Noobie set

[urgle]

Im new to drumming, I want a decent set for around 400$. im new so i dont need any thing too fancy but i would like the ability to do double kick.

what would be a good setup?

[V(ader)DRUMMER]

I would advise that you keep saving your money until you have a larger budget to work with. Short of finding a GREAT deal on a used piece of equipment, just about anything you buy under $400 is going to fall into the "toy" category.

Electronic percussion isn't cheap. Save up, buy good gear and you won't be disappointed.

[urgle]

wats the cheapest "non-toy" set I could find? and what companys should a be looking around for? Roland seems to be a hit

[V(ader)DRUMMER]

In a nutshell - Roland, Hart Dynamics and Yamaha all make excellent entry-level e-drum kits. Stay away from the cheaper brands you might find at big box retailers. They are more in the "toy" category and won't tolerate much abuse. The big three I just mentioned will stand up to a ton of punishment.

If you are a veteran of acoustic drums, you'll likely want to do what you can to eventually get all mesh pads. They're just kinder to your wrists. However, if the budget dictates that you stick with mostly rubber pads, you'll be fine for a while until you're able to upgrade. However, most folks agree that you should at least try to get a mesh pad to act as your snare.

E-drums are very much a "you get what you pay for" kind of item. Buy as much as your budget will allow, particularly when it comes to the module. You can always sell it off later to finance the purchase of bigger and better gear.

Keep a close eye on eBay and Craigslist for good deals on used gear. If you're patient and do your homework, you'd be surprised at what you can find. Your dollar will go a lot further with second-hand sources than it will at Guitar Center. You also might consider converting a cheap acoustic kit into an e-kit. See the DIY section for more information on that. You can save a chunk of change doing that.

For a quick breakdown on the differences between modules, check this link (note, the new TD-9 is not represented here):

http://www.hartdynamics.com/modules/index.html

Best of luck.

[sopranos]

Roland is a hit! And, thus, a hit to your wallet as well. But I guess the old cliche does hold true in that you get what you pay for. Roland is a high quality instrument and component maker because they can afford to use the best parts and dedicate a reasonable budget to R&D.

With that said you may want to visit your local guitar center or preferred music shop and check out some of the other brands as well. And, I highly recommend browsing Craigslist or eBay for possible deals. You can probably find something worthwhile starting at $800-1000 minimum used.... but, you can always get started on drum pads (practice pads). You would be surprised how much you can do and learn on just pads.

[Picksorsticks]

I sold my TD-3 for $500 to someone I know, I probably could have sold it for a bit more to someone else. You'll be hard pressed to get much for $400. Don't forget to figure in a throne and kick pedal. Good headphones will wrok for a while, but then you'll want some sort of amp.

The advice to save your $$$ is very good advice. A cheap drum set or guitar is difficult, sometimes impossible to play or play well. save your $$$ for the good stuff.

[chiphead]

http://www.hartdynamics.com/modules/index.html[/url]

Nice link. Thanks for that. It'd be nice if they updated it with the TD9.

And urgle, everything posted here is right on the money. Stay with a brand name (Roland, Hart, Pintech, Yamaha) and get as much up front as you can afford.

[pilmat]

I particularly like the practice pad recomendation. I started with the DW "Go Anywhere Practice Kit". As it has a clamp and pad for a pedal, it proved a great place to start. From there I moved up to my TD-3 when I could afford it (and I already had the pedal). You just need to play with the configuration to get a "hi-hat", snare, ride and you can do what you want with the fourth pad (I went for a tom).

And urgle, I think that the kick pad is big enough to get a double pedal on, so you could be off and running. Remember for a noob it all practice and coordination, just get youself a metranome too for timing (this is really important to push your double pedal work).

Good luck, Phil.

[jmcallon]

Here are my suggestions - I am linking new gear, but craigslist and ebay are great sources for discounts:

Before you start: I would strongly advise you to stay away from the double kick pedal for the time. Not only is it much more expensive, it also requires a lot of coordination that beginners typically won't have. Besides, the more you learn to do with one, you will be that much better when you do step up to a double pedal.

Also on double pedals: one bonus of e-drumming is that you can change the input on your module so that your hi-hat foot will sound like a kick drum.

You have, as I see it, two options:

1. start with a module and a couple of pads and work your way up.

-or-

2. buy an Alesis ControlPad (more on that later).


1. Build your own
This isn't ideal for beginners by any means, because you don't really know what you want to build and how it should turn out - but if you're on a serious budget, there's no better way to go.

Start with one of these modules:
Alesis IO (note this is a controller, not a module, so you will need to plug it into your computer, but it does come with the software and sounds)
Roland TD-3 (Roland sets the standard for electronic drumming and this is an investment that will be WELL worth it)

After that, just start with a couple of pads and do a forum search on building your own rack (by using electrical conduit for the struts and PVC fittings for the joints). You won't have a full set right away, but there is no way to get what you want for $400.

2. Go with a cheap alternative
That can quickly surpass your budget. If you really want to stay below budget and you really want something that's not a toy, go with an Alesis ControlPad. It's not shaped like a drumset, but it will tide you over. It has accurate pick up, has a nice feel to it, and comes with nice software. Pick up a cheap keyboard pedal to emulate the kick and the hi hat.