Good drumset for beginner
- Thread starter VidaK
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DrunkDrummer
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For beginners, since your budget is below $800, I'd suggest you to look into Pearl or Tama drumsets. From word of mouth, Lazer and Carlos are supposedly inferior brands, or maybe just not as reputable, and they don't stand up as long as Pearl or Tama.
I bought my Pearl Target set for $460~ (Swee Lee had a sale I believe). It's holding up VERY well for being 2 years old already, the finish on the drum shells are not even remotely dimming yet, the hardware's pretty solid and all in all, a pretty good beginner drumset.
If you have little space in your living environment, I suggest you look for a Pearl Rhythm Traveller. It is smaller in size compared to other drumsets, can 'stack' (the drums can hold another in its shell), making transportation easier, but the toms do not have resonant heads. I'm not sure what exactly are the effects of not having them resonant heads, but I think the sound will be not as 'round', or 'full'.
I'm not too sure about Tama, being a Pearl guy myself.
I bought my Pearl Target set for $460~ (Swee Lee had a sale I believe). It's holding up VERY well for being 2 years old already, the finish on the drum shells are not even remotely dimming yet, the hardware's pretty solid and all in all, a pretty good beginner drumset.
If you have little space in your living environment, I suggest you look for a Pearl Rhythm Traveller. It is smaller in size compared to other drumsets, can 'stack' (the drums can hold another in its shell), making transportation easier, but the toms do not have resonant heads. I'm not sure what exactly are the effects of not having them resonant heads, but I think the sound will be not as 'round', or 'full'.
I'm not too sure about Tama, being a Pearl guy myself.
Composer of Requiems
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You can get a Pearl Target within that price range. I'm still using mine and I'm satisfied with the sound. With good heads, it sounds pretty decent and you can probably gig with it.
Edit: About the rhythm traveller, I don't think it's THAT much smaller than the target... sure, it's small, but I'm sure you can rearrange a little bit. And the price isn't that large a difference either. To me, the Target sounds better and is more sturdy, so I would rather get it than the traveller. Well, that's the decision I made when I started playing the drumkit.
Edit: About the rhythm traveller, I don't think it's THAT much smaller than the target... sure, it's small, but I'm sure you can rearrange a little bit. And the price isn't that large a difference either. To me, the Target sounds better and is more sturdy, so I would rather get it than the traveller. Well, that's the decision I made when I started playing the drumkit.
DrunkDrummer
New member
Yeah same ... I'm not really sure about the difference in sizes, just what I hear.
Composer of Requiems
New member
The biggest difference in size will come from the bass drum. For a standard drumkit, e.g. the Target, you can expect to have 16 inches of bass drum in front of you. But the RT is half that depth. However, the rest of the parts will take up the same amount of floor space. It's a 14" wide floor tom.
I'll draw a diagram to illustrate!
Edit:
Above is Target, below is the Rhythm Traveller.
The toms for Target and Rhythm Traveller will be the same size, unless you decide to get the version of the Target with the 16" floor tom. But even if you do, that'll only add 2 inches to the size, which isn't that big a difference.
Also, snare size and mounted tom size don't make much difference because they're in the middle.
The difference in hi-hat size makes only 1 inch difference to the overall size.
So, the width is almost the same, maybe about 3 or 4 inches different.
However, the depth is 8 inch different; if you use the 16" floor tom, it'll be 10 inch deeper for the Target.
This is actually the biggest problem. The width of the drumset doesn't matter that much since a wide drumset can be spread out against the wall or something. But when it's longer/deeper, it'll "stick out". But you can jam it into the corner of your room.
The other advantage the Rhythm Traveller has is the tom depth: it's shallower. So it'll be easier to position and can overlap each other. And it's lighter and easier to carry around. This one, you'll have to think about it. But sound-wise, I'll very much prefer the Target. Single-headed toms sound a bit "hollow" to me. You won't have the whole depth of tone.
I'll draw a diagram to illustrate!
Edit:
Above is Target, below is the Rhythm Traveller.
The toms for Target and Rhythm Traveller will be the same size, unless you decide to get the version of the Target with the 16" floor tom. But even if you do, that'll only add 2 inches to the size, which isn't that big a difference.
Also, snare size and mounted tom size don't make much difference because they're in the middle.
The difference in hi-hat size makes only 1 inch difference to the overall size.
So, the width is almost the same, maybe about 3 or 4 inches different.
However, the depth is 8 inch different; if you use the 16" floor tom, it'll be 10 inch deeper for the Target.
This is actually the biggest problem. The width of the drumset doesn't matter that much since a wide drumset can be spread out against the wall or something. But when it's longer/deeper, it'll "stick out". But you can jam it into the corner of your room.
