So, my seventh grade daughter has taken up percussion in middle school and enjoys it. Se plans to do jazz band this year. Looking at Craigslist there are lots of drum kits available with a wide price range.
So…what should I be looking for that might serve her well through high-school? Best bang for buck in a particular brand (think Cervelo P1 of the drum world)? What is a reasonable price?
Thanks in advance
TL;DR: Pearl Exports and Sabian B8 cymbals. Seriously consider new drum heads as an initial upgrade.
The full version: Drum kit is not so different from cycling. Like the bike, the drums are just the start. There are three categories of equipment to consider with drumming: drums, cymbals, and hardware/stands/accessories. One of the better things to do is figure out your budget. $1000 or so will get a solid setup that will generally not need substantial upgrades.
As for the drums, Pearl Export kits are well regarded solid beginner kits. Look for a four or five piece kit, including a snare drum, kick drum, floor tom, and one or two high toms. If you buy new (and many used sets too), you’ll get adequate hardware and entry-level cymbals, too. These are acceptable for beginners. There are plenty of other great choices from brands like Gretsch, Tama, Yamaha, Mapex, and PDP. If you buy new, you’re looking at around $700 for an entry level kit comparable to the Pearl Exports with hardware and brass cymbals. More money typically gets you higher quality drum shells and more robust hardware. If you buy a new kit online, read carefully as to what is included. Some drum kits are just the drum shells, others are full sets with cymbals and stands.
As for cymbals, you will want to start with a set of hi hats (2 cymbals, one top and one bottom), a ride cymbal (mandatory for jazz), and a crash. There is not much love amongst drummers for the lowest level brass cymbals typically speced with entry level kits. You’ll get more quality for your money with budget bronze cymbals like Sabian b8 cymbals, menial MCS, or zildjian ZBT/ZXT. There are literally tons of these Sabians and Zildjians on the used market as drummers sell these to fund more expensive upgraded cymbals.
As for hardware, look for quality screws, clamps, and fasteners and stable legs. Double braced is not required, but the extra weight will add stability. Gibraltar, PDP, Pearl and Tama are solid brands with options at each price point. You will want a straight or boom stand for each cymbal, a dedicated hi-hat stand, a snare drum stand, and a kick pedal.
As for upgrades, it’s a good idea to leave $150 or so to replace the drum heads, even if you buy a new kit. They’re arguably the cheapest and easiest way to improve your drum set. With daily use, you can expect 6 months of use from a set of heads. See your local shop for assistance here.
My daughter was (is) a drummer. If I had to do it all over again I would have bought electronic drums and head phones. (I’m a bass player and already had the amps and speakers)
The band I’m in now uses electronic drums. Our drummer can make them sound exactly like real drums, or just about anything else if needed, and we can turn him down when we practice. Plus, you have to mic acoustic drums through the PA to get the heart stopping thump from the bass drum anyway. She might not want that now, but it will come eventually.
Trust me, you don’t want to go through want we did, and we are both avid musicians in working bands (in our spare time). We were more tolerant than most.
Thanks you both. Didn’t even know that the heads were replaceable and that that is a cost effective upgrade. Will look into electronic as well.
Thanks you both. Didn’t even know that the heads were replaceable and that that is a cost effective upgrade. Will look into electronic as well.
In my opinion an electronic kit for a beginner is stupidly expensive and also may impair a necessary part of the learning process. You mentioned “Jazz Band” in the original post. That infers a School thing and probably means School Equipment. That means an acoustic kit. Transitioning back and forth between electronic and acoustic can be a challenge. Additionally, no electronic kit I ever sat at had the “feel” of an acoustic kit. And for a beginner this is a critical item. Proper sticking, remember the Jazz thing ? - It’s all about sticking, demands an acoustic drum. Once rudiments are mastered then it can be a viable option.
example: a double stroke roll on an electric kit is laughably easy. On an Acoustic kit, a double stroke roll on a 16 inch floor tom requires a lot more attention and wrist strength.
It has been mentioned that Pearl Export is a good choice and it is. Also DW makes entry level kits that have very nice shells. Look at their “Pacific” model. My last session kit was built around DW Pacific shells instead of their more expensive Collectors series and it sounded great.
There is also a difference in the shell material. Maple vs Birch. Typically Maple is a better choice for live venues as it has more presence. However in a recording situation where the drums are mic’d Birch has a slightly cleaner sound.
Brass … Here is where the money will be spent. In fact, it is likely that 4 quality cymbals will cost more than the rest of the kit. Skimping here is not advisable. This can also be a religious debate so consider that when considering options. Three major brands.
