Oh my, that is a loaded question which caused ... some interesting discussion last I was visiting the forum. I believe I will stay clear of that question this time around. In due respect to the question I will just say a drum is a chamber. The chamber can be made of all kinds of materials - solid hardwoods or softwoods, plywoods, plastics, fiberglass, composites, metal ... all having different densities which create a chamber for sound waves to move around when the batter head is struck. Air moves down and vibrates the resonant head (if there is one) and that is what creates the sound and tone more than anything else - the heads. Certain densities favor certain frequencies in minor ways (highs, mid-range, and lows), as testing has shown. Some ears claim to hear those nuances, others cannot. Density also contributes to overall volume. The harder the shell, the more the natural volume is enhanced.
I frown on the whole John Goode shell thump to really mean anything because once you affix metal lugs, generally a cast white metal, or heavier solid metals, and then compress two membranes on the bearing edges with metal hoops (or wood), you can thump a drum all day long and the naked tone you hear before is not going to be there after the drum is dressed. That is one of the reasons I favor thicker shells. Put all the hardware on a thin shell with reinforcement hoops and it just gives you a softer density for sound to move around, and pass through more quickly with plywood. You get more 'dum' and not as much 'doooom.' But even there, nuances. Differences that, from 15' away dissipate to human ears very quickly. Especially depending on head choices and tension.
Ludwig senior (and others, like the Ford Drum company, and myself included), believe the inner ply is what contributes most to the shell sound pertaining to shell density. Once sound waves hit the glue it all becomes moot on just about any spectrograph you test it all on. There is an overall density to the shell and the harder the density of the inner chamber the more sound waves are kept inside bouncing around, generally contributing to sustain. That is assuming the shell is mounted to enhance, not detract from free vibration.
Radio Kings, being solid wood, were so nice, even with old fashioned mounting, because it made quite a sound chamber for calf skin heads. Craviotto drums carry on the same tradition, though I must honestly say the Craviotto drums I have heard have either not been tuned well, or recorded well because I cannot say they produce sounds I find pleasing to my ears or any more special than plywood drums.
Drum companies hype all their configuration of plies, ply thicknesses, number of plies, woods, etc., etc. In my set I happen to have mixed-ply woods - maple, maple/ birch, and maple /poplar I believe. One of my drums I just made, gluing two sections of shell rings I had lying around together with gorilla glue. I started recording with this set last week. I would defy anyone to listen to playback and tell me which drums are which. They all sound good, in tune with each other, and same timbre. Why? Edges, heads and tuning. And remember they are covered in leather and they have plenty of sustain. They are ten ply, 1/4" thick, no vent holes. Drums may be covered in dead plastic wraps. They still sound just fine. The inner ply is the most important factor.
Maple is a little harder than birch, softer than most oaks. That would render birch to have frequencies enhanced in low and mid range and produce a slightly drier chamber which renders the ears to hear more of what is called 'attack.' Oak might favor higher frequency ranges, etc. The actual degree to which human ears can hear this varies from person to person, and certainly microphone to microphone.
Shell density, depth, heads and mounting are really the greatest factors in aural character according to testing I have read results of and what 20+ years of making drums has shown me.
ANY drum, I do not care what it is, can be made to sound good with proper bearing edges, head choices, and correct mounting.
Well, this may have been a foolish response. Not trying to cause any range wars.
Sound is in the ear of the beholder.