Looking to start drumming.

I play the guitar, and I'm looking to start into drums too. I'm looking to get a quality kit that wouldn't really need replacing any time soon. My budget is about $1000, since I want to save some money for when I am in college with no job. I will probably be able to split some of the cost with my parents since my birthday is in like a week.

I could use some advice on kits.

I've been browsing craigslist for the last couple months, but I've finally got the thumbs up to buy a set.

I've basically narrowed it down to two options.

There's this Yamaha Stage custom:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/msg/740108037.html

If I bought this kit, I wouldn't really have any more expenses over maybe some sticks, a throne and a pedal (not really sure if these are in the deal). There isn't a set price, I guess I'm supposed to make an offer. They are still available even though it's been like two weeks since they were put on craiglist, so I'm thinking I could get a low price for them. I don't really know what kind of offer I should make, so if anyone could give me some advice on that, it would be great.

Or there is the Sonor Force 3007:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/754528090.html

If I bought these, I would need to purchase a throne, sticks and cymbals. This is both good and bad, since I would be able to choose the cymbals I like... but it would probably be more expensive.

If I did buy this set, I don't really know if I would want to buy some Zildjian A's or Custom Z's. Are the Custom Z's more for Metal, Heavy/Death Metal music? That's what the reviews on Musiciansfriend.com would lead me to believe (I know not to really trust the reviews on there, but I was looking more at the types of music that each review played).

Anything I would be playing would be akin to Breaking Benjamin, Alter Bridge, Taproot, Silversun Pickups. It gets a little heavy, but nothing too hardcore. Would Zildjian A's be a better choice since they are more all-around cymbals?

The two sets of drums are pretty similar in most respects, the only big difference being that one set is birch and the other is maple. The only thing I really know about the differences is that birch is a scooped mid kind of wood with good...punch? for cutting through. The maple is warm bassy wood.

I guess it would come down to personal preference in the end really, but I don't really have much of a chance to try anything out, mostly because guitar center is the only close store and their selection seems paltry (there's only 3 acoustic sets, one with a bunch of those new zildjian blacks that aren't really appealing), and the employees are dickheads and yelled at me to stay on the electronic drums when I tried to play a set. If I wanted to buy electronic drums, I would have been playing them...

Sorry if I sound stupid through any of this, I'm just trying to make sure that I'm buying a good kit and making sure that my money is well spent. I don't want to be too impulsive.

1k isn't going to get you a quality kit if it's a) new, and b) you need hardware and cymbals. You'd need to double [at the least] that figure to get into quality. With a budget of 1k, the best thing to do is shop used. You'll get much better stuff for the same money. The only difference is a few nicks or scratches, which you'll get on new stuff anyways.

You may want to consider this: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/msg/765612044.html

It's a quality kit that tunes up well with good heads like Aquarian. And then go spend most of your budget on cymbals, stands and a throne.

There are many kits you can get that will last you a good long while without needing to be upgraded. You're going to want to make sure you get the best cymbals your budget can handle though, since upgrading them is expensive and the sound of bad ones is horrible.

I would jump on the yamaha kit, the cymbals it comes with are top notch.

I disagree. Though $1000 won't get you a professional quality kit, it will get you a damn good set to start on. I started on a $300 Pacific EZ kit (which blows). If you can snag that Yamaha for a good price, I would go for it. With $1000, you're in very good shape.

+1 on that. I posted my last response before I checked out the link. Those Yamahas are decent drums and the cymbals are the kind of quality cymbals you'll never need to replace. If you can get the whole thing for $1000, that might be a "reasonable offer." It would certainly be a good deal.

Hi!

If you are starting up as a drummer i have found a great website with

lots of free tutorials that can get you started.

Try http://www.learningdrum.com/drumeducation.html

+1 on the Yamaha man, good kit that you really don't ever NEED to upgrade, it'll do for most anything. The cymbals are top notch, that's the kit right there...

I've been playing out on my Yamaha Stage Customs, and recording with them, for quite some time. I love me some Yammies... definitely hop on that deal!

Good luck and welcome to drumming... which is the most expensive hobby on Earth, by the way, besides that sport where you jump from a helicopter with skiis on.