Deciding on buying a small drum kit.

[drummerboy79]

I am deciding on buying a small drum kit for Christmas. Have been on line looking at two small drum kits. One is the Ludwig breakbeat by Questlove and the other is the Sonor Martina. Both kits are $399.00 but the Ludwig is 7ply poplar and the Sonor is 9 ply of poplar. Although both sets are good and the reviews are good I am looking more to the sonor martina set. But first I have to save the money back which I have plenty of time. Both drum sets for the price sound amazing for such small kits. I would be interested in your opinions.

Keep drumming

Gregg

[N2Bluz]

Depends on what you plan on doing with it. Both are excellent. I THINK the Sonor Martini has a 14" BD and an 8" UP tom...and the Breakbeats are 16" & 10" respectively? If you plan on playing them on stage with a small band, go with the bigger Ludwigs. If you're just playing at home, the Sonor would be a great choice. I LOVE the Aqua sparkle of the Sonor kit.
Otherwise...if you watch the major retailers, I guarantee you'll find either one (or both) on sale between now and Christmas.

[Olimpass]

The Sonor Martini kit looks nice. Do you like those smaller sizes? 12x5 snare, 14x12 BD, 8x8 tom, 13x10 FT.
I prefer the Ludwig Breakbeats sizes (16x14 BD, 13x13 FT, 10x7 tom, 14x5 snare drum) but I have not tried or heard the Sonor Martini kit either.
I'd need to hear and or try it first.

Wow, just thinking that my Ludwig marching snare drum I use with my Ludwig Downbeat kit is the same size but only one inch less in depth than that Sonor bass drum....lol

[drummerboy79]

Sorry correction Sonor Martini.

[FlyByNight]

The martinis are way too small for me. Even for a small kit. I've used the breakbeats and have no complaints.

[N2Bluz]

Having used my own home-made 8/13/16 kit for a year, I can say that the 8"-13" Tom spread works amazingly well. Not much tuning range on any 8" drum, but 8" to 13" makes it almost a natural 5th pitch interval. 8" toms by nature can tend to sound like a bongo. Projection can be a little on the weak side, but I'm sure the 8" depth of the Sonor helps. My 16" kick worked well with a mic stuck in it, but took some tuning and "getting used to" in order to control the beater. I imagine a 14" would be even more so. That said, the tiny kits are a complete BLAST to play....and that Sonor Martini in either Aqua or Champagne sparkle is STUNNING.

[G-man]

The Luddy sizes will be more versatile

[drummerMD]

I think your better off with the Sonor safari,16x16 BD/8x10 tom and 12x14 floor tom. I got mine when they first came out,I paid $320.00 for mine. I love it! I've played big & small clubs and in between. It delivers! As far as using mics overhead condenser mic (studio type ) and beta 52 BD mic does the trick,if you need to do that, but I haven't yet. I normally play the Kit in basic set up.

[FlyByNight]

Now the safari has what I consider to be a good sized kick. 14 is just way too small to be a kick. It's almost too small to be a floor tom!

[SpazApproved]

I really like that Sonor kit

[FlayOtters]

As I said on the other tiny kit thread I prefer the Sonor Bop kit.
For an extra 30 bucks you get "real" drum sizes, but in the same small footprint.
Just my 10 cents.

[kay-gee]

I'd go with a bop set up instead. Doesn't take up any more room but the 18" gives a fuller bass sound. A 14 is really a tom. I suppose there's nothing wrong with kicking a tom.

all the best...

[dangermoney]

It will likely be much easier to find parts for the Ludwig kit if that matters ...

[xweasel]

I suppose there's nothing wrong with kicking a tom.

[pgm554]

Check out Ming drums

[commercial link removed. please see forum rules -Thx, Tom]

[drummerboy79]

That's a little to small for me.

Gregg