Drummers! Need some help with a new set!

[dwdrums36]

Hey all. I've been playing the drums for about 5 years now and am fairly proficient I'd say. I currently have this old Pearl set that is falling apart. The shells are cracked and I would keep it but the sound quality is starting to suffer. Also, I've kind of out grown it: Fairly small bass drum and only two toms, one mounted on floor. Reason it's taken me this long to upgrade is I'm a poor college student so money isn't just floating around...Which is another reason I come to Ants to ask advice.

I'd like to get a new set that's going to keep me satisfied for a while without breaking the bank. I'll probably end up need some new hardware too unfortunately. With the summer coming up, I'll have some cash from working, so I was just wondering if anybody stumbled on a particularly good set for the money or something.

Also, I'm a big proponent of acoustic drums, but the outlook that I'll be renting my apartment for a few more years to come, so has anybody had any positive experiences with electric? Any they'd like to recommend?

Let me know if you have any suggestions here and thanks in advance all!

[Bohrman26]

Hey all. I've been playing the drums for about 5 years now and am fairly proficient I'd say. I currently have this old Pearl set that is falling apart. The shells are cracked and I would keep it but the sound quality is starting to suffer. Also, I've kind of out grown it: Fairly small bass drum and only two toms, one mounted on floor. Reason it's taken me this long to upgrade is I'm a poor college student so money isn't just floating around...Which is another reason I come to Ants to ask advice.

I'd like to get a new set that's going to keep me satisfied for a while without breaking the bank. I'll probably end up need some new hardware too unfortunately. With the summer coming up, I'll have some cash from working, so I was just wondering if anybody stumbled on a particularly good set for the money or something.

Also, I'm a big proponent of acoustic drums, but the outlook that I'll be renting my apartment for a few more years to come, so has anybody had any positive experiences with electric? Any they'd like to recommend?

Let me know if you have any suggestions here and thanks in advance all!

I bought a set of Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage about 7 years ago and have been highly satisfied with them. They weren't too expensive, I think they ran between $600-$750 if I remember correctly. Yamaha is a great brand of drums and for the money you spend on them you really get a great sounding drum. I have also played on Tama sets before that have lasted for quite a while and had some great sound to them as well. As far as electronic drums go, if money is an issue with you than you might want to stear clear of the electronic drums because those usually run much more expensive than acoustic drums.

[symbian]

look on your local craigslist site.

[dwdrums36]

As far as electronic drums go, if money is an issue with you than you might want to stear clear of the electronic drums because those usually run much more expensive than acoustic drums.

Yeah, I know that...but I'm willing to spend a bit more without sacraficing quality if I can play them more often you know?

Also Yamaha you say? What's your set-up look like?

EDIT: I suppose what I should ask is wht do you get for the money?

[Bohrman26]

Yeah, I know that...but I'm willing to spend a bit more without sacraficing quality if I can play them more often you know?

Also Yamaha you say? What's your set-up look like?

EDIT: I suppose what I should ask is wht do you get for the money?

Yeah, I understand what you mean. I personally don't like electronic drums too much because it's too perfect of a sound. With the acoustic drums (which I know you already know this) you can tune it to the sound that you want as opposed to a sound that will be custom set for you all the time.

I got an awesome deal with my set. It's a standard five piece but they threw in a cymbal stand and a hi-hat stand. Yamaha stands too, so they are pretty good quality.

[dwdrums36]

I got an awesome deal with my set. It's a standard five piece but they threw in a cymbal stand and a hi-hat stand. Yamaha stands too, so they are pretty good quality.

Where'd ya come across that? See I don't want to go to a Guitar Center or Sam Ash type store either cause everytime I go in, whether it's for guitar strings or drum heads, or even just a tuning key, I feel like I'm getting price gouged. At the same time I feel like a "Local" drum shop might be to expesnvie ya know?

[RushianSyrinx]

Can you wait until summer? And how much will you be making? American Musical is a company that has 3 and 5 month payments plans where they bill your credit card monthly. I purchased a set of Tama Starclassic Performers from them and paid about 500/month for 5 months. It was nicer doing that than dropping 2.5k in a single shot.

As far as drums to choose from... how serious of a drummer are you? It might just be better to bite the bullet and purchase a top of the line kit. If you can't afford that, you might just consider purchasing components and adding on to it. Say, get a BD, snare, mounted and floor tom... and then in a few months add a second mounted and so on.

Every student I've ever taught has always wanted to rock out on a kit with 2 mounted toms and a floor tom. There's nothing wrong with playing a smaller kit for a short while, and it will actually help improve you as a player.

However, as far as brands go... your choice. I avoid Yamaha and DW due to overpricing. Don't be afraid to go with something like Gretsch or a "not-as-big" company thats a little cheaper than the rest.

[Bohrman26]

Where'd ya come across that? See I don't want to go to a Guitar Center or Sam Ash type store either cause everytime I go in, whether it's for guitar strings or drum heads, or even just a tuning key, I feel like I'm getting price gouged. At the same time I feel like a "Local" drum shop might be to expesnvie ya know?

I actually got it at a local music store. What's funny is the store is usually known for over pricing things. The trick is to go online to musiciansfriend.com or some other music store online that has really good prices and then bring it to a local music store and ask them if they can match it. It's easier to buy from a local music store in case something happens to the drums where you can bring them back in and say, "Hey, this happened and it wasn't my fault it was just faulty equipment...fix it."

