 plies of North-American (Canadian) maple and 2 inner plies of walnut.
The Meridian maple shells are made of Asian maple, as far as I know.
As for the way they sound, you can check out these videos.

Saturns


Meridians




I'm sure the other guys will answer all of your questions, as we have a lot of Saturns and ProM's owners. Oh, and Meridians owners too!

[Mr Orion]

They are BOTH GREAT kits ... As for the new ITS mounts on the Meridians i have seen them but not used them yet so i cannot really comment on the mounts. However i can tell you that there is a considerable difference in the Saturn and Meridian drums. The Saturns have a Maple/walnut combo and the Meridians are pure maple and i believe it is Asian maple. With the Saturns there is a LOW end that you will not get with the Meridians due to the walnut. However the Meridians are priced right and probably the best bang for the buck when you look it financially. No other drum mfg can give you what the Meridians give you for the price. There are also numerous other differences such as virgin kicks in the Saturns and the spring loaded floor toms legs and the AMAZING finishes.. As a Saturn owner myself i would stick with your decision on the Saturns and you'll be a happy happy drummer ............Because imo to compete with the Saturns you will have to spend over 5,000 with any other drum mfg.......GOODLUCK and let us all know what you decide on

[rush equals love]

Stick with the Saturns. Not knocking th eMeridians, but you will NOT regret the Saturn. ever.

[quikstang2]

Am I reading this right? Saturn shells with Meridian lugs/ITS? Sounds like the best of both worlds right there man! As stated, the walnut gives the Saturns a depth that the Meridians won't get. The Meridian ITS gives a sound that the other system cannot accomplish. Now if you don't want/need the lower tones that walnut provides, then the Meridians would be the way to go. Honestly, that set you're looking at should sound better than anything you've ever heard before.

[Gianpiero]

i could say... go to your local music store & try both... but the stock heads are differents in both series... meridians come with remo UT i guess & saturns come with remo emperors.... still you can get a really nice idea of the sounds of both kits

[hddruming]

November 17th Update:

You guys are great Thanks for the replies. Went to a local store to check out the Meridian and too bad they did not have the kit set up. Every thing was still in the box. However the guy pulled out the 10" tom to show me and I must say Mapex did a great job on the finish. Even though the lugs look like that they only have a single chrome coating (not as shiny as on Pearl's) but every else good great. The new ITS feel solid. WHICH MAKE MY DECISION EVEN HARDER NOW.

To be honest with you guys, I can barly tell the different in sound from the video clips of the Saturn and Meridian. Maybe I don't know what to listen for but the two kits are almost the same to me.

Please point out the different so that I can listen for that. One thing is how do we know that these kits were being mic up (mixed) the same.

Saturn is about $1K more than the Meridian in my area.

Thanks and look forward for more direction.

[dingerjunkie]

Tough part about those recording is the dreaded YouTube compression monster. Audio is usually quite jacked-up on their hosted videos. This makes it difficult to identify differences in projection and presence. Listen for more bottom-end, and more attack, from the Saturns. There is a recent thread comparing birch kits to Saturns...same points, though slightly less so with maple shells compared to Saturns.

I'd be totally happy to gig with the Meridian Maples if I didn't already have Saturns, and $1K can purchase nice cymbals or all your supporting gear (cases, etc...).

[2112]

(11-18-2009 04:36 AM)dingerjunkie Wrote:  I'd be totally happy to gig with the Meridian Maples if I didn't already have Saturns, and $1K can purchase nice cymbals or all your supporting gear (cases, etc...).

Very well said!! I gig with my pro-M and I absolutely love them!!

[VanWinkle]

(11-18-2009 10:50 AM)2112 Wrote:  

(11-18-2009 04:36 AM)dingerjunkie Wrote:  I'd be totally happy to gig with the Meridian Maples if I didn't already have Saturns, and $1K can purchase nice cymbals or all your supporting gear (cases, etc...).

Very well said!! I gig with my pro-M and I absolutely love them!!

As do I Totally gig worthy....