Anyone here play the drums?

[SuBWaYCH]

I"m looking to buy my first kit and I've been looking at a Pearl kits. I'm already "ok" at playing and keeping rhythm. I know how to read music (I play the viola) and i"m slowly learning how to read the sheet music for drums.

I"m looking at a Pearl Forum 5-piece shell pack that does not come with cymbals and hardware (does come with a tom-holder). Looks pretty sweet if I do say so myself. It costs $350.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pearl-Forum-5-Piece-Standard-Shell-Pack-White-with-Black-Hardware-483567-i1430200.gc

I found a pretty good Hardware set that is also made by Pearl for $160. Comes with a snare stand, a Hi-hat stand, 2 cymbal stands and the bass pedal.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pearl-Export-800-Series-Hardware-Pack-Regular-448976-i1371561.gc

And lastly I found a Meinl Cymbal pack that is $150 and comes with a 14'' Hi-hat pair, 16'' Crash and 20'' Ride.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Meinl-HCS-New-Player-Cymbal-Setup-449564-i1276045.gc

Now, for a beginner is this a good start up? One of my dads Co-workers works at the Guitar center near me so we can probably get 10-15% discount off. All together it costs $660 (excluding discount and tax).

[CAVPFCDD]

i play guitar, but i do know from friends pearl is top of the line stuff, looks like youre getting a good deal but i'd still hunt around on ebay or craigslist or the newspaper, theres lots of good deals to be found on used stuff, esp for someone starting out, thats what i did with guitars started out on something cheap and used and now i've worked my way up to a very nice collection of equiptment. You never know, might get tired of it or not like it, but thats just my 2 cents. 

[Spikes]

I've played the drums and trap set for 4 or 5 years now...my first was a Mapex Tornado and I loved it. Picked up a set of Zildjian ZXT's to top it off, hi-hat, 2 crash's and a ride. I'm not dissing Pearl as it's a hell of a company and GREAT quality, but Mapex is the way to go if you can find a cheap one, for starters.

[Masherbrum]

That is MORE THAN good for a starter set.   I played drums for 14 years and was self taught.   I sold my DW kit in 97 and haven't been behind a kit since.   

Pearl is what I'd get if I got back into it.   I might, just depends on how serious I get with this here geetar.   

[Treize69]

Real men play the harmonica and jaw harp. 

[Curlew]

<starts singing>

I wish all the ladies,
Were the symbls and the drums,
Id be the drummer,
And id bang every one!

[1pLUs44]

I was planning on getting a kit similar to that. The one I was planning to get IIRC was about 600$ that came with the symbols and everything. Made by Pearl too.


This summer, I plan on getting one of these made by Epiphone (Gibson is alright, but DAYUM.... that's just too expensive)

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-G-400-SG-Electric-Guitar-100042754-i1149971.gc

A new Bass guitar, and hopefully, a drum kit similar to yours.

[CAVPFCDD]

I was planning on getting a kit similar to that. The one I was planning to get IIRC was about 600$ that came with the symbols and everything. Made by Pearl too.


This summer, I plan on getting one of these made by Epiphone (Gibson is alright, but DAYUM.... that's just too expensive)

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-G-400-SG-Electric-Guitar-100042754-i1149971.gc

A new Bass guitar, and hopefully, a drum kit similar to yours.

the differnce is hand made here in the US and machine made over seas, other than that, youre buying a name, i started out with epiphones and i have a gibson les paul standard now and theres very little difference, my epiphone was hand assmebled in the US and parts were made overseas, so it was a bit more expensive than others but, theyre nice guitars

[Xasthur]

My drummer uses a Pearl kit and it sounds fantastic. It has a really crisp sound.... great for blasts and brutal rolls, every hit is well defined and easy to hear.

[Anodizer]

I"m looking to buy my first kit and I've been looking at a Pearl kits. I'm already "ok" at playing and keeping rhythm. I know how to read music (I play the viola) and i"m slowly learning how to read the sheet music for drums.

I"m looking at a Pearl Forum 5-piece shell pack that does not come with cymbals and hardware (does come with a tom-holder). Looks pretty sweet if I do say so myself. It costs $350.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pearl-Forum-5-Piece-Standard-Shell-Pack-White-with-Black-Hardware-483567-i1430200.gc

I found a pretty good Hardware set that is also made by Pearl for $160. Comes with a snare stand, a Hi-hat stand, 2 cymbal stands and the bass pedal.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Pearl-Export-800-Series-Hardware-Pack-Regular-448976-i1371561.gc

And lastly I found a Meinl Cymbal pack that is $150 and comes with a 14'' Hi-hat pair, 16'' Crash and 20'' Ride.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Meinl-HCS-New-Player-Cymbal-Setup-449564-i1276045.gc

Now, for a beginner is this a good start up? One of my dads Co-workers works at the Guitar center near me so we can probably get 10-15% discount off. All together it costs $660 (excluding discount and tax).

