Did I get a good deal?

[NWDrum]

When I first got my drums I wasn't sure what to get. I looked around and because money was tight as hell at the time, I bought an Apollo kit. It's nothing spectacular. But I like it.

All together for the drums themselves, one cymbal stand, a crash and hi-hat, throne, hardware and etc. I paid about $250, brand new.

About a week ago I upgraded my cymbals to Sabian B8 Pro series, and bought another cymbal stand from my local music shop. For the new cymbals, stand, and a new set of sticks it cost me about $325.

I'm using Aquarian Super 2 heads with the built-in tone rings. I paid about $75 to get the heads replaced. Lastly, I have on my snare the Aquarian Hi-Energy.

So all together I paid about $650 to get to where I am today. Did I do a decent job? Or did I make vital mistakes? Your thoughts?

Here's a few pictures of my set.

[pastor_bob]

I like the white wrap!

NWD, if your kit fits you budget, and if you are enjoying your time behind it, you did a great job. I would have loved to have bought a high end Gretsch kit as my first kit, but the Catalina Maple was the best I could afford. I don't regret it at all! Sure, it's not the best quality kit out there, but I'm having a great time whenever I get behind it. I even have a cheap ddrum D2 kit that I bought before the Catalina kit. I have taken the D2 kit to my brother's house to jam with him, and I even enjoyed playing that one!

Just have fun my friend!

[parttimedrummer]

Pastor Bob is correct. I have an older Tama Rockstar kit i play on, with some modifications (you can see it in the "show us your drums!" thread)

While we all would like to have a top of the line kit, we can't all afford it LOL
so we take what we can get, and enjoy it.

[coke_can]

It's nothing spectacular. But I like it.

its all worth it if you like it. and yes thats a good deal

[Cant Get Enough]

I've got great sounds out of cheap sets. Just made sure I had good heads and tuned it right. When I got my Starclassic maple, since it took 7 months to make I just made a down payment and had It paid off before it arrived then upgraded one cymbal and peice of hardware at a time.

[billnolan]

You did great! Only you have to be happy! Best of luck playing those drums and whacking those cymbals!

[itchie]

nice cymbal pack ..should last a while

[Lesizmor]

You did good brother! Tune 'em up and jam! Great cymbal choice!! -Les

[Dustin]

I think you did pretty well mate. Only thing I would suggest is changing the angle of your toms. You will find it easlier to play this way!

[CycleDude]

I think you did fine, mate.

I'm with Dustin about the toms position, though. Try raising up the rack mounts, then rotate the toms closer together so the rims are about a 1/2 to 3/4" apart. Kinda like this pic.....



I think you'll find it MUCH more comfortable.

[funkyruss]

Yeah! A fellow lefty! Your kit is gonna be great- I played(and still do when the kit fits the gig) play a 30 year old set of stewarts, and its like comin home when I sit at that kit. I'd bring them all closer to each other, you'll be less tired (unless you're gonna not go to the gym anymore, in which case carry on!) and when you drop a stick, it'll just land on a drum instead of the floor and it'll be back in your hand before you know it!!
Congrats.

[NWDrum]

thanks for the opinions you guys, I was worried I might have gotten hosed.

I changed my toms and yeah, I'm pretty glad I decided to. It seems to give
me a lot more speed going on a tom-to-tom roll, which is something I've been aiming for.

I'm going into a recording device next, but after that, what should I aim for?
I'd like to be a Nirvana-type sound, but have the ability to play punk rock (mainstream, that is. Blink 182 and such. Upbeat music in general.)

[Larrysperf]

For a start you did good

[RHD03]

Holy rack toms Batman!! Those things are HUGE! But a great price for a drum kit in that good of condition! I'm with Bob, I like the white wrap!
I am a firm believer in buying better cymbals than drums. You can always make shells sound better with proper tuning and great drum heads...but the same can not be said about cymbals. So, in my opinion you did the right thing by buying decent cymbals and getting good heads for your kit. As you can see by my SMX, they are not high end drums, by any means...but they sound great because I switched the stock heads out immediatly. And the kit is surrounded by high end cymbals.

So, IMO you did great!! Good job! Have fun with the new aquisitions!!

[RHD03]

thanks for the opinions you guys, I was worried I might have gotten hosed.

I changed my toms and yeah, I'm pretty glad I decided to. It seems to give
me a lot more speed going on a tom-to-tom roll, which is something I've been aiming for.

I'm going into a recording device next, but after that, what should I aim for?
I'd like to be a Nirvana-type sound, but have the ability to play punk rock (mainstream, that is. Blink 182 and such. Upbeat music in general.)

Nirvana huh? ...if you put electical tape all over your cymbals expect this drum forum to set you ablaze!!!

[NWDrum]

Nirvana huh? ...if you put electical tape all over your cymbals expect this drum forum to set you ablaze!!!

haha, never in my life. I love Nirvana, but there are some sacrifices that won't be made to get their sound. And that's one of them. The only tape used on my kit is to hold my drum tabs on the bass drum, and then the actual roll itself for my drink holder. Other than that, it'll never be on my actual kit lol.

[RHD03]

haha, never in my life. I love Nirvana, but there are some sacrifices that won't be made to get their sound. And that's one of them. The only tape used on my kit is to hold my drum tabs on the bass drum, and then the actual roll itself for my drink holder. Other than that, it'll never be on my actual kit lol.

Just joking anyways!

[backtodrum]

Always glad to see another lefty on the forum, don't worry about your kit it will do the job and you can upgrade later. If you paid only 250.00 for what you have you got a decent deal. Good to have you here.

[Dustin]

Holy rack toms Batman!! Those things are HUGE!

That made me laugh out loud!!
nice one

[RHD03]

That made me laugh out loud!!
nice one

[totti]

Nice B8....
Sure you got a nice deal, mate....
Oh, and nice to meet you anyway NWD...

[CycleDude]

I changed my toms and yeah, I'm pretty glad I decided to. It seems to give
me a lot more speed going on a tom-to-tom roll, which is something I've been aiming for.

I'm going into a recording device next, but after that, what should I aim for?
I'd like to be a Nirvana-type sound, but have the ability to play punk rock (mainstream, that is. Blink 182 and such. Upbeat music in general.)

NW, glad we could help you with toms position. That's something every new drummer does, I know I did.

If I could suggest another cymbal before a recording device. It looks like from the pics that you have two crashes and no ride cymbal. I'd get a nice ride, before anything else. Then a China, and a splash, and a..............

(It's fun spending other people's money

[jack's_art]

don't buy cymbals new. if you get then 2nd hand you can get much better cymbals for the same price.

[xx4door]

pretty nice kit. not to bad for how much u spent

[dwcherry]

nice kit to start with