Pulse Double Bass or Tama Imperialstar?

[sandurz]

Hello drummerworld!
I am a new drummer (new as in a few months) and i'm looking into buying a new drumset for myself but I can't decide between 2 options. As of now i'm replacing a drumset I recieved for christmas 2005... it was bought at sears by the parental units, please bash if needed because I too think its a god-awful waste of matter. I am into a lot of metal, hard rock, rock. Stuff like Slipknot, Chevelle, Tool (Danny Carey = God), Rage Against the Machine, Shadows Fall, all of that good stuff. Anywho here are the setups i've looked into:

OPTION 1

Pulse Double Bass 8 Piece set
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pulse-Double-Bass-8Piece-Drum-Set-with-Hardware?sku=445229

Aquarian Performance II Heads
Sizes = 10, 12, 13, 16, 18

Aquarian Super Kick II Bass Heads
Sizes = 22, two of them

Pearl JJ-1355 Joey Jordison Signature Snare Drum
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pulse-Double-Bass-8Piece-Drum-Set-with-Hardware?sku=445229

Ahead Joey Jordison Sticks

Sabian B8 Rock Pack
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Sabian-B8-Rock-Pack-with-Free-15-AAXplosion-Crash?sku=445242

Kevlar Bass Drum Pads

Total comes to around $1100


OPTION 2

Tama Imperialstar 5-piece with Cymbals
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tama-Imperialstar-5pc-Standard-Drum-Set-With-Cymbals?sku=443214

Aquarian Performance II Heads
Sizes = 12, 13, 16

Aquarian Super Kick II Bass Heads
Size = 22

Pearl JJ-1355 Joey Jordison Signature Snare Drum
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Pearl-JJ1355-Joey-Jordison-Signature-Snare-Drum?sku=447877

Ahead Joey Jordison Sticks

Tama HP200TW Iron Cobra Jr. Twin Pedal
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tama-HP200TW-Iron-Cobra-Jr.-Twin-Pedal-with-Footplate?sku=449034

Double Kick Drum Pad

Moongel!!!!

Total comes to around $1200

Those are what i'm looking into I just can't decide. Again im into heavy rock and metal so I want to know what some of the people in drummerworld think. If you have any other suggestions by all means do tell but, along with your suggestion just pick one of the above setups with it.

Thanks,
sandurz

[Mr. Pasquini]

Tama.
202020202020202020202020

[ermghoti]

Pulse are trash, basically toy drums foisted off on people who don't really want to play, and will whip out the credit card for whatever has the lowest sticker price. Imperialstars are good starter drums, I have suspicions about the included cymbals. For $1100-1200 you can easily buy a pro kit with hardware and cymbals on the used market.

[Mr. Pasquini]

I'll agree with him. TAMA cymbals are trash can lids without handles. I think you should look at getting a used kit and finding some nice cymbals.

[Pukeboy]

I've played on a pulse when I started, not that bad. but in this case I would definitely go for the imperialstar. to start with you'll have more than enough with a twin pedal. as a starting drummer there's absolutely no reason why you should buy a doublebass kit or even 5 toms/floor toms. choose quality, not quantity.

[harryconway]

I'd buy used, not new. You're gonna take a new kit home and as soon as you leave the store, it de-values 1/3 to 1/2 what you paid for it. Check eBay, if anything, just to do some research on what used kits go for. And also look for deals. Here's a cool Ddrum kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DRUM-KIT-SET-PROFESSIONAL-DDRUM-DOUBLE-BASS-KIT_W0QQitemZ250096119333QQcategoryZ38097QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem a Tama kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/Tama-Swingstar-double-bass-drum-set_W0QQitemZ220095293153QQcategoryZ64443QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem a Pearl kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/PEARL-EXPORT-9-PC-DOUBLE-BASS-3-CYMBAL-STANDS_W0QQitemZ180100463057QQcategoryZ38097QQrdZ1 QQcmdZViewItem and a discontinued Pearl Sessions kit: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pearl-drums-Session-MAPLE-SMX-kit-shell-set-4pc-296-NEW_W0QQitemZ220095513262QQcategoryZ64441QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem as for your picks, option 2, but you're still not getting much bang for your buck there. Welcome to Drummerworld.

