Buying new drums in a custom configuration

[squid]

Hey all,

I have yet to find a specific thread or a worthy chunk of info hiding here that offers advice on how to go about purchasing drums in a custom configuration, affordably. It seems that a lot of drummers here have done this, but I've yet to see specific comments on the issue.

I am currently looking to upgrade my drums with a shell pack in 24"BD 18"FT 16"FT 14"TT sizes. From what I've seen with online retailers, it seems that they want to make buying a custom set-up difficult and expensive. It almost also seems that they are willing to sell you more for less money, considering a lot of drum sets come with a snare drum and hardware included.

For purposes of example, a 5-piece Tama Superstar Custom sells for $930 on a popular online retailer. This package includes tom holder, bass drum pedal, cymbal stands, and snare stand - a pretty appealing deal if you want the "standard" 22"BD 16"FT 13"TT 12"TT and need the hardware and snare drum. On the other hand, this online retailer also offers component drums in the sizes I want. Grand total: $1400, just for the items I need (toms and bass), and I don't even know if the bass drum comes with a tom holder! What a total discouragement: almost $500 MORE for LESS equipment!

Does anybody know why retailers do this? Is it just me, or are a lot of stores and manufacturers just flat out ignoring current drum trends by offering an abundance of fusion size/shallow depth packages that no drummer on my block would want to play? Needless to say, I'm bewildered. Anybody out there actually have success buying affordable drums to their specifications?

Thanks much,
Squid

P.S. I know how to use eBay, so please don't waste your time telling me to look there. I am currently not in a position to sit for months, waiting for a damaged tom or bass in the right finish or size to show up. It's simply not something I'm willing to do right now.

[ermghoti]

There is no solution for your problem. You would like a larger-than-average five-piece, which simply means you're going to pay through the nose.

The price of pre-packaged kits is a discount from normal costs. Due to economies of scale in manufacturing, shipping, warehousing and marketing, it costs less to have a limited number of options and configurations. Tama is about the lowest cost manufacturer for directly comparable products (same/equivalent country of origin, materials, etc). I believe this is because they are also the most restrictive in their offerings, and routinely discontinue any products that interfere with the bottom line.

Regardless of what the drummers on your block are doing, the current trend is towards shallow toms in a 10-12-14 configuration, and even the Bohnam/Rich styled kits tend to be 12-14-16. Therefore, the lion's share of prepackaged kits will adhere to that model. It does not make any sense for Tama to produce "odd" size toms to wait in a warehouse for someone to order them, and then ship individual drums to each customer. It makes even less sense for dealers to use inventory space to stock the drums. ergo, they are special order, which, in turn, adds cost to the transaction.

So, your options, since you don't like eBay, are craigslist, where you have every opportunity to inspect a kit before buying, or to choose a manufacturer that has a packaged kit that better fits your specifications.

[drumbandit]

If the most popular sizes are shallow toms, then manufacturers will mass produce lots of those size drums. If it was more popular for large size drums then they would be produced on a wider scale and would cost lest. So to get drums in a 'different' range of sizes will more than likely cost more because they're different and take more time to make. Or the companies that offer those size drums are smaller so are selling drums at a higher price to make a profit.

Tom

[fourstringdrums]

Why don't you look at the Gretsch Catalina Club Rock series? http://www.gretschdrums.com/?fa=series&sub=sizes&sid=533&mid=2027

It comes with a 24" Bass, 9x13 Tom, and 16" & 18" Floor toms, plus a 6.5x14 snare which even if you don't need it, you'll still have it and they are GREAT kits for the money. I have the Club Jazz series and it's incredible. Same woods and construction, just smaller size. Yeah, you'll have a 13" tom instead of a 14" but I'd be willing to make that compromise if it meant saving hundreds of dollars. It won't come with stands, but it will come with the nessary tom mounting hardware. It's about $949.

Unfortunately that's just the way it is. If you don't want to go the Ebay route, which I don't blame you for not wanting to wait around for something you want to show up, especially in those sizes which are rare, I would just deal with it and go the individual drum route. It stinks, but there's not much else you can do. If you do order individual drums, as far as I know, an individual bass drum does not come with a tom holder. I ordered Yamaha Oak Customs as individual drums a few years ago and the bass didn't come with a tom holder.

[harryconway]

It's really quite simple. Life doesn't work that way.

[cjl71178]

It's really quite simple. Life doesn't work that way.

Unfortunately, this is very true.

I felt the same way when I was buying my first set of Ludwigs. I didn't want to order a "packaged" kit because I wanted different sizes. I knew that it would be a "special order" so I just ordered the drums individually and got what I initially wanted.

