By Steve Morrison

This article stems from a desire to ensure that when you next decide to buy a drumkit you'll be armed with information and knowledge that hopefully will help you select a kit that is appropriate for your musical needs. Nothing annoys me more when a person is "ripped off" through misinformation or a lack of knowledge. Some may say bad luck, but how, if you don't know what to search for in the first place, do you become well informed and avoid an inappropriate purchase? So if this article can help address this situation then I have succeeded.

Drumming should be a joy and choosing the right instrument to express your individuality and creativity is crucial. So here are a few observations and thoughts to aid in the pursuit of your  perfect drumkit

Advertising and Endorsements

Companies endorse players because it helps persuade people to think a certain way and to buy a certain product, but that does not necessarily mean it’s the right one for you. If after testing a kit and it still is the one, then that’s great - buy it . These big drum companies aren't silly, they know their ads can be the biggest single influence on a young drummers buying decision and keep this also in mind, these featured drummers play the pro stuff not the student level drums they may be pictured with and on many occasions they  don't even record on the kit they are supposed to endorse. In short  IT'S JUST AN AD, it presents a starting point and that’s all it should be.

Choice Choice Choice

I know through my many years in drum retail that there are those product loyal customers that with little or no playing experience have already made their minds up what their preferred kit is because their favorite drummer plays xyz kit, (again the power of advertising). If you haven't tried something how do you know? But ask yourself why there are so many different products out there in the market place.

Is this a good or bad thing?

As far as I am concerned this is a great thing, because who remembers that great Henry Ford line "you can have any color you like as long as it's black". Now that’s a great way to express ones individuality. When you go to buy a car you don't buy the first thing you see, you check a few out to get a feel for the market and what's on offer as you should when purchasing a drumkit. With many potential options there's got to be a better than odds on chance that you'll find the exact kit that best suits your individual needs and requirements .

Know Your Product

Visit drumshops and ask questions and if not answered to your satisfaction ask them over and over until you are satisfied with the answer because the better informed the easier it will be to make your decision

Ask friends but don't buy just because your mate has one. Sit down behind the kit and play it yourself

Go to gigs and if you like the sound of the kit ask the drummer about it - good and bad points

Surf the net ( if you are connected or go to a cyber café ) an amazing resource for initial research

Ask your teacher for his unbiased opinion

Listen - who are some of your favorite players but be careful not to confuse playing ability and actual sound.eg I loved Stewart Copelands playing from The Police but I didn't really dig his sound

Research…research….research

Questions

Is there a particular sound I'm looking for that only a certain type of wood can produce?

What style of music do I play or do I need a kit that's versatile as I play many different styles? (if you play jazz in a small bar I don't think a thunderous John Bonham setup would suffice, you get my drift)

Does the kit feel comfortable to play?

Do I even like the kit and its sounds?

Does it have the dynamic capabilities that are suitable to my playing style?

Can and will the shop put me in touch with people who have purchased the kit I am  thinking of purchasing? - it's a great source of unbiased feedback as they have parted with their own hard earned dollars.

Will the shop let me trial the kit in the shop? - if the response is not a welcoming one go elsewhere to a store that appreciates the importance of feeling comfortable with your kit in terms of both it's sound and playability

Do I get an honest "vibe" from the salesperson? - trust your instincts

What sort of after sales backup and benefits do I get now that I have parted with my money?

Is there a trial period? And what sort of warranties are there?

How good does the kit need to be to do what I want? - home use vs. live performance vs.studio recording etc.etc.

How much do I have to spend? - matching ones wallet to what one desires is not always an easy task, but something that must be considered

I'm not sure whether to update my kit or to upgrade it?

Come into our shop at 231 Chapel Street, try some kit's out and let's talk.

Mumbo Jumbo - features features

The salesman says "its  got 9 ply retro fitted, cross laminated, heat compressed, 45 degree bearing edges with rims mount" are you then supposed to go WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll take it. No is the answer your reply is so what does that mean to me as far as the sound is concerned and in relation to me as a player. Don't be misled by features. What you want to know is how will this be of benefit to me and my circumstances.

WARNING WARNING Aliens Approaching (robot from lost in space)

If the salesperson you are dealing with starts to "rubbish" another stores product alarm bells should start to ring in your head because from my experience this means only one thing - Your interests are been put second to that of the shops. For you as the consumer this should be the other way around. Put simply they are trying to sell you what they have in the shop as opposed to what best suits your needs. And this is the crucial thing is what best suits your needs not what best suits the shop. If you have the time go around and progressively eliminate the products that don't appeal then hone in on the strengths and weaknesses of each kit that you do like concentrating on the benefits of each and how they help you as a player.

