Help me buy a kit please - $3500 budget

Hi,

I have been playing drums for about 5 years with the cheapest drumset ever.

Its time for me to get a decent one. I already gave away the old one so im drumless right now. I am looking for something around $2000 - $3800 with cymbals and hardware.

My old drumset conisted of a snare, bass, tom, crash, and hihat. It sucked and I spent 5 years with that crap. Im looking for something I will grow into.

I don't really know much about the type of woods used or hardware.

I like to play mostly modern hard rock: Staind, Breaking Benjamin, Alter Bridge, and some Pink Floyd stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idb55TpCL7I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MePzWtHqrso

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wtiNzci1Wc

I prefer 1 bass drum and double pedal.

So, if you had $2000 - $3500 bucks to play what I like to play, what would you get? Please post pics and details. I don't know much about brands either. Don't forget cymbal sizes!

Brand: USED

Level: TOP LINE

Cymbals: THE BEST

Cases: HARD

Hardware: SHINEY

Ok, for the money youve got to blow, shop around and find a good private deal for a quality used Top line kit in the range you have to work with. Maybe you will get lucky........... Now as to lucky, I found this kit in a pawnshop in April 2001, I added a few pieces of hardware, ...... and this is a 7,000 dollar kit. What Ive got into it, is well within your budget figure. 1995 Ayotte Custom Drums, Ray Ayotte Era, Steelhoop, 22, 12, 16, (14 is an addition and mapex, but the color matches, and it was a hundred bucks, and the Ayotte to match was over a thousand, heh, you figure it), DW Hardware, Tama Pedals, Zildjian K Custom Cymbals, Coda Bags, Humes and Berg Enduro Cases.

Should I be looking for maple or birch?

How is the Hardware from Pearl?

birch is more scooped and modern,maple is warmer sounding.

pearl's higher end hardware is great stuff.

if i had that kind of money to blow i would be looking to get the nicest set of old usa gretsches or ludwigs i could get my hands on and spend the rest on good modern hardware and 70's zildjians cymbals (mmm.... 24 inch ping ride..........)

The first thing you want to decide is what you're looking to do with it. Are you gigging, recording, playing just for fun...whatever. That's going to determine a lot because to take a fairly expensive kit into the club scene and on the road is a loosing proposition. They will get knocked around no matter how careful you are. 2nd, decide the sound you're looking for...Birch is right...maple is warmer and rounder. Look at the posts from "EPB" on new kits he was looking at...he was testing and comparing and the forum offered quite a few good suggestions. Why cover new ground if it's already there. Also remember you want drums, cymbals, hardware, CASES (if you're going to travel) and mics if you're playing live. Lot's of decisions but do your homework before you blow a big chunk of change.

I'm more of an old fart and like vintage drums, but if I had my picks today, I'd look into the new Yamahas, Gretch Renowns or Pearls. The Ludwigs (and I own a set of "63 classics) are not the Ludwigs of old, and TAMA (and I used to own an 80's Super Maple) has been doing something to their harware that just doesn't sit right with me. It looks too industrial rather than unobtrusive. Heavy duty is one thing but when it detracts from the look of the drum, it's not in my corner any more...

And I'm sorry, I disagree with many in this forum (but not all), you don't need a 6000.00 and up kit to sound good! Build your chops, build your musicality and build your craft, and you're kit will enhance you, and not the other way around...JMO

I need it mostly for recording and rehearsal. It won't get much live use since I am the guitarist in the band, but maybe I might take let the drummer use it for a gig or two. It will sit in my home studio most of the time mic'ed up and ready to record.

I want my kit to look almost exactly like this:

Cymbals: 2 crashes, 1 china, hihat, ride, splash all om a rack.

I am a fan of the 18x22 bass drums

I already decided to go with zildjian cymbals, I just haven't decided on the shells.

I can't decide on the type of wood for the videos I posted above and Ive been looking for a 4 piece DW drumset, but I can't seem to find a place to buy them online. Maybe I should go with Pearl? I still don't know what type of wood.

I would like to order the drumset online or over the phone, maybe you can recommend me a good store (yes im in the u.s.).

IMO, do not order the shells or cymbals on line. Sorry...you need to make these personal issues. I deal a lot on line, but not with the bread and butter stuff. Ask some of the music stores I used to deal with. As much of a pain as it was, I used to test 30 or 40 cymbals just to get one sweet crash with my name on it. They are ALL unique and don't let anyone tell you differnet. The darkness, the attack, brilliance, splash, the wake...all are inherent to the individual metal. Hey...you want YOUR sound, right!

And the shells...you need to hear the warmth. My stores (and they new I was a pain in the petutti...I know) used to let me take a tom into a small room and listen to the resonance. They may not have had the tuning or heads that I wanted, but the drums always showed their true character. And besides, go to a big drum shop with all the toys. You'll want to see a lot of kits, and not just on paper. After 21 years as a gigging drummer, I now do graphic design and photo retouch. Needless to say, I can make anything look like anything! Go look and hear the real deal! You'll thank yourself later. Zoom in on all the concepts and ideas from us here online, but once you're in the ballpark, go look at the real McCoy (showing my age).

