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Help with a drum kit


Btmiller103

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Hey Im looking for a drum kit that's decent. I would t mind buying new, used is preferable. I'm trying to stay under 500. Any suggestions? I want to buy a whole set with hardware but if there's a better way I'm all ears. I'm in rochester NY so if there's any places or listings on Craigslist It would be appreciated as I personally don't know much of the technical stuff about drums. Any help would be great

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This gets asked a lot on here over the years. New? something "Decent"?? And we're going to go very basic new and around as cheap as we can go? Ready? For drums only, we're looking at this, These cymbals are crap!! but this is new to get you to a "decent" kit with most stuff right out of the box.

http://http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ludwig-Accent-Fuse-Complete-Drum-Set-White-w-Black-HW-Free-Shipping-/281222811407?pt=US_Drums&hash=item417a2f8f0f

ANd now onto the basic cymbals: These are "entry" level pro-level cymbals, meaning we aren't even going to even bother with the crappiest entry level stuff and go slightly higher, but yet not so high as to rob the bank, we are just trying to "get by' here, We're talking a pro's "Practice" kit, something he might be okay with to warm up with back stage and be okay with it. But not much farther.

Here is an entry level "decent" cymbal pack.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Sabian-XS20-Performance-Cymbal-Set-Pack-/161036845174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257e8b4076http://

The drums by themselves and cymbals by themselves are around $500 each, so if you want both for around  $500, you will be looking for used. Many sets on Craiglist will list better sets at better prices that will blow the other stuff away . I hope this helps! What kind of music do you want to play?? What do you like?? are you more worried how a set looks or how it sounds at all costs? THis will help others find you a set as well, Where will you practice?? Don't be in a hurry on your first kit!  

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Music I'm playing is rock, some faster metal riffs but I don't need double bass. A 4 piece with 2 cymbals and a ride would be fine, I'd probably get lost if I started with more. Looks I don't care about if it sounds good. I have a practice space I rent out which is always at around 70. I'd prefer to stay under 500 for a whole set, also used works for me, probably preferable since I'd rather buy a used okay set than a horrible new set.

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Definitely, you want used.

There is NO QUESTION. You want used.

I would try and spend the lion's share on cymbals. With good tuning, you can get almost anything sounding decent enough. But you won't be hammering cymbals out any time soon.

$500 for the whole deal is going to be a hard find though for reasonable quality. Keep your eyes peeled and the money in an envelope to jump at anything you see on Craig's List/Kijiji/Whatever.

As a breakout, I'd expect (now, I buy good gear):

Hats: min $70

Ride: min $100

Crash: min $80

Snare: min $75

3 pc kit: min $150

Hardware: 

Hats: min $45

Booms: min $60 for the pair

Snare stand/Kick pedal: min $25/$50

Throne: min $35

Summing that, my min would be $690. So maybe be prepared to look at that, but definitely keep your eyes peeled for better options.

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Ok, I have to ammend one thing about not caring about shells so much. You will at least need to stick to a major manufacturer. This is due to the quality control standards that you will get on even the cheaper Ludwig, Yamaha, Pearl, etc. kits out there. Even brands like Pulse and Sound Percussion make fine entry level basswood or poplar shells. But NO name chinese brands may not use appropriate technique when forming shells, which can leave you with plies coming apart, wraps falling off, hardware stripped or broken, and drums that are basically untunable even with good heads. 

In your case, you would want to at least find out what the brand or line of the shells were before purchasing. I mean, $40 is cheap for even a First Act kit (which that could be), but such kits are meant for kids who may lose interest in drumming within 3 months. If you are mature enough to know you will still be playing in a year or two, then the entry level kits in the $250-500 range are what you are after, and they can last you years and years with care and good heads. Look at me, I have been using my Accent shells since high school, and I am just now replacing them with mid-upper level maples. 

That said, I looked through the area CL and found a few decent things worth looking at: 

http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/4179927280.html

http://rochester.craigslist.org/msg/4167843525.html

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/msg/4238429910.html

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/msg/4184000683.html

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/msg/4221443454.html

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/msg/4173829523.html

http://buffalo.craigslist.org/msg/4176361771.html

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