Looking for advice on first kit for daughter

Hello,

New to the drum forum, so please don't crucify me if I am asking for info that has already been asked over a million times, I am just a boneheaded guitarist...

My daughter has been taking lessons for over a year, and she is at the point where she is ready to move from practice pads and one of her instructors spare kits to one of her own.

Her instructor has been very helpful in giving advice thus far, and I am hoping to get additional suggestions from members of the forum so I can expand my search.

A bit of info on the style kit I want to buy her:

4 piece

high hat/ride/crash

like the Ludwig "Liverpool 4" style kit

Any suggestions on well built kit this style that won't break the bank? I know there are junk kits, and then there are "student" kits that can provide years of service (like the Fender Champ amp and LP Junior guitar my parents bought me in the '60's).

No intention to start an opinion war, just looking for sound advice.

Thanks!

^That link is a good read for someone going in "cold."

good advice, rum.

sound drums from the start, at a reasonable price. be prepared to put a couple of bucks into some new heads, and have her instructor show her how to tune them up correctly. that'll go a long way. i'd say put about half the budget into decent cymbals. after all, good cymbals can go a long way. plus, you often can make a beginner kit sound pretty good with good tuning, but bad cymbals sound bad, no matter what you do.

How old is she?

If she's young teens or below, look for smaller kits (20 or 18 inch kick, 10/12 & 14 toms), otherwise standard (22 kick, 12/13 & 16 toms) would be fine.

Craigslist is the best place to find used kits, a mid-level kit in good shape with decent hardware and cymbals should be easy to find for under $800. Might have to replace the batter heads, but for a beginner it's fine.

As for the setup, look at Ringo Starr's kit, that's all you need to be a heck of a drummer. Avoid the huge kits.

Otherwise read that George's Drum Shop link.

Shoot us a link to your local Craigslist and we can throw out some recommendations. The standard recommendations are:

-Pearl Export

-Yamaha Stage Custom

-PDP...whatever that model is that I can't think of right now

Anything PDP/Pacific MX, CX, FS, LX, etc, basically anything other than EZ. My C-series Pacifics were an amazing kit I got for $225 new off eBay.

can't fault the conventional wisdom of budget/mid range shells and nicer cymbals for a starter, BUT...

depending on your budget you could get the something nice like the Ludwig retro downbeat for $780 and a cheaper cymbal pack like the b8's.

I say this because cymbals have come & gone in my life, but if my mom had bought me the 4 piece Ludwig I was initially looking at instead of the big 8 piece CB700 that made my eyes light up when I was 14 for my 1st kit - I bet I would still be playing it today...course I do still play the 60's Zildjian Hats I got with it.

Anyway, food for thought - good luck.

Shop wisely (i.e. used) get a good midrange kit, something you could flip if need be and recoup your investment. Don't buy asian firewood you never know when you might decide to jump on em yourself! When I bought my daughter a set I bought the cheapest thing I could find. That was a big mistake because I got interested in playing and that was 300plus down the tubes!

yeah, buy used,lots of good drums out there, also check the spam thread up top

Thanks for your offer...

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/msg/

What's your budget?

No details listed, but if it's a decent brand, $400 with cymbals is awesome.

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/msg/1526116667.html

This is a lot of kit for $800. (I'd stick some of it in the closet until she gets more experience.)

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/msg/1530699643.html

Total bargain on these shells, but you'd still need hardware, a throne, a kick pedal and cymbals

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/msg/1515421318.html

This might be my pick out of the bunch:

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/msg/1522490929.html

I think vennie paule has a kit.......

JK

Sorry ill let that die now

http://bloomington.craigslist.org/msg/1533948858.html

This kit/cymbals would last her a lifetime.

Thanks! I will check out that ludwig kit. Not black oyster like she say she wants, but for a quality used kit at a good price, she can grow to like the color...

very nice!!

Buy used, buy name brand, no settle for starter cymbals, made in China is usually cheap junk IMO.

Classic sounding shells, usually 3ply and maybe coated heads.

Modern sounding shells, usually 7 ply or so, and maybe clear heads.

Lots of options, check in here before buying, these guys wont let you get ripped off.