So, my mid 20's son is still learning about budgets and the finer points of handling money and instead of giving him another "loan" that he is not going to pay back. I have offered to "buy" some of his instruments from him so he can get the money he needs and if and when he can afford it, he can buy them back.

Here is what I'm getting (don't ask what it is going to cost me; I know it is too much); a First Act VW guitar, a Dean Dimeback guitar and a 5 piece Percussion Plus drum set with all the stands etc.

The drum set is an entry level one that he got off a buddy. It has obviously been played because the heads look terrible. The heads have been taken off so they could be moved in a car and instead of putting these back on I figured I'd rather get new ones.

So my question is; what is a decent set of replacement drum heads? cymbals? And is there a forum similar to this one that is a good place to learn about drums? (i.e. care, adjustment, tuning, etc)

Thanks

_________________
'09 Am Deluxe Ash Strat
'09 Mex Standard Strat
'10 Mex Standard Tele
Champ 600
Blues jr.
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

For drum heads, I like evans or Remo. Remo will probably have a few more lower price, but still good, drum heads. As far as cymbals go, I think Sabian's B8 line is the best budget line on the market, and unless you're a serious drummer they'll do you just fine.
Don't know about any forums for you to check though.

_________________
Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

Hi Briese: I'm a little confused as to why drum heads had to be removed for transportation. But putting that to one side...

All the big makers - Evans, Remo, etc - offer tom packs to suit the mainstream kit drum sizes and that is likely the most cost effective way of buying heads, probably from an online seller or on Ebay.

Choosing drum heads is a bit like suggesting guitar pickups: my choice will probably not be someone else's. But unless the gentleman already has his own feelings on the subject you are likely going to be looking for a good mainstream all-round head, and that probably means Remo's Diplomat model. If lighter, jazzier sounds are required then their Ambassador head is the one to go for, and for heavier, rockier tones the Emperor head is where to point your sticks. They have numerous other options to get bewildered by and you can multiply that confusion by all the other makers. But for your purposes I'd stick within the three I've named if I were you: you won't go far wrong.

The next choice is between white and clear heads. That's a cosmetic decision: ask him what he prefers. Many people like white on top and clear on the bottom. Privately, I think stick marks look horrible on clear heads - but lots of people like a clear batter head, so just discuss that first with the end user.

Remember, you need a powder coated head for the snare drum (whether he likes it or not: I’m putting my foot down on that), so that the fella can at least experiment with brushes. If he goes a different way in time - well, that's his own problem.

(My own choice is for white powder coated Ambassadors top and bottom across the whole kit - which many people would find a very odd, old fashioned choice. And that's exactly why one person's preference is not a recommendation to someone else.)

Just as head makers offer sets so also with cymbals, especially in the budget market. All the makers do 'em: Zildjian is the brand I've used for 35 years so it is their range I can advise you on. They have three tiers of budget cymbals, called ZBT, ZHT and ZXT in ascending order of price. Even more than in the guitar world the budget end of drum gear has changed out of all recognition in my lifetime and the cheapest budget cymbals are really not bad these days, and amazing value for money. You can buy a whole set of ZBTs for less than the price of a pro-level ride cymbal and they will be of reliable and decent quality. Enter Zildjian ZBT into Ebay and search for something along the lines of their Rock 4 Set. Essentially, you need a 14" hi-hat pair, a 20" ride (don't be tempted by a "crash-ride" - bad mistake) and probably a 16" crash. You will then notice that many sets offer an additional 18" crash cymbal "free" - and there ya go. A beginner's cymbal requirements... sorted.

If you want to spend more then go for one of the higher priced models. Up to you.

Just for the amusement of the few other drummers I happen to know reside in this Forum I use Zildjian Ks throughout, on a custom built Premier Signia kit with maple shells in piano black - ah, but we could be here all day discussing that stuff!

Far as drum forums are concerned, try:

http://www.mikedolbear.com

Somewhere to start.

Anymore questions, gissa shout.

