Can someone recommend a decent drum set for studio use?

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tws

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Hey guys. Im really recording more seriously now and I need to get a real drum kit. I can play pretty well (i think) but I dont own a kit. Can you all recommend a kit under 1000(cheaper the better) that has good(snare especially) tone and all that?
 
Buy a jazz kit with a 20" Kick drum. It's brighter sounding and the microphones love it. The real deep toms and large kick drums are more of a problem in studios though they sound great on stage.
All of the major companies are good depending on your taste. Try buying a kit that has hardwood shells, Maple or birch. I personally prefer mahogany, but it's not as bright sounding.
If you have a Guitar Center nearby, it's the best place to snag a deal on a used set. I've seen Ludwig and Pearl sets go for under $500.00 for a good professional level 5 piece set there. Yamaha, Pearl, Ludwig, Gretsch and Tama are all affordable. If you want to spend more you can get into the DW or Sonor and Pork Pie range, but it's more important that you have good shells and hardware and that you keep your drums tuned properly.

Edit:I'm so sorry. I should have proofread my post before. I just realized after reading it just now that I'd written that I'd seen Ludwig and Pearl sets sell used at Guitar Center for under $100.00 when I meant to write under $500.00. Now that would be a steal. BTW I did hook a friend of mine up with a used Ludwig set from Guitar Center for $325.00. It is in great shape and is their middle quality set 5 piece. I put a deposit on it and she came back later that day and bought them. She's very happy with them.
They unload these used sets all of the time.
 
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I even have a cheapy CB Drums set...but with the right heads and tuning, i got them sounding great
 
I second a good used kit. Are you planning on fitting cymbals, hardware, etc in that under $1000 budget?

If this is the case, for the drums you'll be looking at something even cheaper like a very cheap used kit or a Pearl Export/Tama Rockstar, etc.

When recording, cymbals are not something you can skimp on. Mics will reveal all of the flaws in the cheaper sheet metal lines.

Just a thought...
 
I'm new to this forum but have been playing drums for a long time, some consider the best studio drums to be birch shells because of their warmth. The most common material used in most high end drumsets is maple and it tends to be more ringy (which I personally like),and more EXPENSIVE! But to be honest most better drumsets can be tuned to ones liking whether it is in the studio or live. Tama, Pearl, and Yamaha all make reasonably priced "entry level " kits that will last forever and have nice hardware features, this is important to take into consideration as well. You can always check out E-bay and see if they have some kits in your price range. I hope this helped, and good luck.

Anthony
 
i got a flyer the other day from guitar center and they were selling yamaha maple and birch custom absolutes for 999. Probably doesn't include a snare drum though.

I think maple or birch is the best way to go. save a little longer to get it and you won't regret waiting. The cymbals are going to cost you some extra dough as well. they have a blem zildjian a custom set at musicians friend right now for 500 bucks. I think 2000 is the minimum you're going to get away with personally. then you gotta buy cases. don't forget the cases. protect your investment.
 
If you are buying your cymbals new they will be a bit more expensive, but GREAT deals can be had on used cymbals, but check them out thoroughly.
I still think that you can easily get by with everything for under $1000 and get quality. How many cymbals do you need for studio recording? Only 3 or four should be enough counting the hi-hats. You'll need a good 20" ride which can be had used for under $100. A good set of Zildjian K or Z hi-hats can be had for about the same. Crash cymbals should be real bright and fast for studio recording, so Zildjian A's in thin to medium will work nicely. Yo only really need one good crash but you may want two (an 18" and a 16"?).
Buy a used pedal. They are often selling at ridiculously low prices because people want to upgrade to the newer and faster.
I just passed up a used "Iron Cobra" double pedal with its case for $120. Buy a good fast single pedal for now. A Pacific hi-hat stand will cost about $50 new and it's a good one. You can buy used cymbal boom stands for much less money or wait until GC is running a sale (like every other week) and you can buy good stands for around $30-$50. $100 for a drummer's throne (don't buy cheap here it's not worth it. Cheap ones make noise and are uncomfortable. It's your butt.)

So let's see:

Good used maple 5 piece(snare incl.) set on sale:
$250-$400

20" Zildjian ride cymbal (used) $90

14" Zidjian K hi-hats (used) $90

18" Zildjian A crash (new) $120

Pacific hi-hat stand (new) $50

3 cymbal stands (used) $90-$150

Drummer's throne(new) $100

TOTAL: $790-$1000

Since you're keepng them in the studio, which I assume must be climate controlled for the sake of all of your recording equipment anyway. You'll have no need for expensive cases. Yup! You can definitely do what you need and do it well within your budget.
Good luck.
 