I think the only solution is to go that route...unless you find a company, maybe Peace Drums, that I believe has packaged kits in the sizes you're looking for (or Gretsch like fourstring suggested).

Best of luck to you.

[hauk]

Yeah, the extra money for custom sizes is really annoying, especially since I don't think the "standard" 12" 13" 16" setup makes much sense. It's not a complete solution, but I checked out how much your setup would cost on massmusic.net and it was $1188 rather than $1400.

[fourstringdrums]

I think of buying drums as almost the same as buying chinese food. They usually never have exactly what you want, and if you want to make any substitutions, they charge you more :)

[cjl71178]

I think of buying drums as almost the same as buying chinese food. They usually never have exactly what you want, and if you want to make any substitutions, they charge you more :)

that's another way of looking at it!

hey squid, what part of PA are you from???

[spleen]

Taye has your kit bro--The STAGE 5 pc SDH Shell Pack, # 52414RSDH-SPK has EXACTLY the sizes you want, available in four different lines of drums. It's one of Taye's many "stock" kits so it costs no extra. Go to their website (www.tayedrums.com), download the Catalog and Price List and you'll find it in there. You can order it through any Taye dealer and my guy says they ship quickly.

Good luck!

spleen

[rjvsmb]

Taye has your kit bro--The STAGE 5 pc SDH Shell Pack, # 52414RSDH-SPK has EXACTLY the sizes you want, available in four different lines of drums. It's one of Taye's many "stock" kits so it costs no extra. Go to their website (www.tayedrums.com), download the Catalog and Price List and you'll find it in there. You can order it through any Taye dealer and my guy says they ship quickly.

Good luck!

spleen


Absolutely right on.

Taye offers exactly sizes you want in either maple or birch/basswood. They ship quickly and have great costomer service.

As everyone points out, check everything out thoroughly and don't settle for anything less than you want.

Good luck.

All the best,
rjvsmb

[squid]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

cjl, I am from Altoona, PA and gig in that area as well as the Huntington/Williamsburg area on a regular basis.

Thanks for the suggestions on the Gretsch and Taye kits, I may just have to find some time to get out and play these in a real drum shop, as I have not personally played either.

I will also check out massmusic.net for better prices.

Squid

[fijjibo]

Pre packaged kits are really heavily subsidised.

I was really shocked when I considered buying a smaller bass drum....

It cost almost as much as my kit.

[fourstringdrums]

Pre packaged kits are really heavily subsidised.

I was really shocked when I considered buying a smaller bass drum....

It cost almost as much as my kit.

That's what people said to me when I was looking for an 18" bass drum. "Just get a Renown 18". It cost as much as my whole Catalina Jazz pack! :)

It's also harder to get individual drums in a timely manner. Alot of times stores don't stock individual drums, and the drum company will have more pre-configured packs available than individual drums. So alot of times you look at a few months wait for one freakin drum.

[cjl71178]

So alot of times you look at a few months wait for one freakin drum.

I waited over 6 months for two Starclassic toms after I bought a 5-pc from the music store. That's just how it is.

Squid, we're not practically neighbors...but I've been out your way (state college, etc.)
before. Best of luck with your kit search.

[spleen]

I waited over 6 months for two Starclassic toms after I bought a 5-pc from the music store. That's just how it is.

Again, not the case with Taye, which is incredible because in the past, I've waited months for drums as well. Taye will even let you switch out drums in a shell pack (e.g., shallow "Go-Toms" instead of standard depth toms, etc.) and their individual drums are very affordable. And they have LOTS of shell packs. I'm getting ready to order a new kit from them and by picking a particular shell pack and adding an extra tom, I'm getting exactly what I want (which is quite different from any "stock" kit I've seen) for no extra cost, which is like freaking amazing.

Okay, I'll settle down now...: - )

spleen

[fourstringdrums]

Again, not the case with Taye, which is incredible because in the past, I've waited months for drums as well. Taye will even let you switch out drums in a shell pack (e.g., shallow "Go-Toms" instead of standard depth toms, etc.) and their individual drums are very affordable. And they have LOTS of shell packs. I'm getting ready to order a new kit from them and by picking a particular shell pack and adding an extra tom, I'm getting exactly what I want (which is quite different from any "stock" kit I've seen) for no extra cost, which is like freaking amazing.

Okay, I'll settle down now...: - )

spleen

See, it's the chinese food rational again. Why companies don't let you pick and choose what you want is beyond me. It's fine to offer preconfigured sets in the most popular sizes, but have another "build your own" option.