Cheers - C

_________________

ceri

the heads were probably removed for stacking in transport.
if its a beginners kit, i wouldnt invest in it to much.
just go with something of equal quality.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Hi WC: secretly between you and me I guessed that's what it would be. I hate it when people do that - it would be like taking a guitar's neck off to put it in a suitcase. ...But then some people do that too!

Far as price goes: those Zildjian ZBTs are as near the bottom of the cost range as makes no difference. I expect you could find cheaper heads than the Remos, but why bother? Unless you go for fancy-schmancy stuff it's pretty much of a muchness as far as pricing goes in the drum head market. Those Remos will last a goodly time. Erm, probably for many, many years (unfortunately ).

Cheers - C

_________________

lol you are correct. i agree with the transport too. with cars getting smaller drummers are in big trouble. they do what they gotta do i guess.
man im glad im not a drummer. drums are expensive in the long run.
the cost for a good set alone is bad enough, but they gotta make several life style changes to just be able to play them. buy a truck or trailer. live in a big enough house to be able to play them, or have a spot where you can play them. no apartments or condos for drummers. man the list goes on and on. no wonder they are such angry little people.

_________________
63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Yes, the heads had to be removed to fit in the car. I agree it was not a great idea to take the heads off but....we had to move the entire contents of his apartment in a very short time. He needed to be out before the end of the month and he had things planned out well until his guard unit got activiated for emergency flood duty.

Thanks for the information. I knew I would get good answers from this group.

_________________
'09 Am Deluxe Ash Strat
'09 Mex Standard Strat
'10 Mex Standard Tele
Champ 600
Blues jr.
'65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Your post has been answered so well....it's only 2 cents worth but here goes......Buy second hand say AA's for the cymbals instead of a full learners B8's Or ZHT's.....Cymbals aint cheap AA's are just so much richer in every way and base model Cym's sound soooooo crap.... Within in months he'll realise his cym's blow and he'll be into you for decent ones. I am sure with carful ebay shopping you'll come close to paying new base model money for used Sabian AA's and they are 3 times the Cym.

_________________

good score Bro, clear heads resonate a little brighter than the coated, let us know how they turn out. We love videos, you know.

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

+1...a set of used higher end cymbals, even mixing and matching a bit, will probably be better than my earlier suggestion.



+1 on this one too. Clear heads are definitely more resonant than coated. I however like the sound of a kit with all coated heads. I like the quick attack and fast decay; makes a huge difference in sound, especially when recording.

_________________
Check out my new FB music page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilandMe.Music

++++1!!!!

I am afraid, in a band situation I hate really resonant heads..............

My kit has now been in storage for..erm.....gulp.....3 and a half years!!!!

It's just an old Pearl Export that has seen better days...................but I spent a lot of time trying different heads. I then went through the whole 'deadening' o the skins phase which I have never really come out of!! At one point I had about four packs of moon gel on each drum as well as yards of duct tape............... (oh and I am pretty anal about my toms being tuned in 3rds with my bass the same note as my high tom........ that's the timp player in me!!!)

I am a nightmare with cymbals.................I have no idea what I have as they are all so old all the names have worn off!!! I hate a big thick cymbal, I like my ride, crash and splash all to be thin. I loved the ZIldjan Dark Ride, warm but fine. I am the same with high-hats, light weight and crisp.

MY nemesis though is the snare........................
I actually started my drumming career as a snare drummer in a pipe band and those 'proper' skins on the older band drums.nothing beats that 'crack'. Woven hides with the actual snare on both top and bottom stretched to within an inch of its life!!!!! I spent a fortune over the years trying cheap and expensive snares, new and vintage and in the end I took the snare that came with the kit, tightened the hell out of the bottom skin, tightened the snare as much as possible and then taped it at the edges to the bottom head....................gives a nice mega sharp shot when you hit it and gives an almost pipe band quality to rolls but it does mean that I have to have a 'normal' set one too for rimshots(i get the buzz from the snare with the tape) and I also have an old piccolo snare 'just to mix it up'.

So that's my kit......old, battered, taped and modified (much like my guitars.)

