This is curious... My comment is at the bottom of this thread.

Source: Yamaha Recording Custom

http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha...stom/index.html

"Birch shells deliver a lower fundamental tone than maple. As a result, they project a warm, rounded sound with a slightly shorter decay, ideal for the controlled environment of the studio."

Source: Tama Starclassic Performer

http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/pro...ic_p/index.html

"Now pro drummers can choose between the brighter, tight sound of Starclassic Maple or the darker tone, strong projection, crisp attack and aggressive open sound of Starclassic Performer birch."

Also from the Tama website...

Source: http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/pro...hart/index.html

Snare Drum Concepts: "Tonal Spectrum Chart"

The Starclassic Performer Birch snare drum according to this chart is the warmerst and darkest sounding of the whole range of snare drums, darker and warmer than the Maple snare drum.

...and finally:

Source: http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/art..._performer.html

Product Review - Interview with Paul Crosby (Saliva)

"TAMA: How do you compare the sound of the birch shells, as opposed to the maple shells you had been playing previously?
Crosby: Maple, obviously, is a little bit louder, but these definitely have a darker tone and a deeper tone, so if you're running it through a PA system anyway, you don't really have to have the volume of maple. They're definitely deeper and darker.

TAMA: How do you find the slightly darker sound of your birch shells compliment your style of music?
Crosby: Actually, I'm all about having deepness in my tones. I want to have everything as deep as possible, as opposed to high pitch. And the birch shells have enabled me to actually go a little bit deeper than I normally would on a maple kit without getting sloppiness from the head. I don't have to loosen the head as far to get the actual deepness out of them."

Many say Birch sounds bright whereas Maple sounds warmer. This information seems to suggest the opposite, that Birch is warmer, darker and has a lower fundamental pitch than Maple.
If Birch sounds indeed warmer, then that will be the wood of choice for my new kit! I want the warmest and darkest sounding drums and Birch is also preferred by studio engineers due to it's "pre EQ-ed" sound (Boosted lows and highs).

Anyone want to discuss this issue? Thanks and happy new year!

i like the sound of birch myself but its all preference

well it depends on the rooms heating.....

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kind of off topic but, anyone here used and eames set, supposed to be 9 ply birch, ive heard rumors that they are one of the loudest and best toned kits from when they were made. i occasionally spot them for sale on ebay and they are very exspensive

I know a guy using them actually, will ask one your behalf!

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Which wood is softer, there's your answer.

Also how would temperature make a difference? I mean unless you have your kit in a garage, it shouldn't matter.

look at the thread title:

which wood is warmer,


warmer/heating.

it was a bad joke on my part, hencer the ' ' after it

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Oh, didn't see that.

Birch is softer, therefore warmer.

Maple is very hard/heavy/bright I think.