Choosing a Beginners Kit - so who do we believe?

"This kits the best! No this one is! And so on it goes. In the end it's up to you to decide and here are some tips on what to look out for. All beginners kits should come with:

Ps.don't be told "oh the stool and cymbals are extra" this simply is not true

In this price point of $599 rrp and under you don't need a brand name beginners kit. In actual fact you'll probably be paying the same amount for less features when you consider the advertising component that has to be incorporated into the costs of such brand kits. The two kit configurations available are 22”/12”/13”/16” diameter drums and snare or the 20”/10”/12”/14” diameter drums and snare and coming in a range of 4 basic colors usually. The choice of what configuration at this point has more to do with the players height to allow for a comfortable playing position. Later on, however as the quality of kit improves the size of ones drums would also become a sound consideration as well.

Things to consider when buying a beginners kit

Check the quality of the snare

• how does it sound?
• does it sound like a snare or a cardboard box?            
  ( hit a few different ones to get a feel for what sounds good)
• how many tuning rods does it have?
  (8 to 10 is preferred) more snap and precision with tuning

The kick drum

• what type of legs (other name is spurs) are on the kick drum - do they go into the shell or are they fitted externally - do they look robust?

Cymbal quality

• Check the quality of the cymbals. How do they sound? Like garbage bin lids or do they possess a nice resonance and some crispness? Invariably these are a weak point with most beginners  kits especially the hi hat cymbals which invert when you push down hard on the hihat  pedal with your foot.

Shell quality

• look inside the drum and make sure there are no cracks or large amounts of filler. If the skins on the toms are white ask to see inside the drums if you don't trust the sales-person. Hopefully the shop has checked them before assembling the kit.

Hardware

• Does the hardware ie, cymbal stand, snare stand etc. look like it can stand up to a bit of punishment?
• Does the kick pedal look robust ? Does it have a nice smooth action and feel easy to play ?Is it easy to attach to the kick drum?
• Do the stands, tom arms and lug casings look well chromed or does it look cheap and flaky?
• Is the stool or drum throne height adjustable?
• Is there a warranty and what does it cover?

After sales service

• Can I count on the store to help me out with any unforseen problems that may arise with the kit?

TIPS

• the sound of the toms and kick can be improved quite dramatically with the  purchase of some inexpensive intermediate double ply skins
• You don't need to buy brand names in this price point

DXP, Peace and Sonic Drive all make a great kit in the $599 range however don't just take my word for it, go out and do your own research!

Drumkits $1000 - $2200  and what to start considering

It is at this price point you start to see distinct differences between the beginner kit and kits that can be described as semi pro. Better shell construction and the use of better woods,
better skins and much more robust hardware. And as you progress through this dollar range the quality keeps on improving. Generally speaking cymbals are not included with these kits.

It is now that the depth and width of the shell and what it is actually, made of begin to offer us different sound characteristics that can now be used to find a kit that suits our own personality. Some argue that even in this price range there is not much difference between the kits. I beg to differ, hit a Gretsch Blackhawk(mahogany shell) then try a Mapex Q(basswood shell) they don't sound the same both priced around $1100 or a Gretsch Catalina Ash and a Mapex Meridian BIrch again they don't sound the same both priced around $1800. So now it is possible to find a kit that suits your style and requirements.

Things to consider

• the depth of the shell and how that impacts on the sound
• likewise the width of the drum and its impact on sound
• metal vs.wood snare drum - warmth of wood versus the brash brightness of metal
• then one must ask steel vs.brass vs.copper or maple vs.birch vs.mahoganny etc.
• do I want an open sound from my drums or a more controlled one?
• do you prefer the ball style tom arms versus the ratchet style of pearl?
• what type of bearing edge has been cut into the drum?
• what  type of skins do I need to get that sound I am after? Just as important as the actual shell is the drum skin itself and a lot of experimentation is required to truly find the right combination - but this all aids in the pursuit of your sound.
• double braced hardware versus single braced
• also consider many of the questions from earlier on in this article.

In conclusion you owe it to yourself to select the kit that excites you and inspires you to want to play the drums.We are individuals and thus should select a kit that reflects our own personality and playing style. So it is incumbent  on you to research and compare what's out there and there is a lot so when you make your decision to purchase that it is an informed one.

Bye for now and I hope this has been of some use. Keep on drumming

Cheers

Steve Morrison

Revolver Drums Owner

Copyright march 2009