One has to first decide where they want to go on the drum journey. Only after that decision is made, does my philosophy come into play. At some point you will settle on a style of music you want to play and then address the issue of drum purchasing at that time.
all the best...
My drums and cymbals are better than my playing. But it's like buying a Porsche. It can go 160 mph. You'll never drive it that fast but it can do it and that makes you smile every time you use it.
Well, this took me a long time to realize, but I can never be completely satisfied with any material thing. My wanting and dreaming never ends. When it comes to drums, I've owned five kits that were supposedly the best that money can buy -exactly what I wanted and dreamed of. But, once I had them for a while, they were still just drums. And I still wanted different ones! Same goes with every other lifetime hobby I have. Even the best is never enough.
In short, that's why I don't own the best - because it does not exist.
GeeDeeEmm
Oh we can always get by, and we can even sound good with other instruments, of lower quality, but that WOW FACTOR has no no price.
Actually you raise a good point. I would rather cheap out on the hardware and re invest the savings into better sound (ie. better drums)
Having high end hardware on mid or low line sets is something...well I've just never understood.
all the best...
-Brian
"Too many crappy used drum stuff to list"
Play the SONG......not the DRUMS!!!
"I think that feeling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts." ~ John Bonham
Every time this topic is posed it gets twisted into a "what is the definition of good" thread. So to every "my $700 kit sounds just as good", "I honestly can't hear a difference", " It's the drummer not the kit" voice out there, I say this. I hear you, but the truth is more like this, great drummers play great and great drums sound great. Drums don't make the player better and vice-versa players don't make the drums better. Great players on great sounding drums, to me that's where it's at. I see it all the time. Really good drummers, with intermediate sounding kits. And they always think they "sound " great. To me they play great, but their set just sounds okay. Maybe some can't hear it. If you can't though, I think it would be something you'd want to.
Collectors Black Ice Finishply
10x8,12x9,15x12,16x14,20x18,24x16
14X6 Collectors 10 and 6 snare Natural Satin
14x8 Collectors Black Nickel over Brass
as a working drummer for 10 years (not the last 15) i simply could not afford good gear and was living week to week on terrible musicians pay ..
it wasn't until i left the buiss for a (real job) and then i could afford a "real" kit
we are not all fortunate and not everyone has a family that cares for use let alone buying us nice things like drum kits .
I for one have the money to buy a very expensive kit but choose not to. I live the kits I have and I'm quite satisfied. I see so many people with expensive gear who live in dumps and buy their furniture at IKEA. I prefer to spend my money on a nice home (investment).
Actually Kay-gee. This is EXACTLY what I did. I bought a really old Pearl Forum set and used ZBTs - and bought (used) quality hardware, over the course of the next few months. The combined hardware cost was more than my expenditure on drums, replacement heads and cymbals! I replaced, upgraded everything except hardware as I could afford it, but yes - it was pretty dumb.
I have a mid-level kit I bought new. It's a Mapex Meridian Birch. The finish is honey amber. I love both the way it sounds and looks. It didn't cost a fortune, yet I am completely satisfied with it.
However, snare drums are a different story. I find myself purchasing a new snare every 3 or 4 months. I have a wonderful collection. Though they are not all expensive, I'm more willing to drop a chunk of change on a nice snare drum. I will probably never own a Dunnett, a Cravioto, or a Joyful Noise snare, but I just purchsed my first Yamaha snare. It's a maple hybrid, 14x6, in polar white. Other than a car, it's the biggest money purchase I have made.
What it all comes down to folks is what your preference is, and if it is within your price range. More expensive does not always mean better quality or more satisfaction.
i guess your dream kit changes the more you play, when i firat started playing my dream kit isn't what it is now, i didn't have the knowledge i have now either, that said if i'd have brought a DW Collectors kit for instance as my first kit i doubt i'd have brought as many kits as i have.
if i had the cash i'd still be searching for that dream kit.
cheers Mark
Have you got you're ticket for the rock train? You gotta earn that Ticket!!
Premier Genista - Pearl Masters - Primus custom snare - Zildjian A Custom- DW 5000 pedal - Zildjian Zack Starkey sticks
I play lead Drums
I can't afford my dream DW kit so i eBayed a Ludwig rocker kit.nice shape fits in my living room.I play drums as a hobby to work off steam.I'm a working man who can't afford 2grand for a starter set .I am very happy with my ludwig rockers and 2 ,8 and 10 inch Ludwig element toms
I bought a high end kit a few years ago. Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute Nouveau. Don't get me wrong I like them, but they aren't much, if any better than my mid line kit, power tour customs I bought new in 1988. They sound almost identical. There was the wow factor for a while, and even a little still. I take them out on gigs, and they get some minor scratches and what not. I'm not over protective of them. I do get a lot of complements on their sound. I think I'd be just as happy with Tama Starclassic Performers, or several other mid line kits. Especially after owning a high end kit. I just can't see or hear much difference. If I hadn't of bought them though, I'd never known what it would be like to own a high end kit. I some times toy with the idea of having my 12 and 13 PTC's cut down to modern depths. I bet they'd sound great. Well they do sound great now, but then they would look cool too.
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