As for the hardware...you CAN buy that anywhere if you so choose. This is for all intents and purposes, the supplemental stuff that is very consistent. By the way, if you're not traveling with the kit, maybe you can cut back on the behemothness (good word) of the hardware. Level 2 hardware may be strong enough instead of the gear that is heavily geared for road warriors. Just make sure you eliminate any rattles and buzzes for recording. Look for simplicity in design...not a lot of bells and whistles. They should be flexible and adjustable to your needs but think of these Star Trek 3 word from Scotty..."the more compicated the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain" (loose translation).

Hope I didn't ramble on too much. Some people say I'm too picky and slow moving. Maybe so, but I'm the guy footin' the bills in my family. When I buy, it's gonna be for real! And I still like the kits I mentioned above...Yamahas, Gretch Renowns or Pearl Visions. Em, em, em...they sure are pretty on the eyes. IMO though, if it's all about recording, it's hard to beat Yamaha...

GOOD LUCK & GOOD HUNTING!!!

Get quality hardware that will last forever.

Get cymbals that have crisp tone, not the loudest ones in the shop.

Get a snare that is big enough to have balls without being pounded so hard that it's too loud for the band even when everything on stage is mic'd.

The best sounding kit I've worked with is a Pacific the drummer bought used for $300. Your technique, the heads, and how you tune the heads are infinitely more important to the sound than any high dollar shells are.

Great advice from Carmine. Especially about considering the usage of the kit (gigging, recording, etc.), and going to hear the drums in person.

$3500 will put the vast majority of kits within striking distance for you. What you really need to do is do your own research and listening. Here's what I'd do:

1.) go to as many drumsets as necessary to play similarly sized drums with shells of the following makeup:

From this, you should be able to get a pretty good general idea of what each type of wood sounds like, and how the thickness of the shells contributes to the sound. From this research, you'll probably come up with one variety of shell makeup that you prefer. Go to step #2

2.) So let's say you decide you like "thin maple shells". Now it's time to narrow down the brands. Find out who makes drums that meet this criteria, and if possible go check out each of those specific lines in person. In addition to sound, look at the hardware, the finish quality, and all of the "other stuff" that you'll be paying for.

3.) If you've done #1 and #2, you'll probably narrow your seach down to 2 or 3 specific models. Now you need to look at prices, availability, customer service, and any other factors. If you're methodical about these three steps, the choice will probably jump out at you.

As for cymbals, what do you have now? If you like 'em, keep 'em. I REALLY take my time with cymbals. You can't tune a cymbal, so you really need to listen to as many as you can and take your time. I'd rather spend a year getting the RIGHT cymbals than rushing out and getting "ok" cymbals.

Thanks for that great advice!

So you guys recommend birch or oak?

There's no easy answer to your question, though the info being given here is absolutely outstanding. You really need to do some footwork/homework to find the ultimate set -- no one can tell you what you like besides you. For what it's worth, though, most drummer in modern rock bands like you list are playing birch shells due to the punch and clarity of them. I'm a birch guy myself, but then again, I play that style of music, too.

If it was funk and blues, though... maple here I come!

I'm a sucker for mahogany.

The birch vs. oak vs. maple decision is like the steak vs. lobster vs. duck decision. I'm a steak guy, but when I turn down lobster for steak, the lobster dudes look at me like I'm crazy. Meanwhile the duck dude is sitting there in his Elmer Fudd getup telling us how HE's got it all figured out.

In other words....no right or wrong....personal choice.

Alright. Im going to check out some birch shells first. The best drum store I have near me is Guitar Center.

If I can't find what I want there, is there an online store worth checking out?

Guitar center should have a decent selection. You can at least experiment between birch and maple there...maybe oak too depending on what they have in stock.

Where do you live? On line I've used 8th Street Music in Philly, Musician's Friend which is actually a big conglomerate of stores, and Sam Ash in New York. Also check out Maryland Drums. I've been hearing a bunch of good things about them from the big chains. If they are recommending the competition, that's saying a lot. And I know Keith Larson the owner. He was one of the salesman I used to drive crazy way back when. HE KNOWS DRUMS...INSIDE AND OUT!

Sorry...I'm a maple man myself...warm and cozy and ROUND!!!

mmm... maple... mmm... doughnuts... yummy...

Sorry, I was going to respond at first but I thought it was a troll. ( I mean over 1,000 posts, having a set over 5 years, your location??) but now it seems for real.

I would vote for Birch, Yamaha recording customs are 100% Birch and have been heard on many CDs for years. Good attack and fast decay is a main reason they work well in studios/small rooms/miced etc. Maybe have a Maple bass drum. Yamaha also have a Abosulte Birch set that is worth a look. But your brand is up to you.

Yes with your budget, you can buy a lot of high end. But you really do need to hear in person. Be friendly but be picky, $3,500 would also buy a good decent work car so do not let a salesman rush you or force you to buy something. Be even more picky with cymbals, you can't retune them. Some cymbals will mellow out the more wear and dirt they get on them. Good luck and let us know what you decide...