Need a drum kit! Suggestions please..

[FranklinD]

Hey all. I'm looking for a cheap drum set that will sound good enough for recording purposes, but more importantly, a good set to learn on that I can actually afford. I want a thick dark tone rather than a boomy "rock" kit. I'm thinking that I should buy used rather than new. I don't know where to start due to the many choices available and determining quality from crap is not within my scope as of now. Something under $300 is what I'm shooting for. If this is out of the question let me know! The cheaper the better. Vintage, new, used, or incomplete is fine. I don't mind buying a few extra pieces if the kit is worth it.
I would like to have a new tool for recording and acquire a new skill for making the music I want to make.

Thanks for helping an ignorant newb!

 

[HangDawg]

The most you could hope for at $300 is something barely useable let alone good sounding. Most of my cymbals cost more than $300 each. And I'm not even a drummer. Go look on Ebay. Anything that cheap won't make much of a difference who makes it. More than likely won't hold up long either.

 

[hilarypaprocki]

I've got some stuff I'm not going to use...

I've got some stuff I'm not going to use; Old, mostly Ludwig, cheap but sounds pretty good (I think). No cymbals. What state do you live in?

Sorry if this breaks some rule but if I can help the guy why not?

H

 

[theclashrock]

A second hand yamaha rydeen or a vintage premier, IF you can find one at your price range is probably the best you are going to get and you'll be lucky to find either one at $400 let alone $300.

In short you will probably end up with a piece of shit in your price range, what I recommend you do is go out and buy, practise pad, good quality sticks, metronome, stick control and a beginners dvd to show you basic technique.
Go on the vic firth site and look at the free video lessons "mark wessel's approach to the snare drum" they are really good.
I also reccomend lessons immensly, you'll excel 10x fast in lessons than you will being self taught.

Any more questions don't hesitate to ask, best getting it right first time than developing a bad habbit.

 

[Blue Groove]

maybe...

...pacific, used. They sound okay, but the lugs are kinda fragile. Don't crank the heads too tight.

 

[random.hero]

hmmm u can get a pacific shell pack (new) for $399...(no hardware)
$300 aint much at all d00d... $600 is probably more do-able(?)...


cymbals- sabian B8 ($150)http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...Pack-with-16-Crash-Head-and-Sticks?sku=445473

drums- ludwig accent (these are good for the price)($430)http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ludwig-Accent-5Piece-Combo-Drum-Set?sku=446306

thats all ur gonna need right there... i know it sucks that drums and cymbals cost a lot of money, but a better set is so rewarding when u play it...

best of luck with ur purchases
btw i wouldnt directly recommend ebay, the drums may be cheap, but the shipping costs are amazingly high... (local music store u should check out maybe and see what they got)

-random

EDIT: btw dude if u go this route, or anything like it, change the stock heads to something else if your going to record with it...

 

[FranklinD]

Okay, so I'll probably be spending more than $300. Fine.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Now I have a place to start looking. I'll start checking out all of the recommendations today(premiere,pacific,accent,etc..).

Hilary, what exactly do you have and how much money are we talking? I'm in NC.

I will definitely get some dvds. Haven't thought about getting lessons but that's probably a good idea. I've messed on other drum kits and it feels pretty natural to me. I know what you mean about undoing bad habits but pertaining to guitar. I've had to un/relearn a lot of little things and probably will continue to do so as long as I play. It's like you don't know something is a problem until you notice something getting in your way and by that point automation has already been set.

Thanks for replying.

 

[SMX_Dizzy]

Psssst....PDP MX 5-piece with hardware for $499 @ MassMusic clearence

 

[FranklinD]

What about ddrum?

 

[Gordy Smiff]

Peavey International Series 2.
Good starter kit. I have one in my studio and nobody seems to have any complaints about it. £300 ish. Shop around for deals.

 

[ermghoti]

Haunt your local craigslist. People are always unloading entry to intermediate level kits, sometimes for next to nothing.

 

[pearlnpaiste]

here is what i recomend, its not going to be in your price range but its the best sounding "cheap" stuff you can get. i would go out and get a pearl fusion 5 piece drumset, it comes with hardware (cymbal stands throne pedals) and maybe some cymbals. the cymbals you would get with the set are pretty bad but the set is good. that will cost around $600. next you could go online and look for paiste alpha cymbals, their cheapest cast cymbals they have and the sound pretty good, my old drum teacher (who is a professional percussionist) used some 14" alpha sound edge hi hats and they were great. im sorry its not in your price range but it would be worth the money.