Drums for my son

[Supercreep]

My son is three and has taken a shine to my drumkit.


I want to buy him a starter kit - does anyone have experience with these cheap mini-kits?

I want to get him a mini-kit because there's no way he can sit at a normal kit and reach the pedals.

However, I'm concerned that having only cheap drums and cymbals will turn him off because they sound bad. I want to feed his ears, you know?

Anyway, let me know what y'all recommend.

-Casey

[bubbagump]

Check out some of those Yamaha travel kits. They have like 16" kick drums and small toms. They may be pricey though.

EDIT: Here is a link

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/...212200,00.html

[mikeh]

When I used to sell drums (a few years ago) I had an up close look at all the "children's kits" as well as the Yamaha Hip Gig kits, Sonar jungle Kit and the Mapex Voyager.

All the "children's kits" are toys, poorly made and likely to fall apart under any continued abuse (and as you indicate, they have poor sound). The Yamaha Hip Gig, Sonar Jungle Kits, etc. are all real kits with quality material and good sound, but in my opinion, are waaaaay too expensive for a 3 year old.

I don't know if they still market them (as I indicate, it's been a few years since I sold drums - and I have no need to follow drum gear trends closely at this time) but the Mapex Voyagers were a great deal for a small kit. When they first came out the street price was $400 (vs. $1,000 plus for the Yamaha Hip Gig) and I thought with better heads and correct tuning the Voyagers sounded as good as the Yamaha and/or Sonar.

I know a lot of the Voyager kits were sold, so you may be able to find a used kit in the $200 range.

While I'm not convinced a 3 year old will notice or care if a kit sounds good or bad (as long as it makes noise) I think the children's kits would be a waste of money. If I had a kid, I would buy a Mapex Voyager kit. If the kid kept playing, cool - if not, then dad would have a nice little kit for pick-up gigs or practise.

By the way - I do own a Voyager which I think is a decent little kit and I've received several comments on how nice it sounds - at gigs (given it's small size). With my dealer discount, I could have purchased the Yamaha or the Sonar for little over cost - and I still chose the Voyager.

[jonnyc]

Get a standard kit and use the floor tom as a kick and then get 8" and 10" toms and use the 12 or 13 for a floor tom. Sounds insane I know but, I'm kinda liquored up and the idea sounds great to me.

[mikeh]

Actually, there are cradels that are sold to turn a floor tom into a kick drum. However, since there would be no mounts for the toms, one would have to purchase extra cymbal stands, multi clamps, etc. This costs (plus the cost of purchasing the 8" & 10") toms could be cost prohibitive.

However, is one were to do this, they would then have a 7 piece kit ready to go when the little tyke is ready to start playing bars

[TheBigGiantHead]

Give the kid a 5gal plastic bucket and some wooden spoons. Tell him..."when you turn 14 you can get off your lazy ass, get a job, and buy your owned damned drums like I did...but in the mean time KEEP YOUR FAT GREASY FINGERS OFF MY SHIT!!!

He will develop a stronger work-ethic, a better appreciation for the value of a dollar, and of course...he'll hate you just enough to give him that extra edge needed to be successful in the highly competitive music industry.

Good luck.

[Supercreep]

yeah, the pots and pans/buckets thing ain't gonna work - He's already had a taste of a nice kit. My only hope is to get him one in RED.

He understands that anything RED is superior to anything not RED.

RED gets an enthusiastic two thumbs up from my son.

Looking at perhaps a used kit. I've got a little while to make this happen.


Thanks for the ideas, everybody.


BTW my son is three; he doesn't need a work ethic yet.

[LoveDrums]

Check out the Pearl Jungle Jig that can be used to convert a 16" tom. Works like a charm.

- Ray

[6gun]

You may want to check out Tama Stagestar. I bought one for my daughter (who doesn't play them) and they seem like pretty nice drums for youngsters.

[Supercreep]

Picked up a used Pacific five piece kit for 200 bucks.

