DW Design Series Mapa Burl | Limited birch kit

The DW Design Series has a new look. It’s a limited run in Mapa Burl, one of DW’s exotic veneers, over 8-ply European birch shells.

It isn’t a new kit. It’s the Design Series you already know in a much flashier finish, and it’s aimed squarely at drummers who care how their kit looks.

What does it look like?

Mapa Burl is a swirly, heavily figured veneer you’d normally find on DW’s far pricier Collector’s Series exotics. Here it gets a natural matte lacquer rather than a high gloss, so the grain does the talking.

Nice.

What is in it?

Here’s the spec, as reported by Drumming News Network on 13 October:

• Shells: Mapa Burl veneer over 8-ply European birch, using DW’s HVLT grain orientation.
• Configurations: 6-piece and 4-piece shell packs.
• Snare: a matching 6.5x14”, sold separately.
• Hardware: mini turret lugs, graduated triple-flange hoops, STM suspension tom mounts and True-Pitch tuning.
• Heads: Remo.
• Finish: natural matte lacquer.

DW’s product pages fill in the sizes. Both packs share 7x10” and 8x12” toms and a 16x22” bass drum. The 6-piece adds 14x14” and 16x16” floor toms, and the 4-piece has one 16x16”.

One thing to know: regular Design Series kits use maple shells. Birch usually gives you a bit more attack and a bit less low-end warmth.

Can I still get one?

It’s sold through authorised DW dealers and dwdrums.com. When we checked on 14 October, both shell packs already showed as sold out on DW’s own store.

DW hasn’t said how many were made or published a price. Drum Center of Portsmouth in the US listed the 6-piece at $2,899 and the 4-piece at $1,999.

Final thoughts

This is the Design Series’ spec in a Collector’s-style finish. The only downside is that you’ll need to move quickly.

Ask your local DW dealer or check dwdrums.com for remaining stock, and see the full range on our DW drums hub.