Open Box Mapex Armory Series Exotic Studioease Shell Pack Level 1 Ultramarine Gloss

At this price range you will not find any other kit that will beat it! Excellent sounds and body, hardware is beautiful. Just a really awesome kit! You will not regret purchasing!

I've been a Mapex guy for years & I truly believe you get the most "bang for your buck" w/ them. Armory series is a great blend of birch and maple, though doesn't provide as much warmth as pure maple. Hardware is solid, and their redesigned tom mounts are ingenious; they're low profile and let the drum resonate freely. Because the toms are mounted via cymbal stands, you also get a virgin bass drum, which is a huge plus, because it not only looks better/more high-end, but doesn't restrict the bass drum tone. The new SONIClear bearing edges, though they sound like a marketing gimmick, truly do make a difference in the tuning ease and range of your drums, and helps them "sing" a bit more. Mapex finishes are always top-notch, which is initially what drew me to the company. You'll find no drum wraps or boring solid paint jobs here; only unique, killer, lacquer finishes. Admittedly, I would appreciate a couple more options, but I'd still probably stick with Ultramarine Gloss. What happens to the stock snare of most drum kits you buy? It's subpar, so you set it aside and replace it with another snare. With Mapex's snare trade-in, you get to try up to five quality snares and keep which one suits you best. What a concept! Now, make them under a grand on a 6 piece shell kit and you've got the best deal in drums, hands down. Even though I've been playing Mapex for years, when I decided it was time for a new kit, I wanted to be objective so I took a look and listen to other "competitors" in the Armory's price range, and nothing else came close. This price range is littered with cheap hardware, boring finishes, outdated designs, and inconsistent quality. Before I purchased, I asked a Mapex rep the thickness of the hoops (1.6mm vs 2.3mm) because Mapex doesn't specify. I was told they're 2.3s, but after getting them, realized they're 1.6s. Because of that, the rep sent me a complete set of Saturn series 2.3mm hoops, free of charge. Customer service is great. Mapex wins again.

It was a toss up between the Mapex 6 piece and the PDP 7 piece. I originally purchased the PDP in July but cancelled the order after finding out the drums would be delayed again from the end of August to mid October and was told by the manufacturer that I needed to be patient. That rubbed me wrong. I decided to buy the Mapex drums and was blown away by the tone and look of these drums. It made drumming fun again. The Tomahawk snare sounds great so I am keeping it. The bass drum is so deep and full like nothing I have ever heard. I never really considered a Mapex drum set in the past but the look, feel, and sound changed my views. Going from a 4 to 6 piece set has expanded drum fill options tremendously.

I've been playing for 16 years and have gone through a handful of sets and this has to be by far my favorite