Thanks for the tips, everybody!!

[Supercreep]

Yes, it's RED.

[FunkDaddy]

He's 3 and you're worried he'll be turned off by drums that are "unmusical"? Uh dude, he just wants to make some noise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[RAMI]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

Yes, it's RED.

I still feel the same way about red.

[Dogman]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

Picked up a used Pacific five piece kit for 200 bucks.

Thanks for the tips, everybody!!

Pics of him playing man....

I snapped a few of Buck62's youngest bangin on his kit...he's 3. He's going all out Rockstar man....swinging wild, and hamming it up. Show us yours if you can....

[random.hero]

Originally Posted by FunkDaddy

He's 3 and you're worried he'll be turned off by drums that are "unmusical"? Uh dude, he just wants to make some noise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

shut up dude, i suppose you know everything about this kid eh? maybe he has a taste for music... that guy is his dad for christs sake, i think he knows whats up... and have you thought about it? hed probly rather have his kid playin somehting that sounds decent and wont bother him as well (bother the father i mean)(that rhymes btw)

great deal and red is a good color...

funk you funkdaddy!
hehehe just kiddin but seriously dont tell him what his own son wants dude...

[Supercreep]

Originally Posted by Dogman

Pics of him playing man....

I snapped a few of Buck62's youngest bangin on his kit...he's 3. He's going all out Rockstar man....swinging wild, and hamming it up. Show us yours if you can....

I'm working on pictures.


Funniest thing is that he's used to playing the drums in the studio....

He's asking for MICROPHONES now.


OMG!!!!!!

[Dogman]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

I'm working on pictures.


Funniest thing is that he's used to playing the drums in the studio....

He's asking for MICROPHONES now.


OMG!!!!!!

Sweet...I posted a pic of Buck's youngest playing his kit. Pretty cute.

[EDAN]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

My son is three and has taken a shine to my drumkit.


I want to buy him a starter kit - does anyone have experience with these cheap mini-kits?

I want to get him a mini-kit because there's no way he can sit at a normal kit and reach the pedals.

However, I'm concerned that having only cheap drums and cymbals will turn him off because they sound bad. I want to feed his ears, you know?

Anyway, let me know what y'all recommend.

-Casey

Man, when I was three I was banging the heck out of pots and pans and loving it. At three sound is the very last thing he is going to care about. By the cheapest little kit you can at first and see if he takes a liking. I got my first KISS drum set at about seven and LOVED IT!!!!!! and believe me I didn't give a rats ass about the sound. I wouldn't worry about feeding his ears at this point, that sort of thing takes cares of itself as you mature. Right now get him a flashy over the top semi toy set and let him have fun!

[EDAN]

Originally Posted by mikeh

While I'm not convinced a 3 year old will notice or care if a kit sounds good or bad (as long as it makes noise) I think the children's kits would be a waste of money. If I had a kid, I would buy a Mapex Voyager kit. If the kid kept playing, cool - if not, then dad would have a nice little kit for pick-up gigs or practise.

I could not disagree more. I Got my KISS drumset at seven and played it for at least a couple of years and stored it until I was in my early 20's and gave it to my nephew. I was taught to take care of things and when I gave it away it was still like new but for a couple drum stick holes in the front kick drum head. At three years old I wouldn't even almost consider buying anything near a real drumset, a three year old does not have a a good enough grasp on being responsible, thus I don't see spending $200 for something that likely will get treated like a $40 play set. If he were a little older I'd agree with you, but not at three years old. Of course this is my opinion.

[Supercreep]

Thanks - But I already bought a kit. I paid used what I would have paid new for a junior kit.

And recall, he's been interested in playing drums because been playing my kit. It's a nice kit.

Plus, check him out:

[Supercreep]

The little man:

[Supercreep]

He likes red - can you tell?

[Supercreep]

A couple more:

[Supercreep]

Thanks for all the advice, HomeReccers!!!!

[mikeh]

Dude,

What's up with the "drum sticks"?????