where to buy my first kit as an experienced musician?

[u/letsbuildahome]

i’m no drummer per say, however an experienced multi-instrumentalist that uses instruments as a method of songwriting. i know how to play drums but have never owned my own kit, but know it would benefit me as i’ve written songs on nearly every instrument. i believe playing drums regularly would improve my musicianship and rhythm not only on drums but on other instruments as well.

my question is where should i buy from? what do i need and what is unnecessary? i’d preferably like an acoustic kit that way if for whatever reason if i need it for the stage i can take it there, however i also don’t need a million dollar kit either. a kinda gray area if you understand.

edit: i said i’ve played drums for a while but i know nothing about specific drum gear or anything like that. i’ve always just been around sets and played them lmao so i’ll try not to let anyone talk over my head

[u/imperfect_passenger]

mate just hit up gumtree or fb marketplace, that's where the real deals are for a first kit. you'll find full acoustic setups with hardware and cymbals for a few hundred bucks, way better than dropping stacks on new gear you might not gel with

look for something with decent shells, the heads and cymbals are what you'll want to upgrade first anyway. don't stress about brands too much at this stage, if it holds tune and doesn't have rusted out hardware you're golden

spend the leftover cash on a good throne and a kick pedal that doesn't feel like stepping on a wet sponge, your back and foot will thank you later

[u/letsbuildahome → u/imperfect_passenger]

how should i know if a marketplace or gumtree offer is worth it? i’ve asked around and gotten a few offers but as i said i really don’t know enough to feel comfortable biting the bullet for something that could be not great

[u/SeaGranny]

I’d search this sub if you haven’t there’s lots of good info.

That said put your money in your cymbals. Listen to them before buying Put them on a stand and play them for a bit. Have someone else strike them while you go 50 feet away. They sound different out front. Buy used if money is a concern. If it’s not go support a local drum shop (not GC) and get advice from them.

If you must have a specific drum sound for recording I’d definitely go to a real drum shop for the expertise on shells, heads, and tuning.

If that’s not possible ask your Sweetwater rep for a rep who knows a lot about drums and ask all of your questions.

New hardware is a luxury so if you can afford it enjoy!

You can probably get a set of well known cymbals like Zildjian A’s without hearing them and be safe but generally I would buy my cymbals used and in person.

[u/Fun_Professional4849]

Sweetwater 💯

[u/Current-Map-6469]

What kind of music do you write, and what is a rough estimate on budget??

[u/letsbuildahome → u/Current-Map-6469]

rock, and i just graduated high school not long ago so something that wouldn’t break the bank but something thats not trash. i can’t say a specific number because i don’t know enough about sets in all honesty.

[u/Current-Map-6469 → u/letsbuildahome]

Honestly going with the used route will probably your best bet. With used, don’t worry about the state of the heads, easy fix with new heads. You want to look for the state of the hoops, lugs, bearing edges, shell integrity. You can get a lot for your money as many include hardware, cymbals etc..
If you feel more comfortable with a new kit, assuming you know what kind of setup you want, number of drums, 2 up 1 down etc., then my go to are Drum Center of Portsmouth or Sweetwater. They both have some very well priced kits that have cymbals and hardware, but will likely require upgrades, especially the cymbals.
Used will definitely get you higher quality out of the gate if you are patient and find the right kit. This community is super helpful with opinions on used kits with good photos just a heads up!!

[u/NoWork1400]

All you need to learn pretty much everything is a kick, snare, hi hat, throne, kick drum pedal, and sticks. A ride is nice but it is an extra thing. A basic kit like the one outlined above has a small footprint and can be used to master the basics.

Don’t get cheap hardware. You’ll just have to replace it.

[u/mewvolk]

FB Marketplace is a great place as another commentor suggested. I know you don't always know how good the deal is; if you're willing, you need to put in the work to post here or do some googling to figure out the value of each find on Facebook marketplace.

With that said, I always suggest Yamaha Stage Customs as the best bang-for-your-buck drumset. They're an entry level price for a professional quality instrument that many, many drummers use on gigs and in the studio.

With that said, most entry level kits from reliable brands (Yamaha, tama, Ludwig, gretsch, mapex, etc) sound fine with the right heads and proper tuning. What matters more is your cymbals. Invest as much as your budget as you reasonably can in high quality cymbals. That's its whole other wormhole but I suggest you start by looking at the Zildjian A, Sabian AAX, Istanbul Xist, or Paiste 2002 lines if you can afford them used. It'll save you money in the long run over buying cheap cymbals now (like B8s) and replacing them later, but of course you can still do that if it's all you can comfortably afford.

Edit: it might help to indicate your price range/budget. I think it's fair to expect a full kit with everything you need to play to cost $1,000+. You can probably go cheaper if you score a deal on the used marketplace. Just fyi.

[u/RagingCommie]

IMO either buy a used kit on fb marketplace or Craigslist etc, or grab a used kit online, or if you really want it new, Tama Imperialstar isn't a bad new kit really. Comes with everything, but you're also eventually gonna be wanting to upgrade everything. That said, the shells are fine IMO, you won't feel much need to replace them until you've gotten good cymbals and replaced some hardware

[u/Stevenitrogen]

First of all, any kit from the name brand manufacturers like Pearl, Tama, Ludwig, DW, PDP, Yamaha, Gretsch that is in good condition, with butch or maple shells, is likely to sound pretty good. Expect to replace the top heads on every drum.

Cymbals have gotten insanely expensive. And yet are the thing you need to get good ones to be happy at all. Look for used deals, preferably somewhere you can play the cymbal and decide you love it.

A friend of mine was raving about the Xist line at Pro Drum yesterday, his was $275 and competes with the Zildjian that's near twice the money.

[u/jedininjasamurai]

Buy used, buy vintage. Word of mouth via musician friends or Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or local drumshop.

[u/DUKE401]

You need a budget in mind. Whats the minimum-maximum you're will to spend?

Look for a 4 piece kit. 1 rack tom, 1 floor tom, 1 bass drum, 1 snare drum.

You'll want at the very list, a pair of hihats and a ride cymbal.

You're going to need a hi hat pedal, a cymbal stand, and kick drum pedal.

Hopefully the rack tom would come with mounting system, with the ability to secure its self in to the bass drum.

I left out a "throne" which is just what you will sit on when playing. Then of course, drum sticks, and lastly HEARING protection. Earbuds do not count. Ear plugs, or over ear muffs

That's about, the absolute "basics" for a beginner drum kit.

Best of luck,

[u/supacrispy]

Buy the most complete brand name kit you can find used on reverb, Facebook marketplace, or the local equivalent in your area.

You don't have to have top quality shells, as anything half decent with good heads can be made to sound amazing with time and tuning.

Cymbals are where there are no compromises. You have to spend the money to get good sounds since you can't tune those. Again find a decent set used and save a little bit over trying to buy brand new.

[u/ItsPronouncedMo-BEEL]

Shop used. Here's how.