The "virgin shell" is all marketing hype. You can always re-fit the kit with your favorite tom mount on your own. Go with what you feel is right for you, forget all the hype.
I am so glad someone opened this can of worms again. This modern, trendy desire for full "open" resonance has gone a bit extreme. It presumes that we drummers all want our drums (both heads and shells) to ring like brass bells. I remember how cheap MIJ stencil kits and snares in the '60's used to ring due to poorly finished bearing edges, and how we associated this ring with cheap drums and heads. At that period in time, we actually used a drum's tone control to reduce this live, ringy sound, and maybe even added a little duct tape on the head to seal the deal. Now with modern "custom" drums lacking built-in mufflers and tone controls, today's drummers buy Moon Gels to subdue the resonance qualities they paid so much for! Ironic.
One of my beginer students recently tried to re-educate me by pointing out, "My new drums are so much louder than your old set we practice on", perpetuating the misconception among novices that louder is better. This "louder is better" philosophy is most prevalent in many club bands in which the drummer believes he's the lead instrument, pounding mercilessly on his wonderfully resonant custom kit as if he's playing un-mic'd in Madison Square Garden. Absolutely obnoxious.
Well, that's my rant. I feel better now. Hope there's a few out there who also believe maximum resonance does not equal better tone.
Mike C.