So to answer the OP with my own humble opinion.....well mate, TBH I would just put it all back together, stick it on Gumtree/Craigslist wherever you are and get what you can and then go looking for a second hand kit if you want to carry that on. Percussion plus is, well, pretty rank to be honest. A decent set of skins will be worth more than the kitbut won't add any value to it really. The hardware is very basic and just not worth it. I would also say that since the heads have been off now from moving it, check the drums. They are wood, and like guitars, they can warp when not looked after so even fittting new heads may not work properly. The support i the framework of these kits is pretty piss poor and I have seen a floor tom from an entry kit 'spring' into an egg shape as soon as the head was taken off!!!!!

YOu will pick up a decent quality 2nd hand kit for roughly what these cost new (minus cymbals) Get a reliable high hat stand, good bass pedal and cymbals that 'feel' right...........don't worry too much about brand, you can pick up cymbals really cheap from music shops' trade ins normally. I have a couple of splashes that have different sized cracks in them and give a really cool effect that I got free from a local music store cos they were just going to bin them!

So there you have wookee's guide to not setting up drums.....................

Oh and whatever you do do NOT underestimate the importance of your sticks............

BY the way, I know it's after the fact, but I fitted two full kits in a Ford Fiesta without 'beheading' them......................

Here's what I play now.....................

_________________
speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

Awesome, you're starting a 'Family Pawnshop!!"

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Ooo, goodie: show-and-tell! That is a stellar setup, Mr Wookee. Get in!

My turn. Here is the percussion corner of Ceri's attic lair:





That's my hand-built Premier Signia seven piece kit in piano black lacquer (plus auxiliary snare and Rototoms, and K Zildjian cymbals). Custom ordered because I suddenly and inconveniently developed a taste for those tube lugs (Premier's were by far the prettiest) just after they'd stopped making them. Also, I wanted my toms in the then very unfashionable "standard" sizes, and made from maple rather than Premier's more usual birch. 'Course, they now offer all sorts of options on birch, maple and birch+maple. But this was then.

Each drum arrived with a little slip enclosed that announced it had been built by a certain Kerry up there in Leicestershire. Which as you can imagine seemed especially appropriate to me, even if he/she doesn't know how to spell the name properly ( ):



You also see what I fondly imagine to be a part of the world's leading assortment of Premier Trilok hardware. Still the best.

Here's a section of the snare drum collection:



The 12" concert snare at the right-hand end has the tastiest crack to it of any auxiliary snare you will ever meet. It's superb. The two black Signia snares (maple shells) were both custom built to match the kit. Officially Premier didn't do custom building in those days but I asked them very nicely... You also see there some piccolo snares in different sizes and with birch and brass shells. And the steel one in the middle is my Premier 2000, which they DC'd and then had to bring back by popular demand. Always described as the only serious rival to Ludwig's Supraphonic - it's a thing of sonic gorgeousness and my go-to snare.

And yes, I am a left-hander who happens to play the guitar right-handed. And yes, that is a Peruvian tarantula (stuffed) on the wall, given me as a birthday present by an ex-girlfriend supposedly to cure my deep, deep arachnophobia. It didn't work. Or maybe she just wanted to see me scream like a little girl when I pulled the wrapping paper off. EX-girlfriend, you understand.

Cheers - C

_________________

oooooooooh.............wookee wants to come play at ceri's house................

It's refreshing to see someone else who likes the standard sizes!!!! All my drummer mates went for the Tama Rockstars. DOn't get me wrong I liked the feel of them but the toms were just tiny!!! I felt like I was playing a kids kit so when I got the chance of the Export kit I jumped at it and have had it now for ever!!!

I am afraid with 8 snares I would just be toooooooooo tempted to tune them to a scale......................

That is an awesome set up mate!!!

_________________
speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

Ah-ha - actually, there's more than eight lurking around somewhere (those were the only ones that wanted to have their photo taken). Not quite enough for a 12 note chromatic scale - but you've suddenly got me thinking! It never crossed my mind to play melodies on my snare drums (after all, drummers are not musicians, right?). Hmmm, I'd better go and buy some more snare drum stands...!


Thank you. Anyway, it makes a change from talking about guitars, huh?

Cheers - C

_________________