What drums to buy
At the very beginning of your drumming adventure, you'll find yourself facing the most important drummers choice of them all - choosing the right drum-kit. There are however couple of important questions that must be answered before you even open up a catalogue.
- What is your budget?
- Where will you play it? At home or at a dedicated rehearsal space?
- What genre do you want to focus on most?
- What is your skill level?
No matter what the answers to these questions are, one thing remains the same. You want the best you can get for the money you have. A drum-set that will last you for as long as possible.
Before we talk about the budget, let's answer some other questions first:
Where will you play?
This very important to clarify, as it might impact your decision in terms of whether to choose an electronic or acoustic set. Electronic sets are quiet, easy to put aside and they don't require much space, making them ideal for home use or dormitories. They do come with a bit of a price tag.
But if you have a well isolated place, or a set of very tolerant neighbors, acoustic drums are always the best choice. Sure they take space, maintenance costs a bit, but the start up price is a lot lower and nothing beats the real thing.
It's up to you, but be realistic!
What genre of music?
If you are just starting, don't bang your head too much about this. We will discuss a few well rounded beginner sets later. In the beginning you just want something you can learn on.
However, if you are aspiring more towards jazz - get an acoustic kit.
Your skill level:
Be realistic. Choose what you need, not what you want. Terry Bozzio's 84 piece drum-kit sure looks impressive, but he can play it. When starting out, stick to a 5 peace sets with a hi-hat and two cymbals. It's more than some of the greatest drummers ever use.
Don't blow your budget trying to look cool.
And, yes... The Budget (dramatic drum fill comes in)
Now this can be a bit of a turn off for most, 'cause initial cost is never peanuts. But look at it this way: choose well, take care of your drums and they will last you well beyond beginners phase.
Here's what a good beginners set should have:
- a Stool
- a pair of sticks
- A Bass drum - Kick
- A Snare
- Two toms
- and a Floor Tom - Timpani
- a Hi-hat stand and a Hi-hat cymbal
- a Ride cymbal and stand
- a Crash cymbal and a stand
- and very important - a Kick pedal.
A good package should have all of above minus the cymbals, although there are some that offer cymbals as well.
Here's a few cool kits you can check out:
Cannon Adder kit
Runs for less than $300 and it comes with two cymbals plus a hi-hat and stands. Looks cool, sounds really good for it's price and it plays out of the box. Amazing little guy.
Pearl Export
This is a legend. Today you can find it second hand for less than $350, and it will last you a long time. Excellent sound and a friendly set-up, this old timer is one of the most copied drumsets around.
Premier Olympic kit
You can get this new for about $500 bucks. While it's more pricey, it's a solid remake of an old Premier line and solid piece of equipment that will keep you busy for years to come.
As for the electronic ones, three most popular manufacturers are Roland, Yamaha and Alesis.
Beware though, that if you are buying an electronic kit, you get a good one that makes you feel comfortable. A bad electronic kit will make for a bad technique once you switch to an acoustic version. Prices range from $650 -$1500.
Where to buy?
Well, we live in a digital age, check out e-bay, classifieds or amazon.com for idea abut prices, and you might even find something nice.
If you have a chance, go to a music store and try out the kits. Don't just order online and hope for the best. Also many better music stores have starter packs in storage, and will be happy to guide you along, as a drummer is always a good customer.
So sit down, think about it and get your self a vessel of musical joy, that will take you to many rhythmic adventures.
Happy drumming!