Help me buy a kit

[dwarf]

Ok I need a kit to add to my "studio" and I don't want to go "elcheapo" so I thought I'd ebay some 2nd hand ones I don't really want to spend over $600AUS as I'm not really a drummer and if the people recording want a better sound they can bring in their own gear.

Anyway I was looking at a SONOR drum kit and it looks allright. Then there's a MAPEX one (if I can get him to lift the "no postage" thing) they both look allright to me, but what do I know I'm a guitarist and most people kick me off their kits. anyway if you were me which one would you buy and why?

[The Flame]

I'm not sure man, but i am looking for a kit myself, around $1000 US. I went to a music store today and played a pdp mx. I also tried out a tama superstar, but it wasnt tuned. I must say i really liked the pdp. I dont know the $$ conversion, but i hope that helps. I still can't decide on what i want because the tama was poorly tuned, but i heard some good things about these kits. Those kits you have there look a little cheap from the pics but they might be great drums, you'll need another opinion.

[dwarf]

Yeah but you see I'm a guitarist and most of the drums my mates have are pretty crap, appart from my neighbours pearl export *drools

I know I'm not going to get the best quallity for $600- but It'll do what one would you choose if you were in my situation

[random.hero]

a second-hand taye would be nice...

[demian]

I recommend you to get a Superstar Custom, because thats What I´m getting in a few months.. }

Demian

[mitosis]

Sonor's are pretty nice. I have a 1005 for recording (wish I had a 2005). I don't know for what they run for in the land down under but they are pretty nice and pretty cheap. 9-ply basswood too. Or 9-ply birch on the 2005.

[Uladine]

Pearl Exports are usually moderatley priced if you like those. Theres something about pearls I dont dig, but exports are usually in the $800 - $1000 US range.

[Gherkin]

In Aus, you can't get much for that price.

I'd go for a second hand Mapex Venus, like the one you listed. They're pretty well constructed for the price and won't collapse on you.

[dwarf]

yEAH I know I can't get much for that price. There were 2 options I had/have (my tax return hasn't come in yet so ebay is still an option) i was going to get a "beginners kit" i think the brand was "rockstarz" I'm pretty sure it's from the same people who make sonic drive/percussion plus and so on. that one was $350 I was thinking about it, as I wouldn't be playing much they'd be there just for convinance. but then I though when I've got mates who dont' really want to take their kit up to my place, I should probably have something that sounds (and records) somewhat ok results. I'm currently leaning towards the sonor, as the mapex guy won't post.

ps. Nice kit

[iancl]

I'm affraid for $600 AU you really will get almost nothing.

Exports can be picked up for $1400, 2005's for $1600 if you're lucky.

Second hand they drop down to about $1000. It's ridiculous, but you gotta live with it. I'd say wait til you can get a 2005 second hand. Maybe I'll seel my export when I buy an SQ2 :-P

Where in Aus are you? That may help. Some good and bad shops around.

[Elton Bear]

I live in the UK, so I have no idea about price/availability where you are, but I am a drummer and I've recorded using a variety of cheap(ish) kits. I'd say get a Pearl Export, or Sonor. They're 'cheap and nasty' if you're a drummer looking for a great sound, but they're worth the money if you just want a moderate sound with a small budget.
And as you say, if they want a better sound they can bring their own.

[dwarf]

Yeah, I can't exactly justify spending over the 6/700 mark, I know alot of you guys probably want to kick my ass at the momet, and for that I'm sorry.

I live in victor harbor which is about 1hr south of adelaide (i think it's south)

[dwdrums801]

Tamas sound good untill you get them home.
If I were you I would wait and try and find
a GMS set, I have both a DW set and a GMS
set and the GMS sounds alot better in my studio.

[ermghoti]

Originally Posted by dwdrums801

Tamas sound good untill you get them home.
If I were you I would wait and try and find
a GMS set, I have both a DW set and a GMS
set and the GMS sounds alot better in my studio.

Once he ups his budget from $600 aud to $4000 aud, that isn't bad advice.

[dwarf]

...yeah I had to post this in the drum forum (Sarcastic)

If it was you guys in the guitar forum I'd be giving you about the same advice.

[The Flame]

I am going crazy looking for a drumset. I am willing tp spend $1000 US, and have three choices so far. First of all, does maple sound better than birch? So far i think i like maple. but i do want a nice studio sound. I am in between a tama superstar http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Set?sku=449210

a pdp mx, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...are?sku=445143

and a sonor 3005 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Set?sku=445160.

I like te pdp so far, but i play thrash metal, will the small sizes make it hard for me to have a big sound? There are no reviews for the sonor 3005 on musiciansfriend, is it good? Pleae help, i need a new a kit but i dont want to regret it later.
Thanx
Flame

[ermghoti]

I am no expert, but maple is brighter than birch, not better or worse.

Small sizes mean you have to tune looser to reach the same pitch as a bigger drum. While the bigger drum can be tuned lower, the fusion sizes have plenty of range, and recorded, the looser head will be punchier, vrs a larger head which will have more attack.

More or less, ymmv.

[The Flame]

Thankx man. So far my band is telling me to go tama, you think it wil be a good studio kit?

[ermghoti]

If it sounds good, it should be fine. As has been covered here before, the sound in the room is about the most important part of getting a good recorded sound. I don't have any problem with Tamas, just learn to tune 'em.


FWIW, the Tama is a wood cassarole, the PDP and the Sonor are straight maple.

See if you can visit a store, and see which hardware you like best, probably the only real meaningful difference among them.

[The Flame]

Alright man thanx. I will just go by preference. Thats the thing i hate about drums, its hard to try em out, every drumset can be different and i dont know about the return policies. If i dont like a kit, i guess i am stuck it. Thanx

[Bill Furnett]

I say just keep saving Dwarf.

IMO it's far better in the end to start off with a decent 4 or 5 piece set of just drums. The lower end complete set-up kits (Hardware and cymbals ect included) are genrally just a series of comprimises all the way around, unless you get a really great used deal.

The appeal of a complete set-up can often overrule good judgement.

Drums are a kit, once you take the plunge there's no turning back,
we all (Unless rich) save and get decent HHs, save some more and get a good crash, save a lot more and get a quality ride... this just goes on and on thru stands, mics, cables, heads, sticks, throne and beyond.

Think of ill-quailty hardware alone, the toms don't stay put, then shift and begin to rattle, the cheap throne is a life and death situation everytime you sit down and cymbals... forget it, there is NO ROOM for comprimise there.

I don't mean to sound discouraging, (And i'm not saying this is what you intend to do), but trying to get it all at once (Unless you find the mother of all used deals) will 99% of the time make you cringe everytime you hit playback and the disapointment will just keep coming as the set slowly falls apart.

[tilinmyowngrave]

Go with the Sonor 3005. Its a great set for the money.

[dwdrums801]

Originally Posted by The Flame

Thankx man. So far my band is telling me to go tama, you think it wil be a good studio kit?

You'll Regret it.

[The Flame]

Ahhhhh!!! I really can't decide! The tams are birch and basswood and the others are maple. I like the pdp's, maybe i should just get those! And the sonor i have never really heard! The only thing that bugs me about the pdp is that the toms are small, but are small toms easier to track and sound better on recordings? The sonor is also all maple but with regular sizes, either way, i really cant decide, i might have to eenie meenie miny moe this!