I've been a percussionist for over 30 years (started when I was 4).  Personally, I think German engineering is probably the best in the world, so I've always
spend top dollar and gotten Sonor.  Premier would have to be a close second..  I've never been much of a fan of Pearl drums.  I only had one Pearl kit and it was the Export series which I was not very happy with.  But, for the price your getting it at, and given the advances in drum manufacturing technology since I owned that Pearl kit, I'd go for it..


One thing you do NOT want to skimp on is cymbals and hardware.  That cymbal pack you are considering is for someone who's going to use wands, brushes, or just isn't going
to hit them very hard.  Those cheap cymbals in those cymbal packs really are junk.  They sound bright for about the first week.  When they start getting dings and
finally cracking after a few weeks/months, you will wish you didn't waste your money..  When you look at the cymbals, compare the thickness alone, and you will see a HUGE difference.  Cymbals are meant to be EXPENSIVE..  Building them well is a craft, not a manufacturing process..  Don't be taken by cymbal packs that go for 150 bucks..  They are junk and you will only be disappointed.  Especially if you ever do any kind of recording or playing out..
I would recommend Paiste as I've used them as well as Zildjian and Sabian for years..  My main set of cymbals I use are Paiste Rude 2002's..  Best I've ever owned to this day..

[Masherbrum]

I've been a percussionist for over 30 years (started when I was 4).  Personally, I think German engineering is probably the best in the world, so I've always
spend top dollar and gotten Sonor.  Premier would have to be a close second..  I've never been much of a fan of Pearl drums.  I only had one Pearl kit and it was the Export series which I was not very happy with.  But, for the price your getting it at, and given the advances in drum manufacturing technology since I owned that Pearl kit, I'd go for it..


One thing you do NOT want to skimp on is cymbals and hardware.  That cymbal pack you are considering is for someone who's going to use wands, brushes, or just isn't going
to hit them very hard.  Those cheap cymbals in those cymbal packs really are junk.  They sound bright for about the first week.  When they start getting dings and
finally cracking after a few weeks/months, you will wish you didn't waste your money..  When you look at the cymbals, compare the thickness alone, and you will see a HUGE difference.  Cymbals are meant to be EXPENSIVE..  Building them well is a craft, not a manufacturing process..  Don't be taken by cymbal packs that go for 150 bucks..  They are junk and you will only be disappointed.  Especially if you ever do any kind of recording or playing out..
I would recommend Paiste as I've used them as well as Zildjian and Sabian for years..  My main set of cymbals I use are Paiste Rude 2002's..  Best I've ever owned to this day..

I used Paiste's as well and would recommend them first and foremost.   You spend about $350 for a set, but damn, Z's and Sabain's can only wish to have the same "bite".   

[sntslilhlpr6601]

Totally agree about the symbols.

I had a set of cheap Sabians and they really sucked. No brightness to the sound.

It's not something you wanna save your money on.

[gpwurzel]

I dont play the drums per se, but have just sold a digital drum set (got digital as they are way easier to record).

Pearl make some reasonable sets from what little I know, but others know waaaay more than me about these things - being a guitarist, I'm more intent on sticking at least to some sort of rhythmn and not getting me fat fingers stuck between the strings

Hope you find what your looking for Sub,

<S>


Wurzel

[VonMessa]

I used Paiste's as well and would recommend them first and foremost.   You spend about $350 for a set, but damn, Z's and Sabain's can only wish to have the same "bite".   

Gotta disagree about the Zildgians.  Plenty of sound, just don't buy the cheap stuff.




I've owned a Pearl set for years......maybe no the "best", but it has been holding up to the rigors of the road.





Also know a guy who is pretty good on the drums.  He comes into my wife's chiropractic office once a week   




It really boils down to taste, and the ability to set your kit up and tune it.  I have played many different kits and each one sounds different.  Even the same kit can sound completely differently when set up for playing live (reinforced or un-reinforced) as opposed to in the studio.

[Latrobe]

I'm gonna try and start learning how to play the drums too!  I have a strong gut feeling that a drum set with be my big Christmas present this year! (along with Call of Duty 5  ). Pearl and TAMA sets are the best you can get from what I hear. I never really could read music (probably why I was so bad at Music Class), so I guess I'll just have to self-teach myself somehow. I already know how to keep pretty decent rhythm and beat just by watching my favorite drummers  . (also by practicing on everything in the house)

  Fellow Drummer!