another one....

of those boring, re-occurring threads

it's looking like in the next week or so I've got a fairly hefty pay check coming my way and I may have around 500 bucks to play w/as far as drums/music goes.

I was just wanting some ideas of what you guys think I should get.

my current set up:

ludwig accent 12,13,16,22

TreeHouse 13" snare

21" Sabian rock ride (which I love dearly)

16" Zildjian crash (never can remember what the line is...avidis maybe?)

19" Zildjian A custom (cracked and drilled freebee, don't use it much, but still sounds decent)

14" New beats

Rock-n-soc nitro

Things I'm considering:

heads maybe, mine are decent, but could use an upgrade,

drums....those accents sound...ehhh

hardware, mine is okay, aside from my snare stand and one boom stand

bd pedal? I was using the iron cobra junior double pedal, but I really want an upgrade, maybe even to a single pedal, that's what I'm using right now...the cobra jr is sitting on the shelf.....

I know this thread is kinda wide open, I'm just brainstorming

I just dunno, what do you guys think?

I don't know if you're into vintage drums, but you could probably get a good set of Ludwig Standards for about that much. CEM could tell you more about those.

but... there's always this

haha, definitely going w/the rock bucket

and yeah, I'm into vintage drums, but I'm really wanting to get a Treehouse kit (possible to match my snare), then again, treehouse is ALOT of money :/

I'd get an 18-20" crash or ride that does both as a secondary option to your current ride and large crash if needed. Then I'd look at shells, or new heads and a drum dial.

I like the crash or ride idea, and I've already got the tama version of the drum dial tension watch i think it is?

I'm a cymbal person so my vote is for 2 stands & 2 cymbals

this may just be my opinion, but i've made it a point to never walk into a store with the mentality "i'm going to buy a cymbal today". i'm quite selective on my cymbals, and when i've bought cymbals just because i wanted to buy a cymbal (had extra money), i've always been disappointed a few days later in my purchase.

I've had similar experiences when I've bought cymbals 'just for fun'. But when I've taken my time, brought my cymbals with to compare and been picky as can be, it has turned out well.

My vote (assuming you aren't carrying any debt, which should be paid before buying toys) would be to save it for an upgrade in shells. That seems like the 'weak link', though the Accents sound decent enough. But $500 probably wouldn't buy you much of an upgrade from the Accents on it's own.

I totally agree, used is my favorite brand, for stands too.I normally don't buy unless it's a smoking deal on the cymbal I want or one I can turn for a profit if my taste change.

get a K Custom Dark Ride 20". My fav cymbal of all time

Wow, never had $500 to spend like that myself!

I agree with the consensus, the most obvious upgrade would be a cymbal or two, and I also agree that used is the best way to go price wise. The problem with Ebay is you don't hear what you are buying. Do you have a Music Go Round anywhere nearby? They sell used stuff, and you can try anything out first. I would definitely check that out. You should be able to pick up a couple of decent cymbals for under a hundred each. Since your drums are pretty standard sizes you may be able to pick up some cases as well.

well, pay check came today....ended up being 600, but I think I'm still going to use 500 for play money and put 100 in savings....though I know it should be the other way around

I think i'm gonna go look at some single pedals and some cymbals today (hopefully)

to save would be wise but hey you only live once

You can blow $500 pretty quick on the "little" stuff like cymbals, stands, and pedals. I'd put it into used gear that you can flip if you don't love it. Maybe even a vintage kit, like someone suggested. It would certainly be a step up from the Accents.

maybe combine this thread and the pawn shop thread and see if you can find any treasures .

well, just got back from the music store, set up some pedals to try and I really didn't like the demon drive, the eliminator was OKAY, I really ended up liking the iron cobra w/the cobra coil the best...but..haven't bought it yet, didn't see/play any cymbals that really caught my attention, so we'll see what happens after I stew around on the ideas of what I really want to buy, just to make sure that nothings purely impulsive.

though I did buy Rhythmic Visions and Rhythmic Horrizons (in dvd form) impulsively

You have a nice snare, $500 would get you some orphans off of ebay. A nice mis-matched club date maybe? When you get more money, you can rewrap them if desired.