jodgey4
Silver Member
Go with Caddy's advice... when I got my first kit I didn't think about cases which I regret. They are high up on my purchase list. Check Craigslist and local shops for kits, try before you buy! If you really want to buy new, I think you would be happier with something closer in price to a Ludwig Keystone, and investing the rest on lessons, snares, cymbals, and heads. You might even be able to get an extra tom for that price range. Remember, lower end drums (relatively in your case) can sound much better with good head choice and tuning, but bad cymbals always sound bad. Snares... you'll get a good idea of what you want after playing one long enough, then you can branch out. Hardware - you didn't ask, but it sounds like you might need some... you don't need triple braced forty pound stands for one crash cymbal. You can easily mount a tom and large cymbal on a single braced lightweight Yamaha stand, and your back will thank you after lugging light stands from gig to gig as opposed to heavy ones.
Don't be afraid to take your time and really get what you want... instant gratification soothes the burning hole from a behemoth pile of money in your pocket, but hardly ever really leaves you happy. You seem like a smart kid, I'm sure you'll make a great investment - with a little help from this forum, of course .
As far as sizes go, I have 12", 14", 16", 18", toms and a 24" kick on my kit, and they all get equal use as a one up and one or two down. The 12" 14" 16" set up is way more versatile, but what Bo said about it being easier to make big drums sound smaller as opposed to the other way is very true. Plus, the big sizes are sooo much fun to play... all that being said, my music tastes have changed. I would now opt for the smaller sizes, though I planned only using the huge sizes. Or perhaps now even smaller sizes and less drums so I could get a Guru kit!
Summary - be patient, shop smart (used), and please ask us if you have any questions!
Don't be afraid to take your time and really get what you want... instant gratification soothes the burning hole from a behemoth pile of money in your pocket, but hardly ever really leaves you happy. You seem like a smart kid, I'm sure you'll make a great investment - with a little help from this forum, of course .
As far as sizes go, I have 12", 14", 16", 18", toms and a 24" kick on my kit, and they all get equal use as a one up and one or two down. The 12" 14" 16" set up is way more versatile, but what Bo said about it being easier to make big drums sound smaller as opposed to the other way is very true. Plus, the big sizes are sooo much fun to play... all that being said, my music tastes have changed. I would now opt for the smaller sizes, though I planned only using the huge sizes. Or perhaps now even smaller sizes and less drums so I could get a Guru kit!
Summary - be patient, shop smart (used), and please ask us if you have any questions!