My friend is getting drums today, what should he get

B

Brakk

Member
May 15, 2007
59
0
6
Hes about to leave for a place to get drums

-He has just started to learn how to play drums
-He wants to play death metal (double bass pedal)

Can anyone recommend him some good cheap drums?
 
Roland V-kit so he can actually PRACTISE at home.

Reason 99% of drummers blow ass is they can't practise at home...


V-kit allows that.



When he can play, he should get acoustic kit.


And anyone that tells me a V-kit is shit and not real drums... Electric/Acoustic guitar anyone?
 
Well, actually, pickups capture the acoustic sound of your guitar whereas v-drums only capture a certain knock and its velocity and then replace it with a sample...they're supposed to, anyway.
 
I generally dislike electronic drums. They should really only be used where space or noise is an issue. Also, you do not get a realistic representation of acoustic drums with v-drums. You get way more rebound with a v-kit, and it makes for a tougher time later on when you are trying to play blast beats, do fast db, or whatever on an acoustic. Also, it's good to get experience tuning real drums.

That being said, a lot of cheap kits can be had in the $499-$599 that are pretty decent. Check out brands like PDP (or Pacific), Taye, Gretsch (that 699 maple set sounds killer), maybe a few pearl kits. I personally would avoid like the plague any low end ludwig, tama, or "pulse" kits. Also, the $299 ebay deals tend to suck... You can, though, find a ton of decent used intermediate kits for entry level prices. I got a Pacific MX kit with a bunch of extra hardware, three cymbals, a ton of new heads, and a single pedal for just over 600.

Of course, this all depends on what your friend's dedication is like. If he wants to seriously consider drums, and will likely play them for a long time, I would say spend a little extra upfront to get a nice kit. If he just wants to mess around, and learn (but not record or gig with) the drums, then any cheap kit will do.

Hope that helps!
 
Shadow_Walker said:
Well, actually, pickups capture the acoustic sound of your guitar whereas v-drums only capture a certain knock and its velocity and then replace it with a sample...they're supposed to, anyway.
Click to expand...

Yeah but my point was, you still have to hit a round object with either your hands or feet in the same position as they would be on an acoustic kit.

My drummer practises on e-kits at home, it actually trains him to play cleaner as he can better monitor double hits and sloppy playing.

He also has a storming acoustic kit for gigging.
 
I have to agree with Gavin. If your friend is going to be restricted on his playing time if he gets an acoustic kit, (pissy neighbors, strict parents) he should just get an electric kit. No point in bothering with acoustic drums if you can never play them.

However, if he can get acoustic drums, encourage him to get anything maple or birch. Usually the quality in those kits is high enough to be worth the money. Mapex and Sonor are companies that offer affordable maple/birch kits. For example:

The Sonor Force 3005

or

The Mapex Pro M

Edit:

Oh! Or the new Pearl Vision series kit. And I have heard nothing but praise for Pearl's customer support.
 
How do those mesh e-drums compare to real drums in terms of playability? I've heard that it's like hitting a tennis racket - and that it makes the same sound too.
 
Ben Johnson said:
How do those mesh e-drums compare to real drums in terms of playability? I've heard that it's like hitting a tennis racket - and that it makes the same sound too.
Click to expand...
Meh. I can kind of see (hear) that. It's pretty damn close and definitely the closest to the real thing out there. Beats hitting rubber pads for sure.
 
I've made my own mesh heads, they cost me almost nothing and I think the feeling is pretty close. As for the sound, it's pretty nice when you leave a normal bottom head on. Only problem is, you can't make mesh cymbals.
 
That's awesome. Did you follow DIY plans from a site somewhere, or did you come up with your own design?

I'm really interested in drumming lately, but since I'm a cheap bastard (and can't make a lot of noise), I'd like to build a kit.

Sorry to hijack the thread, Brakk.
 
I saw it in a site but I can't find it. Mine are basically made out of cable, glue and some window net against insects. Wrap the cable around the edge of the drum, cut it in the appropriate place and glue it so that it forms a circle, next cut a circle out of the net. It should be bigger than the cable circle so that you can glue it better, wrapping the net around the cable. Then make a few triangular cuts in the excess net so that it can be wrapped around the cable. When the glue dries you're pretty much ready. Might have missed some details, though, as I made mine last year. Oh, I used to layers of net together, this way it's stronger and louder (still much quieter than hitting one stick with the other)
 
I'd be less inclined to go for an electric kit right off the bat. I've no problem with them but they are better for drummers who can already play to practice on, as opposed to learning straight away on one. Learning on acoustic will give you much more of a sense for feel and dynamic.
My kit at home is an acoustic but I've got old shirts over the heads to dampen the sound. It is still loud enough but it is still a good bit quieter. My drummer has a mesh head kit and cymbal damping pads for his house. It sounds like a kit and plays ok but it is very bouncy. Its probaly the best way to go regarding noise vs feel.
 
my problem with electric drum kits (which is why don't own one) is the price you pay for what you get opposed to an acoustic kit

you pretty much have to get in the $700-800 range just to get a bottom of the barrel useable electric kit, and for just a few bucks more one could get a rather nice acoustic set
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

kylendm
A friend needs an interface
Replies
13
Views
893
Backline
cfh11
C
kev
Anyone know much about Roland V-drums?
Replies
9
Views
692
Backline
Star Ark
S
Fragle
E-Drums - recommendations?
Replies
21
Views
7K
Backline
ComposerX
C
K of London
Can anyone advise me on starting the drums?
Replies
1
Views
252
Musicians Discussion
FailingAcension
F
Heabow
Advice for a bass amp (400-500€ range)
Replies
3
Views
406
Backline
atoragon
A
Top Bottom