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Thread: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

  1. #1

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    Default New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    I've always been a fan of drums, and now I want to purchase a kit and learn how to play. My main concern right now is that i dont know what brand buy, because there are quite a few. My friend recommended to me that I get a more name brand kit, like Pearl/Ludwig/Mapex/Tama etc and I agree with him. Id like to stay in the $500-600 price range. A local music shop in my town is selling a Tama swingstar 5 piece kit with cheap cymbals for $550, while another shop is selling a Mapex voyager 5 piece drum set with cymbals for $500. Also, Ive been searching around. Ive come across a Ludwig Accent Combo 5-Piece Drum Set with a Zildjian ZBT Cymbal set for $550 and a Pearl Sound Check 5-piece Drum Set with Zildjian Cymbals for $600. As of right now, im thinking of leaning towards the ludwig, because of the zildijan cymbals and its still cheaper than the pearl.

    Any help and tips would be GREATLY appreciated

    *Sorry Andrew, but I had to edit out the links to retailers because they are prohibited by our Forum Rules - PB*

  2. #2

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Welcome to Drum Chat andrewb313!

    I think the Accent kit sounds like a good start for you. Of course, you could try looking for a used kit of better quality too.
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  3. #3

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    used is the way to go! for your price range you can find many nice drum kits. even guitar center has a used/ clearance section, lots of mapex stuff!
    MAPEX MAFIA

  4. #4

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Yes, re used, you can search the Guitar Center used collection nationwide to get an idea of costs and what is available (changes each day). Good for a browse (like candy store) at least, in addition to other resources (local music store listings, Craigslist, etc.)
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  5. #5

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    The Sound Check is a great kit. Im currently playing one, and i love it, despite it being Pearl's low-end kit. Im still playing the ZBT's that came with it, they are good to get you started, but you will want to upgrade when you get more serious about drumming. I have had this kit for just about a year and the only upgrades i see need to be made are cymbals. Once you replace the heads on the Sound Check and learn to tune, it is a great starter kit. Welcome to DC btw!
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  6. #6

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    My buddy has some accents. They are sweet. Sound real nice and fat. They record pretty well with room mics.
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  7. #7

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    thank you for the warm welcome! and i appreciate all of the responses, and understand about getting a used kit, but id rather start out fresh and pick one of those 4 kits. money isnt too big of an option for me if i stick to that price range

  8. #8

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Welcome ot DC man. It's up to you to buy what you want. You may kick yourself later for buying one of those beginner kits mentioned in your post. You could pick a good used middle range kit for that price and be happy with the sound. Stay away from the ZBT's cause they are realy cheap and sound bad. Good luck.

  9. #9

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    to my unfortunate surprise, i was checking on the ludwigs again and they jumped back up to $600. so for now, ill probably either end up getting the mapex or the tamas. i plan on buying them the first weekend in march, so if anyone has any more advice please say so

  10. #10

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    I say Mapex. Or If you can stretch it maybe pearl? Target or forum? But I think with exchange rates $600USD doesn't come out as much in £ so don't know, just keep an eye out for something used, or just a new deal you can't pass on.
    Last edited by Aaaidn; 02-23-2011 at 03:38 PM. Reason: messed up

  11. #11

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Take your time and look for good used drums, and spend the extra $$ to get better used cymbals (hihat, ride, crash). You will want to trade up your Zildjian ZBT's in no time. Every drummer who starts with budget cymbals ends up wanting to change them up soon as possible.

