Buying your First Drum Kit

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When you’re new to drumming buying your first drum kit can be a mine field! There’s: second hand; brand new; electronic; acoustic; different sizes; different brands; different parts; cymbals… the list goes on!

By the end of this article you should have all the information you need to make a decision on what to buy to suit your specific needs. We’re going to do this in steps so you’re not overwhelmed by all the options!

Electronic or acoustic?

This is the first thing you should consider when buying a kit.

Acoustic

These kits are big, noisy and thumping! They are what people are talking about when they say “drum kit”. Acoustic kits work by hitting a tightened drum head stretched across what is normally a wooden shell to create resonant frequencies that harmonise with each other to create a loud bang, thud, smack…etc

This is the traditional form of a drum kit invented in the early 1900s. They were used to record songs and play live – a loud thumping rhythm for the band to play along with! The drum kit as we know it is derived from marching bands, the Ludwig Drum Company took all the drum parts of a marching band and put them all in one instrument.

This is the ideal thing to buy if you can handle the noise and have the space. There is no true replication of the feeling of hitting an acoustic drum!

Another thing to note is acoustic drums can produce a wide range of tones and sounds due to its acoustic nature. It’s much easier to be expressive with the volume and texture of sound with acoustic over electronic.

You always have the option of dampening pads if you want an acoustic kit without as much noise. These are rubber pads that sit on the drums to reduce the volume but they can ruin the feel of the drums and they’re still not as quiet as an electronic kit.

Pros:

  • The real deal
  • No feeling like it
  • The best feedback and response from the instrument
  • Very loud and projective

Cons:

  • Large
  • Lots of parts
  • Very loud and projective

Electronic:

Electronic drum kits are a modern re-imagination of the traditional drum kit, invented in the 1970s. They work by hitting a drum-like pad with a built in sensor that plays a drum-like or other sound according to which pad you hit.

Electronic drum kits have been used in countless songs in the past 50 years and are a great alternative to the acoustic kit for practicing on as they can be much smaller, lighter, and quieter. The sounds from these kits can be heard in two ways: you can plug in a speaker or amplifier, or you can plug in headphones.

If you’re looking for something that is less likely to upset the neighbours, or that can fold down into your cupboard, then this is the one for you. You can put your headphones on, turn your speaker off and you’ll be able to hear the music/drums while the only acoustic sounds coming from the kit will be the tap of your sticks on the rubber.

Electronic kits have become very advanced over the last few years and do a very good job of replicating the different sounds, volumes and feels of a real kit. Although, they can be pricey!

Pros:

  • Can be small
  • Can be quiet
  • Can fold away
  • A range of triggered sounds

Cons

  • Can be expensive for good quality
  • Not quite the same feeling as an acoustic kit
  • Might not look as cool!

Should I buy my first drum kit brand new or second hand? What will it cost?

Ok by now you should have a better idea of which way you want to go. So now you’re thinking: where do I get one from? Should I buy one brand new? And how much do I need to spend?

Brand new:

Buying any musical instrument brand new is a good investment.If properly looked after instruments hold a lot of their value for a long time and with such a booming second hand market it would be easy to sell that instrument on. You know you’re going to get something that has been untouched which means it’s safer, you also get added bonuses like warrantees!

Second hand:

However… if you’re starting out and you’re not sure you want to commit then you might not want to splash out on a brand new piece of kit. I can guarantee there is something in the second-hand market for everyone.

The second-hand market is slightly more risky because you need to make sure you’re getting everything you need and at a decent price! But I can help with that! There are lots of opportunities in the second-hand market to pick up a kit that was bought by a student that then gave up and barely used the kit.

Price:

When it comes to instruments you generally get what you pay for. The more you pay the better the quality, the longer it will last and the better it will sound and look! (Just make sure if you’re buying second-hand that you compare it to the retail cost!) The main thing to worry about is making sure you have all the correct parts – we’ll get to that!

As a quick guide please expect to spend the following amounts for a starter kit:

Acoustic – starter kit brand new £400

Acoustic – starter kit second hand £100 – £250

Electronic – starter kit brand new £250 – £350

Electronic – starter kit second hand £150 – £250

Here are examples of good starter kits to look at:

Acoustic Mapex Tornado

Electronic – Alesis Turbo Mesh, Roland TD-1

Where to go for your first drum kit:

For brand new equipment you can check you local music store. In Birmingham we have PMT (Professional Music Technology). I always recommend supporting these stores as they generally employ hardworking, knowledgeable musicians that can help point you in the right direction. They also allow you to try instruments in store. Every musician has great memories of walking into a music store and seeing all the cool guitars, drum kits, pianos etc… we can’t let that experience die!

Alternatively in the UK you can look at Gear4Music, they have a huge range, quick shipping and an online help centre.

I would avoid any type of non-music store as they do not have the knowledge necessary to sell quality equipment and you’re not supporting the industry!

For second-hand gear my favourites are Facebook Marketplace, Ebay and any “Buy Sell Trade” groups you can find on Facebook or other platforms.

What do you need:

For a standard drum kit setup you need to make sure you have the following things to be functional. Make sure the parts are in good condition – it’s way more important than the age of the thing. Check there are no holes, cracks, tears etc!

What you need for an Acoustic Kit:

  • bass drum (with legs)
  • Snare drum (snare wires intact with a working throw-off)
  • Toms (ideally 3 of them with legs for the “floor tom”
  • Hi hats (these are 2 cymbals that go one on top of the other)
  • A crash Cymbal (ideally branded with no cracks)
  • A ride cymbal (ideally branded with no cracks)
  • A bass drum pedal
  • A drum throne/stool
  • Drum sticks
  • Hardware (this includes, hi-hat stand, 2 cymbal stands, snare stand, tom mounts and a hi-hat clutch

What you need for an Electronic kit

  • bass drum trigger pad or pedal
  • Hi-hat stand or pedal
  • 4 other drum trigger pads
  • Frame including all clamps and holders
  • 3 cymbal trigger pads
  • The module (this is the brain that handles the triggers and sounds
  • Cables to connect module to pads
  • Drum Throne/stool
  • Drum sticks

This should be all the info you need to choose your first drum kit. If you have any more questions then your tutor should be able to answer them and point you in the right direction!

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