Dw is far above what Camco made, Dw has Multiple shell configurations not just one like camco had,

Dw's hardware is cutting edge and is leap years above what Camco had, Dw's uses a tighter or smaller thread count on their Tension Rods just pointing out only one of Dw's innovations.

True. But the number one miss for me is tone. Camco drums are some of the best sounding drums on the planet. I have yet to hear a DW set come even close to that awesome tone! Sometimes building the perfect shell isn't the answer.

Steve I very much agree with you on that one.

I agree with you both DW does not sound anywhere as good as either Rogers or Camco of the 60's

This has been discussed here before and is really a rhetorical in nature, however, I will ask it regardless:

Do you think the difference is the age of the drums (i.e. would a brand new Camco kit and a brand new DW kit be that disparate in tone), the age of the wood used to create the drums (old growth vs new growth timber) or a combination of the two?

DW gets a bad wrap here on a regular basis, but I don't own any vintage gear that compares to the manufacturing quality of my DW gear. I don't say that to disrespect any vintage gear, but we have all seen the interior finish drips, the painted interiors that may have been used to improve projection but I suspect it was done to cover imperfections in manufacture, broken hardware, non-level edges, etc. If the difference in tone comes from the use of old growth wood, the maturation process of the instrument or a combination of both, then you can't fault DW. Also, musical tastes and therefore drum design has changed, though we are seeing a return to a more vintage overall sound.

I have always found this kind of discussion interesting.

Will all of these DW kits that don't compare now be "better" in 30-50 years when the shells have aged?

I reckon most of them will, but there is always the ones that don't now or never will, thats true of all wooden instruments.

Talking of drum design wandering through the ages with music taste and fashion, my Jazz series kit is the return to the good ole days. It has a very strong tone that although has a newer edge, it is becoming of a vintage-ish sound. I reckon 20-30 years of hard labour and that kit will be warmer than a Pizza oven. The kik drum is gorgeous, both heel up staccato and with a lovely subtle sub bass boom heel down. A friend of mine insists that I bring it to every gig I do with him.

The new Maple Mahogany kits sound amazing on-line, although I'm yet to see one up close. I think the company has turned a corner over the last 5 years or so.

I don't think age affects the shells that much. In fact LA Camco drums sound very much like DWs but with a bit more warmth.

If you're looking for that Camco (Oaklawn) sound but you want a modern kit, definitely check out Fibes that were made in Austin. They sound very similar to the Camco sound IMHO but are becoming harder to come by.

Sorry to disagree but rite here I very much do.

Aging is only 1 factor but it's a HUGE factor in the sound.

That's where that "warmth" is coming from.

Of course LA Camco's sound like DW with more warmth.

but it's not only the age. It's the age + all those years of being played.

the vibrations of resonating over all that time cause the wood to change, emphasizing the 1 fundamental note that is inherent in all drums(and wooden instruments for that matter.).

I'm not sure if you had a kit that was never/rarely played for like 50 years, if it would sound like a players kit. that's maybe a question for the gurus.

This is what makes all these old Star and crown and zim gar kits sound so good now.

They were the lowliest of the low in their day. Like westbury today.

That "vintage" sound can't be just made. If it could, lotsa companies would be producing it and "vintage" would be no big thing.