Affordable Drum Set-up for beginner

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Comments

  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,387
    CJMST3K wrote:
    benjs wrote:
    CJMST3K wrote:


    I would recommend snare, bass drum, two bass-drum mounted toms and a floor tom. I happen to have two floor toms because I found a higher pitch tom later on and moved everything over one... but that second floor tom is almost never ever hit because it's so hard to get to. If you do two over the bass drum and one floor, you'll be all good! If there's a depth option, I may recommend less-deep. The depth of my current shells makes it hard to adjust to a good height. Also you may not want to go with the biggest bass drum they offer, also because of how it'll affect the angle you set your toms up. I don't have measurements of what mine are handy though...
    Wicked, thanks so much for all that info - huge help! Height is definitely important for me, as I'm short, and don't have long arms. Though that config you suggested is actually six pieces. :lol:

    Six? Snare, bass, tom, tom, floortom. :D (I personally have a 6, but I would not miss one bit the second floor tom)
    That was weird. Maybe I should switch my discipline in school if I can't count to five. :lol:
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
    Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
  • CJMST3K
    CJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    BTW - if you get the setup I'm talking about, you can always move the second bass-mounted tom over to the floor tom position with a ride-stand-bracket to hold it, and move the floor tom further down to become the second floor tom.... but if you get two floor toms which usually have 3 legs, you can't go backwards and put one over the bass drum. But I think you'll like the tom-tom-floortom arrangement best! BTW - if possible, find someone to tune them well for you. Tuning is the toughest thing to do on drums, and it makes ALL the difference. I still can't do a very good job tuning my drums if I decide to change pitch a little, and should eventually call someone over from the local music store to help me.
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,387
    CJMST3K wrote:
    BTW - if you get the setup I'm talking about, you can always move the second bass-mounted tom over to the floor tom position with a ride-stand-bracket to hold it, and move the floor tom further down to become the second floor tom.... but if you get two floor toms which usually have 3 legs, you can't go backwards and put one over the bass drum. But I think you'll like the tom-tom-floortom arrangement best! BTW - if possible, find someone to tune them well for you. Tuning is the toughest thing to do on drums, and it makes ALL the difference. I still can't do a very good job tuning my drums if I decide to change pitch a little, and should eventually call someone over from the local music store to help me.
    Thanks - I'll keep that in mind. You've definitely already persuaded me towards the tom-tom-floor tom arrangement.. I'm sure they wouldn't mind switching the bass drum that comes with it for their smaller model, hopefully. I'll definitely get them tuned when I get them. Thanks again for all your help.. between this and a new set of Paiste PST-5s, or whatever good pickings craigslist has to offer, I think this is going to be a pretty good first set, and I look forward to learning how to play :lol:
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
    Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
  • MichaelMcKevin
    MichaelMcKevin Posts: 1,161
    I would recommend the 925-S or 925-F configurations. They are the most standard and easy to work with. The 925-S offers the larger 16x16" floor tom. You may want that, esp for rock music. 22x18" is a rather standard size bass as well, and it would not be too large to affect you reaching the toms comfortably. As this theme has already been touched on, the 5 piece with 2 rack toms and 1 floor tom is your best bet. It allows for more options.

    The Pearl Drummer's Forum has a section called "Show Us Your Kits". You'll find thousands of kits on here set up in several different ways. This is a great way to get ideas and try things you might like.

    http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=30
    Camden I '06, Camden II '06, Bonnaroo '08, Camden I '08, Camden II '08, Philly Spectrum II/III/IV '09, MSG I '10, MSG II '10, Made In America '12, Wrigley '13, Brooklyn II '13, Philly I '13, Philly II '13, ...
  • PatrickBateman
    PatrickBateman Posts: 2,243
    I am not the tallest building in the city either...and wish the Tama fusion sets were available when I bought mine. (the toms are more shallow)...perhaps look into shorter shells
    If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?
  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,387
    Thank you all so much for the advice - I'm waiting to hear back on which set I can afford, but I'll either be getting the Vision VX, or Vision VSX set (either with the 925S configuration), and probably a standard Paiste PST-5 Rock Cymbal Set.
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
    Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
  • CJMST3K
    CJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    OH!!

    You HAVE to get a rug to put under the kit. If you put the kit on an existing rug, you'll make permanent indentations, plus probably some dark spots where the gears from the bass drum pedal are. Just any carpet which covers the majority of the kit will do. As long as it has some thickness to it. If you're on concrete, you'll need it to keep the kit from being scratched and sliding. If you're on a wood floor, consider two rugs, since you don't want to really dig into the flooring. Many bass drum legs have spikes to help keep the bass drum from sliding.

    You can find good deals on rugs at Lowes in their reminants section or Walmart.
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,387
    CJMST3K wrote:
    OH!!

    You HAVE to get a rug to put under the kit. If you put the kit on an existing rug, you'll make permanent indentations, plus probably some dark spots where the gears from the bass drum pedal are. Just any carpet which covers the majority of the kit will do. As long as it has some thickness to it. If you're on concrete, you'll need it to keep the kit from being scratched and sliding. If you're on a wood floor, consider two rugs, since you don't want to really dig into the flooring. Many bass drum legs have spikes to help keep the bass drum from sliding.

    You can find good deals on rugs at Lowes in their reminants section or Walmart.
    Thanks a lot - I definitely would not have thought about that, and eventually pissed off the landlord at our house quite a bit!
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
    Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
  • CJMST3K
    CJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    Did you get a drum kit?
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
  • benjs
    benjs Toronto, ON Posts: 9,387
    CJMST3K wrote:
    Did you get a drum kit?
    Unfortunately, not yet. Still working on getting pricing, as an employee at my dad's store who was helping me out appears to be completely MIA. I could proceed with a few Paiste PST-5 cymbals, but those are somewhat useless without the hardware (not to mention the drums). It'll happen though, and I'll post my extreme excitement when that day comes (hopefully shortly).
    '05 - TO, '06 - TO 1, '08 - NYC 1 & 2, '09 - TO, Chi 1 & 2, '10 - Buffalo, NYC 1 & 2, '11 - TO 1 & 2, Hamilton, '13 - Buffalo, Brooklyn 1 & 2, '15 - Global Citizen, '16 - TO 1 & 2, Chi 2

    EV
    Toronto Film Festival 9/11/2007, '08 - Toronto 1 & 2, '09 - Albany 1, '11 - Chicago 1
  • CJMST3K
    CJMST3K Posts: 9,722
    benjs wrote:
    CJMST3K wrote:
    Did you get a drum kit?
    Unfortunately, not yet. Still working on getting pricing, as an employee at my dad's store who was helping me out appears to be completely MIA. I could proceed with a few Paiste PST-5 cymbals, but those are somewhat useless without the hardware (not to mention the drums). It'll happen though, and I'll post my extreme excitement when that day comes (hopefully shortly).

    Keep your eyes on ebay for good prices too, in case the MIA employee doesn't come thru for you. You can also go on google and type in "craigslist.org" and "paiste" and that should search craigslist ads nationally.
    ADD 5,200 to the post count you see, thank you. :)
    *NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
    *MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
    *Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
    *Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
    *Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
    *VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
    *EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
    *Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10