Good drums on a budget - What to look for?

[dorfmeister]

I'd like to put together a solid good sounding inexpensive drum kit ---- What should I be looking for?

[dorfmeister]

My plan is to put together a frankenkit in stages - snare, stand, throne I later bass drum, hihat, hardware....then two toms, ride, apprpriate remaining hardware....don,'t really care if finishes or brands match up....just that it be good quality, good sounding, and relatively inexpensive- bang for the buck is the theme.

[dorfmeister]

Decent thread on this subject over at the Electrical Audio board.

http://www.electrical.com/phpBB3/viewto ... t=catalina

[Noise...]

I'd go for a used Gretsch Catalina.

That, or there were a couple kits in the Blackhawk line that were good - I think they were the EX or SX line? I don't know. They had pearloid finishes and mahogany shells, but got a bad reputation because the Blackhawk line is 90% garbage. I got mine pretty cheap about four years ago and it's worked out great for me.

[theavondon]

Gretsch ain't bad. Also, 80's Ludwigs can sometimes be found for not a lot. Then, just buy new heads, and a good ride cymbal and some good hi-hats.

[Zounds Perspex]

I also play drums. I'm sure I contributed to that thread over on Electrical.

anyway - snare - Ludwig Acrolite.
drums - scour craigslist. 80's Tama is good and cheap. One of those Gretsch Catalina bop kits is fine. DON'T buy the big Catalina rock kit, it sounds like shit.
Cymbals - check out mycymbal.com , look at the Sabian SR2s and then the used cymbals. I like this because you can hear the actual cymbal.

this said - head selection and knowing how to tune are most important than the drums. any drum with the right heads and a good bearing edge can be made to sound pretty good.

[Birthday Boy]

I'm assuming solid sounding means "not impressive, but passable in most situations".

A Pearl Forum or something like that tuned really well will sound good enough. Then again, I like cheap instruments.

Cymbals sound the way they do no matter what. Hunt for nice sounding, cheap cymbals (meaning test a lot of them) or used intermediate ones. A lot of cheaper series have one really nice model/type. Like, the 20" Ride can be really nice and the rest suck. Trust your ears. Also, think about the sounds from a functional point of view. What is the sonic purpose of the ride cymbal, its main uses (for you) and how will it do in a band mix? There's a lot of "rock bands can only use heavier 18"+ crashes" kind of nonsense out there, though. Also, do the cymbals mix well?

I would personally go for smaller drums, like 20" kick, maybe (10"), 12", 14" toms. They are more portable. You won't get the Bonham-style "huge" sound, but it will rarely insufficient volume- or soundwise in my book.

This is just my opinion. I don't know how much you know or how long you've been playing, nor your drumming style. So, grain of salt etc.

[sevenSHARPnine]

Unfortunately drumming isn't the most inexpensive musical pursuit.

Start with the Albini approach- a good kit. Go the extra mile and find yourself some quality shells (buy used!). I'm pretty partial to Mapex.

Also, avoid the cymbal packs that are often sold. It's much better to start your cymbal setup by selecting only the ones you really love and want. If you ask me (nobody ever does) all you really need is hats, a decent sized crash and a versitile ride, something that has definition but that you can still wash pretty good. Of course I know incredible drummers who can't play with less than 6 or 7 cymbals. The fun part of drumming is how subjective and personal it is!

Lasly, good hardware is a must. Grab yourself a decent kick pedal, I'm a big fan of the DW5000 and the Iron Cobra. Both readily available, solid pedals that I'm sure you could snag used for not too much. Stands are important too. Buying hardware sucks because it IS expensive to get stuff that will last but it's totally worth it.

Hands down the most important part is LEARN TO TUNE THEM WELL! Regardless of the price of the kit, making it sound good with solid tuning and the appropriate heads will always go further than buying the nicest thing out there.

[dorfmeister]

I've got a bass drum, floor tom, and rack tom that are all late 60's/early 70's (no way to date exactly from the serial #) Ludwig Standards. I am going to buy DW 5000 hardware and then just get a fairly cheap set of Wuhan cymbals for now ($200 for a 20" ride, 14" hi-hat, and 16" crash.). The Wuhans are supposed to be pretty much the best for the money for so goddamned cheap. Later I will get some better cymbals. I'll also buy a Ludwig Acrolite snare for less than $100 shipped from Music Go Round.

That is the solution to this question that I have arrived at.

[dubkitty]

sounds like a going concern. how big is the kick?

[dorfmeister]

sounds like a going concern. how big is the kick?

I need to measure it. Still in storage at the moment.....it is not one of those tiny jazz bass drums, though.

[Caesar]

I'm a guitarist who loves playing the drums.

Rule 1: Buy used - drums lose half their value the minute they're purchased. Then half of that if they're used.
Rule 2: Cymbals are like guitar pedals. They're the "effects". Cheap ones are unsatisfying.
Rule 3: Even mediocre shells can be improved with a fresh set of good heads.

[The4455]

I'm a guitarist who loves playing the drums.

Rule 1: Buy used - drums lose half their value the minute they're purchased. Then half of that if they're used.
Rule 2: Cymbals are like guitar pedals. They're the "effects". Cheap ones are unsatisfying.
Rule 3: Even mediocre shells can be improved with a fresh set of good heads.

This is all true, I also recently got a set, a used pearl and all the stands and cymbals for $500, and then put $200 in new heads into it. So basically no matter what it's a big investment. Used is the way to go. Also check your local pawn shops for cymbals.

[sevenSHARPnine]

I'm a guitarist who loves playing the drums.

Rule 1: Buy used - drums lose half their value the minute they're purchased. Then half of that if they're used.
Rule 2: Cymbals are like guitar pedals. They're the "effects". Cheap ones are unsatisfying.
Rule 3: Even mediocre shells can be improved with a fresh set of good heads.

This is all really true. Definitely good guidelines to go by.

[mikeyhegs]

I've got a bass drum, floor tom, and rack tom that are all late 60's/early 70's (no way to date exactly from the serial #) Ludwig Standards. I am going to buy DW 5000 hardware and then just get a fairly cheap set of Wuhan cymbals for now ($200 for a 20" ride, 14" hi-hat, and 16" crash.). The Wuhans are supposed to be pretty much the best for the money for so goddamned cheap. Later I will get some better cymbals. I'll also buy a Ludwig Acrolite snare for less than $100 shipped from Music Go Round.

That is the solution to this question that I have arrived at.

the bastard ludwig set should do you fine if you tune the heads up. If you have a few more bucks to kick in for cymbals you can usually find old Zildjians on eBay and craigslist for not a whole lot of money. Depending on what shape they're in they'll last as long as, or outlast, the wuhans. If they're in decent shape and you take care of them they'll retain their value, too. I play mostly old zildjians. it's a bit of a crapshoot buying them online, but new beat hi hats are a pretty good way to go. I'd go with Zildjians, Zlidjian Avedis, A's, A customs, or K's if you can find them. Z customs and Z3s are pretty good too. I'd stay away from the Armands, Planet Z's, and their entry level stuff. Good luck!