New Drummer....Good first set?

[DansNutz]

So I am new to drumming and just purchased my first set off ebay. I didn't want to spend a ton of money but also didn't want to settle for those no name junk beginner kits either. Pictured below is the set I purchased along with the following and just want to see if other think this is a decent first set and if it was worth the buy. I think so...but I'm new, what do I know.

Paid $360 for:
10" tom
12" tom
14" tom
14" wooden snare
22" base drum
1) Tama throne (seat)
1) Hi-Hat stand (tama)
1) boom stand (tama)
1) snare stand (tama)
1) base drum pedal (tama)
1) 14" saluda Hi-Hats (top & bottom)
1) 16" saluda crash
1) 18" saluda crash
1) 18" saluda vodoo china
1) 20" saluda ride
1) 14" planet Z hi-hat (top & bottom)
1) 18" planet Z crash/ride

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/3120/e8e91sd3.jpg

[ZDrums24]

I think its a good deal for how much you paid for it. Tama produces pretty good lower level kits. Do you know which series you have? I hear saluda cymbals are good, but planet Zs are pretty much best used for display.

[DansNutz]

I think its a good deal for how much you paid for it. Tama produces pretty good lower level kits. Do you know which series you have? I hear saluda cymbals are good, but planet Zs are pretty much best used for display.

They are Swingstars.............

[ZDrums24]

Those were made by Tama as a sort of mid-level kit, but they are reputed to be about as good as most higher level kits. You got a great deal. The quality of sound is going to be largely dependent on your tuning skills and head choices because the drums wont hold you back.

[mind_drummer]

It a good deals when you look at the cymbals that came with the set. Saluda are excellent cymbals and if you would have bought them individually, you would have spent more.

This being said, Swingstar will sound good (take a look at mine) with brand new heads and moreover your bass drum will sound even better if you replace the stock TAMA reso with all those holes.

[DansNutz]

Those were made by Tama as a sort of mid-level kit, but they are reputed to be about as good as most higher level kits. You got a great deal. The quality of sound is going to be largely dependent on your tuning skills and head choices because the drums wont hold you back.

My tuning skills are at this point non existant I guess being that I am new. Any particular recommendations as far as heads go?

[Mr. Pasquini]

Saludas are good, the offered a starter set for a while but now all they produce are high end cymbals. Planet Zs are junk, Zildjians Brass line.

[mind_drummer]

My tuning skills are at this point non existant I guess being that I am new. Any particular recommendations as far as heads go?


Here's what I used to post to people with minimal tuning knowledge

OK here's what I do for tuning but remember that sound is different from driver seat (behind drum kit) and from audience stand point so ring behind the drum mean nice sound to 20 feet in front of drum kit.

Dead sound from behind mean no sound at all for the crowd so what I suggest is record/video tape your drum sound from at least 15 feet in front of kit or ask someone to hit your BD - snare and toms as you stand away in front of the kit.

Now for tuning, I do Dave Weckl method.
First take floor tom and loose all lug screw to have your head wrinkled then sit that FT upside down and work on reso first.
Finger tight all screw then take a tuning key and tight 1/4 turn on each lug in star fashion (same as for car wheels) till your reso head is not wrinkled anymore
(you'll notice during the process that if you tap the head, it will be dead then as soon as wrinkle is gone your head begin to resonate)
at that moment (called shell minimal resonant point) be sure all your lug are tune to each other by taping with your drumkey 1 inch far from each lug and getting same tone, now reso is pretty near tuned.
Turn your FT on the other side to work on your batter head and do same process as reso. You'll find that at the end, both head should get pretty the same pitch and your heads will be tune to each other.
You can now tight reso lugs 1/8 turn first - to see if you like that sound and so on.
That method give you low tone but also it's the resonance base of your shell.

Go then on the second tom then on your first tom

http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/index.html

http://www.videodrumlessons.com/t1.htm


Now for heads, it always depend of the brand availability in your area but more, it depends on your taste. What I would rcommend first it to wait maybe one month and see if you want clear or coated & open or focused heads.

[DansNutz]

Thank's Mind. Very much appreciated. That should definitely get me on my way. Great to know there's so much support here.

[rmandelbaum]

Sounds like a great deal to me. You got a decent quality / mid level kit and everything you need to play well under $500.00. Congrats!!!

[ZDrums24]

http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/index.html

I've found a fair amount of knowledge on this site.

[Rogue Elephant]

Tuning Bible: http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/index.html

[Big_Philly]

Swingstars are fine drums. I've played one for years.