JOE WALLACE: Now, this emerald green kit we’re standing next to here is your mid-range set right?

TODD TRENT: This would be considered the high-end of the import line. We have the Accent Series which is our imported line. It goes all the way from Combo Series, which is designed for a very first time player to this. This a 100% birch shell. It’s built for us overseas. It has a high-gloss lacquer glitter fade. There are five different ones to choose from. There are also some burst glitter fades, two of those, and a standard silver sparkle glitter lacquer. Suspension mounts, small lugs, you know, high-end wood, high-end finish, but this is affordable literally to anybody. I mean this is something that costs under $1,000 and you can put this into any playing situation. You can make a living playing with this kit.

JOE WALLACE: Now, for somebody who is moving away from their fist and maybe second drum kit, this is obviously a big step up. What is the advantage of taking this over high-school band, elementary-level type of rig?

TODD TRENT: Well, this drum set is the kind of drum set you can buy at any point in your career, whether you’re moving up or whether you’ve gotten out of it and getting back into it, and it’s considered a professional-grade drum. It’s just not made for us in our American-made factory. This drum set sounds good. It’s got great, you know, tonal quality, great sustain of note, great durability. It’s a real drum set. You know, you can go out and make a living with it like I said.

JOE WALLACE: Now, what’s the tone like compared to an inferior off-brand or kind of assembly-line-made kit?

TODD TRENT: This drum set is going to have a very articulate note because it’s birch. So, it’s slightly higher in pitch and that’s going to allow you to have a sustain, you know, a noticeable sustain. You’re going to hear the drum longer, not as long as maple, but you’re going to hear the drum longer because of the solid shell. It’s not a solid one ply. It’s a ply-shell, seven-ply birch, but it’s going to allow you to have a real drum sound at a very affordable price.

JOE WALLACE: Now, let’s talk about care and feeding of a higher-end kit like this versus a beginner entry-level kit especially when it comes to humidity or dryness, a lack of moisture. How should somebody treat this kit to get the most life out of it?

TODD TRENT: Like any musical instrument, you treat them all with respect. You know, try not to get them from dramatic changes and temperature over a very short period of time like don’t take them from your truck, which has been out on the snow all day, and throw them into your heated living room, you know, try and do stuff like that. It’s going to last you forever. There’s no real care and feeding. Keep it wiped down. Try to keep it from getting wet and you’ll be fine.

JOE WALLACE: All right. Great. That was Todd Trent with Ludwig, and I’m, Joe Wallace on the floor of NAMM 2007.