I've been drumming for over a decade now and have owned a total of 4 drums sets to date. It's a hobby of mine to sell and trade, sell and trade.
I'm looking into buying another drum set to take place of my now vintage 1970's Ludwig Octa-plus, in which I inherited from my father after I spent well over 70 hour refurbishing the thing.
This new drum set will become my primary kit and will be significantly smaller in size. Making it more compact, easy to transport and not so loud as compared to the "bonzo-esque" ludwig I am playing now.
Now, to get to the question, I am currently looking at a Yamaha Stage Custom 3-shell pack kit going for $500 dollars. The kit is a nice birch construction and is a great mid-level kit for the price. I could either purchase this drum and be satisfied having it fit all my needs, or I can save a few more coin and buy the same sized drum set but have it be a Yamaha Oak Custom.
For those who are not that familiar, it would be like driving a ford (stage custom) to like a Cadillac (Oak Custom).
I once owned an oak custom and loved it, but sold it for a Grestch Renown Maple, which ended up selling as well. As you can tell, I like to play pro gear.
Is the $500-$1000 difference for the better kit feasible, or since I don't get paid to play, tour or record, would the stage custom be suitable for my needs?