Wanna Be Drummer

DaveH

Hi All,
I think its time I learn to play the drums, being a fan since I was 16. How much should I spend on a kit and should I just get a basic kit or what should I do?

the_obsolete

If you're lucky ya can get the filthiest of the filthy first hand kits for around €300-€400. If ya want to go a bit higher you'd be able to buy a Pearl Forum kit (excl. cymbals). Not the best kit in the world, but it won't fall apart after a couple of months of playing. Then of course there's cymbals and cymbal stands...could get a Sabian B8 or B8Pro cymbal pack (crash, hats & ride) for a decent price, and the B8Pro's have a decent sound to 'em. Then there's stands for the cymbals...depends from shop to shop, should pay no more than €200 for half-decent stands. Oh, almost forgot- a bass drum pedal too!
What i reommend ya do is go into a decent shop (Music Maker & Waltons are good examples up in Dublin) and ya could try and negotiate for drums, cymbals and hardware for (possibly) cheaper than buying the things seperately.

John

Or try and find a better quality kit second hand

Doctor J

Second hand for sure, check buy and sell. As mentioned, the Pearl Forum series is a decent kit for the money. You're probably better off buying your cymbals new though, given the abuse they take, especially from beginners with poor technique which is who you'd be buying lower level second hand cymbals from. Again, a sensible choice has been already mentioned with the Sabian B8 pack. In the meantime buy a few sets of differently sized sticks and a book of rudiements and get practicing on your basic technique. Also listen to some of your favourite drum beats (within reason) and try to get your hands and feet moving indepentdantly. For me, I used "Behind The Wall Of Sleep" by Black Sabbath as the first beat I really tried to learn. Good luck man.

daram

I third that. Second hand. Get someone who plays drums to go check it out before you pay though. And also, never ever shop in Waltons. Ever. Especially for drums. But especially for guitars.

Mr. CooL ICE

Yeah, last 2 times i was in waltons, i was very unimpressed by what they had there. But in all fairness, they probably didnt want to be only for the rock/metal/punk market that Instrumental and Music Maker go for, and instead went down the piano/keyboard/trad irish route.

As for drumkits! What my friend did was he bought a Tempo drumkit (€385) which was fairly bad. The pedal broke easily (he fixed it by duct-taping 2 kitchen knives to it), and the toms were horrible, which he dampened by putting masking tape on them, and the hihat was crap, aswell as its only crash, but something like that is ideal for learning on. He is saving up for a Tama kit now.

What i recommend doing is getting lessons from a drum teacher or a friend who plays drums just so you get the basics (how to hit cymbals, etc), for the first few weeks, and then learn by yourself or continue getting lessons, its up to you

dabhoys

Don't shop in the country full stop!!!

daram wrote:

I third that. Second hand. Get someone who plays drums to go check it out before you pay though. And also, never ever shop in Waltons. Ever. Especially for drums. But especially for guitars.

the_obsolete

Which reminds me Mr. Chessington- you still want drum lessons?

ferdi

http://www.buyandsell.ie/scripts/lootsite.dll?Search&Location=15&FirstClass=3150000-3159999

Mr. CooL ICE

Yes please, Mr Obsolete! And would you like a bass lesson or two? Hehe, we could swap instruments in the middle of a gig. Meaning, you'd have to sing! Muhahahaha!

daram

Musicmaker is a grand shop outside of the main floor. Theres a decent acoustic guitar/keyboard/recording equipment area upstairs and probably one of the best Dublin drum shops downstairs. Its just the electric guitars and basses area that is bollox. The staff are egotistic pricks and are mostly failed musicians. I hate that **** from Juno Falls, fukkin know it all.

Not all Dublin guitar shops are bad. Sound Gear in Portabello are great. Its only a small place but they can always sort you out with a good deal.

the_obsolete

Hell I'd sing from behind the kit (if could sing that is....). And why the hell not learn how ta use more fingering techniques!

haszo

Buy second hand if ya can get a good deal but don't expect the world, they don't de-value that much in my experience... then for me living in Dublin there's sound proofing which is a pain in the arse. But the most important thing for drums is good headphones to protect your ears, you just don’t wanta get that tinnitus crap

[URL=http://]http://www.netzmarkt.de/thomann/thoiw6_vic_firth_db22_drummer_headphone_prodinfo.html[/URL]

daram

I just scored 800e worth of sound proofing stuff. flippin great. major renovations due on the band room now.

John

so now you can go up to 11?

daram

We already were. Now, people wont complain!!

Dr. Loon

daram wrote:

I just scored 800e worth of sound proofing stuff. flippin great. major renovations due on the band room now.

Sorry to go (slightly) off topic folks, but Daram, what sort of sound proofing stuff did ye get? I intend to build a shed and sound proof it so I can practice, and I'm wondering what I'll need. Egg cartons won't do the job

daram

Stuff called Rockwool. Theres a company in Park West Industrial estate called ATIL that sell special "sound stopping" rockwool. Its kinda like attic insulation. You can get it in various forms, in rolls, compacted sheets, glued to plasterboard etc. The idea is to surround the room in it without driving things like nails through it. Then put appropriate seals on the doors and your sound reducing is done. Its never perfect but it helps.

I've been working in Sandymount installing this stuff in an appartment for the last few weeks cause of noisy neighbours. There was loads left over when we finished so I get to keep it.

Soooound.

smiley_knees

Way! I’m starting the drums soon! After three years of begging I’m getting lessons!!! : ) Does anybody know which kits are the best to get? Pearl is supposed to be très cool and Striker is supposed to be crap. Not sure.

Anybody know which brand to buy?

Oh well, worth a shot…

Waltons

Yeah, i'm gonna have to agree with everyone and say go 2nd hand if you're buying here. I took lessons in a certain establishment who were able to get me 20% off a Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage kit (whichn don't get me wrong, I love to bits) but I could've got it cheaper even without a discount online or if I'd just sought advise from some friends first.
As Doctor J said, get a book of rudiments and some differently sized sticks, and a cymbal pack to start off with. I got one of the Zildjian starter packs when I started and they do serve fairly well while they last.
Best of luck with getting your kit and your drumming

daram

Stage Custom Advantage is a winner of a kit. Although the snare isnt the best, you can do some DIY repairs to it and make it far sweeter. I did a similar deal for the drummer in my band and got him one for trade price. Good kit. Most yamaha kits are good as a general rule. Even they're cheaper ones are alright.

Waltons

DIY repair you say? Well, since I was considering just getting a ludwig snare, I'd like to hear more about these improvements of yours first sir

Dr. Loon

daram wrote:

Stuff called Rockwool.

Aye, I thought so. Expensive stuff though?

daram

As I said, I got the rockwool free. But usually its about 50e a roll.

To improve the yamaha snare, get a new clutch, and a new snare wire and replace the skins with EVANS ones. Theres particular skins for different sounds, and the type of snare wire is important too. The drummer in my band got a "blaster". Cant explain more than that. It does sound better. With or without that clear ring they give you.

the_obsolete

Boo, boo I say! Remo could whoop Evans all over the shop I says!

daram

up till about a month ago i would have agreed. most people would go for remo too. but ive now heard the difference id have to go with evans

Doctor J

I wouldn't choose a skin just on brand. Different models sound different, not every snare should have a Weather King on it. I had a perforated Evans head on a snare, it was a lovely dry sound. But I know a guy who had Evans oil heads (a layer of oil between the top and bottom skin) on his toms and they sounded gick. Shop around, try different brands and different models.

the_obsolete

Nah I have, used Evans in the beginning but then tried Remo, haven't looked back since!