Best bang for the buck! sound quality.

[BustAChops]

hi everyone! i am new here in this forum and hope to get some help from some experienced drummers. i am very interested in purchasing my first pair of drums. i have always loved playing drums on my friends sets so i started putting aside cash for my own. after 2 years of saving i came up with about $1000 =) (due to school and books). My friends have some no name drums and sound pretty crappy compared to the dws i love to mess with at the guitar center. i obviously dont have the money for that kind of set. i understand that the type of wood gives the distinct sound of the drum and that the dw i was playing on was made of maple. from reading http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/id14.html i found out that birch is the closest wood to maple so i started looking for drums with that type of wood. i am very interested in

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tama-Rockstar-Set-Remo-Evans-Heads-Zildjian-Cymbals_W0QQitemZ320083857366QQihZ011QQcategoryZ38 097QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

but i am not sure if its made mostly of basswood or birch. what do you guys think of that set? and the price (+$100 for shipping)? i dont want to bid if im getting ripped off. i am looking to get the best bang for my buck since its so hard for me to come up with some cash and will be a long time till i upgrade. i am open to any suggestions or comments. thank you. have a nice day =)

[boomboomda]

Check into the Gretsch Catalina birch.
They are nice sets , and come with nice heads on it, so you really get a good sound right out of the box.
Check ebay for the Catalina birch, they always sold there.

[BustAChops]

thanks boomboomda. im looking into it right now.

[rendezvous_drummer]

Also check out the Yamaha Stage Custom (made of phillipine mahogany, falkata and birch) and the Yamaha Tour Custom (Asian Maple). Both are great kits. The Tour Custom costs more, but well worth it. Also check out the Mapex M-Birch.

[BustAChops]

thanks rendevous drummer. i needed those to start comparing =)

[figure_02]

Some great kits for the price, a few has maple too, dont need to buy a DW to get maple ;)

Mapex M-Birch (birch)
Mapex Pro-M (maple)
Sonor Force 2007 (birch)
Sonor Force 3007 (maple) You may find the older models, 2005 and 3005 pretty cheap, they are the same I think, but the 07 models has new lugs and other finishes. Both are great kits!
Tama Superstar (birch)
Gretsch Catalina Birch (birch)
Gretsch Catalina Maple (maple)
Pearl Vision (birch)
Yamaha Tour Custom (maple)
Pacific CX (maple)
Pacific FS (birch)

I dont know how the prices are where you live, but these are all affordable kits who gives you alot for the money. The maple kits are normally a bit more expencive.

[BustAChops]

thanks figure 02! this forum is great. everyone seems to be very helpful. i appreciate your input guys. ill let you guys know when i make my decision. i have some research to do =)

[BustAChops]

Gretsch Catalina Maple or Birch? what do u guys think? both seem to be around the same price. i tried watching some people play on these kits on youtube but i cant really say which one i like more. i think the maple has the more mellow tone im looking for but im not sure if these guys changed their heads. looks like i gotta head to guitar center when i get the chance but in the mean time any input is appreciated =) thanks

[rendezvous_drummer]

Yea man, you're best bet is to actually try out the kits for yourself. Only way you can really find your sound.

[millersc]

Gretsch Catalina Maple or Birch? what do u guys think? both seem to be around the same price. i tried watching some people play on these kits on youtube but i cant really say which one i like more. i think the maple has the more mellow tone im looking for but im not sure if these guys changed their heads. looks like i gotta head to guitar center when i get the chance but in the mean time any input is appreciated =) thanks

Busta, I would be cautious about deciding on a drum kit because of just the sound of it on youtube. The different micing techniques and gates, compression, etc. can change what a kit sounds like. Generally speaking though, maple kits probably be a little mellower and much more bottom end on them. Birch kits tend to have more highs, lows, with a cut in the mid frequencies. Hope this helps.

[larlev]

If you can hold on for a bit.....the Sonor 3005 kits should start coming down in price...Once the 3007 models are out

This is the best kit at $1000....quality and sound is exceptional.....

[rritter]

Check into the Gretsch Catalina birch.
They are nice sets , and come with nice heads on it, so you really get a good sound right out of the box.
Check ebay for the Catalina birch, they always sold there.


I Concur, see my kit at http://www.j4fmusic.com

[DamoSyzygy]

Mapex M-Birch (birch)
Heres your winner!

All birch shell, nice finishes, 6 drums for the price of 5 and bags for all the drums. VERY hard deal to top.

[larlev]

Here's an example....3005's will be possibly even lower than this soon

http://cgi.ebay.com/SONOR-DRUM-SET-3005-5PC-LIMITED-EDITION-SET-MINT-SHAPE_W0QQitemZ270066481211QQihZ017QQcategoryZ3809 7QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[BustAChops]

so hard to choose. im gonna have too wait a bit longer and try out all these drums. thanks a lot for your input guys. i really appreciate it. gotta do more research and see which kit best suits me. =)

[figure_02]

But be aware of the fact that none of these drums will be stocked with good heads, and often at music shops the kits arent tuned at all.

[Skynman]

You are doing right check out the music stores like you are doing Guitar Centers are well stocked with cymbals too so check into them while you are there also! Sugg. on drum sets Ludwig, Pearl, are both good drum sets too! Sugg. on cymbals Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste, Whatever you decide on cymbals make sure to get 2 crash's like a 14" & 16" OR 16" & 18" With a Ride and H.Hats Also like the other dudes mentioned to you drum heads on your set will be ok for a little while but you will probably want to put on some better batter heads and if I were you the minimum drum set I would get is a 5 piece set if you can get a seven piece set it is worth it 3 tom toms and 2 floor toms it is a big investment but you are saving up and you might as well get the best you can get! ps welcome to the best instrument choice the planet has DRUMS!!

[tamadrummer132]

my advice to you is to look on ebay and wait for a pro level kit to come up, for example a gretsch renown maple, tama starclassic, yamaha oak custom, or basically any drumset that is in-store for $1300+

look on ebay, craigslist, drummerworld, ask around, and any other forums that you can, and i gurantee you will find an excellent deal.

[DamoSyzygy]

look on ebay, craigslist, drummerworld, ask around, and any other forums that you can, and i gurantee you will find an excellent deal.
Just be careful if you go down this road, as often you wont get a warranty on the goods if you purchase them from outside your own country.