JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Bass and Drum Forum I'll take drums for $1200.00, please...

I may have about $1200.00 popping up with which to buy drums and associated hardware, not including cymbals. I am a cob-web drummer from way back when. In other words, although I was weened on drums, I have been playing everything BUT drums lately. As such, I am out of touch with who is making the good stuff.

I am willing to consider everything - Premier, Gretsch. Tama, Mapex, Pacific, Yamaha, Sonor, Pearl - anything! But these are going to be used as studio drums, so sound - not road durability - is the key! I am searching out a 5 piece set.

Also, drummers, do you think the fusion drum kits have deep enough shells to give you a good overall sound, versatile enough to record rock, country, contemporary rock? Or would you go with the taller floor tom set up?

Many thanks.

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Bill Burger, Triad (NC) cities coordinator
http://billburgermusic.com
High Point, NC

Hi Bill,

I've been away from the drum scene maybe as long as you have so I don't know how valuable my opinion is but here goes...

I am not familiar with "Pacific", but I don't think there's a hecka difference in sound quality between the top brands you've named. They each have different price level kits and are very comparable from brand to brand when you compare each brand's price level model to the next. (Though traditionally, I believe Sonor and Gretsch tend to be a little more expensive than the Japanese brands for the same quality)
One problem you may have is that the money you have available might put you somewhere INBETWEEN the budget kits (mahogany or "unspecified" wood shells) and the better maple or birch shells. These companies all have budget sets, some well under $1000, but there is a pretty DRASTIC jump in price to the top of the line stuff, sometimes with not much inbetween.
I would just check all the newest catalogs of the companies you mentioned to familiarize yourself with with each kit series of each manufacturer so you know which kits have which shells. Then go as many music stores as you can and see what's on sale. The point being, since all the manufacturer's you listed are very competitive, I would choose the kit you might find the best sale on at the moment...in other words, if you find a set by Tama on sale for a few hundred less than the COMPARABLE level set by the other manufacturers, go with Tama, or if a Pearl kit is on sale go with Pearl. There's not going to be much difference between them, just make sure you know how much it SHOULD cost and what the shell material is.

The last set I had was Pearl (bought about 10 years ago) which I gave to my son a couple years ago. I was very happy with the sound, and it was a unique set at the time because the shells were a COMBINATION of mahogany and birch, correspondingly, the quality was better than their budget series but less expensive than their top of the line stuff...but I don't think they make this series anymore.

Another idea would be to buy a USED set of maple or birch for a lot less than new. As long as the shells are not damaged, they should sound as good as new, maybe just need new heads.

I apologize if my opinions prove to be outdated, which is very possible. In any case, I would start by checking all the catalogs and suggested retail prices and go from there. For recording, you're probably going to want the maple or birch shells, so if you want a new set, you may have to save a few hundred more first and go for that.

I'm an old-timer as I said, and have never played the fusion style floor tom. But, if you want a 4 piece set, I would think you'd want a big distinction in the tonal depth between the smaller tom and the floor tom. In a 5 piece set you would have another tom somewhere inbetween those two, but with a 4 pc. I would go with a 12" mounted tom and a deep shell 16" floor unit.

Chris

Hi Bill,

I'm a drummer with a recording studio. Definitly get a kit that has the toms mounted with a free floating design i.e. Rims mounting. All top of the line kits have them. This allows each drum to resonate freely. The days of mounting your toms on top of the BD are gone. The small toms sizes are ( in my opinion ) easier to control pitch-wise as well as easier to fit into the mix. I have a top of the line Spaun 8ply maple kit I'd like to sell. This kit records very well and is good for the music styles you are mentioning. It is not good for Hard rock or real heavy music. These are custom made in Ca. 10", 12", 14" toms and a 22" x 18" deep bass drum. Blue stain finish with Rims mounting and DW stands. No snare. There is a slight blemish on the under side of the bd otherwise they are in mint condition. The street price on this is $2300.00 I am firm on $1200.00. New heads and BD comes with Evans Eq pad. I can email pictures. You can check out spaundrums.com for info on there drums. If you see a good deal somewhere else and are not sure about it, send me an email and I'll give you my two cents. I have been drumming for 15 years and have way too many kits. I've played almost all of the brands out there. Chris is right. Your budget is inbetween. Buy used is my suggestion. A great kit with new heads tuned well is less headache and less time in the studio. I've been there done that with EQ, back and forth trying to compensate for a kit that just can't cut it. Well, it's the same with any instrument. Garbage in is garbage out.

O8