good kit

  • Thread starter Thread starter LI_Slim
  • Start date Start date
LI_Slim

LI_Slim

voice in the wilderness
I'm getting a new kit for my 17-year-old son. He is a good player. He likes to play loud. He is in an indie band that is going to do some touring this summer playing shows with other bands at small venues. I'm willing to spring for something nice but within reason.

My wife warned me that the set he's interested in runs about $6,000. That seems insane. I don't know much about drums but after doing some quick research it looks like you can get a pretty high-quality, and loud, kit for around half that. Am I right?

Help!!:eek:
 
And for a lot less too!

I would search for a Yamaha Recording Custom used set...

The RCs are a legend but you can find them for about 1000 bucks on most places...

They don´t look fancy, and probably won´t impress people as much as some new kits... but great chapters of drumming history has been written on those drums!

If you get him a RC drumset, some day he´ll thank you! :D


(btw, Did I say that they sound AWESOME?!)
 
Last edited:
I am with Julian.
The Yammie Recording Customs sound great.

It has taken me 20 years of playing to wat finally pulling the trigger on buying a Custom Ayotte Kit that runs in the big bucks.

I certainly am not going to take it out on the road, costing THAT much.
It will stay in the studio for a looooong time.
 
Oh.. as for loud.
Loud is a component of playing technique 99% of the time.
I can play any sized kit and it always sounds somewhatlow to middle loudness.
My Son on the other hand can play any sized kit including bongos at 115 decibels!
 
Gretch makes some really durable good sounding drum kits for under $700.
 
Thanks very much. Can anyone recommend the best new kits in the 2-3 thou price range?
 
Yamaha Recording Customs. Notice I ended it in a period!!!
 
What is your analysis of the birch versus maple issue?
 
You don´t have to worry about, and much less if it´s gonna be used for gigging (and your son is that young)...

Come on, Mr. Gadd used to play on that kit (along Colaiuta, Hakim, Weckl, Aldridge)... if that´s not enough for you! :confused::)


(look in here for some tips on woods: http://www.drumjunction.com/drum_shells.html)
 
JuliánFernández said:
You don´t have to worry about, and much less if it´s gonna be used for gigging (and your son is that young)...

Come on, Mr. Gadd used to play on that kit (along Colaiuta, Hakim, Weckl, Aldridge)... if that´s not enough for you! :confused::)


(look in here for some tips on woods: http://www.drumjunction.com/drum_shells.html)
Click to expand...

Thanks! Very helpful article.

Since my son is 17 going on 37, it will be helpful for me to explain that birch is generally louder than maple (that is, if I want him to get the YRC).
 
No problem... You should look to the Yamaha OAK Customs too...
I never played them, but many great names (Erskine, Hass, Weckl) tour with them and always sound awesome...

I´m temtep myself to grab a set... the price is really fair:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...-4Piece-Fusion-16-Floor-Shell-Pack?sku=445696
(note that this kit is just a shell pack... not hardware, cymbals or snare)

I *think* the oaks are the "loudest" kit yamaha produce... but, as TMIX said, loud come from your wrists (and arms and elbows) not from the wood...
 
Also keep in mind the cymbals can often run as much as the kit. Don't short change yourself there.
 
Not sure what type of venues he's planning to play at. But even many small venues I play end up mic'ing the drums, so you don't have to worry about volume as a criteria.

Take a look at Tama Starclassic's. The performer series (wraps rather than wood finish) Shell pack will run you around $1500. That gives you another $1500 for hardware and cymbals which should be adequate (unless you go for all DW harwars and K custom cymbals). For gigging I'm a big fan of mid-upper range pearl and Tama hardware. Cymbals depend entirely on the drummer, although if cash is short, I'm a fan of getting 1 or 2 awesome cymbals that you love and filing out the rest with shitty ones rather than settling on a mediocre collection that matches.

I've got an older wood finish birch starclassic that's been my gigging kit for some time now, and I've been very happy with it. It's stood up to a lot of abuse, and kept a great tone. Much happier than when i was playing pearl. I've played Yamaha's in studios, but never on the road, so don't really have any comments on those.
 
oh, and i forgot to stress just how important getting quality hardware is for hitting the road. Nothing it worse than having your hardware fail on you. Doesn't matter how good the drums and cymbals are if you don't have anything to hold them up.

GET GOOD HARDWARE!!!!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top