Zildjian
Sabian
Paiste
I’m a Zildjian guy. But I would not use their bottom line cymbals but their A Custom and K Custom are wonderful. My second choice would be Paiste. Sabian’s sound a little harsh to me. But then again I admit that I haven’t heard all of them 
Cymbals needed.
Hi-Hats. Either 13 inch or 14 inch. Jazz guys tend to favor the 13 inch. Rock guys the 14 inch
Ride Cymbal. 18 inch minimum. And I’d recommend going with a 22 inch. Stay away from specialty versions with rivets if possible.
Crash Cymbal(s). Given the “Jazz” thing I’d lean towards the thinner models in the 14,15,16,17 inch range.
Buying used:
You can save some serious coin by doing this and it can be a low risk option. Usually the shell pack won’t be a problem and replacing the heads might be all that’s required. The same goes for the hardware with the exception of the Bass and Hi-Hat pedals. Cymbals - be sure to check for cracks and pay attention to the center hole. It should be nice and round. If it isn’t then it was probably misused and might not last long. I’d also be leery of any cymbals that’s been cut down.
Good Luck
Any thoughts on a used Pearl Rythm Traveler?
If you do get electronic drums, don’t get the cheap hard black pad ones. They are not worth it as they are still annoyingly loud, and don’t have a good “feel” to them. If she is practicing for school, she should have something closer to a real drum, like v-drums. v-drums are as realistic to play as electronic drums get.
I agree with what the previous posters have said so far. I played a Tama kit for years, and loved it. Pearl, Yamaha, etc, all the big names will do just fine for high school band. For jazz band, you could realistically get away with a 4 piece kit instead of a 5 (although if you are buying new 99% of kits with be 5). The missing piece is usually the middle high tom. Just saying this incase you come across a good deal on a used 4 piece kit.
I would make sure she gets a good hi-hat stand, and the rest of the hardware can be lower grade. She’s not going to be hammering on the cymbals like Dave Grohl or anything, and while expensive hardware is nice, it’s definitely not necessary, especially if you’re not tearing down and building up your kit several times a week to play at different venues. Hi hat stands get a lot of use though, and IMO, the nicer ones have great feel to them and give a very satisfyingly crisp “snap” when used with your foot. Cheaper ones sway, creak, endlessly scootch away from you on the floor and are just a pain in the butt. That is one of the first things I upgraded on my kit.
I would agree that entry level cymbals sound terrible. Just unnecessarily harsh and bright. Get her on Sabian B8, at the least. Also, get her on wood tipped sticks, not the plastic ones!
Signing up for drums in Jazz band back in high school changed my life. Not because I grew to have a deep love for jazz by any means, but it exposed me to a totally different world and way of learning. It’s like learning a new language. I also developed friendships there that I still have to this day. It really was a great experience. Good luck to your daughter (and kudos to you… it takes a special kind of parent to deal with a child practicing their drums every day!)
Any thoughts on a used Pearl Rythm Traveler?
Absolutely I have thoughts on this. But please consider this with a great deal of caution.
20x8 Inch Bass … Pretty thin. I like a lot of deep bass. So I wouldn’t.
The rack and floor toms are probably usable. But they are also not very deep. The Traveller part of this means easily schlepped around in a small car or even an airplane. So that means small
Snare is probably OK. A lot of Jazz guys like a 13 inch snare. I have both 13 and 14 inch. Both have their place.
Hardware is probably not very good. This is going to the first place they cut the costs. Also look at how the drums are “suspended” that can deaden the sound. My benchmark here is DW. Anything bolted to the shell will affect it.
Cymbals look like, well, a joke. But remember I’m a complete snob in this regard.
Also if there is a possibility of playing Rock be advised that most, or all Guitar players want the Bass Drum loud enough to rattle their teeth.
Jazz kits might go as small as 18x14 for the Bass. Rock tends towards 20 or even 22 inch. But a 20 inch Bass will not prevent someone from playing Jazz.
To put this into perspective. It’d be like the difference between a $6000 TT/Tri bike and a $2000 Bike.
If you live in a major metropolitan area see if there is a dedicated Drum shop. It’d be a worthwhile experience to visit one.
a quick search on EBay shows a number of good entry level kits with better sizes of about the going rate of this set. Don’t hesitate to buy just the shell pack if it suits you because hardware can be added. As can cymbals.Pearl, Tama, Sonor, DW, Yamaha, and Gretsch all have offerings that will hold their value quite well. I should also mention that if the Jazz thing is a main driver, then you only need 4 shells. Bass, Snare and two Toms. And you even go with a single Tom.
Thanks for your candor. So a quick craigslist search shows a Pearl Export shouldn’t be hard to find second hand. When it comes time to replace heads what might be good bang for budget options?