Drum newbie advice please :-)

Molberts

Hi all,

I'm a DJ who has been threatening for years to take drum lessons and at 26 have *finally* started

I absolutely love it, keep my sticks and practice pad in my bag so I can whip them out and practice whenever I get any free time, my teacher is fantastic and very encouraging which helps lots

With my background as a technology/DJ nerd :pac: I would have expected to be dribbling over the Roland kits; I know they can do all sorts of amazing things and are awesome...but for some reason I'm really drawn to the idea of getting an acoustic kit I think after years of dealing with electronic equipment the warmth of the acoustic sound appeals to me

I'm looking to get a kit but am unsure what to go for and was hoping for some advice please. I already got some great advice in the Thomann sticky, there's a massive price difference in the UK sites now because of the sterling drop! :eek:

In DJ land, if you're serious about it I would always recommend saving up to get the best you can afford, ideally industry standard equipment you'll be using in clubs. If you buy a cheap starter set, you'll soon be trying to sell it to buy better gear.... Is it the same for drum kits? is the cheap stuff really awful or should you start small?! what I mean is if I spend 500 now will I be kicking myself in 6months when I'm trying to offload them to buy a kit for 1500 and so on? Or is it like guitars where you keep collecting?:pac:

Is there a huge difference between the different makes and what are the best? I've been looking at the Pearl Forum and Vision kits online.

I know these are very broad questions and thank you very much for any help.

Molby x

Nahguavkire

I'm not a drummer but from what I gather on this the majority of people will only have one kit, not like guitarists... I think you know yourself that buying a decent bit of gear that will last si the way to go from the DJing...

Cheap drumkits don't sound awful, it's the hardware that'll let you down, stands and clamps and what not won't last on a cheap kit as well as they will on a more expensive model usually.

The other thing I'd recommend, this is just a personal preference but if I were in your position I'd go for a slightly smaller kit size... Bonhamesque kits are epic but if you need to bring it anywhere it's a pain in the hole... I'd go for a jazz/ fusion size kit... You can get nicer kits more reasonably priced too, friend of mine has a lovely Pearl Master Jazz kit and it's the business!!

You can always spend a bit more on a kit now at the cost of not getting good cymbals and get some decent cymbals later on...

Really it's best to shop around and just see what you like though, there are some great bargains on Adverts these days...

Good luck

Drummerboy08

There's a great little kit down in the Naas Drum Centre - a Gretch Catalina kit. Its €450, but its a great standard of a kit for the money. Decent hardware and shells. There'd be no problem playing this kit in a club with a band.

The Pearl Vision kits arent bad either, very giggable.

Remember that you'll also have to buy cymbals. IMO, i think you're always better off buying good cymbals. Drums can be tuned differently, with different heads to alter the sound, but with a cymbal there are no variables.

If you think you'll be playing drums with a band in a few years and want good quality cymbals, I'd be looking at something along the lines of Sabian AAx's. Good bright cymbals.

If you reckon you'll only be playing at home, maybe look at something like Sabian XS20's, or Zildjian ZXT's.

Or, if you wanted to be really different, try looking at a set of Murat Diril cymbals. These are handmade in Turkey to order, and are shipped over. Anyone I've spoken to who has played them has compared them to top of the line Sabians or Zildjians. The great thing is, is they are very, very well priced cymbals.

Log onto www.drummingireland.com for a bit more detailed info. The guys on there know their stuff, lots of teachers etc.

Molberts

you guys rawk!

Drummerboy08 I would hope to practice lots and become good enough to gig yes

So should I look for something with decent "bones" as such (hardware etc) then add on better cymbals etc as I go along?

Naas drum center also have a gorgeous pink shell pack on their site (im sorry im a girl and it would match my hair okay?!? >.<)

http://www.naasdrumcentre.com/shop/?cat=1241527143742&start_item=0&product=1244293050446

I was also thinking of maybe something like this so my neighbors don't hate me, you can swap in mesh heads for practicing at home: http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=153494&cat=fav or would I just be upgrading it after a short while?

thanks again

Drummerboy08

The Mapex kits are good - I used to play one myself - and they usually come with good hardware.

The Pearl Traveller is really only suitable as a "second" kit - maybe for the gigs that room is tight, or for practicing at home with. I'd say you'd end up selling it on again once you join a band.

