New Drummer Needs to Choose a kit - need advice

[OhReallyNow]

I'm a guitarist getting a kit for my basement to tool around on / possibly do some basic recording with. I've got about $650 to spend (give or take $100). I'm looking used and so far I've found the following, please tell me which is the best value (also if I decide to sell in the future which one will hold its value best):

Pacific Maple Set $800 ($650 plus I'd have to buy the cymbals myself)
Pearl Export (with cymbals stands etc...) $450
Sonor 3001 (with cymbals stands etc...) $500

Want to keep the budget as low as possible but get something decent because again I won't be gigging with these - I probably won't even have much time to play them with my work schedule. But hopefully my kids might take an interest and play a bit as well.

Assume they are all about 5-10 years old and in reasonably good condition.

Thanks for your input!

[oikroitnik]

my kit is a hybrid bitsa made from about 9 different manufacturers.meinl sabian,maxwin.premier sonor stagg yamaha even PP.I have two snares with alternate tuning one goes "flaff" the other one goes brrap.My suggestion is ebay for for your basic 5piece some great vintage premiers for example; and its easy to exchange and upgrade any weak links you discover as your ability to play improves.....bargains to be had this time of year as parents get rid of presents that are far noisier than they imagined or the kids have lost interest already.....happ hunting. KH

[Numberonefan]

I'd be all over the 3001's

[lostprophet]

I'm a guitarist getting a kit for my basement to tool around on / possibly do some basic recording with. I've got about $650 to spend (give or take $100). I'm looking used and so far I've found the following, please tell me which is the best value (also if I decide to sell in the future which one will hold its value best):

Pacific Maple Set $800 ($650 plus I'd have to buy the cymbals myself)
Pearl Export (with cymbals stands etc...) $450
Sonor 3001 (with cymbals stands etc...) $500

Want to keep the budget as low as possible but get something decent because again I won't be gigging with these - I probably won't even have much time to play them with my work schedule. But hopefully my kids might take an interest and play a bit as well.

Assume they are all about 5-10 years old and in reasonably good condition.

Thanks for your input!


In all honesty I am not the best drummer around .... been messing aorund with drums for 6 years but only been playing serious for the last year. When I first started out drumming I got an old pearl export which I then upgrade to a brand new export in 2003. Sadly I sold them to go on a trip to canada.. when I came back I bought a second have 2003 export again. Just 2 months ago I bought a brand new pearl vision kit.

Ideally there are a lot of great kits out there but personaly for me I have been extremely pleased with the pearl serious of exports and they are great value for money.

All in all you just need to find the kit that best suits urself. I dont know if its me but I did try a couple different kits i.e mapex and tama and I just liked the feel and sound a lot better. when you find something you like you can just easily then build on what you have.

Good luck