The other advantage the Rhythm Traveller has is the tom depth: it's shallower. So it'll be easier to position and can overlap each other. And it's lighter and easier to carry around. This one, you'll have to think about it. But sound-wise, I'll very much prefer the Target. Single-headed toms sound a bit "hollow" to me. You won't have the whole depth of tone.
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Composer of Requiems
New member
Poplar is supposed to be a lower end wood; mahogany.... depends on what mahogany you're talking about. If it's really true mahogany kind of mahogany (the high-end type), you can be expecting a deep, full sound and so on. It tunes better for lower pitches and has been one of the industry standards in the past. However, if it's something called Phillipine Mahogany or something like that (there's many "fake" mahoganies around- other woods that are called ______ mahogany), it's pretty much just the same as poplar.
That's not to say that Poplar is a bad wood. It's a cheaper wood because it grows fast, so it can be harvested more often. That makes the wood more unstable and weaker, so it's softer than other woods like slow-growing maple.
But because companies use poplar on cheaper drumsets, usually the construction isn't as good. One thing about these drumsets is that if you get a poplar drumset by a reputable company, say, Pearl, you can still get a good sound out of it, but you can also expect to spend a long time getting the sound that you want. It's difficult and the range is very narrow. I don't know if this is just because of the material, or because of the construction, but since mahogany isn't that hard either, I would be inclined to think that it's more towards the construction. Do remember to change the skins that come with it to better skins- this really does a lot to the sound. One more thing to consider is that good companies come with good hardware- you'll really appreciate the durability and reliability of the stands and pedals and tom-mounts a lot.
If I remember correctly, Keller produces vintage shells which are mahogany sandwiched by poplar. Does this have anything to do with your question?
And one last thing, I think your question is more of: "I see a poplar drumset and a mahogany drumset, how different are these two?" Which drumsets exactly are you talking about? Most modern mahogany drumsets should give you very good value for your money, while poplar drumsets are more budget. Good luck with choosing!
Edit: Sorry, the Keller shells are just maho outside, with a poplar core...
That's not to say that Poplar is a bad wood. It's a cheaper wood because it grows fast, so it can be harvested more often. That makes the wood more unstable and weaker, so it's softer than other woods like slow-growing maple.
But because companies use poplar on cheaper drumsets, usually the construction isn't as good. One thing about these drumsets is that if you get a poplar drumset by a reputable company, say, Pearl, you can still get a good sound out of it, but you can also expect to spend a long time getting the sound that you want. It's difficult and the range is very narrow. I don't know if this is just because of the material, or because of the construction, but since mahogany isn't that hard either, I would be inclined to think that it's more towards the construction. Do remember to change the skins that come with it to better skins- this really does a lot to the sound. One more thing to consider is that good companies come with good hardware- you'll really appreciate the durability and reliability of the stands and pedals and tom-mounts a lot.
If I remember correctly, Keller produces vintage shells which are mahogany sandwiched by poplar. Does this have anything to do with your question?
And one last thing, I think your question is more of: "I see a poplar drumset and a mahogany drumset, how different are these two?" Which drumsets exactly are you talking about? Most modern mahogany drumsets should give you very good value for your money, while poplar drumsets are more budget. Good luck with choosing!
Edit: Sorry, the Keller shells are just maho outside, with a poplar core...
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DrunkDrummer
New member
Wah, can always rely on Composer here to give very informative advice. Great job with the diagram and detailed explanation.
Basically, yes, but remember that, ahem, quoting "Most modern mahogany drumsets should give you very good value for your money" doesn't mean it's cheap to begin with! I'd recommend you get a basic drumset first, poplar or not, etc Pearl Target/RT, then upgrade, if you are certain with sticking with drumming. I've seen some friends buy Pearl hi-end sets and then give up drumming... such a waste. =x Give me better... haha.
But basically, the difference in the Pearl RT and Pearl Target is just that the former occupies less space, being less 'fat', sticking out less like CoR said, and sounds more hollow, due to the lack of resonant heads. Resonant heads make the sound more full bodied, having greater boom and, well, you should know what I'm saying really... it's like the difference between hitting a trash can with a lid and one without a lid... okay bad explanation but whatever.
Basically, yes, but remember that, ahem, quoting "Most modern mahogany drumsets should give you very good value for your money" doesn't mean it's cheap to begin with! I'd recommend you get a basic drumset first, poplar or not, etc Pearl Target/RT, then upgrade, if you are certain with sticking with drumming. I've seen some friends buy Pearl hi-end sets and then give up drumming... such a waste. =x Give me better... haha.
But basically, the difference in the Pearl RT and Pearl Target is just that the former occupies less space, being less 'fat', sticking out less like CoR said, and sounds more hollow, due to the lack of resonant heads. Resonant heads make the sound more full bodied, having greater boom and, well, you should know what I'm saying really... it's like the difference between hitting a trash can with a lid and one without a lid... okay bad explanation but whatever.
