What is a good brand of drum kit for a 12 year old with 1 1/2 years of lessons? and is previously owned ok?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$6 Answers
Also, the child has to have a drum kit that his friends will not make fun of him for - and that's very important for a kid his age. With a Pearl kit there's no chance of that, because everybody respects the Pearl brand.
A previously owned drum kit is fine, as long as there's no damage to the wood of the drums or the hardware, such as the hihat pedal, and as long as it's a professional brand, such as Pearl, Tama, Ludwig, Mapex, Yamaha, PHP, etc.
A new 5-piece Pearl export series kit should cost around $450-500, plus another $500 or so on cymbals and hardware. Cymbal prices vary, depending on the brand and the quality of the cymbals. A beginning drummer should not require very expensive cymbals. I would recommend Zildjian or Paiste.
You can also get good advice from the people in the drum department of a good music shop like Guitar Center.
Source - my husband, who's been playing drums for 20 years, and still has his Pearl export series drum kit.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-Stage-Custom-Birch-5Piece-Drum-Set-with-22-Bass-Drum?sku=501244
or for less (around $700) you can probably find a new kit on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-Matte-Sienna-Stage-Custom-Adv-Nouveau-Drum-Kit_W0QQitemZ170284486184QQihZ007QQcategoryZ38097QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
For even less you can find used sets on ebay and craigs list.
But for my money as a drummer, the Yamaha Stage Custom is a wonderful kit for the money.
The bigger question is cymbals. They can cost a fortune, so your best bet is to get a packaged set from Zildgian, Sabian or Paiste. These sets are OK quality, but you will save a lot. Or you can hunt used cymbals. OR if you buy a used set you might get the cymbals as part of the deal. If you are buying the set new from a music store, hold out for a deal where they seriously mark down the cymbals to add to the set. Music stores do wheel and deal, don't be afraid to ask for their best price.
40 years of drumming, a Music Degree in Percussion, and a love of seeing young drummers blossom
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
http://www.onlineguidetomusic.com/drum-lessons/drum-lessons-my-12-year-old-son-wants-to-get-started-what-should-we-do-first
http://www.onlinedrummer.com/forum/index.php?topic=21868.0
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/67909965/m/291004416931
Drum set buyers guide
http://georgesdrumshop.com/guide.asp
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/173860-best-studio-drum-set-under-500-a.html
http://www.zzounds.com/item--YAMDTXT2S
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can use it to play Rock Band 2 (or guitar hero world tour). It's so fun that he'll practice more!
It's got great music too.
You can also use this as a conventional drum set too :)
These things are absolutely beautiful
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
well said!
They feel as "real" as any electronic drum kit. They give a nice bounce, they're high quality, and they don't make much noise!
If he's only playing Jazz and doesn't want to use these with Rock Band, then I would advise against these. But if he wants to play Rock Band as well as other things, than these are a great option.
Hope this helps :D
Do these give a real feel compared to the conventional sets? He needs to be able to play Jazz as well.
I own this set, it is basically a low-end electronic drum set, the feel is not as smooth as it would be for a more expensive model, and nowhere near what a "real" set feels like. I wouldn't purchase this if what you want is a traditional drum set, but if you want a set that works with Rock Band but gives the most realistic feel (turning playing a game into practicing) then this is an excellent set.
Note, if you want to use this as a real electronic drum set, you will have to purchase a separate drum brain, which runs around $350 I believe, and an amp, so it may not end up being particularly cheap.
Agree with this recommendation - Pearl Export, hard to go wrong. However, it's a fair investment to buy new. Search for one secondhand - they're pretty solid, so you shouldn't have any problems with any that you find really.
Thanks a lot, i'm glad my answer was helpful to you :)