Cliff that Designer set is lovely--the grain is out of the 80's!
Gregory, what are you playing? Bubinga Designers? Still got the S-Classixs?
Was that Kelly's? I guess I saw he has a set with very curly veneer too, or did he move it on down the line?
I think the more I play drums it seems that the shell thickness really matters to my ear. Coming out of the 90's where every shell had to be this maple, I've grown to really love the "feedback" from thicker-shelled drums. The Phonics are like tympani!
Goki, the shells are almost 9mm, so close. Shane hasn't gotten a test drive yet. If I had the money maybe I'd jump on a set, but not right now. It's funny though because the Link-era stuff could be bought sight unseen or "hearing unheard" and you knew you'd get an instrument of quality sound. Not so much these days, with any manufacturer. Maybe the Force 2000's ruined it for me.