I personally think investing in cymbals is the way to go, but I do understand other peoples views to buy a decent shell pack, and hardware. Cymbals can always be upgraded I guess. It does look like the Mapex kit doesnt come with much hardware - you would need another 3 cymbal stands, hi hat stand, kick pedal to get you going. Probably cost another €250-300 for decent stuff.

On top of this, you'd need cymbals. If you were to buy a decent kit and hardware now, you'd be looknig for a cheaper range of cymbals to start out on. Something like the Sabian XS20's or Zildjian's ZXT's would be ideal. Stil decent quality cymbals, but at a good price. Again, take a look at the cymbals I mentioned in my other post - Murat Diril. Very cheap prices, for very good cymbals.

To start off, you'd probably want a Crash (normally 16" for a beginner, but any size will do I guess) a Ride (no giggles, and it's normally a 20" cymbal, but goes all the way to 24") and a set of Hi-Hats (again, normally 14", but can be got in 13" and 15" too)

Looking at maybe €250-300 for a box set containing these (off the top of my head).

The basic set up for the drums would be similar to the Mapex kit your looking at - 22" kick, 12" rack tom, 16" floor tom, and a 14" snare. Again, all of thee drums are available in loads of different sizes, but these sizes would be the "standard".

I think the best bet you can do is to drop into a music shop and discuss it with someone there. Where are you based?

Ask for John in the Naas Drum Centre, he knows his stuff. If you are around Dublin, call into X Music and ask for Ronan, or Musicmaker on Wicklow street.

Again, log onto drummingireland.com, and the lads will set you straight. Also talk to your drum teacher - he should point you in the right direction, and may even be able to wrangle you a discount!

Molberts

thanks again thats awesome advice

I think the Mapex kit is probably out of budget at this stage (and impractical as additional toms I add in eventually wont match colour wise and will look odd :rolleyes:)

The idea of the custom cymbals appeal greatly to my nerdy side :pac:

I'm based in Dublin. Would always rather support an Irish shop (plus going into a shop to actually try stuff out and get advice wins) but obviously if there's a massive difference price wise online I'd have to go there instead. theres a few 100 in the difference even between Thomann and some UK sites at the moment on some kits cos of the exchange rate its mad!

Drummerboy08

I'd still go out to X Music then and try out a few differernt bits and pieces. Have you an idea of your total budget?

Molberts

I had a figure of 800 in my head

I can eat bread and koka noodles for a while its cool :rolleyes:

If this wasn't enough though or if it would make a massive difference to save ans spend say 1200 I'd do it.

From what your saying though it seems like I could spend say the 800 then when I have the cash to, upgrade the cymbals?

Thanks so much for the advice, much appreciated.

Will try drag* aforementioned awesome teacher to X Music so

*im sure he loves going there lol I just mean he's very busy

Tomas911

+1 Mapex
+1 Musicmaker

But I don't think Musicmaker sell Mapex?

Drummerboy08

800 quid should buy you a decent kit.

There's a Pearl SBX and SMX for sale somewhere for around the 500 mark. Offer 450 and i'd say its yours. Gives you around 350 or more for some cymbals and a bit of hardware.

The SBX and SMX are basically Masters kits, but with different hardware. I One is Birch (sBx) and one is Maple (sMx). I currently have an SBX and I love it.

I'll try to find em....


EDIT

Here's the SBX for 530.
http://www.drummingireland.com/viewthread.php?tid=5813

Molberts

Thanks again guys.

Popped into music maker today, the (smiley and helpful) sales guy recommended a pearl kit, I forgot the name though >.<

All I had to do was remember one word and I forgot it :rolleyes: wasnt the forum or vision, was 449 for the full kit anyway.

will probably keep looking before commiting to one anyway, keeping an eye on second hand stuff as well.

Drummerboy08

A Target would be good to start on, but in a few years down the line it wouldnt be that suited to gigging with a band. Look for an Export or higher if you plan on keeping it.

aka_Ciaran

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Or, if you wanted to be really different, try looking at a set of Murat Diril cymbals. These are handmade in Turkey to order, and are shipped over. Anyone I've spoken to who has played them has compared them to top of the line Sabians or Zildjians. The great thing is, is they are very, very well priced cymbals.

Good tip re Murat Diril...hadn't heard of these before but they look pretty good. There's a dealer in the UK that I'm sure would ship to Ireland.