PDP By DW Concept Exotic Stage 22 Honey

Historical Context and Positioning in the Range

PDP (Pacific Drums and Percussion) is the Drum Workshop Inc. brand created to offer reliable production drum kits inspired by DW's DNA, with ready-to-play configurations. The Concept Maple series follows this philosophy: delivering the grain and musicality of maple while incorporating manufacturing and hardware choices focused on performance. The Concept Maple Exotic version retains the maple foundation of the range, adding exotic plies for a more high-end finish, both visually and in playing feel.

Who This Drum Kit Is For

This acoustic drum kit is aimed at intermediate to advanced drummers seeking a "stage-ready" kit: a 22-inch bass drum for impact, two toms for precise placement, and a 16-inch floor tom for powerful fills. It is especially suitable for styles requiring a full and modern sound (rock, pop, punk, funk, variety, worship), while remaining expressive enough for more nuanced contexts thanks to the response of maple and the quality of Remo drumheads.

Features and Innovations

The kit includes elements typically expected in more expensive configurations. The tom suspension enhances shell vibration freedom, resulting in more sustain, clearer pitch, and better projection, especially on the medium toms (10 and 12 inches). The molded bass drum claws improve tuning stability and provide a solid feel, highly appreciated during repeated transport and setup. On the snare side, the DW MAG trigger offers smooth and precise action for tone control, with a clean response when alternating between accented rimshots and ghost notes.

The True Pitch tension rods also contribute to tuning precision: tuning becomes finer, more reproducible, and consistent from one rehearsal to another. Finally, the included PDP 10.5 mm tom mounts facilitate clean and stable setup, ideal if you want to maintain a "standard" and efficient ergonomics.

Sound Characteristics

European maple is renowned for its great versatility: it delivers a round attack, a present midrange (which helps the toms "cut through" the mix), and a full low end without excess. On a 22 x 18-inch bass drum, you get generous punch with enough depth for heavy grooves while retaining definition for fast tempos. The 10 x 8 and 12 x 9-inch toms offer quick response and easy tuning intervals, while the 16 x 14-inch floor tom provides a solid and musical foundation.

The exotic plies noted on the spec sheet (Honey Mahogany, mahogany) typically add an extra warmth sensation and a smoother low-midrange, resulting in a very "full" kit sound at rehearsal volume as well as miked live settings. The 14 x 5.5-inch snare drum is versatile: it can crack with body on rimshots for rock, while remaining sensitive enough for ghost notes in funk or pop, notably thanks to the precision of the trigger and the natural balance of maple.

Technical specifications

Bass drum	22 x 18 inches	Snare drum	14 x 5.5 inches
Tom	10 x 8 inches	Included	2 PDP 10.5 mm tom mounts
Floor tom	16 x 14 inches