Lengo
Member
I feel like ranting today.
I was in Guitar Center yesterday, mainly for some info and to try some licks on a real kit. I wanted to hear the difference between different snare woods and metals, and depths. I wanted a feel on what I'd spend on a low-end kit just for SOMETHING to bang on, although I won't be buying one. I wanted to play some new licks I've learned on a kit, and actually hear what it sounds like. I was not disappointed. Guitar Center is a place to get info, experiment, and purchase (after you know what you're doing).
While I was in there, a gentleman walked in who was about my age. In a while, he was glowing. He was buying a ZBT cymbal set, a throne, and some other goodies to go along with his craigslist drum kit. I started up a conversation with him after he made the statement, "I can't believe how expensive cymbals are. They're a lot more than drums!"
I tried to deftly tell him that he doesn't want ZBTs. I tried to tell him to buy ONE GOOD cymbal at a time, from a good line like Zildjian AAs or K series, or Sabian HH or HX or whatever. I didn't get through to him though. He was too excited about his purchase. "Oh boy! New toys!" He'll be sorry eventually though. He'll have to pay twice for cymbals and that throne he bought is a real piece of junk. It won't last.
This man was noob! I can understand his excitement, but his excitement gets in the way of good judgment. I'm happy for him! He's found a new hobby! And you shoulda seen the gleam in his eye when he said "I've improved so much very rapidly!". Yeah! Drumming is fun! I can't and won't quell that excitement. But at the same time, it's painful for me to see others make the same mistakes I've made in the past.
What I'm angry about is that I didn't tell him about Drummerworld forums. He doesn't know we exist. All the advice he can get here, plus links to good, quality components, and educational sites, and then the links to various YouTube videos about equipment or techniques. Drummerworld forums is so very valuable, it's priceless. So, I'm not gonna let that happen again. The next time I see a noob, I'm gonna pull him aside and tell him where to get advice (here), and how to save money in the long run, and how to get started right instead of wrong. So I gonna make up for my mistake with this post. I shoulda told him about drummerworld forums. And I'm telling you to do likewise.
Be advised. Do the same. Help out the noobs. Point 'em at good info, and tell them to temper their enthusiasm a little so that they buy right and don't waste their money. Tell 'em about these forums, good youtubes, freedrumlessons.com, and all the great tips that you know. Help 'em out! The noobs will be better off in the long run, and as drummers, we should all stick together and we'll bond better. Music is one of the places in this world where we can get along. There are few things in life that allow this.
Come May or June, I get my kit! I can taste it, I want it so much! But by being patient, I'm saving a bunch of money, and I'll be getting exactly what suits me, and nothing less. Oh and, BTW, I like the sound of a steel snare. That's the sound I'm looking for. It may not be yours, but it's exactly what I want. Woot! I can hardly wait, but I must.
I was in Guitar Center yesterday, mainly for some info and to try some licks on a real kit. I wanted to hear the difference between different snare woods and metals, and depths. I wanted a feel on what I'd spend on a low-end kit just for SOMETHING to bang on, although I won't be buying one. I wanted to play some new licks I've learned on a kit, and actually hear what it sounds like. I was not disappointed. Guitar Center is a place to get info, experiment, and purchase (after you know what you're doing).
While I was in there, a gentleman walked in who was about my age. In a while, he was glowing. He was buying a ZBT cymbal set, a throne, and some other goodies to go along with his craigslist drum kit. I started up a conversation with him after he made the statement, "I can't believe how expensive cymbals are. They're a lot more than drums!"
I tried to deftly tell him that he doesn't want ZBTs. I tried to tell him to buy ONE GOOD cymbal at a time, from a good line like Zildjian AAs or K series, or Sabian HH or HX or whatever. I didn't get through to him though. He was too excited about his purchase. "Oh boy! New toys!" He'll be sorry eventually though. He'll have to pay twice for cymbals and that throne he bought is a real piece of junk. It won't last.
This man was noob! I can understand his excitement, but his excitement gets in the way of good judgment. I'm happy for him! He's found a new hobby! And you shoulda seen the gleam in his eye when he said "I've improved so much very rapidly!". Yeah! Drumming is fun! I can't and won't quell that excitement. But at the same time, it's painful for me to see others make the same mistakes I've made in the past.
What I'm angry about is that I didn't tell him about Drummerworld forums. He doesn't know we exist. All the advice he can get here, plus links to good, quality components, and educational sites, and then the links to various YouTube videos about equipment or techniques. Drummerworld forums is so very valuable, it's priceless. So, I'm not gonna let that happen again. The next time I see a noob, I'm gonna pull him aside and tell him where to get advice (here), and how to save money in the long run, and how to get started right instead of wrong. So I gonna make up for my mistake with this post. I shoulda told him about drummerworld forums. And I'm telling you to do likewise.
Be advised. Do the same. Help out the noobs. Point 'em at good info, and tell them to temper their enthusiasm a little so that they buy right and don't waste their money. Tell 'em about these forums, good youtubes, freedrumlessons.com, and all the great tips that you know. Help 'em out! The noobs will be better off in the long run, and as drummers, we should all stick together and we'll bond better. Music is one of the places in this world where we can get along. There are few things in life that allow this.
Come May or June, I get my kit! I can taste it, I want it so much! But by being patient, I'm saving a bunch of money, and I'll be getting exactly what suits me, and nothing less. Oh and, BTW, I like the sound of a steel snare. That's the sound I'm looking for. It may not be yours, but it's exactly what I want. Woot! I can hardly wait, but I must.