Play as many different kits as you can. It'll give you an idea of what shell sizes you like for what you'll be doing. This matters a lot with acoustic drums. Buying secondhand is the best idea for your first kit.
You guys probably have more of the the good Premier kits. We have all the Ludwigs. As mentioned earlier, the older Pearl Export and Tama Rockstar and especially Imperialstar are good stuff. Make them let you take the heads off at least one drum to check the bearing edges. Make sure the shells are still round and not delaminating. See if the hoops are in good shape. Hardware you can get separately, so don't worry too much about what comes with the kit.
Buy good cymbals and try to take care of them. None of the budget cymbal packs sound good.
I third or fourth the kick pedal thing. You'll get used to its particular feel, and having it feel right keeps your leg from getting too tired. The DW5000 and the awesomely-named Iron Cobra from Tama have lots of room for adjustment. They show up used a lot. The Iron Cobra high-hat stand is nice for transport in the way it disassembles.
Want to geek out? Prof. Sound can help you with that.
Congratulations! Fun times!
Buying a Drum Kit
22Thanks again for all your input.
I bought the local classifieds paper and these are the offers (I wrote them verbatim). Please let me know if any of these are worth snapping up. Thank you, you are all beautiful!
Black Rat Drum Kit Metallic blue 5 piece kit with ride, hi-hat, and crash cymbal, bass drum pedal and stool included. Good condition. 190.00 ono
Performance Percussion 2 tommys, floor tommy, base, snare, hi-hat, cymbal, cow bell, plus extras. Suit beginner. £120 ono
Pearl Export Kit Black 4 shell kit with piccolo snare, hardware, some replacement drum heads and full set of hard cases. Idea practice/gigging kit. £200 ono
Peavey International Peavey int. li drum kit in lack - full kit incl. cymbals, stool and sticks. Good condition. £180 ono.
Sonor 5 piece, vgc, with stool, cymbals, cow bell, sticks, plus extras, £250 ono
Stag Drum kit, 5pc, plus high hat and cymbals, hardley used, beginners dvd and book. £200 ovno NC
I bought the local classifieds paper and these are the offers (I wrote them verbatim). Please let me know if any of these are worth snapping up. Thank you, you are all beautiful!
Black Rat Drum Kit Metallic blue 5 piece kit with ride, hi-hat, and crash cymbal, bass drum pedal and stool included. Good condition. 190.00 ono
Performance Percussion 2 tommys, floor tommy, base, snare, hi-hat, cymbal, cow bell, plus extras. Suit beginner. £120 ono
Pearl Export Kit Black 4 shell kit with piccolo snare, hardware, some replacement drum heads and full set of hard cases. Idea practice/gigging kit. £200 ono
Peavey International Peavey int. li drum kit in lack - full kit incl. cymbals, stool and sticks. Good condition. £180 ono.
Sonor 5 piece, vgc, with stool, cymbals, cow bell, sticks, plus extras, £250 ono
Stag Drum kit, 5pc, plus high hat and cymbals, hardley used, beginners dvd and book. £200 ovno NC
simmo wrote:Someone make my carrot and grapefruits smoke. Please.
Buying a Drum Kit
25Rotten Tanx wrote:Pearl Export Kit Black 4 shell kit with piccolo snare, hardware, some replacement drum heads and full set of hard cases. Idea practice/gigging kit. £200 ono
Sell/trade the piccolo for something not stupid and this is a pretty good deal, condition considered, of course.
This is another potential winner, but some Sonors are total dogshit. Worth checking out.Sonor 5 piece, vgc, with stool, cymbals, cow bell, sticks, plus extras, £250 ono
Buying a Drum Kit
26Alas, none of those panned out.
I have an additional question for you guys.
What is your set-up? How many toms and cymbals do you have and is this directly related to the style of music you play or is it just your personal preference?
I have an additional question for you guys.
What is your set-up? How many toms and cymbals do you have and is this directly related to the style of music you play or is it just your personal preference?
simmo wrote:Someone make my carrot and grapefruits smoke. Please.
Buying a Drum Kit
27If money is tight, get the nicest snare you can afford. Early chrome Ludwigs are a dime a dozen (here in the US at least) and sound great. Play it a lot -- learn its expressiveness and develop your voicing. You're now a drummer. Add a kick and hats when you find some more cash. Incorporate these new instruments into your snare work. This is everything you need to play most styles of music.
Next, keep your eyes open for a ride/crash or two -- add rack and floor toms as you run across orphaned cheapos. Now you can play like that dream theater dork!
Smaller kits are easier to gig, cost less, take less work to keep up and are easier to keep in tune. They also provide less musical distractions and will never leave anyone wanting for more in the hands of a competent drummer.
Next, keep your eyes open for a ride/crash or two -- add rack and floor toms as you run across orphaned cheapos. Now you can play like that dream theater dork!
Smaller kits are easier to gig, cost less, take less work to keep up and are easier to keep in tune. They also provide less musical distractions and will never leave anyone wanting for more in the hands of a competent drummer.
Buying a Drum Kit
28Rotten Tanx wrote:Alas, none of those panned out.
I have an additional question for you guys.
What is your set-up? How many toms and cymbals do you have and is this directly related to the style of music you play or is it just your personal preference?
Tiny cymbals and toms are for weenies. Snare and bass are at the forefront of everything I play. Partly because I'm a shitty drummer... The other reason being that they seem to have more balls than anything else.