[midknight]

If you want to play metal, check out Mapex's Pro M Rock 5 Piece set. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Mapex-Pro-M-5Piece-Rock-Drum-Set-with-Free-Snare?sku=449191 3 toms, two snares (both have all Maple Shells), and a double pedal, and Remo heads stock. Plus it's far superior to either the Tama or Pulse. You won't be able to get the Jordinson snare, but the two that come with the kit should more than suffice. That'll leave money left over for some cymbals too.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

I cant spend your money for you, but for a few hundred more you can do much better. The Pulse are going to be not too satisfying for sure...the Tama somewhat better. The Tama does say that they are entry level and thats all. You are buying big stuff for little money. I have a Taye set that cost a little more than what you are looking at and they are superior in everyway to the Pulse or the Tama you have chosen. You can look at them also on Musicians friend site and see what you think. But as God-awful as the ones the "parental units" bought, both of these sets are barely above those.

[sandurz]

Thanks alot!
As far as the Mapex and used sets go I will definetly look into those. I was rethinking my decision about getting either of the Pulse or Tama anyway. Please keep the suggestions coming though.

[Class A Drummer]

Stay away from pulse. Ughhh. I would also look at gretsch or yamaha.

[BertTheDrummer]

Man my Pacific CX with Sabian AA/AAX cymbals and hardware cost way less than $1200 used. I'd defiantly say go on the used market. You can easily get a Pearl Export for $250-300 and find B8 cymbals for $25-50 each. The only thing that really seems to hold it's value in the used market are snare drums.

[Drummer30]

I say get a Yamaha Stage Custom from MF, live with the standard snare for a while, buy the B8 cymbal pack (esp since it comes with a AAXplosion crash) and get the extra tidbits you need an that should put you at about $1200 before tax.

[Tama Player]

Pulse isn't the greatest in the world. But my favorite (hence my name) is of course Tama. Now the jr's aren't bad, I use them for now, but if you can get some flying dragons, (Yamaha) they are some awesome pedals. Your heads seem alright, the signature snare isn't bad but you could get better. Yes, the Tama cymbals suck horribly so pretty much jus throw those away as soon as you get them. B8's defintley aren't the absolute worst cymbals out there but I advise you not to get them.

Peace
AGR

[Fat Elvis]

for god's sake -- buy used. This happens ALL the time. A new drummer (and even some not-so-new drummers) ask about these new kits that are really all just trash. You will grow out of both of these kits in a blink of an eye. Look hard, be patient and you WILL score a bargin.

Personally I have bought an almost new Tama Starclassic and fitted it completely with K's and K Customs for $1125. I found both deals on craigslist. The difference is that i could still EASILY get $1125 for all that. Good stuff holds it value.... but being that it is good stuff, i have no desire to part with any of it.

i got a severly used Tama Rockstar I am willing to part with, however. And I can outfit it with some barely used Paiste PST5 cymbals (neither of which has been used in quite some time).

[Skitch]

It is all too easy to find a good used kit out there anymore! The Fat Elvis' advice!


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Ozzy Biz]

There are some seriously good deals to be done in the used market. Plus you get more bang for your buck, and a bang that won't decrease in value nearly as much.
However, you can never get the best deals out there, because Fat Elvis always snaps them up before the general public even has a chance..... It's nearly criminal he's that good at it...
;)

[Fat Elvis]

There are some seriously good deals to be done in the used market. Plus you get more bang for your buck, and a bang that won't decrease in value nearly as much.
However, you can never get the best deals out there, because Fat Elvis always snaps them up before the general public even has a chance..... It's nearly criminal he's that good at it...
;)

you know, they always seem to find me -- so its not really my fault, its more the fault of space and time and........ oh hell, its my fault.