What's a solid starter drum set?

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29th September 2011, 04:11 PM
PunkRockLessons

What's a solid starter drum set?

Any suggestions?
16th November 2011, 01:06 PM
octatonic

Gretsch Catalina Club is a great way to start.
16th November 2011, 04:05 PM
thebeagle

Generally properly cheap kits are what drummers term 'FEPoS' (Far Eastern Piece of...), including the likes of your Session Pro and actually most of the big companies' starter kits.

Personally for maximum bang-for-buck I'd say spend your money secondhand, on something like the Gretsch already mentioned (NOT their BlackHawk!), a Premier - XPK or APK (from the 90s), Cabria (00s) or if you drop on one cheapish an Artist Birch/Artist Maple (what I use, I swear by it, will never ever part with it and it cost me not much more than a ton) - perhaps a Mapex Pro M or Saturn, Yamaha Stage Custom...ddrum's cheaper ranges look quite nice but in my experience are trash, avoid Premier's Olympics, and IMHO don't touch anything cheap with 'Pearl' on it with a bargepole (just my experience, mind).

Of course buying secondhand you kind of need to know what you're looking at to avoid buying a lemon, and do budget at least an extra tenner per drum for new heads, which many will need - but if you've got a knowledgable friend (who might be persuaded to fit and tune the new heads for you as well) your money is SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOOO much better spent buying mid-range secondhand than 'starter' kit new.

Oh, and for cymbals, Stagg's SH and DH range go for peanuts on eBay, and are sometimes WONDERFUL (always acceptable, especially given the prices they go for, but you get the odd absolute gem).

Oh, and hardware - if you're not gigging initially pretty much anything will do, but for reliable gigging hardware I personally wouldn't go anywhere other than Yamaha or Gibraltar.

(edit - whereabouts in the world are you? If you're anywhere around the West Mids I'm happy to be your 'eyes on eBay' ;))
18th November 2011, 09:48 PM
octatonic

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebeagle

and IMHO don't touch anything cheap with 'Pearl' on it with a bargepole (just my experience, mind).

I used to agree.
The Pearl Vision (replacement for the Export) is actually pretty decent for the money.
They have made a lot of improvements in terms of tone and quality imho.

Also the Pearl Demon Drive is a great bass drum pedal.
12th January 2012, 12:18 PM
Jazzy_Jefferson

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkRockLessons

Any suggestions?

Surprised no one has asked: What sort of music you like and plan on playing?
I assume punk rock given the name?
23rd March 2012, 08:57 AM
butlersdog

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebeagle

Generally properly cheap kits are what drummers term 'FEPoS' (Far Eastern Piece of...), including the likes of your Session Pro and actually most of the big companies' starter kits.

Personally for maximum bang-for-buck I'd say spend your money secondhand, on something like the Gretsch already mentioned (NOT their BlackHawk!), a Premier - XPK or APK (from the 90s), Cabria (00s) or if you drop on one cheapish an Artist Birch/Artist Maple (what I use, I swear by it, will never ever part with it and it cost me not much more than a ton) - perhaps a Mapex Pro M or Saturn, Yamaha Stage Custom...ddrum's cheaper ranges look quite nice but in my experience are trash, avoid Premier's Olympics, and IMHO don't touch anything cheap with 'Pearl' on it with a bargepole (just my experience, mind).

Of course buying secondhand you kind of need to know what you're looking at to avoid buying a lemon, and do budget at least an extra tenner per drum lessons for new heads, which many will need - but if you've got a knowledgable friend (who might be persuaded to fit and tune the new heads for you as well) your money is SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOOO much better spent buying mid-range secondhand than 'starter' kit new.

Oh, and for cymbals, Stagg's SH and DH range go for peanuts on eBay, and are sometimes WONDERFUL (always acceptable, especially given the prices they go for, but you get the odd absolute gem).

Oh, and hardware - if you're not gigging initially pretty much anything will do, but for reliable gigging hardware I personally wouldn't go anywhere other than Yamaha or Gibraltar.

(edit - whereabouts in the world are you? If you're anywhere around the West Mids I'm happy to be your 'eyes on eBay' ;))

^ Very well said and explained. You may also want to try e-drums if you are just starting to learn or play drums. Check this out if you want to try electronic drums: http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/dr...today-200148/1