  12. #12

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    Andrew13, if you are a beginner and have NEVER played before then get used and affordable..only cause like any musical instruament it can get pricy for an experiment, the advice here that you see is very good..as like all of us...you can always UPGRADE! so welcome to the chat and don't forget to....
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  13. #13

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Go used! Check craiglist man. Welcome to DC!
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  14. #14

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    Smile Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Quote Originally Posted by andrewb313 View Post
    to my unfortunate surprise, i was checking on the ludwigs again and they jumped back up to $600. so for now, ill probably either end up getting the mapex or the tamas. i plan on buying them the first weekend in march, so if anyone has any more advice please say so
    See if you can find a good used Pearl Export. I am sure there has to be alot of them out there cause they were popular for years. Don't get the poplar shell go for a maple that way you will not be disappointed with the sound. How serious are you about getting into drumming? if you are realy serious then go for some middle range kits. I don't know much about other brands to compare with Pearl cause that is all I ever played. Tama, Mapex, Ludwigs, Premier,DW there are so many out there so do your homework and find what is right for you.

  15. #15

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    I just started playing with a small band last fall after nearly 30 years off...I wasn't sure what to get either. I wound up purchasing a Yamaha Custom Birch 5 piece set with Zildjian ZBT hats, ride, and crashes. Once I figured out what heads sounded the best, I LOVE the kit! Sounds awesome...I think it will do me for a long time! Just another thought for you...

  16. #16

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    Remember you can usually make a low quality drumset sound good with new heads. I bought a ddrum D2 kit for $400 and it sounded pretty bad. I put some EC2s on top and G1's on the bottom and they sounded like a good quality mid range kit. As long as the heads are good and tuned properly you should never have a bad sounding drumset.
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  17. #17

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    What Constinator said!

  18. #18

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    Here's the deal. You need to look down the road a ways. You buy one of those starter kits, and in six months you'll have the same thing as if you went and bought a used intermediate to pro set only you'll still have a beginner set not a quality kit. You get what you pay for in drum sets new. So buy cheap get cheap. Find you a good quality set used and it'll last you a long time. Cymbals are the same. You get what you pay for.

    My suggestions, Gretsch catalina series, maple or ash wood. Paiste Alpha cymbals. They're a good starting point. There are a few lines of cymbals that sound good alittle cheaper,but the Alpha line to me is the best bang for the buck. Gretsch kits are good quality. I own a Gretsch catalina maple set and sound awesome for the price. Got it off eBay through Sigler music for around $800 including a PDP hardware kit, bass pedal, two cymbal stands and hi hat.

    Good luck with whatever you decide.
    Last edited by jafo; 03-01-2011 at 06:53 AM.

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  19. #19

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    I am going to back up the used kit sentiment here. and here are a couple other things to keep in mind. if you're just starting out you don't need a full cymbal pack. hats and a crash. thats all you will need for practicing your first couple months than add to it. you can probably find a descent used kit for 300-400 .. than get a little better used hats and whatever crash you can afford .. add to it as you can. and of course price new heads and put that into your estimate for a kit.
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  20. #20

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    gretsch catalina maple is probably the best starter kit these days in my opinion. Maple is my personal favourite wood for drums and sabian is my favourite cymbal company so i'd go for sabian b8's with the catalina maple

  21. #21

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    Welcome to the board andrew......any of those sets would do just fine for just starting out.

    I know you want new to start but they are entry-level / beginners sets youre looking at and buying used can get you up-graded to an intermediate set with good sounding cymbals for about the same price range.

    Good luck with your decision and let us know what you eend up getting..........pictures would be nice too.......we love pictures around here.
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  22. #22

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    Default Re: New Drummer - Unsure of what brand to buy

    Welcome andrew13 to DrumChat. I must agree with gonefishin. I bought a really nice used intermidiate kit (Pearl SBX) for a few dollars more on what you're about to spend for a new entry level kit. The plus side of my purchase was the fact that my used SBX kit came with upgraded hoops (2.3 SuperHoops), Optimounts mounting system for the rack toms, better bass spurs and tension lugs than the new entry level offering.





    I understand that the kits you mentioned come with an entry level cymbal package but as others have mentioned, used pro-level cymbals could be had with some patients and luck and they will be worth more on trade-in value than the budget cymbal line.
    Last edited by late8; 03-03-2011 at 01:04 PM.

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