I live in the LI, NY area and I first check with the LI Drum Center. They know me there, they know what I like and they know that I'm a cheap SOB, they also know drums REAL well and can be helpful. I got a pair of 15" Zildjian K hi-hats for under $100. They needed a lot of cleaning and I love them. I got rid of my 14" New Beats because they just weren't right for my kind of music. I found a vintage 20" Zildjian dry dark ride in a small music store that
someone had scratched their initials on for $80.00.
I bought a 16" Zildjian A medium
thin crash in a thrift store for $10 and a pair of vintage ludwig rack toms 10" and 12" for $5.00 for both. You just have to scrounge around and never accept the asking price as final.
If you make yourself known at a Guitar Center or Sam Ash, the sales people will direct you toward things that are used that they think you might want. The Sam Ash here in Huntington had a nice pair of Zildjian K hats with the "masters" bottom used for $150.
Just look around and learn how to be a cheap SOB, but always buy something so the poor sales people know you're not just wasting their time. After a while, they recognize you as a regular customer and will help you out.
 
Guitar center has a full size kit by DW (22k 14s 12t 13t 16ft) for $299.00, The kit sounds really good, possible studio use, yery reasonable for a DW.
 
Jblount said:
Guitar center has a full size kit by DW (22k 14s 12t 13t 16ft) for $299.00, The kit sounds really good, possible studio use, yery reasonable for a DW.
Click to expand...

you meant to say $2999, right?

I don't think even the cheapest DW Pacific kit can be had for that cheap....
 
$2999 is "reasonable" for a 5 piece DW???

Geez, once again I stand by my contention that DW's are way overrated for the price. Get together some quality maple or birch or mahogany shells with great bearing edges, throw in a quality finish with some good heads and the proper tuning and you have a great sounding kit...period!

On a side note has anyone seen the new Pearl Masters with the covered finishes? Brings the price down quite a bit...
 
theletterq said:
$2999 is "reasonable" for a 5 piece DW???
Click to expand...

who said it was reasonable?


anyway, I was just making a point and added another nine onto the 299, 'cause you aren't getting a dw kit for anywhere near that price.

regarding the price...have you ever seen what custom built furniture runs price-wise?
 
Jblount said:
Guitar center has a full size kit by DW (22k 14s 12t 13t 16ft) for $299.00, The kit sounds really good, possible studio use, yery reasonable for a DW.
Click to expand...
 
I have seen used 4 and 5 piece Pacific sets going for between $100-$150 at the Guitar Center here in Commack, NY. I have seen used CB sets going for under $100.

They are currently offering a very nice Yamaha maple set (5 piece with 22" kick) NEW for $599.00.

Tama Rockstar and Swingstar 5 piece kits with steel snares are selling used for anything between $150-$250 depending on how much rust there is on the hardware. The shells are usually good and rust can be removed, hardware polished on a wheel and lacquered.

If you're willing to do a little work and get your hands dirty, you can score some real sweet deals.

Yeah, that Pearl set is a real nice sounding set. One of the techs at Guitar Center has it set up and is always playing it himself when you walk in.

$299 for a DW set does sound like a real terrific price, but I can believe it at Guitar Center. I would be very surprized if it was still there tho. Usually you have to jump on those things immediately, because they're gone in a wink.
 
theletterq said:
Click to expand...

not to split hairs here, but $299 (the price originally quoted in jblount's message) for a DW WOULD be very reasonable...(as a matter of fact, it would be a steal!!) :D

I was the one who added the extra 9 and turned it into 2999..


peace


pratt:p
 
It would be insane. It could be that he was referring to a Pacific kit as well though...
 
Cosmetic problems will drive the prices down to the cellar on good instruments. A badly scratched up finish or a bad paint job on any instrument makes it very difficult to sell. I look for those especially. Cosmetics are the easiest thing to remedy and is where you will get your best buys. Badly tarnished cymbals don't sell as well as bright and shiny.
Most people buy instruments with their eyes not their ears. I don't want people to ever change. Keep buying with your eyes people, it allows poor people like me to get really good instruments because they don't match your "style".
 
Im sorry it wasnt a dw kit, it was a pulse kit, i was reading two things while i was responding to thread, yeah i would get 3 dw kits if i sold my mapex kit, haha
 
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