Some advice needed about buying a drumkit.

yummy mummy · 3rd July 2008, 10:38am

My daughter has requested a drumkit for her birthday. She has been getting lessons 2 or 3 times a week for most of first year and her music teacher seems to think she's got a bit of a talent for them.
So, where do I start? Is buying second hand a no-no or would that be a good idea? Is it wise to buy online or should I let her check them out first? What is a reasonable price for a starter kit and is that even what I should be buying?
Urgh, I miss the days when she wanted Bratz

Thankyou!

**LesMTS** · 3rd July 2008, 10:40am

What are you buying the neighbours?

slicer · 3rd July 2008, 10:50am

You got a budget in mind or anything?

I'd recommend having a gander round a few places. If you're not sure how to build the kit up from scratch, see somewhere that is willing to set it up for you annol.

You based in Glasgow?

SqueeTDM · 3rd July 2008, 10:52am

My first kit was a Session Pro kit I got for my 14th birthday, was like £100-£200 and was awful, still let me practice.
My parents got that one online, the one I have just now is a Tama and cost £600 from soundcontrol.
You should probbaly go look into Drum Central in town or something.

yummy mummy · 3rd July 2008, 10:55am

Building from scratch? Dear God, if I have to do that she's not getting one! I don't want to set a budget as such as I honestly don't have a clue how much they cost in the first place. I am based just outside Glasgow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SqueeTDM

My first kit was a Session Pro kit I got for my 14th birthday, was like £100-£200 and was awful, still let me practice.

Do you say that now because you're an accomplished drummer? Were you happy with it as a 14 year old? That sort of price would be do-able.

Largest of Als · 3rd July 2008, 11:02am

For your sanity.. and the neighbors, you might want to look at getting her an electronic kit.
She can play it with headphones... and you'll never need to replace the drum skins.

You can get something as simple as the ION USB kits that plug into the computer..
http://www.dv247.com/invt/30627/

Something a bit more serious, but still very cheap Alesis DM5
http://www.dv247.com/invt/32254/

A little further up the scale.. Yamaha DTX
http://www.dv247.com/invt/25491/

I'd imagine thats as far as you want to go price wise..

Al

SqueeTDM · 3rd July 2008, 11:04am

Price wise starter kits are normally £100-£300 I think and the £600 and up after that.
I dunno, I think I wasnt to happy with it at the time because oif the awesome kit my drum teacher had at the time, it definately felt different playing it.
But thats also cause I didnt replace skins ever lol, it should be fine though I mean I did use the kit for 3 years.

yummy mummy · 3rd July 2008, 11:06am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largest of Als

For your sanity.. and the neighbors, you might want to look at getting her an electronic kit.
She can play it with headphones... and you'll never need to replace the drum skins.

You can get something as simple as the ION USB kits that plug into the computer..
http://www.dv247.com/invt/30627/

Something a bit more serious, but still very cheap Alesis DM5
http://www.dv247.com/invt/32254/

A little further up the scale.. Yamaha DTX
http://www.dv247.com/invt/25491/

I'd imagine thats as far as you want to go price wise..

Al

That's been suggested, she doesn't like them

Thanks anyway!!

SqueeTDM · 3rd July 2008, 11:07am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Largest of Als

For your sanity.. and the neighbors, you might want to look at getting her an electronic kit.
She can play it with headphones... and you'll never need to replace the drum skins.

Al

As good an idea as that always sounds, as a drummer I have never reallu enjoyed playing an electronic kit, it never really has the same feel as a standard kit. Ask your daughter though, if she's up for that its a good way forward then. You can also buy silencer pads for normal kits.

Largest of Als · 3rd July 2008, 11:13am

Quote:

Originally Posted by yummy mummy

That's been suggested, she doesn't like them

Thanks anyway!!

In that case I suggest you buy some of these at the same time you buy your kit..

Al

yummy mummy · 3rd July 2008, 11:16am

Ha! It's all been said before, I'm just glad she's asking for something constructive for her birthday instead of a day/night out in a bloody Boogie Bus or Pink Limo.

slicer · 3rd July 2008, 11:41am

Quote:

Originally Posted by yummy mummy

Ha! It's all been said before, I'm just glad she's asking for something constructive for her birthday instead of a day/night out in a bloody Boogie Bus or Pink Limo.

That is indeed fair enough. Good call!

Largest of Als · 3rd July 2008, 11:56am

OK, spoke to some friends of mine at the London Drum Centre, they recommend as a beginners kit..

http://www.dv247.com/invt/3421/

Basic, but cheap, and will take a good bit of beating too I'm told..

Al

**Kenny Everett** · 3rd July 2008, 12:07pm

My first kit was a Tama Stagestar, which has the benefit of smaller sizes. Not quite as loud either;

What you will need to budget for with any starter kit is a reasonable set of cymbals (the ones that will come with it will be next to useless) which usually add another £100 onto the bill.

The good news is that there's lots of great new bargains online, and also secondhand if you know what you're looking for. A cheap kit can also sound surprisingly decent when you put half decent skins (often called 'heads') on.

Pop me a pm if you need exact help, I've bought and sold quite a few beginner to intermediate kits over the last couple of years as I've been learning

Lowtone · 3rd July 2008, 12:42pm

Lynne, are your neighbours gonna be okay with this? My bro bought a drumkit with some money he had when we were younger and we put it in our room in my parents flat. I'm certain it sounded one gazillion times louder than in a practice room :P
We never got any complaints but both of us felt a bit uncomfortable playing it.

Why don't you find out what drumkit they have in the school? If it's anything like my school then most of the music equipment was quite cheap.

In the cheap kit we had the stands were really poor but bearable if you take care of them properly. Like Chris says, some new cymbals seperately is probably a good idea. The ones you get with a cheap kit will make you want to slice your ears off.

I don't think I'd go for anything too expensive though. Starting off cheap will get her to make the most of what shes got and she'll appreciate the better equipment when is paying for it off her paper round.