I agree with RushianSyrinx that it might be easier to buy a smaller kit and add to it. Aside from the deal I got, that's exacly what I did. It does improve your playing and makes you look forward to getting new things and then also gives you an idea of what you would like to add to your kit to help your playing instead of just throwing things on to make it a larger kit.

[RushianSyrinx]

It is a great boon to reduce and add on.

When I got serious about my drumming, I reduced myself to a hi-hat, bass and snare and would play/solo/jam along to various things. Then I added a ride a week or two later. Then a floor tom... and so on and so on. Now, I'm able to create my ideas more clearly and I can function in any situation.

[dwdrums36]

That's a good point all. What I have right now is kind of the smaller kit you explained, so I'm def. looking to go a little bit bigger. 4 toms perhaps? I haven't really decided yet, but would you say it is cheaper to buy a small set and add, or bite the bullet and buy a big one all together? I mean, I'm willing to do a payment plan like was suggested above, so the money is somewhat less of an issue. I stand to make around $10k this summer and I'm working a ton so.

Also, I would classify myself as a fairly serious drummer. Serious enough to want and actually use a top of the line kit.

[RushianSyrinx]

Either way, it's going to equate to about the same. The problem with payment plans through AMS is that you're limited to what they have in stock. You could get a Guitar Center card and hope there's a nice set in stock at the same time they have 12-15 months financing as well.

I'd say build it up... its much more rewarding that way.

[dwdrums36]

Hm...Sounds like a good idea. I still think I want to start at 5 though, because I've had the four piece so long.

I'd also liek to come across a set without a snare too. I just bought a new snare and I love it, so another is a waste. All the ones I'm finding onlin (music123, samash, guitarcenter, etc.) come with snares...

[jamjumpin]

generally you'll pay about $600 for a five piece.
I swear by Pearl, probably the best you'll get for your money, the hardware is better than Yamaha's that tends to be a bit flimsy although their drums are just as good. Mapex are also really good for the money.
I would go for a fusion kit, 20" bass drum, 10 12 14 toms, you don't really need a bigger bass drum unless you're only playing accousticly and need that extra sound. The 20" bass drums have plenty of punch to them. If you do want a 22" bass drum then try and get 10 12 14 toms with it, they're better spaced than the 12 13 16 of rock kits.

Whatever you buy, make sure you change the heads or even get a deal on buying the kit with new heads on, such as Evans or Remo if you like them, the 'factory heads' that come with the drums are always shit, even on high end drums.

Top of the range kits really make no difference unless you're playing acoustically. You can make any kit sound good with mics and gates. Cymbals however are well worth spending big money on.

[Bohrman26]

Mapex are also really good for the money.


They make a sick ass snare drum too. I bought a Black Panther snare about 2 or 3 years ago and man that snare is awesome.

[dwdrums36]

Yeah the set I have now is a Pearl and I really love it. It's just getting wayyyy to trashed. I'll probably hang onto the pieces for sentimental value, but much beyond that, it's usefulness has ended. That being said I think i am a bit partial to Pearl.

Mapex....Really? I don't know much about the company and I always kind of wrote it off because it wasn't one of the BIG names...Atleast in my circles. I'll def. look into them though.

The cymbals I have are decent and I always go Zlidjian and you are definitely right about spending more on them. I had some crappy ones for a while and HATED them so I went out and dropped a few hundred $ on a nice set.

[Bohrman26]

Yeah the set I have now is a Pearl and I really love it. It's just getting wayyyy to trashed. I'll probably hang onto the pieces for sentimental value, but much beyond that, it's usefulness has ended. That being said I think i am a bit partial to Pearl.

Mapex....Really? I don't know much about the company and I always kind of wrote it off because it wasn't one of the BIG names...Atleast in my circles. I'll def. look into them though.

The cymbals I have are decent and I always go Zlidjian and you are definitely right about spending more on them. I had some crappy ones for a while and HATED them so I went out and dropped a few hundred $ on a nice set.

Yeah, Mapex makes some good drums. It does, as with most drums, depend on what line you get (from what I hear). But, I have heard mostly good things about Mapex, but I myself have never played on a set.

In my opinion, Zildjian is the only way to go with cymbals. I know it's up to personal opinion and some people like Sabian and they do make good cymbals, but I much prefer Zildjian. Zildjian splash cymbals are by far my favorite line they do, followed closely by the K Custom Dark China they have. Woo man that is a great sounding china.

[RushianSyrinx]

Sabian Paragon Splash = the shit.

[jamjumpin]

No, 9" Zildjian Oriental Trash Splash = thebestsplashyoucanbuy!

[dwdrums36]

No, 9" Zildjian Oriental Trash Splash = thebestsplashyoucanbuy!

I actually own this cymbal and LOVE the sound I get from it.

On the subject of China's the dark one mentioned by Zildjian I hear alot about but never actually got around to buying a China. Perhaps I'll have to invest.

[jamjumpin]

I actually own this cymbal and LOVE the sound I get from it.


Did you just walk into a shop and it was there? I had to order mine after going to 4 shops and not finding it. They always have such shit selection

[dwdrums36]

Did you just walk into a shop and it was there? I had to order mine after going to 4 shops and not finding it. They always have such shit selection

Maybe it got lucky. It was in my local drum shop.